Connecticut western news., 1921-01-20

June, 1899. A few concerts by single choir, The Norfolk Glee Club were given previous to 1899. Since OUT organization in that year, the expenses of giving festival have steadily mounted, and at the pres ent time are from -150 to 300 per cent. higher than in 1899. The out lay of money has grown so large that curtailment of some nature will be absolutely necessary in order to continue the work. After a careful review of the situation the commit tee recommends that one of the three concerts be omitted next sea- son. It is proposed to give one choral concert and one orchestral concert. By following this plan we shall not find it necessary to lower our high standards, either in choral or orches- tral music. We could thus retain our superb body of orchestral players in its full strength, we could give an oratorio with unrivalled .soloists and our festival would be as good as any we have given, but there would be one concert less which would at least parly help in the reduction of our large expenses. .t-
 "For our first, or oratorio concert, | the music committee recommends Mendelessohn's masterpiece, Elijah. It is years since this work has been given by the union. and it will be practically a new composition for many of our members. Elijah is a work which has grown steadily in public favor and is placed by many on line with Handels Messiah and Haydn's Creation -
 eff the propositions as laid down meet with the approval of the off, cers and members of the choral union, we shall not find it necessary 1 to begin our rehearsals this year until February. This would leave 1 time for seventeen rehearsals, and the number could be augmented by two or three more if found necessary : by the director. In order to do jus l tice to the great choruses in Elijah / in the number of rehearsals at our disposal the director in chief, the officers of the union, and the music committee request regular attend anc0 on IHG part OL IAC hAC4AOSA0 ~"" the rehearsals. ..
 "Arthur Mees, at considerable sacrifice to himself, has consented to take charge of our choral forces for another season. Competent con- ductors of choral societies are be- coming almost as rare as the auk, and, at the rate. at (which choral societies are going out of existence, choral conducting is reaching state where it may eventually become more or less of a lost art.
 Canaan Chorus Report by Robert D.. Peirce
 Seventeen years of participation in the work of this famous organiza- tion, the Litchfeld County Choral union, under the masterful leader ship of the most able conductors in our country, have taught the mem l bers cf the Canaan chorus to better understand the great musical compo- sers and their wonderful compost tions, and to love that which is best in music. Music that is mediocre IS no longer enthusiastically received in Canaan, as a result of years of edu- cation under our four conductors, and the privilege of hearing the worlds finest artists.
 When we realize this great bless ing that is ours of Litchield county, our hearts must go out to those who have made all this possible.
 The Canaan chorus has enjoyed to the fullest the work of the past sea- son under the devoted leadership of Mir. -Mees, whom we all love, honor and try to obey. We have passed from that state of fearful awe of the wizard of pitch, to full appreciation of his kindly interest and untlrlng efforts in our behalf.
 Our chorus is constantly changing in personnel, and we regret to Say that, several leading voices upon which we have depended in the past will not be with us this coming year, but we trust to the loyalty and en- thusiasm of those who remain to, m part, compensate for their loss.
 The finances of our society will
 give us no uneasiness so long as we have for our treasurer Joseph Par sons, who never fails to make ends 
 meet.
 Our chorus held 21 rehearsals in Canaan and three joint rehearsals in Norfolk.
 The total membership for the year
 was 2,311, total attendance 2,Ol0,
 making our average for the year STA per cent. This is little below } the report for the past two years, } but when it is taken into considera- tion that five of our members have a : drive of 24 miles and seven drive A miles to attend our rehearsals, in all kinds of weather, our average attend ance should need no further explana- , tion.
 , If mental telepathy, the wireless of the mind, be fact instead of theory, our kind benefacters, MT. and Mrs. Stoeckel, must receive wave