USA > Indiana > Grant County > Centennial history of Grant County, Indiana, 1812 to 1912 : compiled from records of the Grant county historical society, archives of the county, data of personal interviews, and other authentic sources of local information > Part 64
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The music at the Grand is exceptionally good and deserving of mention. The pianist is Merle Dee Elliott. I have learned some intel esting facts about it. As one may notice who has attended the "movies, the mmsie is continuous during each show of from three to live reels (which is not the case in all picture shows). This does not happen by chance. The music must be carefully arranged before hand to suit the subject of the picture, and change with different phases of each picture. "The Dead March in Saul," would hardly do for a wedding scene. Parts from twenty or more different musical selections are often woven into one continuous piece or medley to suit the changing reels. Two pianists, if not more, are always at hand, one to relieve the other. Miss Elliott must see the pictures on the canvas early in the afternoon in order to arrange the music. A pipe organ is being installed to use in the music of the Grand. Earl Riley is pianist at the Indiana theater, where there is an orchestra. Ile has a music class and is much interested in his work.
Mention is made of a concert given by the Indiana College of Music in 1908, with the assistance of the Marion Philharmonic Orchestra, the Marion Male Choir and the Indiana Stringed Quartet. The musicians of Marion are now so well prepared for any kind of publie work that com- binations can be made while you wait. Hence the impossibility of even brief mention of many excellent organizations, perhaps only kept together for a short time. Miss Golda Lanan, of Converse, often assists in Marion orchestras. She is a fine violinist who has studied at Oberlin and later with Mr. Paulsen. The Marion Conservatory Orchestra has about forty- five performers. It is a concert organization. Mr. Nussbaum is con- dnetor. The Junior orchestra of the conservatory numbers twenty-live players, and is composed of younger students. The Symphony Orchestra is a concert organization and is conducted by Mr. Nussbaum. It is a combination of the Marion Conservatory Orchestra and outside local talent. During the winter of 1912 and 1913 this organization gave three concerts. At that time Mr. Paulsen was assisting and Mrs. Wigger was accompanist. These entertainments were very popular. Each event brought to the city some out of town artist. The winter of 1913 and 1914 the Symphony Orchestra gave a series of concerts. Mr. Nuss- bamın is conductor and Miss Hazel Lillard is pianist. The first event was in November, with Edward Clarke, of Chicago, vocal soloist, and Rachel Steinman Clarke, violin soloist who charmed by her personality and playing. The Philharmonic Orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. Emil Bouillet, gave a series of concerts during the winter of 1912 and 1913. The Marion Philharmonie Choral Society on the evening of December 1, 1913, gave the first of a series of concerts to be given throughout the winter. This society is a combination of Mr. Bouillet's Philharmonic Orchestra and the Marion Choral Club, with the addition of Mr. Paulsen's pupils. Mr. Paulsen is conductor ; Myron Fisher, con- vert master and Mrs. Wigger, pianist. For the first concert the soloist was Miss Adelia Reynolds, cellist. The orchestra played First Symphony --- second movement, composed by C. H. Overman, of Marion, and an arrangement of "The Rosary" by Mr. Paulsen with other selections by the orchestra and Choral Club.
Chamber music ineludes compositions which are written for limited groups of instruments, suitable for performance in small rooms only. It originated during the middle ages, when music was used as a means of entertainment to add to the pleasure of banqueters. As a demand for sneh performance grew, musicians realized there should be a special kind of mnsie suitable to the size and nature of the instrumental collection. When the violin was made so prominent in all instrumental composi-
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tions, chamber music, as we now know it, began to assinne definite form. Today, under this head, are placed frios, quartets, quintets, sextets, soptets, and octets, named according to the number of instruments used. The Forty-third Free Memorial Concert on the Sweetser foundation was given by the Bailhe Trio, December 9, 1913, at the Presbyterian church. This trio, composed of the following members: Mr. George Bailhe, pianist; Mr. Gaston Baithe, violinist and Mr. Franz Wagner, celloist, has done much to popularize chamber music in our community. This was their second appearance in these memorial concerts, and they delighted all who heard them. George Bailhe was for a time a teacher of piano in Marion. I am greatly indebted to Mrs. Beshore, who is prominent as a singer in musical events and has saved old programs. These she has kindly loaned me and from them I am able to gather valuable data. In 1902 the Marion Oratorio Society was organized. 1 will repeat a Few words from the introductory found on the first page of the program, announcing the presentation of the "Messiah." "The Marion Oratorio Society is organized for the purpose of producing the choral works of the best composers. Anyone whose voice is adequate to the demands of the work, who will devote an hour for one night of each week from October to May, is invited to become a member of the society." The organization was looking forward to the May Festival then in prospect. It was encouraged and helped by the Marion Con- servatory. On Christmas night in 1902, at the First Methodist church, the sacred oratorio, the " Messiah, " was given by this society with Mrs. Mabel Sharp Herdien as soprano soloist, and Miss Mabel Shorey, con- tralto soloist, both of Chicago. Mr. Tucker was conductor of the chorus. This was a musical event never to be forgotten by Marion people. That we may not become unduly proud of the umusical importance of today I will call to our minds a little event of a good many yesterdays." In 1865, at the Methodist Episcopal church in Marion was held a musical convention by Professor Paige, a student of Doctor Baker of the Boston Music School, and P. R. Hanby, anthor of many of the popular war songs. Classes were held afternoon and evening for two weeks closing with a cantata.
In 1902, from June 24th to the 27th, the Jubilee meeting of the Indiana Musie Teachers' Association was held at the First Methodist church. This event was an educational uplift, musically, to the people of Granit county. Oliver Willard Pierce, of Indianapolis, was the presi- dent of the association. On the evening of June 24th the musical elnbs of Marion (then the byrie, Morning Musical and Philharmonie) gave a concert, followed by a reception at the Commercial (Inb. I only wish I had the space to insert the program of this concert, as it has upon it names of musicians who have many of them since removed from our city. The address of welcome was given by the Honorable Hiram Brownlee; response by Oliver Willard Pierce. This was only the introductory entertainment of the series of musical events given at this time, and participated in by musicians from all parts of the state. The Indiana Music Teachers' Association was again held in our city in 1913 at the First Christian church. At this time Mr. Nussbaum was elected presi- dent of the association. As a result of the enthusiasm from holding the association here in 1902, steps were taken in February of 1903 toward holding a music festival here, and the Marion Music Festival Association was organized with the following officers: Mr. Nussbaum, president ; Miss Alice Goldthwaite, vice-president; W. H. Mershon, secretary ; and Ben Larrimer, treasurer. Through the work of this association and the helpful support of others, on June 9th, 10th and 11th, at the First Methodist church was held the Music Festival or May Festival, as it
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was sometimes called, although a bit late. I have one or two of the oldl programs. On the evening of June 10th the oratorio, Elijah, was given. Mr. Tucker was conductor of the Marion Festival Chorus and Mrs. Meta Steele Owen was pianist ; Dr. Lonis Falk, of Chicago, was organist; Mrs. C. R. Lapinsky, of Louisville, soprano soloist ; Mrs. Clara Turpin Grimes, of Dayton, contralto soloist ; Alfred Shaw, of Chicago, tenor ; and Fred- rick Martin, of Boston, basso. The Soldiers' Home Concert Quartet, the members at that time being Mrs. Brimacombe, Mrs. Beshore, Mr. Gardner and Mr. Genung, sang with the artists' quartet. Mrs. Brima- combe took the part of Youth in the oratorio " Elijah." On the afternoon of June 11th, an artists' concert was given. At the Indiana theater. November 17, 1903, the Marion Oratorio Society presented " Rebekah." a sacred idyll by Joseph Barnby; and also on the same evening: ". Hymn of Praise," a cantata. Mme. Genevieve Johnstone Bishop, of Chicago, was soprano soloist; Miss Rosalia Bushnell, of Marion, assist- ant soloist; Mr. Holmes Cowper, tenor; Mrs. Kimball, pianist ; and Mr. Theker, conductor. "The Crusaders, " a cantata, was given by this society on February 12, 1904, with Mr. Shark, tenor; Miss Shorey, contralto; Mr. Garnett fledge, bass, all of Chicago; Mrs. Kimball, pianist, and Mr. Tucker, conductor of the chorus; A. Ernestinoff and Captain Stack con- ducting the orchestra. On February 28, 1903, the Indiana State Eistedd- fod was held at the Indiana theater. Chairman of the Eisteddfod com- mittee was William Davies, of Elwood; vice-president, George Phillips; treasurer, William Walters; secretary, David C. Jones. These last named were Welsh citizens of Gas City. Daniel Prothero of Milwaukee was adjudicator of music during the Eisteddfod, and Professor Lewis Evans of Chicago, assistant adjudicator. Mr. William E. Powell, of Milwaukee, was conductor of the day and adjudicator of recitations. The Welsh people of Gas City have added greatly to the musical influence of Grant county. You may count on them as patrons of musical events, as well as upon their assistance on programs. A young lady of Gas City, Miss Sarah Hayle, is a Welsh singer who has filled choir positions in Marion, also Miss Elizabeth Lewis of Gas City. The Llanelly Royal Prize Choir of Wales, gave a concert in the Presbyterian church on January 18, 1910. This was a nisical treat, indeed. Sometime after this the Welsh Chorus of Gas City gave a concert in this church. About two years ago there was a concert given by men, all of them laboring men of Wales, who delighted the audience with their beautiful singing. On August 10, 1906, a Choral Contest was given at Winona Lake. Many of our Marion singers attended, some of them qualifying to enter the contest. Mrs. Alma Tibbits Hadley, took a prize for singing a con- tralto soło; and Mr. Frank Johnson for bass solo.
On November 30, 1906, the Marion Philharmonie Society, which might be said followed or was a reorganization of the Marion Oratorio Society, gave a Choral Contest in the Coliseum. This contest was entered into by singers of Ohio and Indiana, and was a great musical event. In almost every respect it was like the Welsh Eisteddfod and called an Eisteddfod by some. I would like to more fully describe it as I hold in my hand an old program, but lack of space forbids. There were competitions arranged for solos, quartets, duets, chorus and church choir competitions, and in fact everything in the voral musical line. Haus Richard was the out-of-town piano soloist ; conductor of Marion Chorus, Mr. Tucker: Mrs. Meta Steel Poindexter, official pianist ; con- ductor of the day, Hon. L. P. Williams, of New Castle, Pennsylvania : adjudicators, Wilson G. Smith, of Cleveland, and J. Powell Jones, of Painesville, Ohio. The officers of the Philharmonie Society were: Presi- dent, Paul Poindexter; vice president, Miss Alice Goldthwaite; seere-
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tary, Mrs. J. E. Johnson; corresponding secretary, Mr. Steffens; treas- urer, George Webster, Jr. In this contest the Marion Chorus took a prize in the singing of the " Spinning Chorus, " from " The Flying Dutch- man"; also divided a church choir prize in the singing of the "Te Deum" by Dudley Buck. Miss Georgia Paulus, Miss Ethel Simons and Miss Marietta Coffin qualified for solo work, and Miss Simons and Miss Paulus divided a prize on the soprano solo, "Nymphs and Fauns." Miss Coffin sang a mezzo soprano solo, " Farwell Ye Hills." The Dudky Buck Quartet, composed of the following members: Bart Newhanser, lew Hulley, Harry Moore and Mr. Wuersten, took the prize in a male quartet competition, singing " Lead Kindly Light" by Dudley Buck, At a Welsh Eisteddfod in 1899, at Anderson, Mes. Brimacombe captured a prize for singing a soprano solo : "Thou Art My Life." The Welsh Chorns of Gas City, conducted by Reese Lewis also took a price at this time. At a singing contest held at Phlox, a quartet composed of the following persons: Angeline Kilgore, soprano; Ada Turner, alto; Wesley Kilgore, tenor; and J. V. Hloh, bass, took the prize (a large feed basket ) for singing the following song: "Come Where the Lilies Bloom." "After twenty years," said Mr. Kilgore, in telhing one of this event, "the basket is still in my barn, not much the worse for wear." Mrs. Ida Brizendine sang alto with this quartet in place of Mrs. Turner at times. Later, her daughter, Miss Edna Brizendine, is the leading musician in the vicinity of Point Isabel.
On May 31 and June 1, 1909, a Music Festival was held in Marion at the Coliseum. It was then the hope of Marion musicians to make the festivals a yearly occurrence. At this time Mr. Marion Green was vocal instructor at the Marion Conservatory, and he was a promoter of' the enterprise. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra, better known as the Theodore Thomas Orchestra with Frederick Stack as conductor, was brought here for this event. The chorus of Marion singers presented "King Olaf" by Elgar, Mr. Theker conducting. The out-of-town solo- ists were: Daniel Beddoe, tenor; Miss Percival Allen and Miss Mar- garet Keyes; Mr. Green, bass. I have given where I could the names of out-of-town soloists of note, to show the educational advantage of their appearance among us. Those who must stay close at home have had the privilege of hearing these musicians during the Music Teachers' Conventions, the Music Festivals, the Eisteddfod and Choral Contest, also the entertainments of the Oratorio Society and Philharmonie Society.
There has been no admission charged and when these different musical events were first thought of and attempted, it was a risk to take. The activity and energy of our musical people, aided by the publie spirit of our citizens, carried this work to completion. A Marion andience is unconsciously critical, having heard such good music. Dur- ing the time of the recent Chautauqua, while some of the musical numbers were all that could be expected; others were not up to onr standard. Some twenty years ago, Marion musicians were much inter- ested in amateur theatricals and operettas. If money was to be raised for church or charity, this was the popular method. Mr. Larrimer dropped a remark that at the time he came to Marion, Hiram Beshore was abont as good an all around and publie spirited musician as any- one he knew. So I asked Mr. Beshore what other line of music he took an interest in beside band music. "Well," said he, "I directed the orchestra for some of the light operas given by home talent. One call secure any amount of timber for orchestra work now, and of the best, but then I sent away for my first violin, and also for a clarinet player."
"The Little Typhoon" was given twice, once in the interest of the Orphans' Ilome and once as a benefit for Harry Collins, who was a
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good tenor singer, a Marion boy, and about to embark upon a musical career. When this operetta was given for the Orphans' Home benefit, one of the performers has since told me, the young men of the jown . acting as guarantors, "fell in the hole" () believe that is the way to put it) nine dollars. It is to be hoped Mr. Collins fared better than the orphans. "The Pirates of Penzance" was also given by local talent. "Queen Esther" was given at White's hall near 1877, and must have been an imposing event. The part of Queen Esther was taken by Mrs. O. HI. Keller; the part of King Ahasuerus by a gentleman from Cincin- nati who came to Marion expressly to take this place. Mrs. M. C. Mead and Mrs. Kate less were the attendants of the queen ; Mrs. Mary Hlum- phries-Dodd, the wife of Haman; the part of Haman was taken by Mr. George Fravell: the part of Mordecai by Mr. O. H. Keller and Miss buey Humphries and Miss Anna Louise Brownlee were cup bear- ers. Near this time " The Gypsy Queen" was given at Sweetser's opera. house. Our Marion girls, dressed as gypsies, each with tambourines, gave drills and tableaux around campfires; tableaux from "Helen of Troy"-"The Dream of Fair Women"-were interspersed. These two last named events, and the " Naiad Queen, " mentioned in another place, were given as benefits for the Washington Street Christian church then under construction.
"The Mikado" was rehearsed, but for some reason, never given. "Princess Bonnie" was produced by home talent also, but no one remet- bers details. The opera "Pinafore" was given under the auspices of the Marion Conservatory in 1907, for a charitable benefit, Mr. and Mrs. Bax- ter having charge and singing the principal roles. Mrs. Lohmeyer, Miss Anna Lonise Brownlee, Frank Grinstead and Frank Johnson took leading parts. The Elks Lodge began years ago giving minstrel shows. Mr. Larrimer was the moving spirit in putting on the first of these enter- tainments. Some time later they took the form of musical comedy, and people from out of town who made it a business were secured to man- age these events. A Mr. Grubb at one time, I am told, and on two occasions Mr. and Mrs. Howe had charge. Miss Fanny Mexander was accompanist. Some of our people taking leading parts were the Misses Anna Louise and Bess Book Brownlee, Jessie Feighner, Lois Osborn, Mamie Kiley, Mrs. Lohmeyer, Mr. Tucker, Frank Johnson, Robert Loh- meyer and John O. Willson. At this time Me. and Mrs. Howe com- plimented Marion musical talent by saying that in no city of its size (or even in larger cities) did they find such fine talent for light opera work. The Knights of Pythias for some years past have given minstrel entertainments. Mr. Wuersten has had charge. Mrs. Susannah Leas Campbell has been accompanist, and it is said holds the musie together by her ability for correct time and accent. The Minstrel Quartet is a feature. It has the following members: Charles Mettuire, first tenor ; Ralph Roessler, second tenor; Carlos Rigdon, baritone; and Merrill MeKee, bass. In the after part of the entertainment, drills and fancy dances, given by young ladies of the city have been much enjoyed.
There was a time in Marion's history when comie opera, offen of first-class character, was produced at our theaters, even grand opera troupes often appearing. But for a few years past our show houses are given over entirely to vaudeville, which is much to be regretted. Friends and associates of the late "Heavy" Smith will remember his imitation of the calliope. Once at a charity concert given in the Sweetser opera house, he went to the trouble of fixing up a piano box with pipes of some kind, to look as much as possible like a calliope. At a certain time, when the curtain went up, there stood this "musical instrument." lle walked out on the stage soberly, dressed for the occasion, and sat
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down, imitating the playing with his hands and with his voice produc- ing such sounds as to almost exactly reproduce the music of the calliope. It was needless to say that the audience was highly entertained.
The musical interest created in Grant county by the teachers of the Academy and College, left a musical atmosphere quite unusual for that day. In 1868, Mrs. Starrett tells me, when Mr. Starrett and she came to Marion, they were pleasantly surprised to find it so. It may have been since then, from natural and unavoidable circumstances, the musical tide has ebbed for a time, but only to rise again, Mr. and Mrs. Starrett were both musical. She a soprano singer and he with a tine tenor voice. Mrs. Starrett took up Nan Sanford's music class, teach- ing for only a short time, as her family demanded her care. She turned her class over to Emma Harter (now Mrs. James V. Sweetser). Memory lingers fondest and longest about "my old music teacher," or "my first teacher" whichever way we happen to express it. Before the advent of conservatories and studios of music, they represented the musical advantages of the county, many of them having large classes in neighboring towns. Well remembered are Miss Linny MeDowell, Miss Fannie Behymer, Mrs. N. S. Highee, Miss Candace Zombro, Miss Norah Eshelman, Miss Jennie Mourer and Miss Mary Williams, after- ward Mrs. O. H. P. Cary; later Miss Mande Saylor and Miss Anna Landis; still later, Miss Ella Ammons, and no doubt others whom I have overlooked.
Mr. Ora Pearson came to Marion from Indianapolis on certain days and conducted a class, also orgamzing a choral class. I have been anxious that no personal touch should creep into this chapter, but per- haps it is not in bad taste to tell of a certain period, the incidents of which I remember as well as anyone else. In other parts of this article I have simply known to whom to go to for information, and the kindly helpfulness extended, will ever be to me a pleasant recollection. 1 remember Nettie Murphy coming back from Chicago where she had been taking both piano and voice lessons. She played "Silvery leaves" and sang "Eyes So Blue" and Tosti's "Good Bye" very sweetly, and we stay-at-homes were secretly envious and openly admiring. At this time the "Racquet Galop" (a new ragtime production, was boktty played in defiance of classical tastes. "The Shepherd Boy" was divid- ing the honors with "The Maiden's Prayer, " and " The Mocking Bird" had developed into variations. "When the Leaves Begin to Turn," was a song that made even April skies look like Indian summer. "Under the Daisies," was a great favorite. It rambled on something like this: "The beautiful, beautiful daisies-the snowy, showy daisies." The joyous enthusiasm of youth was but pleasantly tempered by its sadly sentimental strains. Now, alas, since life has taught a few lessons we would rather sing of hope and joy. Then Marion was proud of her beautiful shade trees, which so over-lapped the streets that even on moonlight nights the shadows were deep, and the whispering leaves spoke to the young heart musically. The boys hung around the streets serenading on the slightest provocation. The one or two railroads made little noise, street cars did not clang by, paved streets clamor to be heard, the honk, honk of the speeding auto did not warn loiterers off' the dusty streets to safety on the pebbly side walk. There were no picture shows, no fraternity houses, not many lodges or orders with inviting doors thrown open. Why not serenade or gather at the "Case home," or stop in at Lena Fry's for a bit of music, and maybe a wee bit of dancing, if some one was foolish enough to play the Nordica waltz? Your music was not made for you in those days; you had to make it yourself. About this time Miss Maggie St. John had returned
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from Indianapolis, where she had been taking vocal lessons. Her voice was as smooth and clear as a flute. She gave me one vocal lesson with a delicious supper thrown in, which was about the extent of my vocal training-Miss Miriam Brownlee was singing au alto full of melody, and she and Miss St. John often sang together; their voices blending exceptionally well. They sometimes received invitations from out of town to help in musical events. Miss Norah LenFesty was a high soprano singer whose tones were brilliant, and Mrs. Josie Starrett Spencer sang also a high soprano, sweet and bird-like. Mark Swayzee was manager of a quartet that sang for political meetings during George W. Steele's first congressional campaign with the following members: Frank Brownlee, Homer Allen, Harry Collins and John Ammons.
At this time Grant county in fancied activity lay only dreaming above that wealth of gas and oil that was to revolutionize her industries and change the town to the city of Marion. And along with other enter- prises came new elements musically. Miss Louise Willets will be remem- bered as a music teacher at about this time. Mrs. Dolly Richards (now Mrs. Mark Swayzee) also came to Marion and soon had a fine music class. Miss Harriet Porter was for a time a music teacher in our city. Later Miss Minnie Murdoff came with her parents to Marion. Her influence, musically, was at once fell. About fifteen years ago Mrs. H. L. Cushwa had a large musie class here. She is a graduate of the musical department of Coate's College, Terre Haute, afterward studying with William Sherwood, of Chicago. Mrs. Cushwa is a fine pianist and accom- panist. Miss Alna Tibbits had a large musie class in Marion, and is well remembered for her unusually deep contralto voice. Mrs. J. W. Nesmith was a teacher of piano and pipe organ. Her musical work in Marion was of importance. Mrs. A. M. Ervin is a musician who has been closely connected with the work of the conservatory. Miss Mame McRae is a teacher especially successful in interesting and starting aright those beginning musical study. Mr. George Doll has taught in Marion for six years past. He has a music room tittted up at his home, where he gives lessons. Mrs. Henry Pease has a class of about twenty-six pupils; she is a West Marion teacher. The Misses Julia and Nellie Kelsey have been for some years interested in Marion, musically, as teachers, although their home is just over the border in Converse, Miami county. Alex- ander Ernestinoff came to Marion first as a teacher of voice in 1894. from Indianapolis. On certain days he gave lessons at the home of Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Webster, being the teacher of Miss Jessie Webster, who has been connected with the music of the Congregational church. Hle had quite a large class for a time. Mrs. Webster has toht me that he was a very cultured man. He came from St. Petersburg, Russia. His god-father was the composer, Liszt.
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