Evening star., 1926-04-21
vi u S | C.
HARVARD GLEE CLUB.

ne DeSt Slee CluD IN tne country,
both by general acclamation and by
award of a specific prize to that
effect, the Harvard University Glee
Club. appeared before a distinguished
audience that listened enthusias-
tically to its program at the
Masonic Auditorium last night. The
Harvard Glee Club has broken COM
pletely away from the traditional
college glee club programs and gives
remarkably fine music with profes-
sional finish.
Opening last night with the in
evitable Fair Harvard" Johann
Sebastian Bach's "Out of the Depths
l Cry to Thee" was given vital. fear
less Interpretation. Then followed
three a capella numbers, "Miserere,"
by Gregorio Allegri, and "Sacerdotes
Domini" by William Byrd. both six
teenth century plumbers, and a
"Cherubim Song" by Rachmaninoff,
the musicianly pianist composer of
the present time.
In these selections, as in fact in the
entire program, the club showed that
marvellous facility in clean, firm at
tack, that excellent enunciation and
delicate shading of tone that has dis
tinguished this group above all others
and shows the genius Of it's conduc-
on years leave, and whose aims are
ably carried on by his personally
chosen substitute, G.. Wallace Wood
worth. acting conductor. This club is
not the result of hasty clubbing to-
gether of group of boys now in col
lege and wanting to sing. 1t is the
SLOW, steady growth of an ideal plant
ed with thoroughness and knowledge
and gradually evolved to a present
state that borders closely on perfec-
ton in the present choral group.
Particularly enjoyed by the au-
dlence was the chorus of bacchantes
from Gounod's philemon and Baucis"
with delightful two piano accompani-
ment and not unlike Beethoven's
Turkish March" in type of music and
phraSlng of the passages. 1t was re-
peated immediately following was
the difficult "Saltarelle." by Saint
Saens, rejecting as all the work of
that composer does, the thorough
mastership of Saint-Saens over every
musical mode.
A rare feature of the evening was
the singing of three choral hymns by
Gustav Hoist, the modern composer
of England, whose works are con-
stantly arousing comment andadmira-
tion. These three Hindu themes
seemed fascinatingly embroidered
with fitting musical setting. w. B.
Wood, baritone, was the soloist in the
Hymn to Manas," and showed a we'll
trained natural voice, as did c. r. Cor
don, tenor. the only other soloist of
the evening. The Hymn to Indra"
was especially interesting in it's har-
mon1c effects and native melody.
There followed a group of four folk
songs. Irish, Scotch, German and
Bohemian, all distinctive and inter
estingly handled in the arrangement
for the glee club. The only one with
solo part, the Scotch song, had fine
contrast for Mr.. Gordon's lyric tenor
in the rolling rhythms of the choral
effects.
The inspiring music of the corona
ton scene from Moussorgsky's opera,
Boris Godounov." was granted an
ovation after its Interpretation by the
club and the two pianists. whose duet
effects in the accompaniment to give
the atmosphere of the Kremlin bells
were remarkably fine. These two tai
ented young men were F.. w. Ram
seyer, jr., and l.. P. Beveridge. They
won ovations from the audience.
In the last half of the program were
Morley's II Go Before. My Darling"
Weelkes' "On the Plains, Fairy
Trains" remembered here as a par.
ticular jewel in the remarkable pro
gram of the English singers last Fall;
Coleridge- -Taylors brakes Drum"
one of those vital, essentially mascu-
line songs; a group of pastel Love
Songs" by Brahms, and Handel's
hearty Then Round About the Starry
Throne"
Any choral group could we'll learn
valuable lessons from this fine organi-
zation of Harvard University. both in
program building and execution.
H. F.