An Evening of Song in Tacoma
The eleventh annual concert of the Tacoma Choral Society reaches a grand climax with a performance of Barnby's 'Rebekah.'
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A large and enthusiastic audience greeted the Tacoma Choral Society Thursday evening at the First Presbyterian church. It was the eleventh annual concert of the society, and under the leadership of Prof. E. D. Crandall, it was pronounced a grand success and the musical event of the season. The chorus was unusually well-balanced and sang as one man. The highlight was Barnby's beautiful cantata, 'Rebekah.' Miss Nellie Bradley, as Rebekah, sustained her part with grace and animation, her high notes clear and her voice perfectly adapted to the part throughout the entire cantata. The second part of the program consisted of varied and well-chosen selections, including Mr. E. K. Roberts on the organ and a comedic piece by Messrs. Hemmeter and Alexander.
“The swelling and ebbing of the grand volume responded to the hand of the leader, and the climaxes were brilliantly wrought out with fine effect.”
Long before digital streaming, choral societies were the primary engine of civic cultural life, requiring massive community coordination. Today, while formal 'choral societies' have shifted into school or professional programs, the civic hunger for communal performance remains a cornerstone of the region's arts identity.
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