June 30, 1898

Musical Congress... intensely American sentiment...

TURNERS DAY AND MUSICAL CONGRESS DAY

TMI00210

(see also TMI00208 and TMI00209 )

For many weeks the Turners of Omaha and many other cities throughout the west,had looked forward to this celebration and the drills for prizes that were totake place on the exposition grounds, with much interest. They gathered early and in large numbers. The principal drill was at 6 o'clock in the evening on the plaza. In this drill about 400 Turners participated. Other exercises werehad and with all the day proved a great success.

THE MUSICAL CONGRESS

The principal sessions of the Musical congress were held in the FirstCongregational Church of Omaha, but the principal musical feature of theCongress was the Oratorio of Isaiah, written and rendered by American singersin the Auditorium building i n the evening. Mr. Willard Patten, the composer,and his Minneapolis choral organization of 250 voices came by special train forthis rendition. The orchestral features were rendered by the entire TheodoreThomas Orchestra, and the following soloists pa rticipated: Mrs. GenevieveClark Wilson, Chicago, soprano; Miss Katharine Fiske, New York, contralto; Mr.Frederick Carberry, Chicago, tenor; Mr. Charles Clarke, Chicago, baritone. Theaudience taxed the capacity of the large auditorium and the enthusia sm wasstrong and spontaneous.

The interest in all the meetings of the Musical Congress was great and theresults were most satisfactory to all musicians.

Mrs. Winona S. Sawyer of the bureau of education, speaking of the aims andpurpo ses of the bureau in arranging a musical congress in connection with theexposition, said, among other things:

"With the first month of the Exposition as a prelude to a grand symphony, thebeauty of the architecture and the arrangement of the bu ildings, suggestive ofthe allegro movement; the labor of patience and anxiety requisite to securethese results, typical of the andante; the entertainment, amusement andpleasure intimating the scherzo movement; we prize this Congress coming at thistime . It stands out like a fugue subject, with strong marked features of loftyinspiration and high ideals, which once introduced, will be again and againtaken up and repeated successively in various keys and various harmoniesthroughout the exposition."__ ___________________