Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-03-26
SUPERVISORS SING
IN CHORAL CONCERT
Form a Chorus in Record Time
and Give Surprisingly Good
Performance

What was probably the most speedily
formed chorus in the musical history o.
Philadelphia appeared in public per
formance last evening at the Academy
of Music after only five or six rehearsals
IL was chorus of about 800 voices
chosen. or rather volunteered, from the
members of the Music Supervisors Ma
tional Conference. now in session in
this city. ..,.
The chorus was assisted by the Phil.
adelphia Orchestra. with Mr.. Stokowski
conducting the orchestral numbers and
Peter G. Lutkin leading the chora
selections and the numbers for chorus
and orchestra. The orchestra. under
I the leadership of Mr.. Stokowski. played
/ the Lconore No. 3 overture Of Becth
oven, two excerpts from Schubert
/ "RoSamunde" and the Ride of the
valkyries" of Wagner in it's usual
manner, which means that they could
not be performed better by any orchcs
/ ira in the United States.
! But the chief interest of the con
, r,rt lay in the work of the almost ex
/ trmpCrized choir. To say that its per
/ Torrance was -astoniShingly good is to
| pui il mildly. As Mr.. Lutkin said in
thirty seconds address between the
two parts Of the program, the choir met
/ for the first time on Monday last and
J many of its members had never seen the
music then selected to be sung on
Thursday evening. 1t is indeed high
tribute. still to quote Mr.. Lutkin: to
the musicianship of the public schoo,
! teachers that they should have mastered
in so short a time the difficulties OF the
program presented.
/ 1t is not fair to apply the standards
| of criticism which may fairly be used
in judging u professional chorus "a
! practically unknown organization IL
| this country. outside one or two opera
| companicsI5 or of Il well trained non
professional choral body, to the choir
over which Mr.. Lutkin swayed the
baton last evening. But. considerini
I the speed of the organization of his
! chorus, the results were surprising
/ There was an astonishing tonal balance
/ and beauty of tone which might vel
| BE- worthy of the emulation of many
a far longer trained body of singers.
! But the chief element Of the singing
of the choir was it's enthusiasm. that
4 trait which can never successfully be
initiated. 1t was this which gave tho
"taug" to their work and which lifted
/ II far above tnat OF the ordinarily re-
! hoarspd choir. no matter how letter per
/ feet the latter may be. In the unacCom-
panied numbers Mr.. Lutkin got some
really remarkable effects from th,
chorus. The a-capclla form is the mos
severe upon the singers. for there is NJ
orchestral accompaniment to cover voca
frailtics. but the choir rose triumphau
90 the demands of the compositions. ant
especially was the negro spiritua
listen to the Lambs" really re,
/ rparkablp piece of singing.
4 With the orchestra. the choir gave
"Christians Be Joyful from thc
christmas Oratorio of Bach and one o
IIOratio Parker's ballads. 'Harolc
iIarfargpr 1t is strange how the cpit
and heroic always attracts the academic
composcr-both of which were wei
sung. and the concert closed with tn,
Triumphal March and Epilogue Broth
ers Alert" from Caractacus by Elgar.