Clifford Demarest's Music Memorial Now at the Library, 1968

Clifford Demarest's Music Memorial Now at the Library, 1968

memorials

Newspaper article appearing in the Press Journal in on August 8, 1963 giving background information about Clifford Demarest and describing items donated to the library in his honor.

Tenafly Public Library scrapbook 1963 - 1970

August 8, 1963

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newspaper article

English

Text

clifforddemarestmemorial_1968.pdf

1963

Clifford Demarest's Music Memorial Now at the Library

TENAFLY—A gift of money for the purchase of phonograph recordings has been presented to the Tenafly Public Library by the Music Study Group in memory of Clifford Demarest. This gift, and others given in recent months, have enabled the library to build up its collection in a very satisfactory manner.

Mr. Demarest, member of one of the earliest families to settle in this area, was a key figure in the development of musical activity and appreciation in Tenafly. He served as superintendent of music in the school system from 1919 to 1937 and during that time was the only music teacher in the schools. His primary interest was in instrumental music and his high school orchestra was the best in the state for many years. At that time Tenafly Schools had many students from other towns in the Northern Valley, so that his influence extended far beyond the borough limits.

While instrumental music occupied much of Mr. Demarest's time at Tenafly, he nevertheless also specialized in chorus music. In the late 1920's, he and his good friend, the late noted Dr. Walter Damrosch reportedly had a bet, in which Mr. Demarest offered to present the full Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's "Messiah" by the Tenafly High School music groups, and Dr. Damrosch didn't feel it could be done acceptably by a high school.

Several hundred students were enrolled for the augmented music groups, and the triumphant vindication of Mr. Demarest's faith in their potential, resulted in the presentation of "The Hallelujah Chorus" each year thereafter while Mr. Demarest was at the schools. Many notables in the music world came to Tenafly High for that first concert, given about 1930.

Mr, Demarest was also one of the founders of the Neighborhood Glee Club, and for many years served as its director in Tenafly.The group, established about 60 years ago, gave annual spring and fall concerts in the Northern Valley for many years, a male chorus with as many as 80 members at one time, which still continues its musical traditions.

The Beethoven Orchestral Society was founded and directed by Mr. Demarest. This community orchestra of fifty to sixty members is remembered as a vital and exciting music organization which presented concerts over a period of many years. Mr. Demarest served, also, as organist at the Community Church in New York, the church at which John Haines Holmes was the minister. He was warden of the American Guild of Organists shortly before his retirement. He is known for many compositions for organ, organ and piano, and for orchestra; and as author of the book, "Hints on Organ Accompaniment."

Gifts for the music collection are playing an important part in the development of this new service in the library. Earphone sets, one for adults presented by the Earl Mosley family, and one for the junior room presented by the Junior Woman's Club; a stereo record player in the McCandless Room presented by the Kiwanis Club; money for records given by the Earl Mosley family, the Junior Woman's Club, Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Beggs; and records given by Mr. J. Y. Burgees, Mrs. E. Friedman and several of Tenafly's recording artists have all contributed greatly to the music offerings of the library.

A program of recorded music is presented in the McCandless Room of the library every Brit and third Monday evening of the month. All residents are most cordially welcomed for an hour of informal listening between 7:30 and 8:30 p.m.

newspaper article