The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-01-19
PAULIST CHOIR PLEASES.
Continued from Page -

ducpd by Father Firms choir. Tonal
color and harmony are qualities in which
the choir SpecialiZeS, and under the in
SEPARATION of Father Firms genius as a
conductor these characteristics in the
work of the Ch0risters have reached a
high state of perfection.
The boys possess voices of wonderful
quality and capabilities, and they are ex-
ceptionally we'll trained. while there are
in the organization enough adult tenorS
and basses to afford the proper balance
and stability to the ensemble. The effect
is most delightful and makes strong APP
peal to the emotional side of Il persons
/ nature.
The first part of the program was made
up of sacred music. and for the most part
! it was rendered without instrumental &C
compartment. which is the only method
| by which the real beauty of male-vOice
chorus singing can make its deepest inn
preston. The second part was a mixture
/ of sacred and secular selections. varied by
some solo numbers. and in every instance
the sentiment of the audience was con-
veyed to those On the stage by vigorous
applause.
For the opening number four compost
/ tiuns of the 10Th century by Palestrina.
! who died in Rome in 1894. were sung.
i They were Et in Terra Pax, q Bone Jcsu,
SanctuS and Alma. RedemptOris. The
rendition of this group was marked by
marvellous intOnati0n, shading and suS-
tanned chords. and the interpretive abil-
/ ity of the conductor and his control over
his chorus were abundantly in evidence.
| Later in the program a modern Rus
| sian group was sung. The first was
! Gretchannnoff's version of the Cherubin
! Song. So beautiful n piece eff choral
music, either sacred or secular. rarely Is
| to be found. Lord. / Cry to Thee. by
! Killnikof. with its wonderful minor
chords. and The Day of Judgment, by
Atchangelsky. with its close harmony,
m0dulations from minor to major, and
soul stirring climaXPS. completed this eS-
pecially pleasing group.
: Distinctively different in character was
/ the next number. the fuguc entitled Sing
Bach was Il prince of fugue writers, and
this piece composed 200 years ago Is one
of his best compositions of that cha racter
The first half closed with Salve Regina
by Washington. in which OvertOn MOyle,
bassO, carried the solo part. revealing i
voice Of wide compass and excellent quai-
ity.
/ Most of the solo work came in the see
Ond part. beginning with a tenor solo, an
aria from Ruccini's La Boheme. sung by
John Finnegan. Mr.. Finnegan electrified
the audience with his wonderful handling
of the aria. His pleasing personality. the
resonance and sympathetic quality of his
very high notes and his all-around work
stamped him As Il great singer. He SANG
several ballads in response to inslstcnt
encores.
Two Christmas carols. Silent Night
traditional melody and Little Town oil
Bethlehem. were rendered by the entire
choir. Unaccompanied. with delightful
effect. and at this point the audience was
pleased to hear two of the boy sopranos il
solo numbers. They were Francois ID,
Comtois and Jack Huber. in the order
named. and they were received with muci
enthusiasm and acknowledged the recep
tion with additional numbers.
GOUnod's majestic song. Nazareth. wa,
sung by Mr. Moyle and chorus. and the
/, climax of this piece was one of the gem,
, of the program. 1t was followed by {
, solo, Beuvenuto, by DiaZ. rendered by
, Langevin revealed n superb singing voice
! and his work was characterized by :
! dramatic feryor that elected Il storm o
applause.
The concert closed with the singing O
Star Spangled Banner.
i As a conductor Father Finn is as re
: sourceful as he is eloquent. Ills mamie
! of eliciting specific effect is seldom
! twice the same. He appears to improvis
] with the baton; makes abundant and di
+ verse play with hands and facial expires
: sion. and in a modified degree with hi
!, whole body. He plays upon his singer
as upon a huge organ, and. to borrow tn
organ terminology. his registration"
exceedingly varied. He produces timbre
and cOlOrs both new and striking. and h
. secures an immediate and ready respOns
to his slightest wish.