During his time time in Shreveport, O'Hare directed at least two secular choral groups.
The Dudley Buck Choral Society
In early 1893, Shreveport was abuzz with news of its new choral society:
The Choral Society will meet in the parlor at the City hotel on Tuesday evening at 8 o'clock. The members are requested to be present as the organization of the society promises to be one of the greatest benefits to our city. Good music is appreciated everywhere, and a Choral society means a number of our best musical talent who will rehearse and be fully prepared to lend their voices and services when occasion requires. Prof. W. C. O'Hare, who devotes his time to this profession, will meet the society and consummate its organization. --Jan. 1893 Some twenty-five or thirty ladies and gentlemen of Shreveport assembled last evening at the parlors of the City hotel for the purpose of taking the initiatory steps towards organizing a choral society. A temporary organization was effected by the selection of the following officers: J. W. Soady, president; Walter Marburg, secretary, and Prof. W. C. O'Hare, musical director. Several committees were appointed when the meeting adjourned to convene again next Tuesday night, when the permanent organization will be affected. --Feb. 1893 |
A newspaper reporter later explained, "When Shreveport's choral society was organized, the question of a name was wisely and patriotically disposed of by selecting that of America's most prominent and venerable composer, whose musical creations have given him a worldwide reputation, and so it was called the Dudley Buck Choral Society." --Feb. 1893
Dudley Buck (1839-1909)
Dudley Buck studied music with German masters and returned to the U.S. to serve briefly as a church organist in Hartford, Connecticut, and in Chicago. Among other subsequent posts, he served as organist for the Music Hall Association in Boston. as member of the faculty at the New England Conservatory, and as founding director of the male chorus at Brooklyn's Apollo Club.
As an organist and choir master, Buck played a major role in developing those professions in the U.S, and wrote books important to both fields. He composed cantatas, religious anthems, sacred songs, and the first American organ sonata.
Buck was well known for his ability to appeal to both professional and popular audiences. He directed a chorus of 800 at the 1876 centennial celebration in Philadelphia.
As an organist and choir master, Buck played a major role in developing those professions in the U.S, and wrote books important to both fields. He composed cantatas, religious anthems, sacred songs, and the first American organ sonata.
Buck was well known for his ability to appeal to both professional and popular audiences. He directed a chorus of 800 at the 1876 centennial celebration in Philadelphia.
Dudley Buck Choral Society Concert and a Louisiana State Chautauqua Performance
In May, 1893, the first announcement appeared of the Dudley Buck Choral Society's approaching concert and its invitation to perform at the state Chautauqua, scheduled to begin June 21 in Ruston and run six weeks.
In early June, a local paper promoted the upcoming concert: The citizens of Shreveport will be treated to a rare musical feast at the Grand opera-house Friday evening by the Dudley Buck Choral Society, a home organization composed of the best musical talent in our city. There will be forty well trained male and female voices, and a splendid orchestra of fourteen talented performers, selected pupils from the class of Professor Wm. C. O'Hare. . . . Professor Wm. O'Hare, that skilled leader, teacher and composer, of whose splendid ability in this line it is not necessary to speak in Shreveport, where he is so well known, was wisely chosen as musical director of the organization, and under his direction and guidance the society has reached a high degree of proficiency, and will give our people on the occasion mentioned one of the grandest musical entertainments ever attempted by home talent. |
The day of the concert, the paper listed nearly four dozen Dudley Buck Choral Society members and boasted of their progress:
The society is composed entirely of amateur home talent of the highest order, which, under the careful, experienced and able training of Prof. Wm. C. O'Hare, has reached such a degree of proficiency that it is now second to no amateur musical organization in the South, and is far superior to many of the best traveling professional organizations of the day.
The society was organized a few months ago through the efforts of some of Shreveport's most enthusiastic devotees of the divine art. The object was to gather together all those, both ladies and gentlemen, who loved music for music's sake, into a permanent organization for the sole purpose of musical enjoyment, and with the sincere and earnest hope that the society could finally be brought up to that degree of perfection in music which would give it a name and fame that would reflect credit upon our city and her people.
Following the concert, this news item appeared, attesting to Shreveport's appreciation of the performers' and director's work:
Our people have reason to be proud of the society, which was only organized a few months ago, for their progress has been wonderful and both the society and orchestra reflected a credit on their persevering and patient teacher, who has spared neither time nor pains to advance them. Lovely floral offerings were given the class and the younger pupils, and flower baskets were sent to Prof. O'Hare showing the appreciation of the lovers of good music.
A week later, members met again to decide about summer rehearsals and performance at the Louisiana Chautauqua in Ruston, approximately 70 miles west of Shreveport. Although a subsequent article announced the Dudley Buck Choral Society's decision to continue rehearsing and to sing at the state Chautauqua, no confirmation of such a performance has been found.
A Letter from Dudley Buck to O'Hare
When Dudley Buck received a Shreveport newspaper and a copy of the June 9th concert program, he replied to O'Hare:
Brooklyn, June 1893
My Dear Sir: I am in receipt of the newspaper and programme, kindly sent by you, whereby I see that you have honored me in Shreveport by adopting my name for your society. This is the more gratifying, coming from the south, as the far west (Colorado), and the east have already paid me the compliment during the past year. I have also received a programme from your secretary, Mrs. Randolph, which I would here acknowledge. You seem to be doing good and instructive work, judging from the pieces given.
Please present my regards to your society collectively, and for yourself accept the assurance of my most lively appreciation of the compliment rendered. Very truly yours, Dudley Buck
Nearly six months after its June 1893 concert, the Dudley Buck Choral society had undergone some changes but seems to have been prospering. New officers had been elected and some old ones re-elected. O'Hare had been retained as music director. A newspaper announced that it was "pleased to learn that the society resumes its winter work with a full membership and much enthusiasm."
Although a few original members had left Shreveport, new members had quickly taken their places, practice resumed, and the society announced a new program to be given in January 1894. If the concert occurred as scheduled, I have not found advertisements, programs, or reviews.
Although a few original members had left Shreveport, new members had quickly taken their places, practice resumed, and the society announced a new program to be given in January 1894. If the concert occurred as scheduled, I have not found advertisements, programs, or reviews.
O'Hare Choral Society
Presumably, the Dudley Buck Choral Society faded away over time or the name was discontinued. An O'Hare Choral Society, meeting at the director's residence, appeared in Shreveport's 1899 city directory.
No performance announcements or programs have been found for the O'Hare Choral Society.
Background image, top of page: Dudley Buck, famed choir director and organist