The OkieLegacy

Castle On The Hill
1937 The Ranger Annual
Northwestern State Teachers' College

Music Department

The department of music at Northwestern was organized in the fall of 1902 by Professor E. C. Marshall. In 1920, when Northwestern became a four-year college a full four-year course leading to the Bachelor's degree with a major i music was established. The first music major student was graduated in 1922. At present, 53 students are following single or double major courses in music.

The present faculty of the department consists of Professor E. B. L. Hardy, Head of the Department and instructor in voice, theory, and public school music and conductor of the A Cappella Choir; Associate Professor Wm. F. Deusinger, instructor in instrumental music and director of the band and orchestra; Miss Margery Smith, instructor in piano; Mrs. E. B. L. Hardy, instructor in voice and director of the men's and women's glee clubs.

The department of vocal music for a long time has been regarded as one of the outstanding departments of Northwestern. Its organizations are in demand throughout the entire year for public performance on occasions of all kinds. The A Cappella Choir, which was the first collegiate group of its kind in Oklahoma, has become one of the most famous choral groups in the entire Southwest. It is a vested choir of 45 voices, singing from memory a repertoire of more than thirty standard scard and secular compositions. The choir has this season made a tour through the Oklahoma Panhandle, Texas and New Mexico, giving 14 concert performances and visiting the famous Carlsbad Caverns enroute. The choir has made more than 30 public appearances during the season including an appearance with Charles Wakefield Cadman, noted American composer of operas and art songs. The male quartet consisting of Lawrence Lynch, first tenor; Floyd Carpenter, second tenor; Blaire Nelson, baritone, first soprano; Gerna Lee Stambaugh, second soprano, and Cleone Hays, contralto, have appeared often with the choir, as well as being in popular demand for separate appearances.

The men's and women's glee clubs are groups of recent organization, which are showing excellent progress in their work. The entire membership of the aforementioned groups constitutes the Northwestern Choral Society, which has become famous in past years by the presentation of major works in the form of oratoric and cantata, including the "Messiah" by Handel, "The Holy City" by Gaul, "The Crucifixion" by Stainer, "The Rose Maiden" by Cowen, "The New Earth" by Henry Hadley, and "HOra Novissima" by Horatio Parker. The production chosen for the coming summer session is "Swan and Skylark" by Goring-Thomas.

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