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J PAGES 25 TO 32
PORTLAND, OREGON, SUNDAY MORNING, MARCH 25, 1900.
NO. 12.
VOL. XIX.
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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
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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,
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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.
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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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,