The broad ax., 1925-05-23
THE MUSICAL SYMPOSIUM AT
ORCHESTRA HALL
By Rev. Theodore stephens

age WHICH music ANS iuC oNtSANNs -
making for itself unique place in the
ever-changing panorama Of human ac-
complishments.
Music, like literature. printing, en-
craving, painting, sculpture, etc, is an
art, but unlike these, music is also an
expression of certain vibrations, colors
and cadences of rhythms which rustic
through universal nature, and which
are borne to us on the undulations of
ether as sounds and as colors.
We Of today are in nowise Devil
dered at the statement that, more often
than not, Paracelsus heard "the music
Of the spheres"
Those who attended the musical con
test at Orchestra Hall on Monday
evening, May 18, both saw and heard
in objective reality what to the great
Alchemist were only mystical sounds
vibrating on a higher plane Of CON
sciousness
The first strains Of music that jetted
forth from musical contest composed
of fourteen choirs-twelve white and
two colored-under the auspices of the
Chicago Church Federation, came
from the Lamon Avenue Methodist
Choir Gone Of the small choirs) in the
singing of Randegger's Praise Ye the
Lord" which was the prize song"
sung BY each Of the fourteen choirs in
accordance with the programme, and
followed by selection Of its own.
The entire symphony was a grand
demonstration Of choir attainments and
perfection as standardized BY the prize
winners in the following order:
Small Choirs:
/, Ravenswood Methodist Episcopal
Church; 2, Temple Mizpah, (Jewish);
3, ST. Pauls Universalist Church.
Large Choirs:
i, Ebenezer Lutheran Church; 2,
Metropolitan Community Church; 8.
Austin Baptist Church.
The awards were made by the fol-
lowing judges: Mrs Albert B. George.
Glenn billiard Gum, Edgar Fl. Nelson,
Dean Peter Christian Lutkin, who
also read the decision of the judges.
In commenting on what seems to us
the merits and pleasing aspects OF the
different choirs, we make mention of
the Israelitisch Choir Of Temple Miz-
pah Of only nineteen notes.-the
seventh on the program. This choir.
in hnesse Of tone, rhythm, and mu-
seal cadence seemed, under the great
master in music as well as in personal
ity, Prof. Adolph Muhlmann, TO excel.
Union Church Of Hinsdale was the
only choir in which Infant voices"
participated. These children stationed
in the front row, added to the pleas
ing aspect presented by choir No. &
Of the larger group.
Special mention should be made
Of the Metropolitan Community
Church Choir Of 106 voices, under the
leadership Of Director ]. Wesley Jones.
Walter z. Derrick, pianist. Fourth in
order and the largest numerically, with
the dignity, grandeur, and comelv as
pect Of the priests of Isis robed in
their snow-white SUPPLIES. the Metro
poitan Choir seemed the keystone in
the great structure of Competing
Chors. Succeeding the classic selec-
ton that had been sung BY the pre-
ceding choirs and like a grand svm-
phony Of united choirs, as the maestro
j. Wesley Jones, raised his baton.
there peeled forth the classic music
OF Negro Spiritual Poor Mourner's
Got a Home at Last" The selection
was one OF the most enjoyable pieces
Of the programme and the standard
by which, doubtless, hereafter the Met
ropolltan Community Church Choir
will be rated, and for which both
choir and leader must be felicitated
Numbered among the small choirs.
but conspicuous nevertheless, in grace
fulness, manner, bearing, dignity and
melody Of voices, under Director t. Il.
Taylor, Grace Presbyterian Choir
made for itself unique place among
the Chicago Choirs, as we'll as a rating
that will command the respect and ad-
miration OF choirs Of its own size as
well as those numerically stronger.
Ebenezer Lutheran Church Choir
proved to the world that the Lutheran
Church is a singing church. Martin
Luther was great musician. One of
his masterpieces is "A Mighty Fortress
is Our God" This choir thrilled the
audience as the 63 voices warbled eve
Praise Thee"
The c1-.f,... =, 49,