u I PART THREE f rammm J PAGES 25 TO 32 PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 25, 1900. NO. 12. VOL. XIX. scarsSVS, :- ; We. f? !2L -. . . - I -f ? si8- r o i fi C? fj V ,-$. V , Jl va llttfa -W fi 4 iff p, 1 i w i-Gg v . J. 4 .-&5S .C? W.J . ' -riflf , '"lV r w 3 1X Mffi I tils SK ?? lib years, was considered equal to the re quirements of a small church choir. She P fl fre A f SHR HAM studied but little with local teachers, ac- ' JYIKJ.M V..JJ ILLUUlV iWMmfcJt ROM the dawn of authen tic history perhaps ear- -Her; from the time the myths of tradition began to be chronicled as facts, music has been the hand maid of religion. No re ligious service has been complete without har monious adjuncts of mel- - ody. This is as true to day as It has ever been. In fact, the Importance of music In the forms of Christian worship Is growing. It is al ready so firmly established that. In roost churches, the musical direc tors and choir singers are select ed with as much care as are the .pastors, and the time is past when any clergyman, however eloquent, can con tinuously draw and hold large congrega lions without the powerful aid of a well trained choir of cultured voices. Portland is particularly fortunate in Its choir singers. Few cities of this size exist that can boast of so many singers of real merit. Some of these are well known, and nave achieved at least a good measure of local celebrity, while others, with voices equally good, are known only tb the few hundreds of people who aro delighted with their sweet singing In their own sanctuaries. Some representative members of varl- flu Portland choirs arc pictured on this oasje. Some of their faces are familiar a 3very lover of music In the city; others rtio sing perhaps just as well, are only pn and recognized in smaller circles. jjords of praise for those whose names ale mentioned here should mean no dis paragement of a score of other sweet vficed singers, whose melody and har snlny make many Portland churches brght on the Sabbath day. Those spoken ofun the following paragraphs have been iebcted almost at xindom from a brll liit galaxy. J Dom J. Znn, Uoritone Soloist. ne or me Desi Known pernaps ine oesr iwn baritone solo-Ist In the city Is Dom jjzan. director of'the choir at St Mary's' become one of the best In the city. Cltbedral. .which is one of the best choirs Miss. Gambell is full of love for her art, .' ; v -Si I 5.5LOCH-BAUERj quiring her musical education almost en tirely under the tutelage of the eminent composer, Sig. A. Rotoll, of Boston, who desired to prepare her for the operatic stage. However, as her ambition did not He in that direction, she has confined the exercise of her talents to concerts and church work. For four years she was a member of the choir of the First Con gregational Church, and for two years sang at the Synagogue. She then sang two years m the Third Presbyterian Church. During the past two years she has been director of the Grace M. E. Church chorus choir. Mrs. Shillock Is one of the moving spirits In the Portland Musical Club, having been a member of the examining committee almost from Its inception, and she has been otherwise closely identified with the musical affairs of the city during her resi dence here. Her voice is a pure contralto, of good range and of sympathetic qual ity. She Is accorded a hearty reception at concerts in which she appears, and it will doubtless be a source of regret to many to learn that she has resigned her posi tion as director of Grace choir, and will soon leave for Eastern Oregon, to remain during the summer. Sings Soprano. SliSWrtJ-lT.J-l--"- ,nr:i-o - i - i iLy. v WMimii : ' i y pleasing stage presence and a most charm ing personality. Sings Heavy Bass. Charles H. Hoeg sings In the quartet of the Synagogue choir. He recently came to Portland from San Francisco, and was well known in the musical world there, having been a member of the How ard Presbyterian quartet, since the dedica tion of the new church edifice of that congregation, several years ago. He was also a member of the Lorlng Club, of San Francisco, a male voice society of many years' standing, and he belonged to other well-known vocal organizations, having been second base of the Apollo Male quar tet, which attained great popularity dur ing its existence. Mr. Hoeg has also been heard In this city at the First Congregational Church, during the absence of a regular member of the choir of that church. He pos sesses one of the best bass voices In Portland. It Is deep, heavy, absolutely true, of remarkable sweetness and un usually rich In quality. nijerli Soprano. Mrs. Albert C. Sheldon sings soprano : t e I f efiwjuii Le P.l. "J ' tes. K v j ry iJT Francisco. Miss "Watt's lovely voice has won for her many admirers in Portland. Sings Contralto. One of the best-known and most-meritorious of the contralto singers of Port land is Mrs. F. J. Raley, who 13 soloist in the choir of the First Congregational Church. Prior to her present engagement she sang with much success at the Taylor Street Methodist and Calvary Churches. Mrs. Raley never studied abroad, having obtained her knowledge of music from, Portland teachers. Her voice Is said to bo one of the purest In the city, and Its clearness has often been remarked. AV. A. Montgomery. TV. A. Montgomery, bass of the quar tet of the First Congregational Church, has held his present position for the past five years. His voice Is a rich, round bari tone, well adapted for church quartet work. Mr. Montgomery ha9 been inti mately connected with musical matters in this city for the past eight years, and church work is not the only sphere in which he shines, as he has won many encomiums for his singing in local ama teur opera presentations. He Is baritona in the Quinnum Club. A Hector Who Sings. Rev. Dr. A. A. Morrison, rector of Trft ity Church, does not confine his religious work to preaching and praying. He la a power for good as a soloist. He has a strong baritone voice of delightful qual ity, which is essentially fitted for oratorio singing. He has had large musical ex perience In this line of work in New York City, where he began by taking solo parts In the great oratorios, when he was but 20 years old. From that time to the pres ent he has lived In an atmosphere Im pregnated with the best musical thought of the day, and Is accordingly able to speak with authority on this subject. Portland people have already had an op portunity to judge of his musical skill, and there is some talk of Inviting th& reverend singer to establish an oratorio society In this city. Cathedral Choir Tenor. Henry "W. Hogue is tenor of the Ca thedral quartet. He Is a Portlander, and his high, clear voice is very strong and pure. This natural advantage, coupled with an intelligent musical rendition, renders his selections very popular. -Mr. Hogue sang for a short season In the Congregational choir, and also for a more extended time In the Unitarian choir. Ho is the second" tenor of the Quinnum Club. Some Other Singers. Bert Brown, basso of the Unitarian quartet choir, has been connected with musical organizations In' this- city; both. mixed and male choruses, as well as mala Miss Susan. M. Gajnbeir?is solo soprano idtthaH,FIf st Presbyterian Church. She and choir director of the Forbes Presby terian Church, where she has been for the past year. Her work has given great sat isfaction to the congregation of that church. Miss Gambell has been studying vocal culture many years, being one of Mrs. "Walter Reed's best pupils, and she took a course of study with Francis Stu art, of San Francisco. Her voice Is a clear, high soprano, of sweet and sympa thetic timbre. Under the able direction of Miss Gambell, the quartet choir at the Forbes Presbj'terian Church bids fair to Is a native of Victoria, BCJana-v,aa'fcigei; educated at St. Ann's Academy, receiving )" her first musical training in church work In the chapel choir there. She made her debut in her native city in the beautiful cantata "The Ancient Mariner," the local press giving her most flattering notices, praising especially her high tones. Mrs. Sheldon is always a favorite in Victoria, and has been sent for repeatedly since coming to Portland to take part in musi cal events there. A few weeks ago she received a letter asking her to go to Vic toria and sing the leading role In "Rob Roy." She has taken leading roles In such kw ".. 7-5J&"""Tn ( (r- v 1 rJ W T4"i' v S-- m L$I! sss M5ms0 ' X , -"' ifflPL&k y L. Ym S7 M W .v NiSSSESs - y Xv YS 7aKJ" 2$r V " & m - psl Vl: 4 J !8 'saw MJ-Jv x T . iMft5.5HILL0cio? ' '& .-"fls 1 3 f&l w. 'fT ')l MI55ANNA6TUART ? 45 3V r , i - u In Portland. His first appearance as a sqlolst was in the Multnomah Amateur Athletic Club's production of "Babes in the "Wood," in April, 1893. He took part In, all the Multnomah burlesques and en tertainments for several years following. His firet church engagement was as bari tone in the mixed quartet at Trinity Church. Several years later Mr. Zan was engaged as director of the St. Law rence choir, which position he held for four years, when, on account of severe illness, he was compelled to resign. Ow ing to his efforts, while director of the St. Lawrence choir, the organization reached a high state of proficiency, and enjoyed the reputation of being one of ths best volunteer choirs In the city. Mr. Zan was pressed, upon his recovery, to again accept the direction of the choir, but declined, owing to the arduous duties connected therewith. Last November he was engaged as baritone soloist at the Cathedral, and, shortly after the first of the present year, he was appointed di rector of the choir, which consists of a quartet of soloists and chorus. He has sung In oratorio and cantatas, and fre quently appears In concert. Popular Contralto. Among Portland's most popular contral to singers Is Mrs. Max M. Shillock. She is a native' daughter of Oregon, and, com ing from a musical family, at an early age developed marked talent as a vocalist. and has the happy faculty of making all with whom she comes in 'contact feel more or less of her enthusiasm. She is accorded a warm welcome whenever she appears upon the concert stage. A Swedish nightingale. Mme. Jennie Norelll, who sings soprano at the Unitarian Church, has been termed "the Swedish Nightingale." She Is a na tive of Sweden, and received her musical education In the Royal Conservatory of Music, at Stockholm; she was the one ad mitted out of a class of SO applicants. She spent six years In the conservatory, and then went to Paris, where she studied one year with Mme. Vlardot, the renowned dramatic singer and teacher. Subsequently she returned to Stockholm, where she made her debut as Marguerite In Gounod's "Faust." , Then followed a 14 months' tour through out Europe, she 6lnging In the foremost capitals and before the most critical au diences. Finally she accepted an engage ment with the Redpath Lyceum Bureau, of Boston, under which management she toured the United States, closing with a three nights' engagement at the Auditor ium, In Chicago. Mme. Norelll then toured the Pacific Coast with the cele brated Swedish Ladles' quartet, meeting with ovations evrywhere. She Is possessed of a fine voice, of good compass and great purity. Her flexibility of tone Is wonder ful, showing remarkable control and en- operas as "Ermlnie," "The Bohemian Girl," "The Mascot" and "II Trovatore." Since coming to Portland, she has been regarded as one of the first singers in this city. Mrs. Sheldon was for several years solo soprano at St. Mary's Cathedral; Is a member of the well-known Treble Clef Club, and Is also first soprano In the Portland Ladles' Quartet. The Musical Club Is fortunate In having her as an active member. At present, she Is soprano In the quartet choir of the First Pres byterian Church, where, and elsewhere, she has won many admirers of her vocal skill. Her voice Is a high soprano, clear, full, and used always with the best mu sical taste. Anna Stuart, Soprano. Miss Anna Stuart has a soprano volca of the largest range, covering nearly three octaves. She acquired her musical education in this city, having studied four years ,wlth Mrs. "Walter Reed. She has given much pleasure with her splendid singing at Grace Methodist Church and also at the Taylor-Street Methodist Church. Last year she sang in the First Presbyterian Church choir. She was se lected for her eminent fitness, and she successfully drilled a chorus of 45 voices, of the. "Willamette Glee Club, at the Chau tauqua at Gladstone Park. She Is at present engaged In the choir of the United Presbyterian Church. Sings Purest Contralto. Mrs. "Walter Reed Is one of Oregon's sweetest contralto singers. She Is a na tive of California, where she received her early musical training. In amateur op era, oratorio, choir work and on the con cert stage, she has always been prominent, WJ -a eMl55VlrSr ): f f 1 ' 3K! &? $ Mfts.jLirf j. Music at Pacific University, Forest Grove, was brought to a high standard during the two years Mrs. Reed had charge of tne vocal department there. She also trained and conducted the Choral Union, of Forest Grove, a chorus of 50 voices, in a number of oratorios and cantatas. At present, Mrs. Reed has charge of the vocal depart ment of St. Helen's Hall, where she Is training a chorus of 60 voices for the can tata "King Rene's Daughter," which will be given after Easter. The residents of Seattle will always re member tho successful performance of the "Geisha," given there by amateur v talent and staged entirely by Mrs. ReeL Perhaps, however, Mrs. Reed Is best known as a choir singer. Her first ap pearance In a choir here was at the Taylor- Street Methodist Church. Since then, she MME-JfrNniE-NORELU.f Is now solo contralto of the Catholic Cath edral, St. Mary's. The Treble Clef Club was organized by Mrs. Reed six years ago, as was also tho well-known Port land Ladles' Quartet, in which she slnga second alto. Rose Blocli-Baucr. Any mention, however Incomplete, of the choir singers of Portland, that did not contain the name of Mme. Rose Bloch Bauer, would savor of tho tragedy of "Hamlet" with the Prince of Denmark left out. Mme. Bloch-Bauer Is choir director and soprano soloist in the choir at Temple Beth-Israel. She sang soprano at the First Congregatlonallst Church for five or six years before she became connected with the Synagogue choir. She began her musical education In Portland, and both vocal and Instrumental music, after a five years' course. She came directly to Portland, about eight years ago, and has "done concert work In all the cities In the Pacific North west. She sang, with much success, in symphony at San Francisco, and has done oratorio work In this city, Seattle, Salem and Eugene. She has taken the leading parts In "Creation," "Messiah," "Elijah," "Crucifixion." "The Geisha," "Mikado," "Chimes of Normandy," "Marltana," "Galatea," "Carmen," "Royal Middy," "Fatlnitza" and many other oratorios and grand and comic operas. Young Soprano of Promise. Miss Eva "West, who Is winning laurel3 as an operatic soprano singer, is at pres ent engaged In the choir of St. Francis Church. She was, for several years, In the choir of the Third Presbyterian Church, and she also sang, for a while, at the Centenary Methodist Episcopal Church. Her musical education was re ceived entirely In this city, her beautiful voice being a Portland product. Besides being full of sympathy, of velvety quality, well schooled and even, it has great power and much flexibility and range. Cnthedrnl Soprano. One of the most attractive singers In the splendid choir at St. Mary's Cathedral Is Miss Agnes "Watt, soprano soloist. Miss "Watt Is a native daughter of Oregon and received her early musical training In this city. She then took a course of three years' study In the Boston Conservatory of Music, under Louis C. "Elson and Sis. Augusto Ratoll. After returning to Port land she continued her studies with Mr-. She appeared frequently at concerts, when abllng her to make the most difficult trills while many of the well-known singers of . has sung at Trinity, Temple Beth Israel followed It up at the Vienna Conservatory "Walter Reed, and had two years' private - f j -" "" -i.i.j 'Do vt .v m tuue niui vrc.c euo to biovtu rtiu h tviuuu vnu uicu tukoi iiuuung few u, uuu wc 1'iiai jrivaujr iciioi vuufwu. OUy Ui iUU9iV nuuv aw ,um gmuuv iu kuviuw uuuu j. iuuvu m.uu.., w. San quartets, for the past several years. For soma time previous to going to the Uni tarian Church he was bass soloist In tho vested choir in Trinity Church. His volca Is of the deep, resonant order and makes an excellent foundation for quartet work. M. L. Bowman, basso of the First Pres byterian Church quartet, has made rapid strides In his chosen work and ranks high in Portland's large category of singers. He has sung In nale quartets for the past few years. His voice Is heavy and deep, though smooth and musical, and Is under excellent control. Mrs. Berta Grimes, contralto of tho quartet choir of the First Baptist Church for the past six months, though practi cally a stranger In Portland, has rapidly come to the front as one of trie city's most Intelligent musical Interpreters. She Is favorably known In Forest Grove for her excellent choir and solo work. Her voice is true and pure, in quality. Mrs. Lois MacMahon has been tho so prano of the First Baptist Church quar tet for the past six months. She has not been regularly engaged, professionally, although her work In churches Is well known. Her voice Is of a clear, brilliant quality, high andrresonant, and blends ad mirably. Her solo work is conscientious and Intelligent. Mrs. E. E. Coursen, although not now regularly engaged in church choir work, was, for several years, leading soprano at Trinity and the First Presbyterian Church. Her soulful singing and sweet, clear voice are some of the most pleasant memories of choir work in Portland. .Un til Incapacitated from public singing by a severe throat affection, Mrs. Coursen was the recognized leading soprano of this city. At present, she Is temporarily tak ing Mrs. Sheldon's place in the quartet at the First Presbyterian Church,