| Description |
Smyth' s music activities and his attention to detail: Rolls of officers and members of choir. Minutes of choir activities, including songs Practiced and songs sung. Programs of Stake Conference music Printed programs of operas and concerts produced. Data pertaining to finances of the choir. Lists of music purchased, from whom purchased and prices paid for it. An index of the choir's repertoire, which included 265 selections. Correspondence between Smyth and the Stake Presi- dency, regarding salary. Letters from Evan Stephens to Smyth inviting the Manti choir to sing at the dedicatory services of the Salt Lake Temple. Account of the Manti Choir's singing at the dedi- cation of the Manti and Salt Lake Temples. Membership and activities of the Manti Choir Orchestra. Sntyth's choral repertoire was very extensive and included compositions of such composers as Sophr, Gounod, Beethoven, Handel, Sir Authur Sullivan, Haydn, Mozart, Steiner, Gottsenalk, Flotow , Gose, Farmer , Mendelssohn, Dekoven, Mason and Rossini. Smyth's music activities, as with most directors were not all pleasant as the following three incidents will show: 1. Smyth moved from Salt Lake City, the music center of the state to Sanpete County because, according to one of his accompanists for twelve years, "he was kicked out of Salt Lake because of the jealousy of other musicians who were closer to the leaders of the Church."3 And according to Smyth's successor as director of the choir, "there was jealousy which existed, but I do not care to comment further."4 2. When the first edition of the L.D.S. Psalmody was published, Smyth would not use the book 3 Clair W. Reid. 4Edgar T. Reid. - 31 - |
