Christmas Tone To Choral Concert

CHRISTMAS TONE TO CHORAL CONCERT

Program Given Was Appropriate to the Season

THOROUGHLY ENJOYED

By the Large Audience Present--The Union Shows the Result of Training Received

The second concert of the Choral Union series given Tuesday in University hall, might have been called a symphony concert, a chorus of Christmas music, and a sound of joy bells. The concert was given by the Choral Union under the direction of Professor Stanley, assisted by Mrs. Jennie Osborn-Hannah. The Choral Union merits much praise for the strength of its parts and the unusual number of excellent voices, which promises much for the Festival concerts. To what training this is due, it is unnecessary to speak, for Professor Stanley is too well known.

It was a large audience that gathered before 8 o'clock and watched the long line of gay dressed singers take their places. The first number on the program was given by the Choral Union, from Praetorius (1751-1621), "The Morning Star on high is glowing," "Lo, how a Rose e'er blooming," and "Joseph, lieber Joseph mein" by Calvisius (1556-1617). The dates of the composers whose songs were sung last night, went as far back as 1550 to Marenzio whose "Shepherd's Pipes" was one of the most enjoyable selections of the evening. And there was a modern composer on the program, Albert A. Stanley, whose music for "Ah, leave to other Maidens" received the most audible appreciation, but Mrs. Hannah's "Song of Sunshine," by Goring-Thomas. "Sweetheart, 'tis spring time," seemed to waken the soul of the audience to the voice of spring and the voice of this much praised singer. For Mrs. Hannah was not a disappointment, but one of the sweetest, purest toned singers that Ann Arbor concerts have known. She gave '"Rejoice Greatly" from Handel's Messiah, "Feldeinsamkeit" by Brahms, "Neue Liebe, Neues Leben" from Beethoven, and "Romance," Rubinstein,  "Love's Greeting" (old English), and the "Song of Sunshine," all in that wonderfully sweet, clear voice that stood out distinct above a chorus of 300 voices. "Presentation of Christ in the Temple," by Eccard, "Listen, Iordlings unto me," by Osgood, and "The Wreath" by Benedict, were other selections that won for the Choral Union high praise. The last number on the program, the "Forty-second Psalm," Mendelssohn, given by the Choral Union and Mrs. Hannah, was the only number on the program that approached heavy music. There was something sublime in the song of many people: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. Why, my soul, art thou so vexed? Hope thou in God for I shall yet praise him."

The concert was in every way a success. Professor Renwick assisted at the organ and Miss Minnie Davis was pianist. The School of Music is to be congratulated upon the good things it brings forth.