Whitney's Famous Boy Sextette

              Whitney's FAMOUS Boy Sextette
MOST PHENOMENAL AGGREGATION of BOY VOICES IN THE NORTHWEST RANGE OVER 3 OCTAVES


Frank Damm   John J. Crow   Charles Eastey   Harry Redmann   Fred Crow   Joseph Vondrasek


JOSEPH LEICHT PRESS, WINONA, MINN. 17571



GRAND CONCERT

BY THE SEXTETTE

A whole evening's program of aesthetic harmonies given by mere boys is exceedingly rare, but when the group includes young artists who can sustain the tenor and bass with such peerless ability as to beguile an audience into believing that adult voices are enshrined in boys of fifteen, as by a master magician, it has marked an epoch in juvenile vocalization.  The above phenomenon is presented by this Sextette.  The repertoire consists of choice solos and duets, a superb rendition of male, female and mixed quartettes, and original arrangements especially prepared for this organization.




Figure

STRING QUARTETTE
Earl Wood   Jos. Vondrasek   Herbert Blace   William Rother

The String Quartett, made up of four Violins is in a way an unusual combination.  In fact, we know of no other in the State.  The boys have been carefully trained by Prof.  Carl Ruggles, which fact is clearly seen by the surety of attack, and sweetness of tone of the ensemble.



A GREAT BOY SOPRANO
Master John J. Crow, an Irish lad who was 13 years old September 19, 1907, is certainly a Maestro among boys.  His voice is marvelous in volume, yet posesses that liquid sweetness and bell-like clearness so essential in artistic work.  His high notes are sung with such ease and grace that the listener is at once surprised and delighted.

The wonderful control of voice together with the extraordinary intelligent interpretation enables him to sing his way into the hearts of the multitude.  He has taken F in alt.



A BOY HUMORIST
Master Fred Crow the 14 year old boy Humorist is bubbling over with Irish wit.  Everything comes to him funny end formost and something is coming most of the time.  His ability to dexterously bring out the most amusing points from the most amusing selections in the most amusing manner enables him to touch the risiblities of his audience.  He wears the smile perenniel which proves contagous.



SECOND SOPRANOS
Master Earl Neville and Frank Damm are splendid supports and uphold their parts in the sextette with precision and marked musical ability.



A LOW CONTRALTO
The Tenor is sometimes taken by Master Charlie Eastey, an American boy who was 15 years old October 2, 1907.  This voice is purely Contralto and is of such deep range and mellow quality as to enable him to sing the Tenor, an Octave below, with such liquid sweetness that one would believe the part was taken by a rich Tenor.  He has taken G below low C.



A WONDERFUL BOY BASS
Master Harry Redmann a German boy who was 15 years old September 20, 1907, has a voice so deep and powerful that one can scarcely realize they are not listening to a man with a heavy low Bass.  He is probably the lowest and most ponderous bass soloist for his age on this continent.





MR. H. E. K. WHITNEY
Pastor Second Congregational Church Director and Manager
Y. M. C. A. Building   Winona, Minnesota


Figure


Arrangements can be made for Addresses on the Boy Problem.

Mr. H. E. K. Whitney has had many years of practical experience with the Boy Problem.  Seven years he spent in evangelistic work in New England, three years in Worcester, Mass., Y. M. C. A. and three years in St. John, N. B., as Superintendent of the Boys' Mission, of which he was also the organizer.

His extensive experience not only qualifies him to speak with authority and intelligence, but enables him to offer valuable suggestions upon this subject so vitally important to every parent, Christian and patriotic citizen.


SUBJECTS—

The Importance of Work Among Boys.
History of My Mission or How to Reach and Discipline Boys.
Suggestions for Home Training.
How to Secure and Hold Boys in Sunday School.




CLIPPINGS
From the Canadian Press:


The speaker was heard with rapt attention as he pressed home in no uncertain terms the importance of training the boy and giving him a fair start in life.—
Yarmouth Light, N. S.


Though the hour was late Mr. Whitney held the attention of that great gathering for three quarters of an hour.—
Moncton Times, N. B.


Mr. Whitney's meetings were largely attended in the evening, about two thousand people being present.  Mr. Whitney handled his subject exceedingly well.—
Truro News, N. S.


Mr. Whitney made a strong and thoughtful address, which was listened to with keen interest by the large audience, and it will not doubt be productive of much good.—
Gleaner, Fredrickton, N. B.

From the American Press:


Mr. Whitney is a most interesting speaker and is thoroughly conversant with his subject.—
Kenebeck Journal, Me.


Mr. Whitney is a very entertaining speaker, and his entire address was full of dry wit and humor which convulsed his audience with laughter.—
Bangor News, Me.


The lecturesdrew large audiences who were well pleased.—
St. Charles Union, Minn.



TESTIMONIALS REGARDING THE SEXTETTE
The boys have developed wonderfully since I last heard them, about six weeks ago.  Especially deserving of mention is your first treble—John Crow—a boy whose voice shows such capabilities both in power, sweetness and expression, that I have no hesitation in saying that he has one of te best boy voices in Minnesota which would have been lost to the public but for your efforts.

Sincerely yours,
Christopher Thornton.

Professor Thornton, F. S. Sc. (London) is the Examiner in Music throughout America for the Society of Science.  Letters and Art, England, and for the London College of Music, England; Director of Winona College of Music, Winona, Minn.  Formerly organist and choirmaster at Davyhulme Parish, Church Manchester, England, and has held high appointments as conductor of choral and orchestral societies.

To Whom It May Concern:

Rev. H. E. K. Whitney and his band of boys held three services in my church, Sunday morning and evening and Monday night.

The boys' singing was just immense.  The attendance increased from meeting to meeting until Monday evening the church was filled to its utmost capacity.

Aug. 6, 1907.   L. L. Sowles, D. D. Pastor First Congregational Church, Dodge Center.

My dear Mr. Whitney:—

The concert given by your boys at this place gave excellent satisfaction, and was highly appreciated.  * * * I must further state after hearing your boys on three different occasions, you have a truly wonderful lot of boy singers who seem to captivate an audience with their first melody, and hold it spell-bound, during an entire evening.

Master John Crow is without doubt the finest boy soprano I have ever listened to and each one of the boys carries his part in an admirable manner.

Very sincerely yours,
Walter R. Kelley, Supt.
Feb. 13, 1908.   Eden Valley Schools.


HARRY THORNTON
Boy Pianist and Organist
Who assists in the program when especially requested.


Master Harry Thornton is a young English artist of exceptional ability.  As a pianist his solo work has always delighted the numerous audiences before whom he has appeared.  In accompaniment his ability is unsurpassed by any of his age, as he combines his natural musical temperament to the artistic and thus ensures sympathetic work.  As an organist, he deputized for his father (Prof. Christopher Thornton) at Manchester, England when only ten years of age, and is now constantly accepting engagements from leading churches.  All who have heard him predict a brilliant future for this English boy.




TESTIMONIALS
The Parsonage, Paynesville, Minn.  To Whom It May Concern.

Rev. H. E. K. Whitney, and his band of boy singers conducted the morning service in my enurch yesterday.  The building was crowded to its utmost capacity, and many had to remain in the vestibule.  Evidently the people expected great things, and they were not disappointed.  Everybody seemed to be preased immensely, and our best judges in musical matters concur in saying that the singing was extraordinarily excellent.  The Soprano work of Master John Crow is undoubtedly the best I have listened to, either in this, or the old country.  His rendition of The Holy City was magnincent; the highest notes in it seemed to be produced by him with the most sustained and consummate ease.  We consider that we have been greatly privilege in hearing this brilliantly-talented boy sing.  Every one of the boys deserves particular mention.

Mr. Whitney is to be highly commended for his faculty of selection and the careful training he must have bestowed in order to secure such a remarkable blending of voices.  Taken as a whole, this band of boys is a most phenomenal collection of musical talent, and wherever they go are capable of pleasing the most finical of critics.  Feb. 10, 1908

T. A. Stafford.

I think the boys are wonderful singers.

James Castle, Pastor M. E. Church, Kasson, Minn.



NEWSPAPER CLIPPINGS

Y. M. C. A. The Whitney Boy Sextette was greeted with an immense crowd that packed the gymnasium to standing room.  The sextette was very well received and the program was lengthened considerably by frequent encores which the audience demanded.  * * Master John Crow evidenced a great deal of musical ability and his high notes (E flat in alt) were very clear and musical * * the humorous work of Fred Crow caught the audience right and he was kept busy pleasing the audience with his work.  Master Harry Redmann and Chas. Eastey sang very acceptably Bass and Contralto solos and were encored.  The quartette and trio work showed good training in harmony.—
The Mankato Daily Free Press, Jan. 2, 1908.


The Auditorium of the M. E. Church was well filled and the singing by the Whitney's Boy Sextette was greatly appreciated.  The boys did themselves proud.  Master John Crow sang Face to Face with such feeling and expression that it elicited an encore.  * * This boy's voice is a wonder and its sweetness of tone was a revelation to his hearers.  Master Redmann and Eastey sang a duet, Juanita eliciting much applause.  The Whistling of the Mocking Bird was greatly appreciated.—
The Graphic Sentinel, Lake City, Minn., Oct. 23, 1908.


At the evening services of the First Congregational Church Mr. Whitney's Boy Quartette sang very acceptably.  Their voices show much sweetness and strength.  * * Master John Crow sang Face to Face in a manner that showed great power, sweetness and no little sense of sympathetic modulation.—
The Winona Independent, oct. 14, 1907.



To secure such a wonderful combination of boys has been no easy task, but has required the most energetic and persistent research.  Eight different nationalities are represented, American, Bohemian, English, French, German, Irish, Italian and Norwegian.  A musical program of fifteen distinctly different features can be given.



BOY PREACHER

Figure



OSCAR VIELE
12 Years of Age
The greatest wonder of the age.  Rivets attention of any audience with his earnestness and eloquence.  Converted at 7; began preaching at 10.  Has preached in four states, some of his audiences numbering several thousand




Sermon by Young Boy at Second Congregational Church

One of the Many Newspaper Clippings About the Boy Preacher


The people began coming early and before 7:15 all the sitting room was taken, and before the hour for beginning service the people were packed in along the aisles thicker than a Twin City street car in a jam.  Several hundred persons were unable to gain admittance at all and after braving the chill wind of one of the coldest nights experienced this winter had to turn around and go back home after getting to the church.
Rev. H. E. K. Whitney, who had direction of the service, started the singing at 7.20 o'clock ten minutes ahead of time, the church then being crowded to the doors.  After a song service lasting for half an hour, given by Mr. Whitney's boys.  Oscar Viele was introduced as the boy preacher and he spoke for about thirty-five minutes.
Young Viele is nothing more than a boy and rather short at that for his twelve years, but he is an unusually bright and intelligent boy, and in his preaching is natural and true to himself.  There was no straining for effect and yet he spoke in an unusually clear and distinct voice so that there was not the slightest difficulty in hearing him all over the church.  Notwithstanding the jam perfect quiet prevailed all the time he was speaking.
Young Viele took for the theme of his discourse last evening Heaven, basing his remarks on the last chapter of the book of Revelations.  He read the chapter and spoke of the joys of the life to come and made an earnest plea that his hearers so live that they might enjoy them.
Notwithstanding the big jam in the church there were very few people who went out during the sermon.
He attended Sunday school at the Second Congregational church and in response to an invitation from Mr. Whitney addressed a boys' class, telling of his experience.
His conversion, he said, followed that of his parents.  One night after he and the other children in the family had gone to bed they heard their parents doing something and came down to see that it was and observed them engaged in prayer.  When they were thru Master Viele asked if he might pray too, and that was his first prayer.
Soon after that he gave his first testimony and since then had worked up into preaching.  He was only ten years old when he delivered his first sermon.
The musical program at last evening's service was carried out by Mr. Whitney's boys, who have come to be so well known in Winona and was up to their usual standard of excellence.  Especially fine was the rendering by John Crow of The Choir Angelic.  In order that the entire service might be carried out by boys, Mr. Whitney was further assisted last evening by Harry Thornton, who presided ably at the organ, rendering the various accompaniments in a sympathetic manner and giving several appreciated organ numbers.—

The Winona Daily Republican-Herald, Jan. 27, 1908.