Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-04-15

matter Of great chorus. Of course,
the city must have a sufficient popula-
ton to allow wide choice in the mat
ter of the quality of the voices and their
number. But in the smaller city the
choral organization. IL it achieves
enough prestige. becomes n municipal
affair. in which all the citizens take
pride and for which they will do any.
thing possible to help to success. This
is never the case in the large city,
where the distances are great and where
there is IL multitude of musical interests
both vocal and instrumental to divide
the attention Of the musicians and an
even greater multitude of orchestral
concerts, operas. solo recitals, ct cetera.
In the small town the musical interest
is focused on the choral organization !;
in the city it Is subdivided. This Is the
chief reason why no great city has a
choir which can compare with those Of
Bethlehem or of Toronto.
Then, again, there is the matter OF
Choir; Mr.. Fricker, of the Toronto
organization, and Mr.. Christensen, OF
st. Olaf's. are pre- eminent in their
respective fields, both as musicians and
to fully as great degree as men who
are able to inspire with their own eh-
thusiasm those who sing under their
batons. Without this last element
choral music of the highest standard
cannot be attained. Unlike the pro-
fessional orchestras. the members
of the choral organizations are not
paid for their services. and what they
do must be brought out by enthusiasm
for the work. The tactics frequently
employed to train professional or
chestra would break up volunteer
choir in one rehearsal.
A Nd, while on the subject of choral
n music. there is an organization
coming to Philadelphia next week
which stands unique in new field of
vocal work. This Is the Harvard Glee
Club, which gave an astonishing con.
cert in Philadelphia season or two
ago.
The former mission of the college
glee club was to sing more or less well
the songs of the college, with few OF
the easier grade of part songs fol
mems voices. Its aims were about
/ fifty fifty of a maintenance OF thu
college spirit and of social activi'
ties, and no town where q concert was
I klNtu was SuHpvNCu W hoHV ~
| duty unless there was q reception fol
! the Glee Club after the concert. ar
ranged by the alumni. The making
| Of the Glee Club was largely a matter
os choice and Of personal appearance
and 1t was desired as much for th
winter tour as for any musical en-
joyment that might be obtained. Th
leader was always an undergraduate
and, therefore, an amateur, usually
good dilettaute musician. but usual.
a boy who knew little II anything o
the training OF q choral organization.
But the Harvard Glee Club unde
the professional leadership Of DR.
Archibald r. Dawson, has broken thi
tradition to shreds and this club at leas
has sprung forth as one Of the eIninen
singing rganlzations of the country
The program which It will give mex
week would challenge the best effort
of any body of mems voices anywhere
ranging, as it does, from Bach an
Palestrina. to Cesar Franck an
Dvorak, with a "Chant du guerre' b.
Schmitt presumably the radical Flor
ent) thrown in for good measu And
to Judge from their former appearance
here, the singing will not be of the ANA
teur type indigenous 10 college gle
clubs; IL ranked then as II doubCes
will again with any male chorus il
the country. DR., Dawson, like Mr.
Christensen, of st. Olafs, has mad
being a member Of the gice club or col
lege choir have new meaning an
stand for something of real musica
value.
A MEMBER of the Musical Art Gu
n who wishes to remain anonymous
hut who Is himself an excellent per
former and sincere lover of chambe
music. has offered a prize of 500 TO
the best amateur or student strin
quartet playing. The entries must b
made by June !. and the contest wi
take place at the club some time durin
that month. The members of the quar-
, tets competing must be not more tina
twenty five years of age.
This Is an excellent move TO hel
; establish one of the most delightful
, as we'll as improving. Of musical pas
times, the playing Of string quartets
; There IL great deal more amateur pri
. vate quartet playing done in Phila
, delphia than the average musically in
clined person has any idea. The cham
ber music enthusiast offering the priz
has placed the age limit rather> low
. and probably needlessly 20, for th
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