The October meeting of the Troy Music Study Club was hosted by Bill and Jane Denison Monday night October 24 in their home on West College Street with Melanie Hawkins as co-host.

Bill Denison called the meeting to order. Club members repeated the Club Collect and sang the Federation Hymn, “To Thee, Our God, Creator King”, words by Irene Foreman Williams and the hymn tune, LASST UNS ERFREUE, arranged by R. Vaughn Williams. It was led and accompanied by Bill Denison. Betty Spann gave the background of the “Together We Sing” song of the month, “Grandfather’s Clock”, words and music by Henry Clay Work in 1876, which was then sung by the club with Bill Denison directing and accompanying. June Kendrick read the poem “ The Female of the Species “ by Rudyard Kipling.

During the business session, reports were given by club officers. Club members were reminded of the November 6 Troy University Concert Chorale Concert at Bush Memorial Baptist Church at 3 o’clock. Troy Music Club members will be recognized. A discussion was held about the club feeding Scott Sexton’s St. Andrew’s High School Choir which will also sing at the concert. Scott is from Troy and a graduate of Troy University. A change in November and January meetings was discussed. The November program and venue will be the one listed for January. The club will meet at the Troy University Confucius Institute with Lyndia and John Dew and Amanda Ford as hospitality.

Following the business session, a program entitled “Secret Lives of Opera Composers” was presented by Bill Denison. To introduce the program, a recording of “La Donna E Mobile” from Rigoletto was played. The opera composer featured was Giuseppe Verdi. Denison presented the life of Verdi who was a much loved figure in Italy and the history of Opera. Verdi’s life was saved in 1814 when the army invaded the tiny village of Le Roncole.

His mother, Luigia Verdi ran up into the bell tower of the town’s church. The soldiers killed everyone in the church except her and the baby she had grabbed on the her way. They hid in the tower until the army was gone and it was safe to come down. Many other interesting facts were given by Denison.

Verdi was not only a composer of many operas but was a senator who lived to the age of eighty-seven. In closing a recording of Verdi’s “Diquella Piro” from IL Trovatore with tenor Placido Domingo was played.

After the program:. refreshments and social hour were enjoyed by members. The Troy Music Study Club was founded in 1905 and is affiliated with the National Federation of Music Clubs and the Alabama Federation of Music Clubs.