Evening Star Newspaper, February 3, 1929, Page 59

MU SIC BY HELEN FETTER. will be featured musically in Washington by the presen- tation of the remaining three of the “Ring des Nibelun- gen” tetralogy, and “Tristan und Isolde,” all by Richard Wagner, and produced by the German Grand Opera Co. All perform- ances will begin at an early hour of the evening, and, with such an hour, two annoying obstacles which hampered the matinee per- formance of “Das Rheingold” January 23, should be absent. ‘The company should be able to get settings and costumes in place so as to start on time and the pounding pile-driving ma- chine used in the daytime in con- struction work on a lot back of the theater should be silent. It is probable that the German Grand Opera Co., as reorganized by S. Hurok, a recognized leader among managers of musical events of New York, will content itself - with giving the Wagnerian works . with as adequate equipment, mu- sically, scenically and histrionic- ally, as it can without attempting further to make any allusions to “Bayreuth Traditions.” - Mrs, Siegfried Wagner, wife of the son of the great composer, - has written a letter of protest, disclaiming any connection with this company or the latter’s right to attach Bayreuth glory to its banner. The letter, addressed to Lawrence Gilman, critic of the New York Herald-Tribune, re- questing he deliver the message !uirgher to the American press, said: THE opening week of February “Bayreuth. Haus Wahnfried. den P 29 Dezember, ‘2! “Dear Mr. Gilman: . | “The inclosed prospectus of-Ona B. Ta bot brings an announcement of ‘Bayreutl comine to Indianapolis. ~We know that this #0: Grand Opera, Co. is again n enterprise of Mr. Blumental's. ' As soon we heard about our name ‘Bayreuth’ be- ing_brought into connection with this, we wrote to Mr. Blumental strictly forbidding him to call his company ansthing like Bay- reuth! He sent us a very old dirty-looking i and the words Gran 3 3 pame. How can they do so thinking of the facts that they have not our orchestra. mot our chorus, none of our conductors, none of our decorations and none of our technical men? They may perhaps have one or the other of our. sololsts—but that is mot Bay- reuth, is it? Could we ssk Yyou to nol to tl ‘whole enterprise has nothing on earth to do i th? We will feel very much th Wm‘:h{"u?'eg:?fihu of the season and kindest regards from both of us. sin- cerely yours. 'WINIFRED WAGNER.” This does not necessarily mean that the productions which the German Grand Opera Co. will present in Washington during the coming week may not be very worthy presentations, but it does mean that any audiences witness- ing them should not confuse them with the productions given with such laborious care and precision in Bayreuth which are festival events to which musicians from the whole world make pilgrimages during the Summer season. It is to be hoped that the pro- ductions this week will be exceed- ingly interesting and entertaining. ‘There is an education value of de- cided degree attached to any sin- cere presentation, however hum- ble, of the works of such a master as Richard Wagner. Much in- spiration can be aroused even if they are not given in the “Bay- reuth manner.” “Das Rheingold,” already given, and “Die Goetterdaemmerung,”the final opera in the tetralogy, are especially distinguished by this being their inlxhl presentati.lg‘xlx in ‘Washington. A very good produc- tion on a modest scale was offered of “Die Walkuere” by the Wash- ington Opera Co. last year and “Tristan und Isolde” much liked by as many as given by this company. The writer did not hear it. The stories of the three remain- ing “Ring” operas and also of that master-work, “Tristan und Isolde,” are given concisely else- where on this page. For those who care to find preparation for understanding the musical scores, there are lecture recitals an- nounced by Miss Anita Schade for Priday night at her studio, by Miss Julia Schelling at the D. C. headquarters of the League of American Pen Women on Sixteenth street, this afternoon, and there ’I'HERE are many February dates for music events, beginning with three tomorrow—the last of the current series of the Misses Sutro’s morning programs, a Colo- nial program reconstructed with the aid of the music division rec- ords and manuscripts from the ance of “Die Walkuere ” and also a concert in the evening by the Sacred Heart Choir, when Hazel Arth, the Washington contralto, who won the first Atwater Kent prize this season, will be one of the soloists. Later, in addition to the above-mentioned opera dates, the week includes a recital by Sigrid Onegin, the last of the cur- rent year’s programs sponsored by Mrs. Townsend, when Rosa Pon- selle and Eddy Brown will share the program, and a joint concert by the Columbia and George Washington University Glee Clubs. Later in the month come the Revelers, famous first via radio; the Philadelphia Symphony Or- chestra, under Artur Rodzinski; the Flora McGill Keefer-Frank La Forge program, a lecture recitel on modern music by Aaron Cop- land, the third and last of the Franco-Belgian Festival programs, a Saint-Saens evening, Rosa Pon- selle in solo afternoon recital and the final Philadelphia SKmphony concert of the season, with Eugene Goossens, the young English con- ductor, who is so sympathetic an interpreter of the moderns, as leader. Doubtless other events will spring to light from week to week, as they seem to have a way of doing. Even so, the above is not a light calendar of a month’s music to be heard, thought about s. |and digested. ok An interesting piece of news is found in the recent election of President Calvin Coolidge to hon- orary membership in the Philhar- monic-Symphony Society of New York. This is announced to be the first election of this sort in almost a quarter of a century. President Coolidge, who has manifested great interest in the Washington concerts of the or- chestra, is the first Chief Execu- eive | tive to become affiliated with the society as honorary associate. Honorary membership is infre- quently bestowed, and was re- served originally only for distin- ished musicians who had volun- eered to appear as soloists with the orchestra in its early days, and for composers who in some way had assisted the orchestra. * k% ok A college glee club, or its equiva- lent, a “nngfng society,” which has existed for more than half a cen- tury, will agpenr here in joint re- cital with the George Washington University Glee Club Tuesday. Records show that the earliest such organizations was founded in Columbia College in 1873, when the Varsity Quartet was estab- lished. This male quartet enter- tained various campus gatherings with familiar college songs. The next year found the quartet had become an octet, and two years later it blossomed forth as a dou- ble octet. As the size increased the group attracted more and more attention, It became the nucleus about which other musical activities of the college centered. Instruments were added to voices, and in time the Musical Club of Columbia College appeared. This group endured until five years ago. , with the thought that the interests of each of the separate m‘lg: would be served ter by m: g each independ- ent of the others, the Musical Club became the orchestra, the Glee Club and the Instrumental Club, each under a different director and managed by a different board. This change gave the Glee Club the freedom it long had lacked. The quality of the music sung went immediately to a standard com- arable to that maintained by the oremost choruses of the East. The club is directed by Mr. Wil- liam Frederick McDonald. He is a graduate of Columbia, class of ’27, and was student leader of the Glee Club during his senior year. He is 3 man of rare musical abil- doubtless will be others. ity and very pleasing personaljty. Stories of the (_)peras “DIE WALKUERE.” TBIS second in the tetralogy of “Der Ring des Nibelungen” will develop the motif of the magic sword, sounded in the end of the “Rheingold” and tells the story of the favorite daughter of ‘Wotan, king of the gods, and Erda- Brunnhilde—one of the nine Valkyries. ‘The duties of these warrior-like maidens are to carry earthly warriors who have been slzin in battle to Valhalla, home of the gods, where they will make a protecting army for Wotan, who, since he has become involved in the sordid tangle of the ring tragedy, is striving in every way to down the hostile pow- ers. In the guise of Waelse, a warrior, ‘Wotan has lived on earth with a mortal woman and js, unknown to them, the father of Siegmund and Sieglinde. The latter, when become a woman, has been married to Hunding and is ignorant of the fact that Siegmund is her brother when they first meet—he coming wounded and weary tp her hut in a storm. They fall in love; he finds the magic sword stuck in a free up to the hilt and, in a-paen of Spring-like ec~ stasy, they go out together. Fricka, the goddess of marriage and ‘Wotan’s consort, hears of this affair and has a long argument with her lord in Which she wins his promise to punish Siegmund 2nd Sieglinde. Brunnhilde is summoned and given lengthy and even contradictory directions by her father. (The music of this scene is some of the most beautiful in the opera). Brunn- hilde disobeys her orders. and, at the crucial moment, saves Sieglinde al- though Siegmund is killed by Hunding, who is backed in the battle by Wotan. Then Wotan seeks out his erring daugh- ter, and denounces her right to a god- head as she stands before him in the midst of her elght sorrowing sister Valkyries. He puts her to sleep till a demi-god shall break the spell and fight through the flaming wall, which Loge erects at Wotan's command, to awaken Brunnhilde. The magic fire spell music is played and again a new and antici. patory motif closes this second opera- it is the motif of Siegfried, son of Seigmund and Sieglinde. “SIEGFRIED.” “The third opera in the tetralogy opens with Mime, dwarf brother to Alberich, the original pilferer of ne Rheingold, hammering at a sword, hoping in vain the dragon in the forest (which is helm) and to secure the ring for Mime, who then intends to kill Siegfried. The latter, however, is innocent of Mime’s dark plans; he only knows that he wants a sword worthy of his strength and desires to fare forth to adventure. He manages to get the secret of his real parentage out of the dwarf and also finds the pleces of his father's master sword, which he himself forges into a new and powerful weapon, singing as he does 50 a beautiful air. Then he oes and kills the dragon, and, -tasting blood, finds he can understand the speech of the birds, who warn Sleg- friend of Mime and his scheme. Sieg- fried kills Mime. Then, after a short meeting with Woan to whom the youth is extremely discourteous, Siegfried fights his way to Brunnhilde’s rock and awakens her to human love, learning himself, at the same time, the emotion of fear. In the midst of their beautiful love duet again a theme of the next ngerl to come is forecast in the use of the Valhalla motif. “DIE GOETTERDAEMMERUNG.” “The Dusk of the Gods” opens with a scene in which Siegfried is leaving Brunnhilde for his famous journey down the Rhine. He gives her the fa- mous “ring” which he had wrested from the dragon form of Alberich (secured by the dwarf from Fasolt) as his pledge to Brunnhilde. She gives him her horse. In the Rhine country he comes to the hall of the Gibichungs, where a plot | against him has been pre-arranged so as to secure him as husband to Gutrune to bring the power indirectly to the hand of Hagen, half-brother to her, and to bring Brunnhilde as queen to Gunther (Gutrune’s own brother), who is chief of the Gibichungs. With a magic drink they erase Brunnhilde and the love for her from Siegfried’s mind and get his consent to use the tarnhelm to disguise himself as Gunther to carry Brunnhilde down to become the real Gunther's bride. Waltraute, one of the Valkyries, in the meantime, pleads with Brunnhilde to give up the ring, but the latter refuses to part from her lover'’s gift, even though it mean the ifall of the gods. Brunnhilde is cap- tured and later learns the whole plot, though she suffers at Siegfried’s appar- ent unfaithfulness to her and is party to construet a weapon strong enough for the stalwart young Seigfried to slay to a plot that results in his death. Sieg- (Continued on Eleventh Page) Library of Congress; the perform- | Alberich in disguise by use of the tarn-|the first THE SUNDAY STAR. WASHINGTON. D. ©. FEBRUARY 8. 1920_PART 7 FAMOUS SINGERS AND OTHERS GIVING PROGRAMS IN WASHINGTON THIS WEEK SIGRID ONEGIN, POLIS, TUESDAY ROSA PONSELLE MAYFLOWER, WEDNESDAY NATIONAL STRING QUARTET WASHINGTON CLUB-TOMORROW. JOHANNA G ADSK], POLIS ~ TOMORROW EVENTS OF THE WEEK TOMORROW. A program featuring Colonial music will be given by the National String Quartet, Kathlyn Newman, soprano, and Harrison Christian, baritone, under the auspices of the Misses Sutro, at the Washington Club, at 11 am. “Die Walkuere,” second opera in the “Ring” cycle by Richard Wagner, will be presented by the German Grand Opera Co., at Poli’s Theater, at 7:45 p.m. The Sacred Heart Choir and soloists, featuring Hazel Arth, Atwater Kent prize winner, will give a concert in the large ballroom of the Willard Hotel, at 8:20 p.m. TUESDAY. x Sigrid Onegin, contralto, will give a song recital at Poli’s Theater, at 4:30 p.m. “pristan und Isolde” will be given by the German Grand Opera Co., at Poli’s Theater, at 7:45 p.m. A joint recital will be given by the George ‘Washington and Co- lumbia University Glee Clubs, at the Mayflower Hotel, at WEDNESDAY. Rosa Ponselle, Metropolitan Opera prima donna, and Eddy Brown, violinist, will give a joint recital at the Mayflower THURSDAY. “Siegfried,” third of the “Ring” tetralogy, will be presented by the German Grand Opera Co., at Poli’s, at 7:45 p.m. SATURDAY. . :‘Die Goetterdaemmerung,” final opera in the “Ring” will be given by the German Grand Opera Co., at Poli’s, at T p.m. 8:30 pm. Hotel, at 11:15 am. A COLONIAL PROGRAM—Tomorrow. ‘The Misses Rose and Otillle Sutro will feature music of the colonial days in this country in the third and final event in the series of three morning programs tomorrow, at 11 a.m., at the ‘Washington Club. This program was reconstructed with the assistance of the music division at the Library of Con- ‘r’.i‘ufio young American singers, Kathlyn Newman, soprano, and Harrison Chris- tian, baritone, will give groups of songs, foreign and American, appropriate to the period, and the National String Quartet will play Dittersdorf's “String Quartet.” Miss Newman will sing songs by Haendel, Haydn, Paradies, Mozart, Ar- nold and a song by Francis Hopkinson, American composer, and & signer of the Declaration of Independ- ence. Arnold’s “Wayworn Traveler,” which she will sing, is said to have been a favorite song of George Washington's, the first President having often request- ed Nellle Custis to sing it for him. Mr. Christian’s songs will include works by Hopkinson, Purcell, Arnold and Haendel. Tickets may be purchased from 2230 California street and, the morning of the concert at 1010 Seventeenth street, the Washington Club. SACRED HEART CONCERT— ‘Tomorrow. Hazel Arth, the young Washington contralto, who won the first prize of $5,000, a gold medal and two-year scholarship, granted recently by the At- water Kent Radio Foundation, will be a soloist in the program to be given tomorrow night at 8:20 o'clock at the Willard Hotel in the large ballroom by the choir of the Shrine of the Sacred Heart. Miss Mary Louise Sullivan, or- ganist and director, has arranged the program. Miss Arth will sing the aria from Saint-Saens’ opera ‘“Samson et Deli- la”—“Mon Coeur S'Ouvre a ta Voix” —which she sang at the final contest which won her the above-mentioned prize. She also will sing “My Lover I3 a Fisherman,” by Lily Strickland, American composer. Other soloists will be Mabel C. Lati- mer, soprano; Robert M. O'Lone, tenor; George Beuchler, baritone, and Miss Sullivan, who will give a group of organ solos. In addition there will be choral selections by Perosi, Palestrina, Tschaikowsky, Elgar, Friml, Adams and an arrangement of the Irish London- derry Air. The quartet will sing one group and there will be two selections by the male chorus. Following the concert there will be dancing until 1 am. SIGRID ONEGIN, Tuesday. Mme. Sigrid Onegin, a great con- tralto, is scheduled to make her only concert appearance this season at Poli's Theater Tuesday at 4:30 p.m., as the fourth attraction in Mrs. Wilson- Greene's Artists’ Course. ‘Mme. Onegin will be accompanied at the piano by Franz Rupp. ‘The program will open with the aria from Meyerbeer's "Le Prophete”; "Ah Mon Fils!” which will be followed by two Mozart songs, “Das Veilchen,” and “Warnung.” A group of two Haydn numbers, “She Never Told Her Love,” and “Plercing Eyes” will precede a group of four Schubert songs, “Die Allmacht,” “Ins Gruene,” “Die Maenner sind mechant,” and “Der Erlkoenig.” The scene and rondo from Nicolo Isouard’s “Billet de Loterie,” “Non je ne veux pas chanter,” will precede the final number of the program, the aria of Eboli, “O don fatale” from “Don Carlos,” by Verdl. Seats are on sale at the concert bu- reau, in Droop’s, 1300 G street north- west. COLUMBIA AND GEORGE WASHING- TON GLEE CLUBS—Tuesday. Thirty singers of the Columbia Uni- versity Glee Club and thirty of the George Washington University Glee Club will present a joint concert in the ball- room of the Mayflower Tuesday at 8:30 p.m. Each club will give groups of songs and_there will be two groups by the combined clubs, Solos will be sung by the baritone soloist of the Columbia University Club and there will be num- bers by the George Washington Quar- tet—Edward Carey, first tenor; Carr Ferguson, second tenor; James McLain, baritone, and Elmer Gorn, bass. ‘The combined clubs will do the tra- ditional “Interger Vitae,” Bach’s “Now Let Every Tongue,” Andrews’ arrange- ment of “John Peel” and Bullard's “Winter Song.” ‘The Columbia Club’s songs will be by Haendel, Brahms, Vaughn Williams, Dvorak, Franck, arrangements by Bar- tholomew, Bantock and Rhys-Herbert. The George Washington Club will sing works by Sullivan, Cole and Speiser. ‘The George Washington Club is di- rected by Robert Harmon and the Co- lumbia Club by Willlam Frederick Mc- Donald. Tickets for the concert may be se- cured at the bursar's office at the George Washington University or from the Mayflower. The concert will be fol- lowed by dancing. PONSELLE-BROWN RECITAL WEDNESDAY. Rosa Ponselle, who is the “queen of American opera singers” and prima donna at the Metropolitan Opera House, in New York, will appear in the closing morning program of Mrs. Lawrence Townsend’s series for this season, in joint recital with Eddy Brown, American violinist, Wednesday at 11:15 am. at the Mayflower. Stuart Ross will ac- company Miss Ponselle; Joseph Bonime will accompany Mr. Brown. b Miss Ponselle sings two operatic airs, “Tu Che Invoco con Orrore,” from “La Vestale,” by Spontini, and “Ernani In- volami,” from Verdi’s “Ernani”. She also will sing songs by Rimsky-Korsa- koff, Veracini, Paradles, Schubert, ‘Widor and Delibes. Mr. Brown will play three groups of charming short works by Bach, Kreisler, Schumann, Tartini, Paderewski and Bazzini. Tickets are on sale at 1709 Twenty- first street and at the hotel the morning | of the concerty KATHLYN NEWMAN WASHINGTON oLUB, TOMORROW w/LLARD, TOMOR. ROW Work for Piano Strings Played Here by Eomposer A FLEETING glimpse of a unique personality in the music world was afforded a few friends in Wash- ington recently with Henry Cowell, whose extremely original and really beautiful effects for piano composi€ions ‘were heard informally at the apartment of some of his relatives, Maj. and Mrs. Gralund of this city. Mr. Cowell was only stopping over for a night en route on what he says is one of his regular commuting trips between San Fran- cisco and New York, with the latter city his current objective. A new symphony that Henry Cowell has written is to be performed on George Washington’s birthday in Roch- ester at the Eastman School of Music, with Eugene Goossens conducting. This is Mr, Cowell's second symphonic work. Also in February this young composer is to play a new piano concerto with the Chamber Music Orchestra of Bos- ton. In this Mr. Cowell is planning to play on the strings of the piano instead of the keys. He plucks the strings for some of his effects; for others he strokes the strings, while for still other effects he lets his hand sweep gently across them, achieving a wistful wind effect. Instead of trying to perfect a new quarter-tone piano, as some have done, Mr. Cowell conténts himself with uncovering an amazing multitude of new effects available from the present- day instrument, built according to ac- cepted standards. His “Banshee” is a weirdly fascinating work of much more subtle tone values than any harp could give. It is played on the strings near the back of’the instrument when the 1id is raised, and requires that some one sit before the instrument and hold down the loud pedal to give it full effect. Although the writer has heard sev- eral established planists give interest- ing readings of Mr. Cowell's “Tides of Maunaunan,” with its now - historic “tone clusters,” no one had_achieved quite the full power of the effects pos- sible as shown in Mr. Cowell's own rendition. For another composition, “The Harp of Life,” both arms were called into play in rhythmic interpre- tation of a highly dramatic work. Still another interesting type of com- position is written by Mr. Cowell for piano, in which he holds down the keys with a pedal and achieves a remarkable result by sweeping his fingers over the smnfs Jjust above the keyboard. His “Aeollan Harp” and “Fairy Dancers” employed such effects admirably. Al- ways Mr. Cowell writes with either beautiful simplicity of melodic content or with dissonances that seem to have real reason for being. Naturally, in compositions where the unusual string effects are featured the melody is of the simplest. It is interesting, too, to find that although Mr. Cowell has gone to his ancestral Ireland for many of. the legendary themes gs inspiration for his Band Orchestra Dates U. S. MARINE BAND ORCHESTRA. THE three programs planned for the current week by the United States Marine Band Orchestra, Capt. Taylor Branson, leader, and Arthur S. Wit- comb, second leader, will be given in the Marine Barracks auditorium tomor- row at 4 p.m., Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Friday at 3 pm. Thé usual standard of classics, combined with a few more simple popular numbers, will be main- tained. Features tomorrow will be the trom- bone solo “Leona Polka,” by Zimmer- man, played by Musician Hervey J. Clark, and “The Petite Suite.” by De- bussy. Wednesday night Musician Win- fred Kemp will play as cornet solo the air “My Heart at Thy Sweet Voice,” from Saint-Saens’ “Samson et Delila,” as the solo selection. Friday afternoon Musician Clark will give another trom- bone solo, Kreisler's “Old Refrain,” and Hilse's suite, “On the Nile,” . will be pre- sented. SOLIDERS’ HOME ORCHESTRA. ‘The orchestra of the United States Soldiers’ Home Band will give programs Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 5:30 p.m., under the direction of John S. M. Zimmermann, leader; Anton Pointner, second leader. The programs will feature poth clas- sical works and the lighter types of composition and will be given in Stan- ley Halls s HENRY COWELL. music, on the contrary he frowns upon the use of folk melodles by composers for serious works, and his actual tlhemu always are of original inspira- lon. % Henry Cowell is a slight, blonde young man with the earnest blue eyes and the supreme strength of the ideal- ist who is not afraid to back his convictions to the limit. He was born near San Francisco in March, 1897, and began the study of violin when 5 years old. He played in concerts when 7 and began composing when 14. He studied at the University of California under C. L. Seeger and later at the Institute of Ap- plied Music in New York. He has con- certized for two tours of Europe, playing in Berlin, Vienna, London, Paris, Dub- lin, Prague, Leipzig, Munich, Warsaw, Budapest, Venice, etc., and through the United States in leading cities. Henry Cowell is editor of New Music and presides over the New Music So- clety of California. He also contrib- utes articles to the Century, the Ency- clopedia Americana, Musical America, Modern Music, Singing, Pro Musica, the Sackbut and other publications. As a composer Henry Cowell has to his credit two symphonies, two piano concertos, about seven other works for full orchestra, two string quertets and much other chamber music (including the famous work which utilizes three “thundersticks” with orchestra), about 300 piano compositions and lsoflw;zs. Organ Recital Thursday. T. GUY LUCAS, organist and choir- master of St. John's Church at Sixteenth and H streets northwest, will present an organ recital Thursday night at 8 o'clock. He will be assisted by Harry Myers and Watson Ahlenfeld, | wAN who will sing two groups of three spirituals each. Mr. Lucas’ selections will include works by Bach, Wood, Parry, Dvorak, Franck, Hollins and Guilmant. ‘Song Silhouettes'—Tuesday. A PROGRAM of “Song Silhouettes” will be given by Rita Rozada, Spanish singer, accompanied by Bur- rus’ Williams, at the meeting of the Columbian Women of the George Wash- ington University, Tuesday at 4:45 p.m., in_Corcoran Hall of the University. ‘This will be Miss Rozada’s first public appearance in Washington, and as such is looked forward to with interest. She has become known to American audi- ences through concert and radio work and a countrywide tour on the Keith circuit. Miss Rozada’s program will include songs by Augusta Holmes, Pergolesi, Gertrude Taylor, Burleigh, Schubert. Whelpley and Del Riego, as well a- traditional Prench and eighteenth cen- tury songs. Maxwell Dickey, well known Wash- ington violinist, will give a group of violin selections entitled “Memori of the Old South,” . Lecture in REDERICK ALEXANDER, noted choral conductor for the Massed Chorus Festival Concert in May, has consented to give a series of lectures— five in all—when he comes to Wash- ington each month for rehearsals with the combined choral singers of the city. The first of these lectures—or illus- trated talks on choral music and its interpretation—will be Tuesday after- noon, February 19, at 4:45, at the Ver- mont, Avenue @hristian Church, Ver- mont avenue j@st north of N street northwest. Recalling the vital incentive given to choral music when such a program was presented by Dr. Willlamson before his conducting of a former festival con- cert_here, the directors of the Church Music Council and the District of Co- lumbia_ Federation of Music Clubs wish to emphasize the fact that all directors are welcome to enroll for these illus- trated talks on choral music, whether they have groups represented in the Spring concert or not. There is something inspirational in the work of Frederick Alexander. Hbg brings_ command and enthusiasm inf his conducting, with elements of the teacher that prove stimulating and highly broadening. It is the purpose each year of the combined organizations presenting Mr. Alexander to bring to Washington a big personality to do two Frederick Alexander Will Washington to add to the choral experience and en- thusiasm of all directors of the National Capital a world-wide touch of inspira- tion from a leader of national renown. Such a leader is Frederick Alexander. We will know him better as his re- hearsals and lectures progress. This month’s schedule is: First lec- ture, Tuesday afternoon, February 9, at 4:45 at the Vermont Avenue Christian Church, Vermont avenue just north of N street northwest. Rehearsal for choral clubs that evening at 7:30 at the same place—where all lectures and choral club rehearsals will take place. ‘The choirs will rehearse on one Wed- nesday evening each month and always in the auditorium of Central High School. Wednesday, February 20, at 8 o'clock is the next rehearsal for the massed choirs, whose singing last time Mr. Alexander found highly inspiring, saying: “If we setfle to honest inspiring work with that fine singing group assembled last time, we will find the proof of our endeavor in the ‘quality of singing.’” To insure this fine quality of singing Mr. Alexander has suggested that the lists be closed, for the singing voices, after the February rehearsals, so a full attendance is urged. Any one desiring further information may obtain it from Mrs. Joseph M. Stoddard, president of the District of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs, or from the Rev. J. R things. First, to unite in a single event the choral singers, so that the festival spirit may be alive in our city. Second, MUSIG TKE February meeting of the Amer- ican Guild of Organists, District of Columbia Chapter, will be held tomor- row night at 8 o'clock, in the choir room, Church of the Epiphany, 1317 G street northwest. The round table dis- cussion of church anthems and organ music will be presented by Messrs. Moore and Torovsky, under the leader- ship of Mrs. Sylvester. The usual so- clal period will follow. As the date of the March meeting would schedule Monday, March 4, it will be postponed a week, being held March 11. Dr. Arthur Foote, a distinguished American composer, long-time friend and former teacher of Dr. Edwin N. C. Barnes, director of music in the public schools, it is announced, will write the “foreword” to Dr. Barnes’ new book, “Two Centuries With the American Composer.” The book not only gives a concise history of the rise and development of American music and the biographies of leading American composers from 1700 to 1930, but also tabulates every recording, reproducing piano and talk- ing machine of these composers’ works. The work should prove a good text book for colleges, conservatories and music clubs. Dr. Barnes’ course, founded on this ‘book, opens Thursday evening at Wash- ington College of Music. Hugh McAmis, well known New York organist, is the guest of Victor L. Boenau at his studio-house, on Nine- teenth street. Young women interested in choral singing are cordially invited to visit the Chaminade Glee Club rehearsal Wed- nesdays at 7:45 p.m. in the Instiute of Musical Art, 831 Eighteenth street northwest. Several interesting concerts are being planned for the Spring. A group from the club formed ! a class in sight singing which meets one-half hour before rehearsals, under the direction of Robert I. Garber. A large and appreciative audience attended the musical program last Sun- day afternoon at the Pen Women's Club- house. Mrs. Walter Hilton is chairman of the music group. Mrs. Frank Byram gave the history and origin of the adoption” of music into the public schools and said it has been such a success that many of the pupils who have majored are holding responsible remunerative positions in the music world today. Miss Effenbach played a selection from Chopin, Brilliante”; also one from Mendels- sohri’s music was Ereunted by PFrances g‘u&er. Miss Becker and Jean West- T 3 Today Julla Schelling will give her second' recital to the members of the league, with musical interpretations, at 4:30 pm. Her subject will be “Die Walkuere” and “Siegfried.” The choir of Francis Asbury M. Church South, Fannie Shreve Hearts soprano soloist and director, accom- panied at the piano by Nancy Alice Lowe, organist, will broadcast a vesper song service this afternoon from 5 to 5:30 o'clock from Station WMAL. This begun rehearsals for “The Crucifixion.” by Stainer, which it is planned will be given at the church the Wednesday evening preceding Easter. At the Mount Pleasant Congrega- tional Church this evening at 8 o'clock a special musical service will be given by the chorus choir of 60 voices and the solo quartet under the direction of Norton M. Little, with Claude Robe- son at the organ and John S. De Forest at the piano. The chorus will sing Gounod’s beautiful “St. Cecilia,” mass, E. 11l choir has by Miss Schulze, Mr. Shannihan and Mr. Fakler. At the morning service today at 11 o'clock the music will be given by the solo quartet under the direction of Mr. Robeson. ‘This afternoon at 5 o'clock at All Souls’ Church (Unitarian), Lewis At- water, organist, will present a half-hour assisted by Charlotte Harriman, con- tralto, who will sing “Wiegenlied,” by Brahms, and “Du Bist Pie Ruh,” by Schubert. At the morning service, Flora Mec- Gill Keefer, mezzo-contralto, will sing “I Will Sing of Thy Mercies,” from “Stabat Mater,” by Rossini, and Charles in which the solo parts will be sung | cal program of German music. He will be |1 Duffield, president of the Church Music Council, with office at the Woodward Bullding. RAPHS Trowbridge Tittmann, bass, will sing “Though I Speak With the Tongues ot Men,” by Brahms. Anita Schade will read Wagner's “Goetterdaemmerung” in German Fri- day night at 8:30 o'clock at her home, 1529 Rhode Island avenue. Alice B. Harvey, planist, will play some of the themes from the music drama. All who (Continued on Eleventh Page.) Washington Girl Wins Praise in ebut RUTH PETER. Tflx young Washington soprano, Ruth Peter, who, after sincere, earnest study in Washington and experience gained here in light opera productions and church solo work, studied at the Seagle Colony for several seasons and through contacts made there interested some wealthy friends in making it pos- sible for her to continue her studies in Italy, going to that country about & year ago, has made her operatic debut and won much praise and warm com- mendation from the critics. Ruth Peter sailed for Italy early in January, 1928. She went direct to n, where she took up serious, thorough study of opera under the direction of Giuseppe Borgatti, for many years lead- ing tenor at La Scala ra House. In addition to the vocal studies, Miss Peter also studied plano, with lessons twice a week, and took a daily lesson in Italian, which language she soon mastered so that she was warmly commended upon the clearness and non-Americanism of | er accent. Now, at last, December 3, 1928, Ruth Peter had her debut in the leading feminine role of “Andrea Chenier” in the Verdi Theater of Ferrara, Italy. Singing opposite her was her “maestro,” Signor Borgatti, who won highly en- thusiastic comments and is obviously an idol with the Italian opera public. The press was very kind and encouraging to the young Washingtonian and (trans- lating from the Italian), spoke most warmly of the excellence of Miss Peter's training as well as her possession of a beautiful natural voice. They empha- sized “una buona preparazione musicale e artistica da farle facilmente predire una rapida e luminosa carriera.” A letter from Ruth Peter, herself, says: “Everybody was perfectly wonderful to me at the debut. The artists all tried to hélp me and even the audience was wonderful. Strange to say, I was most m. Imagine on my way to the theater, instead of being nervous, I was the happiest person and my heart fair- ly danced, for I realized that at last I was about to realize my dream—the dream that I have been struggling for so long. The manager was most pleased and wants me to sing ‘La Boheme’ in Bologna the latter part of the month, which I think I will accept. “My voice is in splendid condition and am making great progress. ready to sing at a moment's notice Mimi in and, as you know, Mad- dalena of “Andrea Chenier.” Surely Ruth Peter is a young singer who deserves the warmest suppart from her native city—Washington, D. C. GERTRUDE P. WARDLAW, Sraanie tud Toren s T S RN BRI Serl ol s Hilutghit Violin_ Instruetic: 3 DuDIL s home, I desivad " Beeimes ot 'ant vanced. $150 per lesson. 1417 Park Rd.. The Goodwin. Apt. 3 TED—CHURCH ORGAN POS! ¥ Albert W, Summers Vocal Instruction Call North 1421 After 5:30 P.M. For Appointment - Portner_Apts. . Accompanist 3200 17th Street N.W. Phone Adams 7 WASHINGTON CONSERVATORY OF MUSIC, Inc. Xal:ludln‘ LADOVITCH VIOLIN Lgouu C. WHITE VOICE . GUY LUCAS, M.A. H‘ARMON'Y Phone N. 6244 Cirele Degrees PIANO New Semoster, BESSIE N. WILD Voice Culture, Studio 6824 Sth st. H Phone Geor; with the Nordies Clubs 1801 Columbia Road N.W., Col. 946 - SOPHOCLES T. PAPAS TEACHER OF Banjo, Mandolin, Guitar Hawaiian Guitar and Ukulele Personal Instruction ENSEMBLE PRA WITH THE LOMBIA CLURe. 1221 CONN. AVE. DECATUR 737 .' rl’lANl 0 PLAYING 'vsitively Taught Any Persen SAXOPHONE, INB = FREE LESSONS 1t e e Raa Christensen School of Pop 122G 8 MW Ry