Jasper County Democrat, Volume 21, Number 97, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1919 — MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE HERALDING WORLD’S GREATEST MISSIONARY EVENT OF THE CENTURY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE HERALDING WORLD’S GREATEST MISSIONARY EVENT OF THE CENTURY

Tiie Methodist Centenary Trombone Choir of 100 Instruments is here shown leaving the stage In recessional. At the head Is Frank M. Sutphen, director. This Is the first time 100 trombones ever have been organized Into a single musical unit. Above, at the left, Is 8. Earl Taylor, director general of the celebration, of New York. At the right Is W. B. Beauchamp of Nashville, Tenn., associate director general of the celebration, representing the Methodist Church South.

ONE hundred trombones, mobilized for the Methodist Centenary Celebration in Columbus, Ohio, June 20 to July 7, will pour forth the harmony of "Hallelujah Chorus” and “Holy City” in the huge Coliseum where the musical features of the celebration will be held. •„ ... 4 One hundred trombones —some so large and some so small that they must be made to order—-will blend their musjc in the largest, and, so far as is known, the only choir of its kind in the world. Being absolutely new and unique, the trombone choir has presented any number of difficulties to Its organizers, the Centenary Celebration committee. In the first place, they must find 100 trombone players within reasonable distance of Columbus. They solved this problem, by mobilizing all the professional players, and completing the organization with talented amateurs. Anthony Ruppersburg was made business manager of the choir,

and Frank M. Sutphen, a well known trombonist of Columbus, was secured as director of the 100 musicians, who are contributing their time and talent to making a success of the Centenary Trombone Choir. A greater problem lay in what to play, for no music had ever been written for a trombone choir of 100 players. It had to be specially prepared. Nationally known composers are now at work arranging such sacred and semi-sacred selections as the "Soldiers’ Chorus” from Faust, “Holy City,” “Hallelujah Chorus” and “Onward Christian Soldiers” for the huge choir. The Centenary Choir is composed of 12 soprano trombones, 18 altos, 40 tenors, 18 baritones and 12 bass trombones. These 100 instruments are arranged to form six separate choirs, each a musical unit in itself. At the extreme right of each bank, or choir, come two soprano trombones no larger than cornets. These instruments are made to order. Next come, three altos, then two first tenors, and

two second tenors. In the center of each row are the third and fourth tenors.' Next come the first, second and third baritones, each with a part of Its own, then the big B fiat bass trombone, and, on the end of each choir, the F bass, a majestic affair, which also had to be made to order for the Centenary Choir. “Most people have the mistaken Idea that the trombone Is a blaring, blasting Instrument, used solely for the purpose of making noise,” says Mr. Sutphen, the director. “On the contrary, It Is one of the truest of musical instruments. Having neither valves nor frets, it can be tuned perfectly as it Is played, and Its tones can be softened to the mellow notes of the violin. “So adaptable Is the trombone, so wonderful is Its power of expression, that it can take the place of flute, cello, cornet or violin, In an orchestra. And the same variety of tones may be perfected in a porrectly balanced choir of trombones as the largest organ can produce."