The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-06-29

] a chance when II came to holding tn,
crowds. Between 5000 and 10000
persons were turned away. Now w
! endeavor to arrange for several per.
formances Of any given entertainment
so that fewer people will be disap-
pointed The Municipal Chorus was
organized in January, 1919, Mr.. VOL
Ian, then secretary to Mayor l.. c.
Hodgson, and Leopold Bruenner, pres
ent director of the chorus, being the
leaders in its formation.
81 had had the plan in mind for sew
eral years." Mr.. Wollan said. "For a
long time, ! had felt the need of some
organization, in which persons could
express themselves in song, some
place where they could go and sing
even if they never had had any train
ing. SO the idea struck me that here
is a proper function for a city to
undertake. | talked the matter over
with Mr. Bruenncr, and we decided
to go to Mr.. Clancy. The city COM
missioner was enthusiastic about the
plan. So everything was easy. We
found that lots Of people want to
sing. We never had less than $50 in
the chorus-and large numbers of
people wished to hear them. The
chorus was organized in January. In
five weeks, this group of mixed
voices had been worked into a chorus
and the first performance was given
We have kept up the pace since that |
time. AS soon as one entertainment /
is completed, the members are eager
to start another. The st. Paul cho-
rus was the first, and, | am advised,
still is the only chorus in the country
municipality. But it is
more than an experiment. We have
found it exceedingly worth while,
both to the singers and to the public.
] am sure that other choruses of the
kind will spring up over the country,
as cities begin to appreciate the value
Of music as civic asset. We teach
it in the public schools. Why not
give the people out of the schools a
chance to sing, and those who like
music an opportunity to hear them?
There's nothing like a good, old time
singing bee for those who really ike
% sing"
Entertainments of the Municipal
Chorus, announced under the auspices
If the st. Paul Department OF Parks
md Fairgrounds, always attracts big
rowds. Newspapers give generous
pace to the events, and thousands
rather for the free music festivals.
The entertainment may be an ora
or it may be light opera.
again, it may be some holiday fes-
ival in which the Municipal Chorus
axes part, or al free concert in a
ark Frequently the entertainment
iven by the chorus is augmented by
special orchestra, made up Of men,
ers of the Minneapolis Symphony
orchestra, who are glad to join in the
resentation of better music to- the "
ublic at these free entertainments.
Iusic for the public by the public
light characterize the work that the
Iunicipal Chorus is doing.
All expenses of the Municipal
horus, including the salary of the
rector and like items of expense,
re paid out of a special fund voted
lch year by the city council.
1--WE feel that the Municipal Chorus
essentially a public institution"
id Commissioner Clancy. "And we
el that it is necessary, just as the
lrks are necessary. A city must
divide for the recreation of its peo-
e if it is to perform its full duty
id music is one Of the very best
avs. The chorus provides enjoy
ent for those who sing, and enter
inment for the thousands who hear
yearly. Our only trouble has been
at we cannot take care of the
owds. But then, that only proves
e value of such a chorus to the peo-
, of a wide-awake city"