The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-03-13
lARGE, PROUD
GROUP PRAISES
FINAL CONCERT
rd.City Symphony Last Program
Eyokes Enthusiastic Auditors;
SoI0ists Pleasing.

Il :. large an AUDIENCE gALnered 10
ar q concert by the Tri-City
cvmphony orchestra as the one
l.sterday afternoon in the Coli
nm. Davenport, which heard the
I'D OF this years afternoon pro-
ANS. Both audience and must
FANS seem attuned TO the intense
,ess of a parting moment and it
/ famed as though the orchestra
-narubers played better than ever
hssore-and the audience was more
snnreciative of the concert An
/ sIeinating a large crowd extra seats
i tad been provided for the tri-city
inllowers, but there were not suf-
sclent to accommodate the people.
Tany stood during the entire pro-
sran and others crowded the ball
.eony. approximately 1,500 heard
the popular program arranged for
the day.
Yesterday was also memorable
day in the orchestra calendar be-
cause of the fact that two local
artists were presented as soloists-
Arthur Petersen, violincellist of Au-
gustana conservatory of music, and
Miss May Chambers of Davenport,
soprano. The plan of presenting
tn-city people instead of securing
out-of-town talent was instituted
this year, and has proven a real
drawing card. People who have
not heretofore been orchestra fol-
lowers have become familiar with
the local organiZation's high stand
ard of work and become ardent ad-
mirers Of Ludwig Becker and his
work with musicians found in the
community.
Arthur Petersen has played with
the orchestra for the last several
seasons-is first cellist and has at
tracted attention a number of times
in solo work. Last season he at
tracted attention at one concert,
and by request a number requiring
cello solo was included in the
next group, when Conductor Beck
er secured a priceless instrument
for the occasion. Facile bowling
and lingering, understanding of his
instrument and stirring depth Of
tone mark the players work. His
selection was Bruch's "Kol Nidrei"
that plaintive Hebrew melody, call
ing for so much feeling, warmth
and fullneSs of tone. One is more
accustomed to hear this number
played on the violin, but the cello
with its greater resonant power
is even more adapted TO it than
the violin. Called back TO the plat
form, accompanied by Erwin Swim
dell, Mr.. Petersen played a Ga
{
ity still further.
SOiOist Splendid
Miss Chambers, the other soloist,
appeared to advantage yesterday in
the selection CALI Curci has made
famous, the Bell" song, from
"Lakme", which requires the most
exacting coloratura workout the
soloists trills and high notes were
clear and bell-like, not a mechan-
ical note being discovered in all
the trying intricacies of the song.
The clarity in the young singers
voice is remarkable, and still there
is plenty of depth to be found as
well. Every note penetrated to the
far corners of the room, ringing
true. Echo work was beautifully
commissioners forgot that it was
not the great soprano standing be-
fore them when the lovely voice ex-
ecuted the fiutelike trilIs, the as
tensions and descensions-while
the orchestra played the splendid
background for the soloist. The
high Z was perfect, true and clear.
The encore number was Les Files
de Cadeux' (Delibes).
Orchestra numbers included the
brilliant and always popular Sal
yonic March (Tschaiowsky), Hos
mer's Southern Melody" a COM
binatiOn of old southern melodies
woven together into a stirring
Rhapsody. Intricately woven to-
gether were My Old Kentucky
Home" Dixie "Swanee River"
and other favorites, the horns be-
ing noticeably splendid. The less
noticeable part Of a symphony or
ganizatiOn is the horn group, and
little credit has been given the fine
members Of the Tri-City Symphony
orchestra. Their work stood out
strongly when the winds carried
the airs for the old military songs.
An encore was demanded and a
part of the number was repeated
Nocturne (Grieg) and a dainty
number, March of the Dwarfs" by
the same composer, were in an
other group followed by two Sla-
yonic Dances by Dvorak, fine dem
onstrations of orchestration and
The concert closed with the majes-
ice Wagner overture to Tam
hauser,' composed chiefly of the
familiar Pilgrims Chorus"
This same program, with the
solo numbers, will be repeated to-
night at Augustana gymnasium and
then will officially close the or
chestra season for this year. 1t
mas been gigantic success as far
as the orchestra is concerned, al
though more financial support is
necessary to put the season over
next year.
Ovation for Becker.
conductor Becker deserves a
gratitude the community will never
De able to express fully for his
work in making the organization
Snat II is. He has been untiring
N his efforts and is making for the
immunity a standard which will
larry II far in the music world. AS
ne appeared yesterday following
one Of the numbers, the orchestra
members rose and the audience
quickly followed and an ovation
rendered him
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MEETING OF b