The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-07
Mrs. Chdl1our and the Harp

llNTo her confidence has Nature taken u The wondrous Harp; so oft her
 strings are shaken
 By voices of the wind.
 By eerie laughter of the elhn kind. By ripple of the brooks, by fall of1eaves And by the ebbing tide that sighs and
 grives,
 By whirr of wings at dawn, by that
 sweet word
 Uttered in deep wood trysts twixt bird At mtaing time-yea, all that Nature
 feels And knows and understands the Hsrn
 reveals. --<'-
 Anonymous.
 Always the harp has been the symbol oL the divine music, in Biblical as well as secular lore, although the beantis',i st@SeAui instrument of today is entirely u,nerent from the instrument used by the egyptians and other ancients
 we read of the harp of a thousand 7tiiss' and hear the Invisible Choir cilanting it's glorious melodies to it's tune lui sones' and again vision comes to Hlno Of lovely woman sitting before trfs graceful instrument. her beautiful nisers caressing the golden strings. and full " Nee'uSi
 Birmingham claims as her very own one or the most finished and artistic narplsts in the south-Mrs Oliver Chali- foux.
 This talented woman, with her equally talented husband, has always been one of the most prominent and distinguished figures in the musical circles of this city
 MT. and Mrs Chalifoux stand for the pest in music and literature, social and civic life. and to their excellent musician snip this community pays unstinted homage-genuine, sincere loyal
 In speaking with Mrs. Chalifouxs few days ago concerning the coming of the premier Italian harpist, Angelo Cortese, who will appear here in the "All-Star Concerts with Margaret Romaine, prima donna soprano of the Metropolitan Opera Mrs Chalifoux told me some interesting things about the harp-her own love of it, and what it has meant to her-for not only is Mrs. Chalifoux most pleasing performer on the harp, but as a teacher of this beautiful instrument she has achieved widespread success and fame, and she is delighted that her pupils will have the opportunity of hearing this most glfted Of harpists, this virtuoso whose renown is worldwide.
 Tn looking over different fields of en- deayor," Mrs. Chalifoux said, T can imagine no more fascinating and no more satisfying vocation than being harpist "a teacher of the harp-a lover of the harp and it's golden melodies.
 There seems never to be any drudgery about learning to play the harp or teach ing it, as there is with so many other instruments" Mrs. Chalifoux continued. 'Or if tn ere is, it is complete effaced by the tonal effects of the wondrous in- strument, it's novelty, it's uniqueness.
 Pupils, as rule, approach the harp with much diffidence," said Mrs Chali- | foux, "often inquiring of the teacher Do you think can ever learn to play the beautiful instrument? and my answer | is invariably, Be seated and let's try,' After the first few efforts, the result is | surprising, and the fascination of the instrument so insstent that you can hardly leave it for a moment for inc 1 most simple chord struck on the barp reverberates through space, thrilling the player and the listener with won,k ,ksrn snt that in such a slight touch there could be such response
 The pupil is breathless with delight, Mrs. Chalifoux declared. Again, striking minor chord, the pupil startled. ax claims; Did I do that?' To which gently reply: Certainly you did-who else" Of course, the thrill is not the same as the previous one, but there is sort of reverence-a veneration-abou that minor chord-those three little gol den strtngs-that struck something in the