John Dwight was the Chief of the Festal Series, and as he
was, first of all, a musician, it followed that music formed the
principal feature of our entertainments. Vocal and instrumental music
was thoroughly taught in the school, and, as nearly all the members of
the community were music lovers, and many were singers and players, the
place was melodious from morning until night. There was always some new
song or perhaps some very old one to be tried, some local composition to
be heard, or some preparation for future musical events to enlist
attention. Selections from the operas then known and now forgotten, were
given in the dining room; parts, with all the characters and choruses,
from "Zampa," "Norma" and the "Caliph of Bagdad" recur to my mind. Two
public concerts were given to pay for a new piano, and as the proceeds
did not quite fill the bill, we all gave up butter, selling the entire
product of the dairy for three months to make up the deficit. That was
just like Brook Farm. The most ambitious performance in my time was the
rendition of the Oratorio of Saint Paul, which was given twice by
request, but this was in the summer when we had ample room and verge
enough in the pine-grove amphitheater.
Pages:
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83