Old Stoughton Musical Society
Home History About Us Join Us Concerts Make a Gift Contact Us Links
Previous	Back to Main History Page	Next
SACRED CONCERT ON THE PAGEANT GROUNDS   At the 200th Anniversary of the Town of Stoughton   One of the greatest events in the history of our two oldest existing musical societies in America occurred August 22, 1926, when the 200th Anniversary Celebration of the Town of Stoughton was opened by a Sacred Concert on the Pageant Grounds at three o'clock in the afternoon, in which the "Old Stoughton Musical Society" and the "Musical Society in Stoughton" joined. A beautiful day made it possible to give the concert in the open. There were over 150 in the chorus, including singers from the surrounding towns, and 35 in the orchestra. Among those in the orchestra were:   Mace Gay, Director Violins Clarinets George E. Shepard, No. Easton Chester L. Hayward, W. Bridgewater F. William Kempf  Marshall Stevenson, No. Easton Esther Kelle Wilbur C. Howes, Easton Corinne F. Tileston, Randolph   Bella Porter Bassoon Gwendolyn Dean Fred Bettoney Beulah Rideout   Ralph Iervolino, Brockton Horns John Walsh, Lynn William C. Gebhardt Maurice Greenberg Albert Gilcher, Boston Miss Georgie A. Chapman     Piano Viola Laura S. Gebhardt James C. Wood, Whitman Reuben L. Willis     Cellos Tuba Ellis B. Porter, Hingham James F. Doherty Wilmer E Comstock     Trumpets Bass Lester Morrill, Brockton B. Frank Gardner, No. Easton C. Fred Lyons, Randolph   Miss A. Marie Warfield, Brockton Flutes Lawrence Gurney, No. Easton Etta M. Bailey   Charles E. Abbott, Needham Trombone   Carl Hampe, Stoughton Drums Harry Kummer, Brockton Franklin Linfield     Pageant Group—S. Minot Crane, Frank W. Crane, W. Elmer .Crane, all of Avon   An audience of nearly three thousand people filled the seats and the applause was generous to the numbers on the program. Assistant Chorister Eugene M. Toomey conducted in absence of Chorister George Sawyer Dunham, of Brockton. The solos were masterly rendered and the chorus work was pleasing to the conductor, showing the result of his long and patient drilling. The orchestra, with Mace Gay directing, rendered Edwin A. Jones' "Lockinvar Overture" in a pleasing manner. Mr. Gay was a close friend of Mr. Jones from boyhood. The purpose of the old societies, - "to practice and perpetuate the music of native composers" was carried out in the arrangement of the program. Music from the oldest to the latest composer found place among the numbers.   A particularly pleasing number was the chorus, "The Flag of All Our Country," composed and conducted by a fellow-member, Mrs. Laura Shafer Gebhardt, sung in public for the first time. The words were written by Henri L. Johnson, who was also a member, and who expected to be present but owing to an accident was detained at home. The flag was borne by a Legion man (Mr. Morton Bird) in front of the chorus during the number, and the applause was great.   Reverend Charles J. Ring, of Boston, a Stoughton boy, was present, as well as the Reverend Charles E. Beals, of Manchester, N. H., also a Stoughton boy. Mr. Beals pleased his audience with a reminiscent address. Miss Fanny Buck, one of the Society's prima donnas, came from Washington, D. C, to attend the exercises. A copy of the program follows: The Program   Sunday Afternoon, August 22, 1926   Lochinvar Overture Orchestra Edwin A. Jones   Mace Gay of Brockton, Director   Invocation Rev. Charles J. Ring of Boston     1. Chorus a. Old Stoughton 1886, E. A. Jones b. New Bethlehem, prior to 1800, E. French c. Jehovah's Praise, White Soloists, Miss Holmes, Mrs. Gebhardt   2. Contralto Solo Allelujah, Mozart Miss Elva Boyden of Brockton   3. Chorus a. Turner 1802, Maxim b. Invitation 1793, Kimball c. Rainbow 1790, Swan d. Chester 1770, Billings   4. Recitative Now Is Christ Risen 1886, E. A. Jones Air Rouse Thee, O Zion Mr. Toomey Chorus Sing We to the Lord, 1886, E. A. Jones Solos Miss Holmes   5. Bass Solo Up from Somerset Robert A. T. Nelson of Brockton   6. Chorus The Flag of All Our Country Laura S. Gebhardt Words by Henri L. Johnson, 1908   NOTE: Sung for the first time in public and conducted by the composer, Mrs. Gebhardt.     7. Address Rev. Charles E. Beals, Manchester, N. H.   8. Chorus a. Majesty previous to 1800, Billings b. Sons of Zion, Naumann c. Victory 1793, Read   9. Contralto Solo, The Bird of the Wilderness, Horsman Miss Boyden 10. Chorus Jerusalem, My Glorious Home 1849, Mason Hail, All Triumphant Lord 1886, E. A. Jones   Everybody join in singing - America, Auld Lang Syne, Star Spangled Banner     Soloists Miss Pearl V. Holmes of Stoughton Mrs. Laura Shafer Gebhardt of Stoughton Miss Elva Boyden of Brockton Mr. T. Francis Toomey of Stoughton Mr. Robert A. T. Nelson of Brockton   Concert Conducted by EUGENE M. TOOMEY, Chorister of the Musical Society in Stoughton     At the close of the program all joined in singing America, Auld Lang Syne, and Star Spangled Banner, thus ending one of the finest concerts in the history of the Society.   The early history of Stoughton and the history of "Early Concert Life in America" are not complete without considering Stoughton's "music clubs;" consequently the musical societies were invited to take part in the Pageant, re-enacting, as episode 9, the friendly musical contest in 1790 between the Old Stoughton Musical Society and the Dorchester Choir, in which the Stoughton Society was victorious. Those members representing Dorchester were:     Sopranos Mrs. Edwin D. Adams Eleanor Buckley Helen Curtis Hilda Durbeck Mrs. Laura Gebhardt Frances Gitto Pearl V. Holmes Mrs. Blanche Hammond Helen Hanley Ruth Kelle Mrs. Hazel Lothrop Mrs. Lillian Merrick Miss Adelaide Washington Mrs. Blanche White Mrs. Alice Hodges     Altos Mrs. Olive Bisbee Mrs. Frank Burnham Mrs. Charles E. Dodge Mare Harvey Constance Leonard Mrs. Elmer Maltby Miss Hazel Waite     Tenors W. Elmer Crane, Avon S. Minot Crane, Avon Harry Curtis William H. Cushing Dr. E.S. Tracy, Brockton E. Bronson Gay     Basses Charles Bisbee Willard Emery G. Lester Gay Arthur Martin Charles S. Porter       The Stoughton Society of male voices was represented by:   1st Tenor 1st Bass Charles Abbott Morton A. Capen Heber Capen Wilmer E. Comstock John P. Estey, Brockton James Dean Bernard Marron Arthur McCarthy Walter Mueller William Russell John Quill George Sprague, Sr. Wallace Reynolds, Avon   Arthur L. Willis, Brockton 2nd Bass   Herbert Dodge 2nd Tenor Herbert D. James, Brockton Frank Crane, Avon Frank Reynolds Merrill Hill T. Francis Toomey George Richmond Ernest B. Southworth Reuben Willis William H. Capen William Healy       There had been good rehearsals under the guidance of Mrs. Gebhardt and Reuben Willis. The male chorus sang Edward French's "New Bethlehem" without music, and Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus" (abridged) with notes. The mixed chorus sang "Majesty" and "Chester." With bright, showy, Colonial costumes and well rendering of the music, the Old Stoughton Musical Society proved itself still to be a lively organization contributing in no small measure to the wonderful success of the three nights of the "Pageant, Old Stoughton."     (1) Rev. Paul Sperry, Brockton; (2) Joseph P. Draper, Canton; (3) George W. Currier, Braintree; (4) Lewis Alden, Holbrook   (5) Henry S. Porter, Brockton; (6) Corinne F. Tileston, Randolph
Previous	Back to Main History Page	Next