Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-13

ment course. Monday evening at the
City hall did both when the Russian
Cathedral Quartet and Katherine
Ridgeley held forth.
-Four solemn faced youngt men,
CARRIED in churchly array, early at
tracted our attention. The pianist
and their accompanies. Harry Will
helm. in few Introductory words,
paved the way for what was to come,
each time. In the old cathedrals of
Russia there are no musical instru-
ments, all the music is made by the
voices. The customary chant of The
Lords Prayer was the first number
on the pragram and right then and
there Augusta folks were shown why
Instruments aren't always necessary.
The +. $. f. Y. IN. melted away and
IN their stead appeared a pipe organ.
! Their voices blended SO perfectly,
with the basso- profundo at the bot
tom of it all, aided and allotted by
the baritone, the first and the second
tenors. We looked in valid at the
green draperies for the stained glass
windows to appear.
AS their chant of the Lords Prayer
died away the basso- profundo re-
tanned his note. long and low, for all
the world like the echoing note of the
pipe organ. "Cherubic Hymn" was
the harmony of an organ, so in ac-
cord that it seemed as if played by a
master hand. Each voice was n part
of the whole.
In their first two numbers the
members of the Russian quartet
wore Russian costumes of dark blue
cloth. with red belts and full red
sleeves. Dawn" Russian college
Alma Mater by Hanoff took the
young men from the church and put
them into the college. This song is
popular among Russian students, it
being the Alma Mater for every Rus
sian student. The first part of the
song was solemn, in minor key and
of slow tempo. The second part of
the song was in the major key and
of rapid tempo. 1t typified the dark
ness and then after the student saw
the light.
We didn't need to page n Russian
dictionary to understand the story.
And then came, THE Rosary by
Ecvins, sung in English by the
quartet. The air was carried for the
most part in the bass and the whole
was submerged in deep tones. but it
was a thing of beautiful tone and
sympathetic rendition when COM
| pleted.
Just when we were beginning to
feel real we'll acquainted with the
messengers from Russia. they had
| finished the first half of their pro-
| gram.
Katherine Ridgcway, called the
queen of American Entertainers
hnfnrn CnJnnIiI 4.
charming in that new shade Of green
satin gown. with that new side drap-
ing effect, balanced by a beautiful
red rose and trailing buds on the
other side. Her arms were cleverly
| sNathcd in tulle of the same fash
! !onable and becoming shade After
| The first few seconds of saving 'Iiad
/ to be here once more and speak to
my Augusta audience" Miss Ridge
| vay stepped out of her own person
atity and read for us, J. NJ. Barlie's
play. The Will"
When II person chooses money as
their goal. it causes a black spot OF
their lives it becomes what is called
the accursed thing" The story OF
the play was carried through tlreG
gripping acts. the reader taking hel
audience with one great minds eye
from one character to another, with
All the skill Of magician.
Henry Van Dykes Tree" and a
highly hmorous poem, where Is the
Grandmother of Long Ago." Were
| Ter answers to encorcs.
But TO return to the first part. I he
| Russian quartet is with us again. The
tenor, Nicholas. Nasiheff. sang ar
aria from the opera ELSIE dc
| Amoure." by Souizetti.
Such sweetness Of tone. such
charm of expression. it may be safe
to say. have never been equalled be-
fore. in like voice heard by City
! f&ll audiences.
And in his encore, n love ballad
| the audience could. without doubt
appreciate the sweetness of his lone
! the control of his range and the
Cclight. to an entirety, of his marvel
/ Gus voice.
The quartet sang n comical song
! "The Water Bug and tho Rose" the
story of which, Mr.. Wilhelm told us
| was all about Il water bug that loved
4 rose but the love was dcforned-
IL was all on the ater bugs side sc
| thc w. z. dashed himself against an
Reminiscent ight-to death. And
| even though they sang in their ma
tive tongue, their enunciations We're
80 graphic that it moved the aud
.ence to laughter.
! "kentucky Home" in English by
the quartet was gem of harmony
The cresccndo of the hummng voices
| was suited, to Il nicely. to the voice
| which sang the air. 1t displayed I'M
| rhff1ed team work and perfect blcnd
| ing of voices.
Mikhael Bataeff. although low OF
voice. rose high in favor of his au-
dlence. when he stepped out alone
and sang, Big Bass VOL" in English
His Zoom zooms," the notes of tho
old bass VOL We're deeper than most
OF us can think. His encore, a deer
sea song, added favor.
| The temperament, the sureness OF
rendition when Mr.. Wilhelm played
the Sixth Hungarian Rhapsody by
List. stirred the audience to- the ap-
probation of his wonderful mastery
of the keyboard. True to say, his
original rendition gave expression tc
new interpretations but it was a Bit
OF music worthy of his expressive
| powers.
A little bit of comedy was injected
| in his encore. when he played In the
Sweet Bye and Bye" in a score Of
keys. And as a second encore he
| played Russian Music Box" pretty
little thing that called to mind the
little glass encased music box that
! used to stand on the table in the
: front room.
: The "Nolga Boatsmen Song" story
song. plaintive and haunting in its
sweetness. was another highly popu
lar quartet number. At their final
/ appearance, the. quartet wore peas
ant frocks. Bright blue. yellow. red
! and lavender silk were the frocks and
it is safe to say, there wasn't n pair