Evening Star Newspaper, March 17, 1929, Page 62

MU BY HELE! ITH the advent of Spring all the crocuses and the smaller local musical endeavors jointly an- nounce their coming upon the scene with startling suddenness. Also with the Winter of important professional events fairly conclud- ed, the music critics throughout the country seem simultaneously struck with the thought of dis- cussing their own profession in either a search for freedom from ennui or as contrasting relief after the strain of the long sea- son in which they have attempted to mirror the musical events in the pages of the press. Few hu- ‘man beings, critics or otherwise, are not inspired with gypsy-like longings for the open at this time of year. Some persons take it out on their families and office forces. Critics seem to turn to writing about their work. After all, there is a great deal about the actual work of review- ing musical events, as well as its possible value to the public, to in- vite discussion. To the superficial observer it seems “just grand to have nothing to do but go to con- certs and operas and write about them; hear and meet all the great musical folk, etc., etc.” However, rather than take the time here to talk of the disillusioning grind and gloomy ruts, not to mention the uninspiring 49 out of every 50 so-called “concerts,” that' the critic has to attend, whether so inclined or not—the angle to be discussed here will be that of the reason for such an arduous task as music criticism. From the purely local point of view, the music critic is valued to local music en- deavors as a combination employ- ment agency and information bu- reau. In the larger sense, the only thing that keeps a music critic's ambitions anywhere near true pitch is the hope that he may intelligently entertain and per- haps occasionally inject a note of educational value for the public who read his paper and have even a glimmering of interest in events musical. There are those who question his value at all. Of course, a critic is generally con- ceded to be a person who, accord- ing to the dictionary, “expresses a reasoned opinion” as opposed to an individual who only expresses a reaction to the tune of “I know what I like when I hear it.” There have been so many re- cent articles. published on this subject that the writer of this column is presenting herewith a choice collection of thoughts gathered from several of thesc various sources, and also includ- ing comments that are amusingly similar which were made in some of the excellent papers written about 200 years ago by Addison, of that admirable group which made “The Spectator” immortal. In paper No. 29, published in Volume I of “The Spectator,” Mr. Addison has stated when writing of “Italian Opera and Recitative,” the following interesting defini- tion of music and its purpose: “Music is not designed to please only chromatic ears, but all that are capable of distinguishing harsh from disagreeable notes. A man of ordinary ear is a judge whether a passion is expressed in proper sounds, and whether the melody of those sounds be more or less pleasing.” This is not unlike what the American critic W. J. Henderson said recently, when he stated: A music eritic must perforce promul- gate through the columns of his news- paper his own views about musical works and musical performance. No one can decide whether he is right or not. That he has studied such mat- ters and thought about them entitles him to respectful consideration. But if SIC N FETTER. Aldrich and Philip Hale, on the subject of Berlioz and his music. Mr. Gilman says, similarly to Mr. Newman: “We are all too likely to forget that criticism, even at its greatest and best, its most learned, pene- trating and profound, is essential- ly a matter of just which ever you please.” O tance of music critics and the | real need of their services are held by the famous composer-con- ductor-violinist, Georges Enesco, who, in a recent interview, said, especially apropos of American criticism (and also of American audiences) : Americans _want the entertainment afforded by brilliance, noise and tech- nique when they go to hear music. These things are not the true purpose of music. Music is better than enter- tainment. The improvement of the public taste is the task of the critic; but in music the critics are not up to their job. Only in New York and .o few of the large cities are the critics truly able; in others they know nothing of music and fill their articles with disgraceful com- parisons and with jokes. ] VEN so, of all the current com- ments read within the past few weeks, there are none written by any one author that seem so neatly and completely to cover the ground of the purpose and importance of criticism as those written a couple of centuries ago by the above-mentioned Mr. Ad- dison, who touched upon this sub- ject definitely in several papers and in speaking of dramatic and poetic, as well as musical, criti- cism. He even does not fail to touch upon what is perhaps the sorest spot of all with many who are the “victims” of the critic who makes destructive comment mere- ly because the subject has invited him to a clever turn of wit. The following are culled from papers in “The Spectator” as of particular interest from many points of critical view: No. 592, by Addison—(Speaking especially of dramatic critics) : “I have a great esteem for a true critic—such as Aristotle and Longinus among the Greeks, Hor- ace and Quintilian among the Romans, Bolleau and Dacier among the French. But it is our misfortune that some who set up for professed critics among us are so stupid that they do not know how to put 10 words together with elegance or common proprie- ty, and, withal, so illiterate that they have no taste of the learned languages, and, therefore, criticize upon old authors only at second hand. They judge of them by what others have written, and not by any notions they have of the authors themselves. The words unity, action, sentiment and dic- tion, pronounced with an air of authority, give them a figure among unlearned readers, who are apt to believe they are very deep because they are unintelligible. The ancient critics are full of the praises of their cotemporaries; they discover beauties which es- caped the observation of the vul- gar, and every often find out rea- sons for palliating and excusing such little slips and oversights as were committed in the writings of eminent authors. On the con- trary, most of the smatterers in criticism who appear among us make it their business to vilify and depreciate every new produc- tion that gains applause, to descry imaginary blemishes and to prove, by far-fetched arguments, that what pass for beauties in any celebrated piece are faults and er- rors. In short, the writings of these critics, compared with those * ok ok K after such consideration another man can say that he does not agree with the critic and can give reasons showing that his disagreement is not whimsical, but a product of his individuality shaped and controlled by his music 1 culture, he should have his . The ultimate object of criticism should be to evoke such expressions of opinion, to arouse an intelligent inter- est in music to the end that people will think about it and not repeat the ven- erable parrot-formula, “I know what I like,” when they cannot tell why they like it. And no one has to be a musi- cian or a musical scholar to tell why: he likes or dislikes a certain piece. It would. indeed, be a calamity if the art was closed to discussion except by prac- titioners. It would be a greater calam- ity if no one could enjoy any one of the seven arts unless thoroughly acquainted with its technic. * % ¥ % ON the other hand, the present- day dominant figure in Brit- ish music critic circles, Ernest Newman, does not think at all highly of the profession of music criticism, a profession which he has served for practically a life- time. In the lengthy first para- graph of an article recently print- ed in the London Sunday Times he states his views quite definite- 1y, saying: Musical criticism, as we all tend to practice it, is simply a nalve expression of A’s individual reaction to a_work or a composer, coupled with the equally naive assertion that any one, from B to Z, who does not react precisely as he does to that particular work or com- poser, is “wrong.” I am not for a mo- ment denying that the mere expression of personal opinion—which is all that so-called criticism amounts to today— mayoccasionally be quite interesting; not, however, for the light it throws on the composer or the work, but for the light it throws on the “eritic.” But whether this sort of thing is interest- ing or not depends entirely on the style of the writer; it has nothing whatever to do with the work of art per se. The Jate John F. Runciman, for exampls, was always readable, whether we thought him “right” or “wrong,” be- cause he had a personality and a style of his own; but when he said that Brahms, whom he disliked, had not the brain_of an antelope, while we all smiled at the bright turn of phrase, none of us felt that Runciman’s article on the subject added much to our knowledge of Brahms. He was simply non-Brahmsian by the grace (or the curse) of God, as other people are non- ‘Wagnerian or non-Wolflan or non- Beethovenian; and, of course, it never occurred to him that what he took to be exceptional grace might be a very ordinary curse, that he was only ex- ressing his own reaction, only reveal- ng his own limitations, his own uncon- scious possession of & blind spot. Lawrence Gilman of the staff of a New York newspaper had quite a jolly time one Sunday re- cently discussing the completely of the ancients, are like the works of the sophists compared with those of the old philoso- phers, * * * » No. 409, by Addison—(In a paper on fine writing) : “It is likewise necessary for a man who would form to himself a finished taste of good writing to be well versed in the works of the best critics, both ancient and modern. I must confess that I could wish there were authors of this kind, who, besides the me- chanical rules which a man of very little taste may discourse upon, would enter into the very sgmt of fine writing, and show us the several sources of that pleas- ure which rises in the mind upon the perusal of a noble work. * * * Our general taste in Eng- land is for epigram, turns of wit and forced conceits, which have no manner of influence, either for the bettering or enlarging the mind of him who reads them, and have been carefully avoided by the greatest writers, both among the ancients and moderns.” No. 291, by Addison—(In a paper on poetic and dramatic criticism) : “It is in criticism, as in all other sciences and speculations; one who brings with him any implicit notions and observations which he has made in his reading of the poets will find his own reflections methodized and explained, and perhaps several little hints that had passed in his mind perfected and improved in the works of a good critic; whereas, one who has not these previous lights is very often an utter stranger to what he reads and apt to put a wrong interpretation upon it. who sets up for a judge in criti- cism, should have perused the au- thors above-mentioned, unless he has also a clear and logical head. Without this talent he is per- petually puzzled and perplexed amidst his own blunders, mistakes the sense of those he would con- fute, or, if he chances to think right, does not know how to con- vey his thoughts to another with clearness and perspicuity. Aris- totle, who was the best critic, was also one of the best logicians that ever appeared in the world.” * * * “A little wit is equally capable of exposing a beauty and of ag- gravating a fault, and though such treatment of an author nat- urally produces indignation in the mind of an understanding reader, it has, however, its effect among the generality of those whose hands it falls into; the rabble of contrary views of two distin- mankind being very apt to think THER views as to the impor- | “Nor it is sufficient that a man, |~ THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MARCH 17, 1929—PART 4. City Club to Present Muth's New Operetta 'DWARD MUTH, whose operetta, “Chrysanthemum,” has been pre- sented with considerable success several times at the Arts Club of Washington and also the City Club within the past couple of seasons, has written a new work of similar style, which will be given its first performance in the ball- room at the City Club at 8:30 p.m Wednesday night for the members and their friends. This operetta is called “Carlotta.” The scene is supposed to' be in a little village, Trosca, Spain, when the peas- ants are enjoying the harvest festival period. Carlotta, the heroine, is the village belle. She is constantly playing her native lover against a young Ameri- jcan who has a sweetheart back in “the | States.” As is usual with such plots, all | turns out happily in the end for every- | body concerned. The music is reported to be light and catchy, with attractive melodies. Ber- nice Randall Angelico and the Wilnor Chorus of 45 girls will assist Mr. Muth in this production. More Voices Enlisted For Massed Choir Group Y postponing this week's rehearsals | for the massed chorus festival con- cert until April 10 and 11, new interest {and new proportions are promised for this festival event of early May under the joint auspices of the Church Music Council and the District of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs. The March rehearsals were canceled so as not to conflict with the choir rehearsals and services before Easter. Many addi- tional voices have already joined the festival groups of men’s choruses, wom- en's choruses and choir groups. All choral rehearsals will be held at Cen- tral Community Center. ‘The lectures on choral music by Frederick Alexander, noted conductor | for the festival concert, also will be postponed until Arpil 10 and 11, May 1 and 2. To better reach a larger group, these lectures will be given in Epiphany Parish Hall, G street between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets northwest, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons at 4:45. Any one who is interested may attend, for a small fee. The Church Music Council and the District _of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs are doing much to pro- mote the interest of choral music by this annual event, and Frederick Alex- ander has already awakened enthu- siasm for his ability to bring true art into a newly assembled choral body. In addition to the adult chorus, there will be a chorus of 100 boys' volces | from the District of Columbia public schools, singing to the accompaniment of 20 violinists, trained by Josef Kas- par. The festival program opens with the voice of childhood and the home: continues on to the civic voice of the choral clubs; then progresses to the voice of the choirs expressing the church, combining in an uplifting ex- pression of the whole community in choral song. Liturgical Music Demonstration DEMONSTRATION of liturgical | music last Sunday afternoon at St. Mary's Church was given by the choir | of girls and boys of St. Peter’s Parochial School, under the direction of Christo- pher Tenley and Sister M. Irenee of the Holy Cross order. Rev. J. Leo Barley of Baltimore, who has been appointed by Archbishop Curley as the archdio- cesan director of church music, gave a talk on religious and secular ideals in music and the necessary reform of ecclesiastical music. The choir sang se- lections from masses in ancient Am- brosian and Gregorian chants of the | tenth and twelfth centuries and' selec- | tions from the Proper for Pentecost. Several short numbers of polyphony and modern church music also were given. These children have been trained by the Justine Ward method of sight sing- ing and show remarkable ability in ren- dering the difficult chants. Mr. Tenley played the organ accompaniments for the concert and the benediction service which followed. This was one of sev- eral demonstrations being held in com- memoration of the twenty-fifth anniver- sary of the promulgation of the Motu Proprio on church music issued by Pius | X in 1902, S 18 B Elizabeth Somers Glee Club To Give Second Event '‘HE Glee Club of the Elizabeth Somers residence of the Y. W. C. A. will present its second annual formal concert in Barker Hall, at the associa- tion’s headquarters, Seventeenth and K streets northwest, Tuesday night, April 2, at 8:15 o'clock. Miss Imogene Ireland is in charge of this event. ‘The club will be assisted by Emily Coville, a young soprano, who recently has come to make her home in Wash- ington and who has sppeared with suc- cess several times during the past Win- ter, and Katherine Riggs, Washington's popular young harpist. ‘The proceeds from the concert will be used, first, to send a delegate to the bi- ennial convention of the National Fed- eration of Music Clubs in Boston in June, If there is any sum left over, the secondary purpose to which it will be put will be to purchase a radio for the Elizabeth Somers residence. The Glee Club is federated with the District of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs and acknowledges that the latter has been of real help and inspiration to the | group’s efforts, ‘Tickets, reasonably priced, may be purchased at. the information desk, Sev- enteenth and K streets, or at the Eliz- abeth Somers residence. Benefit Conc:;t Announced For Wednesday, April 3 P AUL DOGUEREAU, Prench pianist, and Maxim Karolik, Russian tenor, with Mme. Marie Zalipsky as accom- panist, will present a concert for the benefit of two phuanthromles at_the home of Mrs. Henry F. Dimock Wed- fiesday night, April 3, at 9:30 o'clock. The organizations to be benefited are the General Hospital and the small or- phan asylum for Russian refugees lo- cated in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Mrs. Robert Whitney Imbrie is in charge of tickets for this event and Charles J. Bell is treasurer. Regarding Federation Dues. TH! National Federation of Music Clubs has asked each State treas- urer to pay all dues promptly as this is biennial year and all books will be closed the 1st of April. In order to keep full quota of club membership dues must be recelved now, as the treasurer for the District of Columbia must send a check in March for the membership. Karl Holer, 3803 Thirteenth street, is in charge of these records. at, with any mixture of wit, 1s ridiculous in itself. “Such a mirth as this is always unseasonable in a critic, as it rather prejudices the, reader than eonvinces him, and is capable of making a_ beauty as well as a blemish the subject of derision. A man who cannot write with wit on a proper subject is dull and stupid, but one who shows it in an improper place is as impertinent and absurd. Besides, a man who has the gift of ridicule is apt to find fault with anything that gives him an opportunity of exert- ing his beloved talent, and very often censures a passage, not be- cause there is any fault in it, but because he can be merry upon it. Such kinds of pleasantry are very unfair and disingenuous in works of criticism, in which the greatest GREAT RUSSIAN PIANIST PLAYS HERE = Gt SERGEI RACHMANINOFF. 'HE Wilson-Greene concert season of 1928-29 will be brought to a close at Poli's Theater Wednesday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, when Sergel Rach- maninoff, world-famous Russian planist cert appearance of the scason in the Capital. attraction of the artists’ course. For his concert Wednesday Mr. Rachmaninoff has selected a program open- | and composer, will make his only con- His concert is the fifth and final ing with Mozart’s “Sonata No. 14" (allegro, adaglo, allegretto), and including two Scarlatti “Sonatas,” Schumann's “Carnival.” nocturne, valse and ballade, by Chopin: Mr. Rachmaninoff’s “Moment Musical,” and his arrangement of Kreisler's “Liebesfreud.” Seats are on sale at the concert bureau, in Droops, 1300 G street northwest. Royal Belgian Barid Plays In Wfashington Friday AKING its first American tour, the Symphonic Band of the Royal Bel- | gian Guards is announced for a concert | in Washington at Poli's Theater Friday afternoon at 4:30 o'clock, under the local management of Mrs, Wilson- Greene. The band will be under the personal direction and leadership of its rengwned conductor, Capt. Arthur Pre- vost. ‘The Symphonic Band of the Royal Belgian Guards is nearly 100 years old, | having its origin in the musical unit | that was organized in connection with the Regiment des Guides during the | Belgian war of independence. Ambrofsc | ‘Thomas expressed his admiration of th~ band as early as 1832 and since then it | has been praised by many noted com- sers. Among cotemporary masters who have indorsed the skill and artistry of the band are Vincent d'Indy, Pierre, Casella, Prokofieff, Bartok, Stravinsky, | Schmitt, Respighi, Honegger and Ysaye. | This band, on its first trip to the ited States and Canada, is coming | with the special permission of King Al- bert. The band arrives in New York today and immediately will begin a' | transcontinental tour which will take it to more than 50 cities in North Ameri- ca. Although no announcement has been made _concerning the program that Capt. Prevost has selected for the Wash- ington concert next Friday, it is known this band possesses a remarkable reper- toire of orchestral and organ music, all of which has been transcribed for band instrumentation by Capt. Prevost. Among the orchesiral works in the band’s repertoire are Beethoven's “Ero- ica” symphony, the “D Minor Sym- phony” of Franck, the “Scotch” and “Reformation” symphonies of Mendels- sohn, the “Till Eulenspiegel” of Richard Strauss, Stravinsky’s *“Petrushka” ballet suite, Respighi’s “Fountains of Rome," Casella’s “Italia” and Dukas' “The Sor- cerer's Apprentice.” The organ works which Capt. Prevost has transcribed for band include preludes, figures, toccatas and fantasias by Bach, the “Theme Varie” Franck'’s Minuit.’ Seats for the Belgian band concert are on sale at the concert bureau in Droop’s, 1300 G street northwest. Piano and Song Recital At Ccumry Club Todny TW 'O of Washington’s young and de- cidedly worth-while musicians, Minna Niemann, pianist, and George | Belchler, baritone, will present the twilight hour musicale this afternoon at | the Congressional Country Club at 5| o'clock. Miss Niemann is well known for her | fine, clean-cut technic and her delight- ful interpretations at the piano. Mr. Beuchler was the District represenla-“ tive in New York for the National Radio Contest _conducted by the A. Atwater | Kent Foundation. The program of | these two young Washingtonians prom- | ises to be particularly delightful. It will be given in the Pompeiian room of the club. Katherine Hill Rawls will be the ac- companist for Mr. Beuchler. The mem- bers of the club and their friends are invited to attend. Evening of Russian Music For Local Church Benefit EVERAL artists of the Russian Im-| perial Theater, assisted by local so- loists, will present an “evening of Rus- slan music” in the auditorium of the Wardman Park Theater at 9 o'clock March 25 for the benefit of St. Alex- ander's Russian Orthodox Church of this city. The event is under the aus- pices of his imperial highness the, Grand Duke Alexander of Russia, and has a long list of distinguished patrons. ‘The music will include Rachmaninoff’s one-act opera, “Aleko”; “Pastoral” from “Pique Dame,” by Tschaikowsky termezzo” of songs, guitar music and dances and Russian folk songs and | dances presented in native costume under the direction of Mme. Vassilieff. ‘The stage direction will be under the management of a former stage director of the Russian Imperial Theater. The famous artists to plrggipnu will be an- nounced next week. HEADS masters, both ancient and mod- ern, have always appeared with a guished American critics, Richard | that everything which is laughed serious and instructive tt{ / ;Ev | Music Clubs, June 9 to 16. Locfll Mu!icia“! Honor American Song Composer AMONG the well known musicians and organizations which will have a part in the John Prindle Scott pro- gram are Herman-Fakler, Floyd Wil- llams, Mabel Linton Willlams, Rose Maxwell Dickey, Louis Potter, jr.: Newton Hammer, Helen Turley, the Chaninade Glee Club, Vermont Ave- nue Christian Church Choir and others. The concert is to be given April 9 t 8:15 pm. at the Fourth Presby- terian Church, Thirteenth and Fair- mont streets. ‘The music-loving public is cordially invited. | Chairman of Lo;l?:mten To Be Judge in Boston A WHITFORD LOVETTE, chair- man of the biennial music contest for the District of Columbia, has been selected to be a judge at the finals to| be held in Boston during the conven- tion of the National Federation of Pupils of many leading musicians here have been entered in the biennial music contest to be held in Washing- ton April 27. The entrants include sopranos, contraltos, tenors, pianists and violinists, The semi-finals will be held in Baltimore and national con- test at Boston in June. Cash and musical prires of $7.000 will be awarded. Fifteen winners will be selected at the finals. By fostering these contests the National Federation of Music Clubs has an object—the encouragement of an American School of Opera. Consistent with this it s required that all songs be sung in English. Registrations for the Washington examinations will be closed April 1. Enrollment papers may be obtained from the music contest committee, 2008 Q street northwest. BELGIAN SYMPHONIC BAND CAPT. ARTHUR PREVOST, of Guy Ropartz and Caesar’| “Offertoire Pour la Messe de | D. C. Music Clubs' Federa- tion Shows Progress at Meet T}m usual monthly meeting of the District of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs was held at the home of | the president, Mrs. Joseph M. Stoddard, Tuesday. Much progress was shown in the work of the various committees, as evidenced by the reports read by the | chairmen, especially the one presented | by the chairman of extension work, Miss | Esther Linkins. It was gratifying to learn that four new junior clubs and four new senior clubs have recently fed- erated, making a total of 46 junior and senior clubs and 19 associate and artist members in the District of Columbia, Much enthusiasm is being shown con- cerning the prize of $100 offered by the National Federation of Music Clubs in its present drive for the State federa- | tion bringing in the greatest number of | federated clubs between now and June 7. the date of the Boston biennial. At the present time the District of Colum- | bia Federation is second in line for this prize. \ During the past week Mrs. W. L.| McFarland, field secretary of the music | division of the National Federation of | Settlement Schools, with headquarters | in New York City, in co-operation with | Miss Gertrude Field, chairman of set- | tlement schools for the National Fed- | eration of Music Clubs, gave an inter- esting talk at Neighborhood House Set- | tlement and urged co-operation with| the Federation of Music Clubs in estab- lishing more music schools in the vari- | ous settlements. All-Sch_ubert f’rog’ran; By Juniors Saturday T 'HE Federation of Music Clubs for the District of Columbia will pre- sent a program of the junior work Sat- urday at the auditorium of Western High School. It will be a Schubert pro- gram, consisting of individual and group numbers, Goldman. The Friendship House Toy Sym- phony will give “Valses Nobles,” under Thelma Callahan, with Margaret Preany at the piano. Herbert Fuchs will be heard in vocal numbers. The Junior ‘Trio, consisting_ of Jean Westbrook, violinist; Louis Potter, jr., cellist, with Mrs. Frank Byram at the plano, will presant “Ecossaise” and “Moment Musi- cal” ~The Allegro Music Club of Neighborhood House will sing two se- lections, “Berceuse” and ‘Hedge Roses. The Cadence Club, Claviarco Club and Vipivoce, under Miss Gutelius, chairman of junior work of the federation, with Ted Crum at the piano, will give the “Scherzo in B Flat” in toy symphony form. ‘The Girls’ Glee Club of Eastern High School will sing “Ode to Music” and | “Serenade.” The last number will be the “Marche Militaire,” by the Toy Symphonies. Miss Esther Linkins will direct the junior song, in which the fed- erated clubs will join. The annual contest for juniors of the District will be held April 20 at the Wilson School auditorium. Applica- tions for these contests should be made through Miss Frances Gutelius, 2 Du- pont circle, The District federation is sponsoring 2 very fine Summer musical camp, con- | ducted by the Norfleet Trio at Peter- | borough, N. H. It is announced that a | normal course in piano class methods for teachers and supervisors has been added to the regular camp curricuium, | August 1 to 28, under the coac! of | Mrs. Addye Yeargain Hall. Particulars | can be obtained from Mrs. Joseph M. | Stoddard, D. C. Federation president. | ‘Sidney's" Sunday Concerts Revived at the Mayflower }THE popular Sunday night concerts have been revived by Sidney and his Hotel Mayflower Orchestra. The pro- grams will continue for the next six or | eight weeks and are expected to draw | many music lovers. A special feature this evening will be the playing of Sidney’s newest composi- tion, “Irish Lullaby.” It was played for the first time last night at the banquet of the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick in the Mayflower, and especially dedicated to that organization. Colin O'More, the popular American tenor, was present. Concert by De Volt Sisters. CHARLOTI‘E DE VOLT, violinist, and Artiss de Volt, harpist, will pre- sent a joint program at Howard Univer- sity Thursday night at 8:15 o'clock. Their selections will feature joint num- bers for the two instruments, Saint Saens’ “Fantasie, Opus 124,” and shorter works by Boccherini, Charpentier, Bois- deffre, ~Schubert-Wilhelmj, Brahms- Hochstein and Haendel. Solo harp selections will include Bgl;lk:“by Thomas, Holy, Zabel and Mac- A Lecture-Recital Tomorrow. THE American Association of Univer- sity Women will have an evening of | music tomorrow at 8:15 o'clock. An informal lecture-recital will be given by Ruby Smith Stahl, soprano soloist of the First Congregational Church, as- !ul};d béhn;lelmbie]? of hker cholr,h rs. Wi ak on “Why We Sing &s We Do T % —— Dlsyas Mbsasi Conterine CARL FRIEDBERG, eminent pianist, | is to play the Mozart “Concerto in | C Major” (not the Brahms or the Mo- zart in B flat major as previously an- | nounced) at the concert of the Soclety | of the Friends of Music at Town Hali, New York, Sunday afternoon, March 24. ‘This work has been mentioned by critics and musicians as the greatest of the 25 concertos, written by this master for plano with orchestral ac- companiment. The cadenza which Friedberg will use is that by Busoni. Mozart composed these beautiful masterpleces for presentatfon at the concerts given before Vienna's fashion- able aristocracy during the latter part of the eighteenth century and, having ' abandoned the old loose-jointed forms, Wove a new pattern which enabled the plano to display itself effectively amid | a varlety of orchestral color. Band Orchestra Dates UNITED STATES MARINE BAND. 'HE United States Marine Band will present a band concert at t| - racks tomorrow afternoon at dh:'c‘l:ck and two orchestral programs, also at the barracks as usual, Wednesday night at 8 o'clock and Friday at 3 p.m. The music, under the direction of Capt. Taylor Branson, leader, and Arthur Witcomb, second leader, will be of the usual standard, including popular classical and lighter selections. The soloist tomorrow will be Mu- sician John P. White, cornetist, who will play “Sweet Mystery of Life,” from Victor Herbert'’s “Naughty Marietta.” Debussy’s suite, “The Children’s Cor- ner.” will be featured. Wednesday night Musician Franz Schumm will play Stein’s “Fantasie, Opus as solo for string-bass. ~ Friday afternoon Titl's “Serenade,” for flute and horn, will be played by Principal Musician Clayton xé:x‘ugl:y and Principal Musician Adolphe The program of these concerts will be printed in the daily issues of The SOLDIERS’ HIOME 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 both clas- composition and will be given in Stan- ley Hall. The sudden iliness of Beatrice de Neergaard, one of the leading members arranged by Mary Ware sical works and the lighter types ot || JST as music lovers begin to whisper that the age of great singers is pass- ed, along comes the Metropolitan Opera Co. to Washington to refute the pessi- mism. It is the revenge which nature always takes upon the prophets of evil. One by one the great singers of Signor Gatti-Casazza's famous opera strong- hold in New York fave risen to sudden or to hard-earned fame, until many of the most famous voices of the world are gathered there. ‘Washington will be privileged to hear four notable casts. in the three operatic events of April 17, 18 and 20. The famous “twins” of grand opera will be given in a double bill the second eve- ning. Natural it is. with Signor Gatti's into its own. So the choice of three famous Italian vocal scores. with one from the French, for delicacy and finesse, will offer a rich opportunity in Washington. The great liquid voices that throb out the music of Italy are not all Italian by any means! Yet hear Gigli on the Italian voice—Gigli whose singing is constantly being compared with the voice and personality of the late and beloved Enrico Caruso. This great tenor exclaims: “How futile to call any one the suc- cessor of Caruso! It is not to be!” He makes one hunger for the sunny skies of Italy as he explains, “Of course, there is Italian voices. For our great voices seldom arise from the aristocracy. They come from the tillers of the soil, the men and women and their children who have inhaled the sweet odors of the Italian hillsides, who have drunk deeply of the Italian sunshine, and who have really felt the intangible quality of the blue skies within their souls. “Someone—I think it was Adelina Patti—said that a beautiful voice is the | gift of God. I am sure that this is true. | and that all other possessors of beauti- MUSIG 'HARLOTTE Klein, well known Wash- ington organist, has gone to New York to play at the annual service of the American Guild of Organists, at St. James’ Church. The combined choirs of Grace and St. James' Churches | will render the choruses, assisted by leading organists of New York and Philadelphia. | Miss Klein will play several organ | solos. Ethel Holtzclaw Gawler, soprano, and Charles Trowbridge Tittmann, basso, | will present a joint song recital at | the Friday Morning Music Club this week. Lucy Brickenstein will be the | accompanist, | The senlor class of the Master School jof the Plano, Miss Grace Gilchrist, di- rector, held its monthly meeting Sat- urday a week ago. Those present in- cluded Mrs. Charles J. Cassidy, Mr. and Mrs. Willlam Clark, Mrs. Clara Cohen, Mrs. Samuel Rosenberg, Edna |and Jeannette Rosenberg, Marie Adams, | Frances Carnes, Gertrude Gilchrist, Loretta Ryder, Haskel Milstone, Gus- | tav. Weckel and Miss Gilchrist. The music study class of the Virgil Piano School met at the home of Miss Georgla Miller, director, last Monday avening. Those participating in the pro- gram, which featured works by Schu- Chaminade, Chopin, Schubert, Leschet- izky and MacDoweil, were: Elvia All- | press Meyer, Norma Bell Carty, Elinor Margaret Loane, Florence Storm and Betty Basim. | The Tuesday Evening Music Club | gave the third of its monthly programs for shut-ins Priday night at the Homs for Incurables. They presented three ine Gross, Virginia Woodward, Margar- ot Cassells and Virginia Cooper. Mrs. Frank Howard is the director and Don- na Taggare the accompanist, Three concerts are sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Washington. Under the direction of Mary Helen Howe, the music group of the District chapter of the International Federation of Catholic Alumnae will assist Dr. A. Maris Boggs, director of the Bureau of Commercial Economics, in an illustrated lecture on modern Palestine. The music will include “The Holy City,” by Adams, and “The Palms,” by Faure, with ap- propriate solos by Katharine McEneny and Miss Howe, The lecture will be given this after- | noon at 3 o'clock in the auditorium of St. Paul's Academy, Fifteenth and V streets. Members of the alumnae are cordially invited. Nellie Barber Brooks, lyric soprano of the Lovette Choral Club, will be the afternoon at the tea given in honor of Congresswomen Ruth Bryan Owen and Mrs. Medill McCormick. Mrs. Brooks, accompanied by Eva Whitford Lovette, will sing “Homing" and “Butterfiies,” by del Riego, and “The Second Minuet,” by Besly. A committee has been appointed by the Catholic University Glee Club to prepare the details for the annual by that organization. George Bradley is head of the committee. The Glee Club is larger this year than previously and is announced to include several voices especially adapted to solo work. Dr. Leo Berhendt, director, is not yet ready to announce the exact date or place for the concert, but does announce that the selections being prepared in- clude songs of old masters of the six- teenth and seventeenth centuries as well as the works of modern composers. Isabel Malone, contralto, was pre- sented last Wednesday evening in a re- cital at Leroy Lewis’ Studio Hall. Clara Bernheimer was her accompanist. Miss Malone sang three groups of songs and the aria “Connais tu le Pays” from Thomas' opera *Mignon.” were by Haendel, Schumann, Dvorak, Gan: Burleigh, Glen, Huntington-Woodman, Haile, Reddick and Galloway. Henri-Smidt-Gregor, pianist, and Min- nie Volkmann, soprano, accompanied by Clara Bernheimer, presented the music at the meeting of the German Literary Society last night. Miss Volkmann delssohn, Brahms, g songs by Men- Brahms, played works by Beethoven, Rubinstein | and two compositions by himself. | Lewis Atwater, organist, will present | regime, that the Italian voice comes | a certain similarity in all| | mann, Staub, Liszt, Tschaikowski, Bach, | Webb, Nellie Arliss, George Cornwell, | igroups of choral numbers with solos | | by Cecil Littlefield, Laura Lyle, Cather- | soloist at the Women's City Club this | Spring concert and dance to be given | Nevin, Whitney-Coombs, | Richard Strauss, | Schubert and Weil. Mr. Smidt-Gregor | ternationa Italian Voices an(l _Others. | ful voices must feel, as { so often do. and poignantly, too, the Divine Presence of the power which has blessed us.” Gigli is to sing in “Manon,” which would indicate Caruso’s early manner. | Edward Johnson is cast for the dra- matic Italian role of Canio in “Pagliac- | et"—Johnson, the American, of Cana- dian birth. | " Leaving operetta, in this country, Ed- ward Johnson went to Italy and, known |as Eduardo Glovanni, in three years was ranked among the foremost grand | opera tenors in that country. But he | rose gradually to the big roles. is | debut, in Padua, Italy, was in “Andrea | Chenier.” He sang in Puccini's “Ma- non Lescaut.” We know his “Boheme" and his singing of “Le Reve,” from | “Manon” of Massenet. Critics wrote: “Johnson’s Canio i< | nothing less than sensational. Yet we were prepared for it, since his career has been a constant crescendo of | achievement. His versatility is aito- gether uncommon, for he seems to be a consummate artist in everything he un- | dertakes.” One of the youngest Americans to rise |to fame in a wealth of Italian singing is Lawrence Tibbett, baritone, who is originally from a small, though booming, | oil town in California. Tibbett has | never studied in Europe. He first sang in a home product of light opera. He acted In a successful tour of Shake- speare with Tyrone Power, which may | account_for much of his dramatic in- sight. But we come to the wisdom of | signor Gatti-Casazza when we find him | at the Metropolitan, for here he was carefully guarded and guided, making his first big hit as Ford in “Falstaff. in which he had to use the full valu | of his voice in only one scene. Lawrence ‘Tibbett sings Alfié in “Cavalleria Rusti- cana.” |~ One may go on indefinitely, recount- ing the stories of the great artists of the | Metropolitan. After all, it may be as | Signor Gigli says: “A beautiful voice is the gift of God.” RAPHS | & program of German music at the quiet | period at All Souls’ Church (Unitarian), Sixteenth and Harvard streets, this aft- | ernoon at 5 o'clock. He will be assisted | by Ruby Smith Stahl, soprano. | Mary Helen Howe, director of the | music group of the District of Columbia | Chapter of the International Federa- |tion of Catholic Alumnae, will present | that group in selections in the program |at 3 p.m. today in the auditorium of St. | Paul's Academy, at 1421 V street, when | the speaker will be Dr. A. Maris Boggs. director of the Bureau of Commercial Economics. in an illustrated lecture on | “Modern Palestine.” Mary Tarbell Kenestrick presented her class in recital recently, when prizes were awarded to the student making the best progress each month. Those re- ceiving awards were Ardene Moreland, Flora. Blumenthal, Marjorie Fakes and Gladys Murrell. Kurt Hetzel has moved his studio from the La Salie Apartments to 1610 IT street northwest and is arranging his Spring and Summer classes for ~ianists and singers. Rubinstein Club rehearsals were re- sumed Tuesday and work begun on the second concert numbers. . Mrs. Elmer Carleton Smith announces that voice | (rials are being given for parts in the chorus. Those who wish to participate |in the second concert are requested to | make application with Mrs. Smith, 3945 Connecticut avenue, Cleveland 2693, Apartment 307, as soon as possible. The Washington Conservatory of Mu~ sic, Inc., announces that rehearsals have begun in the conservatory recital hall of the new organization spon- sored by the school—the American Symphony Orchestra. This will be a full-fledged orchestra, not an ensemble, and players of horns, flutes, cornets and | other brass and woodwind instruments, as well as violins, first and.second; cello bass, etc., are now rehearsing under | the baton of Vladimir Vasa, the con- ! ductor. | Players of all orchestral instruments are cordially invited to join the new organization which is now rehearsing | Beethoven's “PFirst Symphony.” Application may be made at the con- servatory, 1408 New Hampshire avenue, or by telephone North 6244. | | At the Arts Club on Thursday of this | week the musical program will be pro- | vided by Miss Helen Howison, 0; | Miss Zoe Walson, pianist, with Mr. | George Wilson as accompanist. A large audience last Tuesday even- | ing enjoyed the splendid program for | two .pianos given by Miss Anne Hull | and Mrs. Walter Bruce Howe. On that occasion Mr. and Mrs. Fernando Cuni- berti were the hosts. “Iteinationsl Dil kst Founded. NEW society, the International Polyhymnia, with headquarters in New York and branches in Paris and Berlin, has just been founded by Lazare | Saminsky with the object of establish- ing internationally the worthy but less- er known lving composers here and | abroad. The organization's work is directed |toward performances of its orchestral | works in major cities of both continents |and helping to place its scores with { publishers. Particularly valuable to | Americans is such work. as there are | hundreds of orchestras and opera houses |in Europe where places can be found for the performance of their works. In | organizing this soclety Mr. Saminsky was assisted by a committee of well | known New Yorkers, | _ The first concert of the International Polyhymnia will be given in Paris, May 9. when Mr. Saminsky will lead the Straram orchestra. On the program which he has been invited to conduct |in Rome in April for the Santa-Cecilia- | Augusteo concerts he will include the s following works: An overture by Karol , Rathaus; “Salome,” Pglreln' n “Iri: by _ Alexander ish Suite,” by Henry Cow- Aliskan,” by Gniessin; ge | “Psalms,” by Bloch, and his own prel- | ude to an Daughter.” For years Mr. Saminsky has carried on this work as a free lance, using in- vitations extended personally to him as a conductor for the introduction of compositions by the young Americans and Europeans. In creating the In- Polyhymnia he hopes to draw more effectively the attention of the international forum to composers worthy, yet unprotected and unrepre- sented by any active group. opera-ballet, “Jeptha's STUDIOS OF BESSIE N. WILD Voles Culture. Pisno and Harmony Studio 682¢ 6th st. Takoma Park. D. Phone_Georsis a3 C. JAZ IN 20 Tral Sen 7( qun PIANO PLAYING SAXOPHONE, BANJO Positively Taught Person NS It You UKE, Ete. rument School of Popular Music \ St. NW._______ Main 1218, Sophocles T. Papas » Mandelin, Guitar in Guitar and Ukulele of Eva Le Gallienne’s repertory troupe, has caused the postponement of Che- kov's “Three Sisters” until some time this week. Personal Instruction Ensemble Pr \th the Columbia Clubs, reERl SONNCATE" PeEATR WASHINGTON WALTER T. HOLT School of Mandolin, Guitar and Banjo. Hawaiian Guitar and Ukulele Established 1894 Ensemble practice with the Nordies Clubs 1801 Columbia Road N.W., Col. 946 Jeannette Lewis Doty Accompanist 3200 17th Street N.W. Pl one Ad: ALBERT W. HARNED Vocal Studios 1317-1319 New York Avenue