1929: All-State Orchestra and Chorus Organized NOTES DA CAPO – By John L. Puffenbarger,
WVMEA Historian Fall 2008 The invention of the phonograph was a great source of home
entertainment, and by the late 1920s, the invention of radio gave people an
opportunity to listen to performances by outstanding orchestras of the day. In
1930, a radio program titled "The School of the Air" pointed out that
"The School of Music is 'on the air'." Radio station WMMN in
In 1917, the WV Federation of Music Clubs was organized in In 1926, several music teachers in the state became
interested in promoting music in their schools by giving students an
opportunity to perform in an all-state group. They believed such exposure would
help create interest in instrumental and vocal music. Karl
Brown of Terra Alta, Glenn O. Sallack of The first WV State High School Orchestra concert was held on
October 31, 1927, at the State Education Association meeting in Interest in music programs in state schools was growing,
indicated by the fact that 143 students performed in the fifth performance of
the orchestra and 198 students sang in the fourth performance of the chorus in
concerts held on Thursday and Friday, October 29 and 30, 1931, in In 1930, Karl V. Brown ("Doc" as he was
respectfully called by his students) moved from TerraAlta
to Spencer. He served as general chairman of the 1931 chorus. The conductor of
the chorus was Marie D. Boette, supervisor of music, Schools represented in the chorus were The orchestra performed four selections: Overture to Der Freischutz, by Weber; Minuet from Symphony No 1 (strings only), by Glorges Valansen; L 'Arlesienne (Concert Suite No.1, Prelude, Minuetto, Le Carillon), by Georges Bizet; and Grand American Fantasie (America Forever), by Tobani. The chorus program consisted of six selections: La, How a Rose E'er Blooming, by M. Praetorius, A.D. 1609; The Sea Widower, by 1. Henry Francis (performed by the girls); Summer is A Coming In, edited by W.S. Rockstro; Were You There, arranged by H.T. Burleigh; Solders of the Captain, by L. Spohr; Stars of the Summer Night, by LB. Woodbury (performed by the boys); and A Song of Victory, by Percy E. Fletcher. The West Virginia School Journal reported, "The
organization of the voice parts in the chorus was beautifully balanced and from
many sources was regarded as the best concert that has been heard in this
series of assembling the young folds from the high schools in (Editor's note: For further information about the beginning of the WV All-State High School Orchestra and Chorus, see the November 1989 Notes da Capo article, "All-State Groups: Part of Our Heritage" by John L Puffenbarger on the WVMEA webpage.) |