The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-21

The Messiah concert last Sunday
night was more than an annual rem
| dition of Buttons leading musical
attraction of the holiday season--it
marked a public recognition of the
part which the College Choral so-
ciety has played in the development
of community music consciousness.
A review of the work of the or
ganization given in connection with
the concert together with recognition
of veteran members of the society
singing of the familiar Hallelujah
number by the chorus and the audi
ence of upwards of $500 voices,
gave the evening an impromptu
touch that found ready response in
the gathering which packed the high
school gymnasium to capacity before
the concert began. Many late COM
ers were turned away.
The rendition, excellent as it un-
deniably was, shared almost equal
interest with "reminiscences in the
minds of many in the audience who
saw on the brilliantly lighted stage
wraiths of the choral society OF
yesteryear.
From a membership of 33, when
the society was first organized in
1902, it has grown to It's voices
which sang in Sunday nights con-
cert. In the chorus was c. ID. Am
stutz who with an exception of one
year has been a member of the So
ciety since its founding and who
has been active in vocal circles for
the past 81 years.
Mr.. Amstutz, together with Mrs.
Pearl Bogart Mann, accompanist
since 1913; Prof. Sidney Hauenstein
who first appeared as a violin soloist
with the chorus in 1904 and Oswin
Luginbuhl, veteran member of the
orchestra, were each presented with
leather bound copies of the Messiah
score in recognition of their many
years of service with the society.
In the audience Sunday evening
was Mrs. August Hirschy of Wads-
worth who was here especially for
the occasion. Mrs. Hirschy, a men,
ber of the society in the early days,
is the widow of the late DR.. N. C.
Hirschy, first president of the col
lege.
Other members of the society who
have had long service records re-
ceived ovations as d. w. Bixler re-
counted history of the organization
AS to the rendition Sunday night
there was no doubt as to its favor.
able reception by the audience which
sat for nearly three hours under
crowded conditions.
The large chorus directed by Prof
r. A. Lantz attained some unusually
effective mass choral effects, includ
ing in the program all the familia
numbers together with several others
If the chorus lacked something i
spontaniety, the presentation on tn
other hand showed ample evidenc
| of painstaking and meticulous train
ing.
The orchestra of thirty-five piece
directed by Prof. Hauenstein to
gether with Mrs. Mann at the piano
gave ample support to the chorus.
Work of the soloists was creditab
ly done and among the best in re
J cent years.
Outstanding were the contralt
solos by Mrs. Ola Luginbuhl Nose
: of Dayton, formerly of this place
{ a vocalist whose early training wa
received here and of which Bluff
ton has good reason to take pride
Mrs. Moser sang the solos withou
score.
: In Mrs. LeRean Hodapp with tn
: Westminster Choir school of Prince
; ton, N. j., the audience found sc
: prano singing with the assurance c
experience. First heard here wit
the Westminster choir some fiftee
years ago when she thrilled Bluff
ton audience, her voice now po
sesses more mature quality.
! Gaius Baumgartner, also of tt
:. Westminster choir school and form
erly of Bluffton college sang a
ceptably the difficult bass solos.
Freeman Burkhalter, Berne, Int
tenor, who came as a substitu
, soloist, gave a creditable perforr
ance in view of the short notice.