Milford chronicle., 1931-05-08
M R. RAYM OND
SHANNON, WELL
KNOWN BARITONE.
VISITS MILFORD
He Has Marked Dramatic
and Interpretative Abil-
ity.

Today in the auditorium we sat
expectant not knowing what to look
for. The curtain, half-parted, re-
Vealed a beautiful brown and gold
screen. Slowly the haunting music
began and the screen opened show
ing a picturesque Arabian in his ma
tive garb of white with black stripes.
On his head he wore a white turban
held in place by a black band.
The scene changed from brown
and gold to an Arabian desert. In
the background were majestice tenn
Piles. Both the Arab and temples
were bathed in rose light which
softened the scene.
For an hour he took us by his
songs to visit Arabia where the land
is wild and free. Then in breath
less moment to the sunny lands Of
Spain where the Gypsies dance and
sing their carefree life away
This most noble Arabian, Mr.. Ray
mond Shannon. sang, "A Son of the
Desert Am |" by Phillips; Sweet
the Voice of Forah" by Cui, Arab
Love Song" by Drinkley and THE
Song of Ahez, the Pale" by Buzzia
Peccia.
The spell remained over the
school. During the intermissiOn
Mr.. Gildersleeve, a well-known and
well-thought of man to us Delawar-
cans, led the school in two rounds
Row, Row, Row Your Boat" and
What Did DelaWear? ?"
Again the scene changed. From
the wild life of Arabia we were car
ried to Spain to spend a few NOM
ents with the Gypsies. This time we
see in the background the rugged |
Alps and this time it's a Gypsy who |
pours forth the tales of Spain. His |
sons were, THE Spanish Gypsy" by |
Watson, Gypsy John" by Clay, "A
Gypsy King Am T. by COwles and
"The Gypsy Cacalcade" by Martin.
The song Gypsy John" brought
much laughter from the audience.
Gypsy John is a little drunk and is
very amusing in the songs he sings.
Mr.. ShannOn's gypsy costume is of
many blended colOrs. His peaked
black hat has a white bar across the
crown. On his ears were large, gold
earrings which seemed to keep time
to his throbbing music. Over a yell
low shirt he wore a black jacket
edged with a white band. About his
waist above his red velvet pants was
A large green and white band. On
lis feet were brown close-titting
boots. To add to his costume he
wore a black mustaches which made
him look the part of a dashing
gypsy.
The light dims, the gypsy leaves
md we are brought back to school
~ the closing of the curtain which
lides the snow covered Alpine peaks
rom view.
Perhaps you would like to know I
more of Mr.. Shannon. His boyhood
lays were spent in Oklahoma but
or the last several years he has
een singing in New York under the
of Ernest Briggs, Inc. l
Mr.. Shannon was beautifully ac-
by the attractive Mrs.
Peter w. Dykema, Professor of |
lusic Education, Teachers College, S
Columbia University, says: c
'Mr. Raymond Shannon's dramatic q
Ong recital is a well thought out s
nd eXcellently executed musical
rogram. He has marked dramatic
nd interpretative ability, and he, by
areful study and experimentation
as welded these into a unique pro-
ram which pleases and gives new G
leaning to song and best of all he g
) alive and growing which means i
nat he will continue to refine his -
orks and thus even better adapt it =
} the needs of his audience" <
Virginia Simpson '32 o