Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-01
Charles r. CrOnham Renders
Mastery Program On New
Penney Memorial Church
Organ - Miss Elizabeth
Noble, Assisting Artist, Also
Delights Large and Appre-
ciative Audience

Highly enjoyable was the pipe or
gan recital given Tuesday evening
upon the new organ of the Penney
Memorial United Baptist church by
Charles r. Cronham, Portland's mu-
nicipal organist. 1t was a proud &C.
casion for the parishionerS. who may
be justly proud of this wonderful
new organ. The church and the
vestry were filled with an Interested
and most appreciative audience, full
ly 500 being present.
1t was a varied program which Mr..
Cronham presented and there was
much to delight everyone. He chose
numbers to bring out the beauties of
the organ: he graphically presented
in musical terms, vivid pictures; he
led his audience through ecclesiasti-
cal granduer: he displayed harmony
of racial variance, including Chinese,
somber Finnish melody. Assisting
I.r. Cronham was Miss Elizabeth
Noble. soprano, who was most pleas
ing in her offerings. Her accompa-
mist was Leo *. Andrews.
For his first number Mr.. Cronham
chose Concert Overture in G Minor.
by Mansfield. 1t was a stirring num-
Der and was presented for the most
part, in low tones. Softly introduced.
with the theme expressed in varied
keys, was Rustic March by Rock.
The bit of rural melody which ran
through it all, like distinguishing
high line, was surrounded and oft
times, almost submerged by glorious
chords. But it persisted to the end
when it's final repetition closed the
number.
A single reedy, wavering note be-
ban within Chinese Garden"
composed by Stoughton. But in that
single note was contained the Chin
csc element as eXpressively as in
more complicated phases of the num-
Der. The Oriental atmosphere was
wonderfully brought out through the
use of the unusual qualities. So
very minor and so very Chinesey
was this interesting selection that
even the least of the imaginative
could conjure up a scene to fit. 1t
might be a glimpse such as distin-
cuisines a piece of old willow china:
it might be a picture that graces an
elaborate fan or it might be a peek
over high fence into a lovely Chin
csc garden, true to the title.
Miss Noble sang. "Rejoice Great
ly, o Daughter of Zion" from the
Messiah by Handel; Summer" by
Chaminade: 1.-THE Daily Question by
f. Meyer Helmund and The Swal-
lows" by Cowen. Miss Noble is one
of the citys leading church singers
and it was a delight to hear her sing
Tuesday evening. She has express
sion of tone and of sentiment which
adds most materially to her offerings.
An unfinished composition by
Shubert, Symphony in B Minor en-
tered with a swinging softness, as
played by Mr.. Cronham. The
rhythm might bring to mind the
slow moving gypsy band. 1t became
louder and louder but the prime
theme persisted, until it predomi-
mated once more. Another key note
was the means of expressing the
theme again and again. But such
repetition, aided and abetted by n
wonderful maze of chords could tire
no listener.
Pedalboard by De BrIecqueville with
piece, as the title implied, entirely
with pedals, not using his hands on
the keyboard.
Perhaps to many the prettiest was
st. Lawrence Sketches by Russell, in
Producing The Bells Of st. Anne de
Beaupre. 1t began with the chimes
actual notes, in clear, beautiful ca
dence. And as the composer endeav-
ored it suggested the gathering of the
faithful, chanting of the choir. the
procession, the miracle and the bene-
diction. 1t was a beautiful thing and
it left no doubt in the minds Of the
listeners its atmosphere. 1t banished
all thought of everyday life, wiped
away mundane thought and brought
the listener into spiritual state with
it's reverence.
Entirely different was Intermezzos
by Masbeth. 1t was liGhtsome thing
and very pleasing. Meditation by
Sturges was also different from 9TH
ers. 1t was a drowsy, but sweetly so.
composition.
Finlandia, composed by Sibelius,
called a symphonic poem, was made
to express the struggles and the pro-
gress of the folk. The prevailing
mood was sombre, even tragic. 1t was
most original In this Sbelius pic
lures the despairing and passionate
struggles of his people as a subjugat-
ed nation.
To endeavor to give full Justice to
the enjoyment of the evenings pro-
gram would be to deal in superla-
tives. but everyone was most delighted
with the concert and appreciative of
the work of the artists of the evening.