Evening Star Newspaper, March 16, 1930, Page 68

BY HELEN FETTER. PERA seems to have bor- rowed Hamlet's phrase, “To be or not to be, that is .. the question.” Everywhere the papers of New York and elsewhere and the mu- sic magazines carry headlines showing that there seems to be real concern, in some quarters at| least, over the “opera situation.” Several former stars of the oper atic world who have retired r cently from that field, either to go | into the “talkies” or radio endeav- | ors or otherwise employ their time | and efforts, have shaken their| heads sadly and said that “grand| opera is doomed.” T. R. Ybarra wrote an article that was much quoted and is still arousing dis- cussion. It was entitled “The Twi- light of the Opera Gods.” Both from Berlin and from different places in Italy, especially, of| course, Milan, there is talk of “the | grand opera crisis.” For quite a number of seasons now, as the list of the grand mas- ters and mistresses of operatic song have been thinned by the sickle of Death, and even lesser they must bring chiefly operas !thal are familiar here. Why this is so, it is difficult to say; of course, the reason given is “‘box- | office appeal.” From what the writer of this column has heard from various sources since the op- eras to be given here in April were,| announced, there are people who feel quite the contrary about the matter. Lk ot THERE is one of the three op- eras to be given here in April that has not been heard here in many years. “Andrea Chenier,” first produced at La Scala, Milan, March 28, 1896, was written by Umberto Giordano. It is rarely given anywhere. Rosa Ponselle will sing the role of Madeleine the title role. The opera is said to follow Verdi somewhat in style. The libretto, by Luigia Illica, gives a picture of life in France just have been planning to buy tick-| ets for these performances who, and Giovanni Martipelli will sing! lights have turned to other means | before and during the Revolution. of livelihood, there has been in-|The basis of the heroic leading creasing grumbling and dissen- | character is the poet-patriot, An- sion heard from the older music|drea Chenier. According to the lovers, who hear a present-day|story of the opera, the poet is a performance, give a snort of dis-|guest in a wealthy home at a gust and launch into a eulogy on|party. He is asked to recite some “But you should have heard sg.}n( his poetry, but refuses at first. and-50 in such-and-such a role.”| At last, when urged by Madeleine, And on, ad infinitum. One does|the “beautiful daughter of the THE SUNDAY | Five Washington Composers | Represented on ngramI FIVE members of the Washington | Composers’ Club will present origi- | nal compositions st the Arts Club Tu day night au 8:30 o'clock. They are: | l'):rmtgx lfl:‘ddle zr;er%.flflenry 8. Gre- | D ] oler, R. ne | Ly e Shure and | This club, organized in 1925, includes | also in its membership, Edward C. Pot- | ter, Ervine J. Stenson, Siegfried | Scharbau and Jerome Willlams. The chairman is Dorothy De Muth Watson. Assisting the composers Tuesday evening will be Grace Shannon, planist, who will play the “Bird Sketches” of R Deane Shure: Mrs, Randall. who. will sing three songs of Henry S. Gregor: Denis Connell, who will yead ~salt| Sea Yarn” with a musical setting by | La Salle Spler; Richard Lorleberg, | cellist, who will play two of Mr. Gre- | gor's new cello composition; Francesco . Della Lana, tenor, who will sing two of | Karl Holer's new songs, and the | Chaminade Glee Club, Esther. Link- | ins, director; Jesse Blaisdell, accom- panist, in ' three choral numbers | by Dorothy Radde Emery, Henry S.: Gregor and Karl Holer. The composers | | in almost every instance will be at the | plano for these well known assisting | artists. Most of these compositions on this pmru-n are being given their first public performance at this time. Leads Y.W.C. not doubt them. Surely the younger | hostess, he improvises a poem, generation cannot judge by the|but instead of it being dedicated standards acquired by experience such as these older folk have. There are no perfected phono- graph records made by most of these famous singers. Even at this time, most of the stars’ rec- ords are of trivial subjects such as the phonngraph makers demand, and not of the finest concert or opera numbers in which certain singers .are said to excel. This is changing a little for the better. However, the great of the past are mute to living audiences except as they still sing in the memo- ries of the survivors of the mauve decade, * X X % RIGHT now Washingtonians are awakening to unusually en- thusiastic interest over the com- ing performances here " next month of the Metropolitan Grand Opera Co. The famous impresa- rio of that company, Signor Giu- lio Gatti-Casazza, offers some- thing on the optimistic side of this operatic, problem in refuting a misquptation made of his opin- jon in an article. - Signor Gatti- Casazza says: “To say that opera 18’ dying would be ot only pessimistic but fiiogical in the | |, light of history. To claim, on the other hand, that in many important respects operatic conditions are as brilliant as they were even a quarter of a century 880 would be false to the facts. - arts go through periodic stages of brilllancy or depression, which are due to various causes. For some rea- sons, good new operas are today a scarc- ity and grave changes -gre in order. Artists of exception&] powers, .with ex- ceptional personalities, are now rare. in this sense the Ta is in a state of depression today. most fields of art, for that matter, there is what the critics call a ‘crisis’ But this does not mean that opera is ‘dying,’ that art is ‘dying’ or that the public is less receptive to art than it was in a former period. In fact, I believe the opposite to be the case. “I believe that more people know about great music and love it than ever before. If I were to gauge the state of the public mind by its interest in our Metropolitan productions, I would be an unmitigated optimist. Our perform- ances are patronized to an extent abso- lutely unprecedented in the history of this institution. When Grau was di- Tecting the Metropolitan Opera Co. he gave a season of 12 weeks, with five performances a week. Today we give seasons of 24 weeks, with six regular weekly performances, many per- formances for special occasions, weekly geflormlncu in other places than New ‘ork proper and an entire extra Wag- ner cycle, which is not subscribed for beforehand and is bought out days in advance of the performances by the general public.” * k x % (NE is inclined to wonder if in the opera world even the wisest impresarios are not in- clined to underestimate the de- sires of the public generally. This is often true in the concert field when, by lesser songs of American and English composers, great artists let their high standards drag to the dust in their final groups. This is the more de- plorable because it is totally un- necessary. There - are -exquisite songs written' by English and American composers. The cheap- er, popular ballad by composers of these nationalities belongs in the encore group with “O Sole Mio” and “Clavelitos.” The radio is doing a remarkable Bervice in gaining for music the ear of the person not - essentially a music lover. Perhaps it would be truthful to say, not “con- sciously” a music lover, as many grow to love music who have not been fortunate enough to have had music play a definite part in childhood education. Statistics issued shortly after the radio first became widely used indicated that the life of a song hit from Tin Pan Alley was shortened to one-sixth of the popularity it en- joyed before it became constant material for radio singers. This means, too, that the more com- plicated settings for melodies in grand operas get an equally great- er opportunity to reach the ear of the public not attracted previ- ously to the opera house: With really fine music, this makes for familiarity, but not contempt. There always are many who go to opera performances who are established music lovers. Abroad, audiences go to hear the same op- eras over and over again because they, the individuals in the audi- ence, are so familiar with the scores of ‘those works that they are in Rery: y in the presentations given 'by different mrtists of the same roles. In America, except for & very eircumscribed group in compari- son with the general public, this is not the attitude. The music lover who is not by experience and training a connoisseur wants to hear different operas rather ithan the same ones over and over ain, even with the same casts. se ‘who Have the say as to ‘what o?eru the Metropolitan will present here seem to feel that ‘ to love as she has suggested, he sirfgs of the misery of the poor and denounces those in power in church and state. Gerard, to be sung by De Luca, is a servant in the household and revolutionary in his tendencies. He hears the inspired poet and leads a crowd of protesting rioters. Chenier fol- from the castle, and later Made- leine, disguised, flees to join him. Chenier, now a revolutionary, is advised to flee the country, but he refuses until Madeleine can be found. She arrives and all would be well, except that Gerard finds them. He has developed a pas- sion for Madeleine himself, and when he gets Chenier in his power later, although the poet gave him real inspiration at the beginning, he allows his passion to rule and orders Chenier executed. Made- leine pleads with Gerard to save Chenier and she will give herself to him. Gerard pleads, but it is too late. All efforts to save either hero or heroine are in vain, and they go together in the tumbril to die at the guillotine. * k k X UCREZIA BORI will be heard here twice in April in the roles of two consumptive heroines. The opening night, April 23, she will sing the role of Mimi in “La Bo- heme.” She does this role delight- fully, as many will remember who have heard her here previously. Gigli is to sing Rodolfo and Law- rence Tibbett, the young Califor- nllaln. will sing the role of Mar- cello. On Friday at the matinee, in “La Traviata,” Mme. Bori will be heard in a role previously sung here by Galli-Curci and Thalia Sabinieva, that of Violetta. It is probable that Armand Tokatyan will be the Alfredo and Tibbett will sing the role of the father. John Charles Thomas Signs Philadelphia Contract OHN CHARLES THOMAS, celebrated American baritone, has signed a three-year contract with the Philadel- phia Grand Opera Co., according to & Tecent_announcement. Mr. Thomas, who has devoted most of his time in America to his numerous appearances in recital, has been ac- claimed in Europe as a great baritone. He has appeared with tremendous sue- cess in opera and concert there. Mr. Thomas’ opera appearances in America have included the Washin, Co., with whom he had opera; the Philadelphia Grand Opera Los Angeles Opera Co. and the Co. His next appearance in Phila. delphia will be April 10, when “Masked Ball” is to be presented at the Academy of Music. Salmond Plays in-New York. ELIX SALMOND will be soloist with the Soclety of the Priends of Music at its concert this afternoon in Mecca Auditorium, New York City, playing the Elgar concerto. Other works on the program are Mendelssohn’s “Son and Stranger” overture -and the Brahms- Haydn variations, for orchestra, and Brahms’® “Gesang der Parzen,” sung by the Priends of Music Chorus. Artur Bodarizky will conduct. Salmond was the soloist at the first performance of the Elgar concerto with the London symphony in 1919, with the composer conducting. After the first performance of Elgar’s string quar- tet in the preceding May, in which Sal- mond had taken part, the composer announced his intention of writing & concerto for violoncello and asked Sal- mond if he would care to give some technical advice during the rzr‘iq!efll of the work. The cellist complied and he possesses’ many sketches of passages with questions from the composer. El- r later presented the autograph score g him. The work, written in Sussex, has a distinctly pastoral character. Soldiers’ Hor;le Orchestra. THE orchestra of the United States Soldiers’ Home Band (John 8. M., Zimmermann, leader, and Anton Point- ner, assistant) will give three concerts, as usual, Tuesday, Thursday and Satur~ day afternoons at 5:30 o'clock in Stan- ley Hsll The pro:mm will, as usual, combine classic and lighter numbers. people at work thnn’ Norway has more a year ago. The Marine Band Joins U. S. Service Orchestra 'RANKLIN ADAMS, counselor of the Pan-American Union, announces he has just received official confirmation of the addi- tion of the United States Marine Band, Capt. Taylor Branson, leader, to the United States Service Orchestra, which plays only New World music in con- certs at the Union Building. ‘This increases the personnel to 100 picked men from the Army, Navy and Marine Band Orches- tras to play under the three leaders. Justin Elie of Haiti has written a new composition, “Night in the Andes,” to be given premiere per- formance when the 88 augmented has its first concert at the Pan-American Union April 31, lows them when they are driven | LUCY STREET. (CHORAL arrangements of rare old folk music by outstanding composers will be a feature of the third annual Spring concert of the Elizabeth Somers Glee Club of Washington Tuesday eve- ning at 8 o'clock in Barker Hall of the Young Women's Christian Assoclation Building, Sevenjeeth and K streets. The chorus of more than 30 voices, under the direction of Lucy Clark Street, will sing Handel's “Where'er You Walk,” “Lonely Wood” and “Wake Thee Now, Dearest,” arranged by Deems ‘Taylor, the latter from an old Czecho- slovak folk song; “Gossip Joan,” ar- ‘Thomas F. Dunhill from an old English song; “Onward March, Grenadier,” arranged by Gerald Rey- nolds from a Creole folk song; “Skye Boat Song,” arranged by Candlyn from a Scotch folk song; “Deep River,” ar- ed by H. T. Burleigh; “Old King Cole,” arranged by Cecil Forsyth, and “Ma Lil' Banjo,” Dichmont, arranged | by Harris. ‘The Glee Club will be assisted by the trio fntime, with Evelyn Scott, violin; Alice Allen Merrell, cello, and Catherin= Benson, piano, who will. play “So- nata & Trois in B Minor,” by Loeillet (1653-1728); “Scherzo” from “Trio in D. Minor,” by Arensky; “Elegie,” by | Suk; “Syncopation,” by Kreisler, and | clog dance, “Handel in the Strand,” | by Grainger. Helen Stone is accompanist for the Glee Club and” Alta M. Smith, soprano, will be the soloist in one of the num- bers to be sung by the club. Miss Smith, one of the outstanding members, last season was assistant conductor when Imogene B. Ireland was conduc- tor. Miss Ireland is still associated with the musical activities of the Young ‘Women's Christian Association. With Miss Street she will attend the national biennial convention of the Y. W. C. A. at Detroit April 25 to May 1, both taking part in the choral work that will be a feature of the 1930 convention. Mulic-Given Tuesda.y For Late Chief Juatice ’I‘H! program of music for the funeral of Willlam Howard Taft, late Chief Justice and a former President, was played by Lewis Atwater, organist, and the National String Quartet, consisting of Henri Sokoloy, first violin; Maxim Zinder, second violin; Samuel Feldman, viola, and Richard Lorleberg, cello, ‘Tuesday. The following selections were played before the service: Organ, “Larghetto” (Malling), string quartet, “Music of the Spheres” (Rubinstein); organ and quar- t, “Vision (Rheinberger); string quar- t, “Andante (Schubert); string quar- e “Andante Cantabile” (Tschaikow- ). As part of the service, “Abide With Me” and “Lead Kindly Light” were played by Mr. Atwater on the organ and chimes, and “Prelude in C Minor” by Chopin by the string quartet and organ. A Lovette .pmgrnm. PROGRAM of music consisting en- tirely ‘of the compositions of the late T. 8. Lovette will be presented Monday evening, March 81, in Plerce Hall, Sixteenth and Harvard streets. ‘The occasion will constitute the annual musical salon of'the International As- Sociation of Arts and Letters, under whose auspices the event will be given. Arrangements are in charge of Eva Whitford Lovette. ~ About 35 musi- clans will ‘participate, including the Lovette Choral Club, to which will be :&gd male volcxes {:)r that evening. Be- & group of chorales, the program will consist ‘(’1! vocal, violin lnl; iano solos. As far as possible the assisting artists will be those who were asso- clated’ or studied with the composer. Dr. Lovette, who was born in Wales, was well known here and abroad as a pianist of note and for his writings on the theories of the art of modern piano- forte playing. For 13 years he was the dean of music at Baylor ‘College in Texas and came to this city in 1922. At |the time of his passing nearly four years later he was conducting master classes here and in New York and Philadelphia. Secretary of Labor James J. Davis, fellow countryman of Dr. Lovette, has been asked to speak at this musical versary of composer’s birth. |list of patrons and patronesses will in- iclude many person: musical and official circles. Marine Band Programs. 'HE United States Marine Band, Capt. Taylor Branson, leader, will give three programs, as usual, in the Marine Barracks this week. They will be: Band concert, 4 p.m. tomorrow; orchestra concerts, 8:15 p.m. Wednes- day, and 3 p.m. n-m{l R The Wednesday night concert ‘will be & semi-monthly symphony concert and the program will consist of symphonic works by American composers. Hi Hadley's overture, “In Bohemis open the program, which will. include: “Poem for Flute and Orchestra,” by Charles T. Griffes; “Second Indian Sulte, Opus 48,” by Edward MacDowell; “Last Movement of the Symphony in B land,” by Edgar Still- | bu m“l?h.ex:tl?lleo}l'lt for Wednesday-night will lor I8 3 - :flnnlp.l Musician Clayton Lindsay, ute. will appear, ustal, In the aly ssues of The Staz, < o ages prominent in |py STAR, WASHINGTON, D. O, SERGEI RACHMANINOFF, THE piantstic artistry of Sergel Rach- maninofl, the great Russian pianist | and composer, will be neard for the only time this season in concert at| Poli’s Theater Wednesday afternoon, at | © 4:30 o'clock, when that famous artist appears as the fifth and final attraction of Mrs, Wilson-Greene's Philharmonic Course. This will be the last regular concert of the Wilson-Greene season and it promises to be one of the most brilliant. | Rachmaninoff has arranged a superb program for his only 1929-30 appear- ' ance here, dividing his afternoon equally between Chopin and Liszt. Seven Chopin numbers will be played. The period after intermission will be de- d exclusively to Lis: he program_includes the following: Chopin—The _F-minor Ballade, E-flat major Rondo, the B-major Noc- turne, a_waltz Fantaisie Impromptu, E-major Scherzo and E-minor Scharzo The Liszt numbers are the B-minor Ballade, the Valse Impromptu, Sonnetto 104 Del Petrarca, and the E-major Polo- naise. MUSIGRAPHS NNE YAGO, the charming con- tralto of the light opera organi- zation that T. Arthur Smith presented in revivals of operettas | a couple of seasons ago and who has appeared here previously with the De Wolf Hopper company, will be one of a trio of artists to give the program before the members of the Friday Morning | Music Club at Barker Hall this week. The singer is now Mrs. W. H. McGuffey, and lives in Falls Church, Va. She has only recently resumed professional work in the concert field, which has included several very successful appearances in special church programs during the past Winter. Another. even newer, art- st Priday morning will be Mabelle New ‘Williams, violinist. The popular young | planist, Minna Niemann, will be the third of the trio giving the program Friday. Greta von Bayer, distinguished pian- | ist of this city, played a Schubert quin- tet with the National String Quartel at’ Miss Madeira’s School last Tuesday | afternoon. Adolf Torovsky, organist of Epiphany | Church, gave a recital on the new four- | manual echo organ recently installed | at the Sixth Presbyterian Church Tues- | day. The program included interesting viorks by Johann Sebastian Bach, Bon- | net, Bibl, Karg-Elert, Wagner, Lemaigre, | Frysinger and Dubois. | Karl Holer, treasurer of the District of Columbia Federation of Music Clubs, | urges every organization of both senior and junior clubs to send in annual dues before April 1, Half of the sum col- lected must be forwarded on that date to the national treasurer in Pittsburgh. The Brass Quartet of Central High School presented a program at the | meeting given by Independent Council, | No. 2, Daughters of America, L. E.| Manoly, councilor, last Monday. Fran- | ces Tucker, singer, presented songs by | Squire and Lehmann. Grant W. Van Demark gave a musical monologue by Bagvall and Oley Speaks' “On the Road .| to Mandelay.” A recital, “Music of the Nations,” was | presented last Saturday by the students | of the Dorothy Henneman School of Music. The program included "Wooden‘ Shoes,” played by Elizabeth Magathan; “French Child Song.” by Jerome Du| Busky; “Carmencita” and “Italian| Song,” by Celeste Dorney; “Mercedes,” | “Rosa” and “Santa Lucla” by Kath- erine Cox; “Sicilienne,” by 'Anthony Du Busky; “Turkish Rondo,” by Geraldine | Parent; “Wong Ho,” by Marjorie Nye; | “Polish Dance,” by Kathleen Bergen, | and “Dixie,” by Helen Louise Baldwin. | The Rhythm Orchestra concluded the | program with the “Spanish Dance,” by | Behr. ‘Warren F. Johnson will give an organ recital at the Church of the Pilgrims at | 7:30 o'clock this evening. He will play “Toccata and Fugue in D inor” | (Bach) and “Fantasie in C Major” (Cesar Franck). | Owing to the continued illness of Lucy MacMorland, soprano soloist of the choir at Church of the Ascension, it has been necessary to engage another soprano until such time as Mrs. Mac- Morland is able to return. Mamie Rouse has been secured to fill this posi- tion, The soloists of the entire choir now | are Mamie Rouse, soprano; Alice Huber, | mezzo-soprano; Genevieve Garritz, con- tralto; Leslie Coyle, tenor; Gilbert Clark, baritone, and Herbert Frawley, bass, with Mrs. Henry Hunt McKee as organist and choir director. The second in a series of Biblical pictures will be | given tonight, interspersed with music | appropriate to the different pictures. | The pictures will deal mainly with the beatitudes, The music will be taken for a great part from Mrs. Ashford’s cantata, called “The Beatitudes.” There will be solos and choruses. Eva Whitford Lovette will sing a group of German songs at an evening of entertainment of the German Literary Society next Saturday at the home of the president, Anita Schade, 1529 Rhode Island avenue. Elsie Cranmer will as- sist at the plano. Mrs. C. H. Elliott, president of the Emily York Circle of the First Baptist Church, has announced the completion | of plans for the benefit concert to be given in the church Friday evening, April 11, by the Lovette Choral Club and assisting artists. The event will be prsented under auspices of this cir- cle, whose members will be assisted by the other ladies of the church. Ethel Lynn Fast, assisted at the piano by Eva Whitford -Lovette, was guest soloist at the annual ladies’ night given y Masonic No. 12, at the Raleigh Hotel Friday. Elena de Sayn will present Virginia Groomes and Keith Covert in a radio program Friday at 2 p.m. over Station WOL. Maud G. Sewall will give her ninth lecture at the Institute of Musical Art tomorrow at 5 p.m. The subject is “New Paths.” She will discuss the Group de Six of Paris, Schoenberg and Stravinsky as well as earlier composers who led to new use of polytonality and atonality, Felicia Rybler, planist, who has made her. headquarters in Washington since last Spring, will return Saturday from Florida, where she has been having marked success in recitals, Miss Rybier appeared both in Miami and St. Peters- rg. ‘The latter event was under the auspices of the Carreno Club and re- ceived lally warm praise from the critics of Bt, sburg. Aty gy % pregrm ot | o'clock (station WJSV) Spanish music this afternoon at 5 o'clock at All Souls’ Church (Unitarian), Sixteenth and Hasvard streets. Mrs. Potter will sing “Oant de la Verge” from an ancient mystery play, and “La Colomba,” a folk song arranged by Schindler. A short program on the “Theremin,” the new ether music instrument, was presented by Zenaide Hanenfeldt before a distinguished audience at a tea given by Dr. and Mrs. Hugh Roberts and Mme. Hanenfeldt at the Washington College of Musc last Sunday afternoon. It was also the first appearance of Miss Hanenfeldt in connection with the new School of Ether Music, affiliated with_the Washington College of Music, which Mme. Hanenfeldt, in answer to numerous demands, is organizing in Washington, and where ether music, the “music of the future,” will be taught by Miss Hanenfeldt and her assistants. The soloist for the German service at Concordia Lutheran Church this morning will be Esther Celander, so- prano, who will sing “Kommt Her Zu | Thm,” from the “Messiah” of Handel. At the English service the soloist will be Cathreen Carrico, soprano, who will sing “O Lord, Have Merc, by Stradella. The chorus choir will sing the chorale “Agnus Dei” of Decius and “The King of Love My Shepherd Is,” by Shelley, with solos by Margaret Becker, con- tralto, and Fred Strobel, baritone. At the evening. service at 8 o'clock Raymond_ Escherich, tenor will sing Beside Still Waters,” by Hamblen. Phebe Gates will broadcast a group of Spanish songs Thursday night at 10 and Saturday night at 6 o'clock (station WOL) on special Spanish programs of the Walter Holt Guitar Clubs. The guitar accom- paniments to her songs will be played by A. Hill. Miss Gates is well known in diplomatic circles, where her singing of the Spanish songs at musicales has become very popular. The Capital City Choristers will sing the cantata, “The Conversion of St. Paul,” by Matthews, Wednesday, at the M. E. Church South in Alexan- dria, Va. The soloists will be Ella Mintz, Alice Huber and Edith Beebe, sopranos; Genevieve Gerrits, contralto; Leslie Coyle, tenor; Gilbert Clark, baritone; Herbert Frawley, bass; Irving Horn, violinist; Dorothy Radde Emery, pianist; Mrs. Henry Hunt McKee, organist and director. Gilbert Clark, baritone, has been en- gaged by Eva Whitford Lovette to sing solos in the coming memorial service which she is arranging in honor of her late husband, Dr. Thomas Lovette. All compositions rendered at this time will be from the pen of Dr. Lovette. Gertrude Lyons, lyric soprano, with Margaret Bowie Grant at the piano, gave a group of songs before the Unity Society of Washington last Friday. She sang “Early Morning” (Graham Peel), “Songs My Mother Taught Me" (Dvorak), “Hark! Hark! the Lark” (Bchubert), “A Birthday” (Huntington Woodman), “There Are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden” (Liza Leh- mann). Mrs. Lyons also gave a group of Irish songs for her radio hour over WOL ‘Tuesday, including “A Ballynure Bal- lad,” “I Know Where I'm Goin',” “B for Barney,” all County Antrim folk songs, and “I Know My Love,” West Irish folk song; “The Little Irish Girl” (Loht “I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Hall om the “Bohemian Girl" (Balfe), “The Little Red Lark," old Irish, and the “Low Back'd Car.” Miss Grant again was the accompanist. Mabelle New Willlams, violinist, & graduate of the Ithaca Conservatory,. New York, and Beulah Beverly Cham- bers, planist, will give & musical pro- gram this afternoon at the Sunday aft- ernoon tea of the Women's City Club, 22 Jackson place. Prof. Eugene S. Costa, president of the Herman School of Music, has joined forces with the Washington Conservatory of Music, at 1408 New Hampshire avenue, as the head of the fretted instrument department there, including guitar, tenor banjo, mandolin and plano-accordeon. He makes of these serious instruments, such as they are in Europe. The guitar makes a fine solo instrument and is being heard frequently in radio recitals. Paganinni, the great violinist, is said to have often laid aside his violin for months at a time to devote his whole energles to the guitar, which he played like & virtuoso. Programs given by the Madrigal Singers during March include those at the Lutheran National Home and at the John Dickson Home, with the regu- lar appearance at the Walter Reed Hos- pital. Madrigals of the sixteenth and | seventeenth centuries are an important part of these programs, which also in- i‘lude folk songs and modern composi- jons, Original interpretations of humorous numbers and a fine. sense of the art of program-making mark these presenta- Lwum. 'l;he charming seventeenth cen- ury costumes worn by the additional attraction to lre.srhu:u ‘}o\'v:‘l'; voices and uc]ll:g{ul1 training. * The next rogram Wwi iven at the srltwn'on Home gI\IeSdly. Pittees The personnel of the Madrigal Sing- ers is: Elizabeth Waters, Mary Def- finbaugh, ~ Elizabeth Taylor Copping, Mary Grabill Smith, Norma Hughes and Mary Lerch. Mrs. John Milton Sylvester is director and accompanist. s A homemade ‘movie projecting- ma- chine furpishes Perry, Okls. of 3,800, with its talking pictures,” ™ | the | | racked. their MARCH 16, 1930—PART- FOUR. Soloists' Ensemble to Sing At University Club Soloists’ Ensemble from the In- stitute of Musical Art, a recently organized soclety of women, 16 trained voices and experienced singers, will make its Tirst appearance in an invitation concert at the University Club, Tues- day evening. March 25. Otto T. Simon will direct. Ervine J. Stenson will accompany the singers. He also will play a group of Chopin num- TS, The program has been selected with great care. The singers have not only been given technical points of breath control and elements that work for tonal beauty, but the psychology of text emotion has been deait upon so that ex- pression may. result from personal feel- ing and appreciation in the singers, as well as suggestion from the directors’ control. The members of the ensemble are: Mary Apple, Jane Davis Bradford, Eva Janet Bright, Rose Bright, Lillian Chenoweth, Mary Anna Donoghue, Iva Loughlen Guy, Edna Marie Jones, Lucy Greene Lynch, Jean Ethel Munn, Stella Eames Nelson, Janet Rowan Pickett, Dorothy Carolyn Davis Quinn, Agnes Downey Rice, Ida Willis Seaton, Mary R. Turner. The following program will be given: Two chorales of Bach, “Subdue Us Through Thy Kindness,” “Jesu, Joy of " “The Lord Is My Shep- choruses of Brahms, The Evening Star” Ban- tock (words by William Blake); “May Dance,” Asger Hamerik: two choruses of Wagner, “Dreams” and “The Song of the Rhine Maidens,” from’ Gotterdam- merung.” Mr. Stenson's Chopin numbers will include three preludes (Opus 28, Nos. 20,21, 22): “Nocturne, G Minor”; “Valse, A Fiat, Opus 42.” A second concert is scheduled for the Art's Club in April. JEROME WILLIAMS, S the result of & nervous breakdown, <% Jerome Willlams, one of the most active members of the Washington Com- posers’ Club, has left the city for Salem, Va., where he expects to spend a couple of months resting at Mount Regis San- itarium. In spite of Mr. Williams' {liness, three preludes and a humoresque which he has written for plano and which were to have been given by him in the Com- posers’ Club concert Sunday, March 30, at the Congressional Country Club, will be played at*that time. Mildred Kolb Schulze, well known here both as a pianist’and a composer, will play these works of Mr. Willlams on this occasion. The preludes are written in C major, D‘ flln major and A flat major, respec- tively. American Gold Star Mothers The American Gold Star Mothers en- tertained more than 200 Walter Reed patients’ March 7 in the Red Cross Building. Mrs. M. E. Warfield, second vice president and general hospital chairman, was in charge of the pro- gram. A section of the Army Band, under the leadership of Sergt. K. Hub- ner, rendered selections. Miss Hazel Gibson Wood, soprano, was the soloist, accompanied ' at the piano by Miss! Edith B. Athey. Sergt. Hubner ren- dered a violin obbligato. A one-act play, “Followers,” was presented, under the direction of Mrs. Marguerite Paul, with the following in the cast: Miss Mary Armstrong, Miss Olga Helms, Miss Virginia Riggles and Benjamin Doehrer, At the close of the program refresh- ments _were served by the following Gold Star Mothers: Mrs. M. E. War- field, Mrs. M. K. Killeen, Mrs. E. M. H. Guedry, Mrs. M. E. Loveiess, Mrs. H. L. Hurley, Mrs. Catherine Barrack, Mrs. Delia Barber, Mrs. Olive Carpenter and the president, Mrs. Seibold. Others as- sisting were Mrs. Bradner, the Misses Barrack, Miss Lower and Miss Shackle- ford. A beautiful afghan, made for the Walter Reed patients by Miss Bernice Barrack, a Gold Star sister, was pre- sented during the evening. A committee of Gold Star Mothers, headed by Mrs. Catherine Barrack, will entertain ‘about 75 patients at St. Eliz- abeth’s Hospital today in the Red Cross hut. Mrs. David H. Rincheloe, wife of Representative Kincheloe of Kentucky, will be the chief entertainer, and re- freshments will be served. Mrs. M. E. Warfleld has arranged a St. Patrick's day silver tea, to be held at 3033 P street tomorrow from 3 to 5 o'clock. Gold Star Mothers and their friends are invited. During a recent meeting of the board of trustees held in the home of the president resolutions were approved sponsoring the bill now pending in Congress, which _was_introduced by Representative Cochran of Missouri, providing for the use of the Dewey flagship, U. S. S. Olympia, now out of commission at the Philadelphia Navy Yard, as a memorial to the Spanish- American War veterans, and also to the Unknown Soldier, whose body was brought to America on that vessel. The bill, desiring the placing of the vessel permanently on the waters of the Po- tomac, has been favorably reported by the House naval affairs committee. The president of the American Gold Star Mothers, whose son, First Lieut. George Vaughn Seibold, 'is numbered among the unknown dead of the World War, has given her indorsement to the passage of the bill to place the U. S. S. Olympia on the waters of the Potomac as the most logical place to exhibit a national memorial t‘nt will serve to commemorate the services of Spanish- American War heroes and World War heroes. Word has been received here that Mrs. Mary J. Bates of Jackson, Mich.. has called a meeting for the purpose of organizing the Jackson Unit of Ameri- can Gold Star Mothers. An applica- tion for membership has been received 1’\;‘1”)‘\ Mrs. Elizabeth Waite of Clal ch. A letter was received from Mrs. Wil- liam Howard Taft expressing apprecia- tion of the sympathy and understand- ing of Gold Star Mothers during the illness of her husband. The Mothers meet in regular session Tuesday evening at Hotel Hamilton. —_— Some 50 years ago the British Mu- | seum came inta possession of an Egyp- | tian scroll 4,000 years old and for & eneration the b tian scholars ' e 1o deci er it When read, it turned out. tian boy's addition sum.. And on¢ of examples wrong! Music in New York BY W. J. HENDERSON. YOUNG and old American composgis and librettists are preparing operas to be produced at the Metropolitan, ‘Why does not some one tale a sugges- tion from “Louise"? The poor Il‘orklng‘j girl of the East Side (supposing there | is such a porson any more), yearning for the gay White Way, the cabaret, the beautiful signs on the Roxy and the Capitol, the romantic, almost visiona: life of Roxy himself, Dave Schooler, George Jessel, Marilyn Miller, June Walker, the traffic cops, the Broadway stroller, the newsboys, the soap box orators overthrowing the Governmen' | every day, the beggars, the army of | noctambules, the speakeasies and over all the sleepless eyes of Mayor Walker— here, indeed, is material for a tragedy in the midst of comedy that might easily make “Louise” look like the work of a mere amateur. For what the writer has left out, let the reader con- sult Ward Morehouse. Usual American Subjects. Usually the American composer is busy puzeling himself as to how he is to make a work with interesting cos- tumes and beautiful scenery and yer escape the Indians, the cowboys, the Spaniards and the Arizona bad lands or the painted desert. There was a moment when we were thrilled by the announcement that Deems Taylor was going to compose “Street Scene.” It better than trotting away off into the Dark Ages of Britain and a king's men- daclous errand boy. That hope faded. Mr. Taylor changed his mind. John Erskine, according to report, hds dou. bled up with George Antheil and these two will make an opera probably about some one’s private life. Why not a live one? There would be real joy for a com- poser in an opera located in Chicag That is a city of magnificent personali- ties and of a life surcharged with ac- was not just what we desired, but it was | ready. Yet the possibility of picturing a screen actor who could really sing might well tempt any musical genius. Is Opera Played Out? What opera needs is new aspects, new territory and incidentally some new tunes. The old tunes have been done forward, backward, upside down and split in the middle. Most of us are tired of hearing them. The earnest gentlemen who have so gallantly com: to our relief with scores built far from the old tunes have not brought any to take their places. We ask them for tunes and they give us recitative, decla- mation or song speech. We are per- fectly willing to listen to song speech when that is needed to make situations clear to us, but when the singers shouid have opportunities to sing out to us their emotions and we continue to ge! only more song speech, we grow peevish, and, after the manner of Patience, ex- pressing her opinion of Bunthorne's poetry, exclaim: “Well, if that's opera, I don't like opera.” And this gives retiring prima donnas the cue to say, “Opera is played out.” The lady disappears, and the next we hear of her is that there is more trouble in the Balkans. We refuse to believe opera is played out. Certain operas are and an alarmingly large number of opera singers. But let the old-fash- foned “Faust” be sung as it was 30 years ago, and it is as certain as taxes that the public will sit up and take notice. There seems to be no despairing a tude on the part of those who provi music not associated with opera. The musical public evidently enjoys hearing the best music and the most accom- plished soloists. But this public is not large enough to support all the enter- prises asking for its favor. There are too many music salesmen and not enough buyers. In the course of time all the difficulties of the present situa- tion will solve themselves. There will inevitably be fewer musicians, and only the fittest will survive. In that golden age all the music will be beautiful ard tion. Los Angeles seems less suited 10 operatic purposes, probably because everything out there is comic opera al- MEETINGS THIS WEEK. Col. John Jacob Astor Camp, tomorrow night, Stanley Hall, United States Soldiers’ Home. Gen. M. Emmet Urell Camp, Wednesday night, Pythian Tem- ple. Richard J. Harden Camp, Thursday night, Pythian Temple, Admiral George Dewey Naval Auxiliary, tomorrow night, North- east Masonic Temple, Eighth and F streets northeast. Gen. M. Emmet Urell Auxiliary, Wednesday night, Pythian Teme ple. Col. John Jacob Astor Auxil- lary, Thursday night, 921 Penn- sylvania avenue southeast. The Spanish War pension bill (H. R. 10466) was favorably reported to the House of Representativces last week by Chairman Knutson of the House pen- sions committee. This bill increases materially the rates at present in force, as follows: Twenty dollars a month for one-tenth disability, $25 for one-fourth disability, $35 for one-half disability, $50 for three-fourths disability and $60 per month for total disability, and for those who are now or hereafter may | become on account of age or mental or physical disabilities helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attend- ance of another person, shall be given a rate of $72 a month. There is also provided a rate of $30 for these veterans reaching the age of 62 years; 68 years, $40 per month; 72 years, $50 per month, and 75 years, $60 per month. These rates are extended to any woman who served honorably as a nurse, chief nurse or superintendent of the Nurse Corps under contract for 90 days or more between April 21, 1898, and February 2, 1901, and to any such nurse, regardless of length of service, who was released from service before the expiration of the 90 days because | of disability contracted by her while in the service in line of duty. Section 3 of the bill provides that all persons who served 70 days or more in the military or naval service of the United States during the War with Spain, the Philippine insurrection, China_relief expedition, and who have been honorably discharged therefrom, or who, having served less than 70 days, were discharged for disability in- curred in the service in line of duty, and who are now or who may hereafter be suffering from any mental or physical disability or disabilities of a permanent character which so incapacitates them for the performance of manual labor as to render them unable to earn a sup- port, shall, upon making due proof of the fact, be entitled to receive a pen- sion of not exceeding $30 a month and not less than $12 a month, pro- portioned to the degree of inability to earn a support. This section also ap- plies to a nurse, chief nurse or superin- tendent of the nurse corps under con- tract for 70 days or more between April 21, 1898, and February 2, 1901. The age pension, under this section, provides: Sixty-two years, $12 per month; 68 years, $18; 72 years, $24; 75 years, $30. Department Comdr. Lorin C. Nelson and staff made the annual official in- spection of the Richard J. Harden Camp at its last meeting. Department Inspector Charles A. Strobel gave the camp a high credit for the manner in which the business of the camp was conducted. Chairman William O. Ohm of the re- lief committee reported Charles L. Thornton in the Naval Hospital. He also reported the death of Noble N. Potts at the Naval Hospital, Brooklyn, N. Y, February 27. Taps was sounded and the usual period of silent prayer observed. Comdr. Devlin announced the ap- pointment of Jacob Orken as service officer, as required by general orders of national headquarters. Past Department Comdr. William L. Mattocks gave an outline of pending pension legislation. Other speakers were: Department Comdr. Lorin C. Nelson, all the performers competent. But it looks as if it were going to be a little too late for some of us. Spanish War Veterans Senior Vice Department Comdr. Benja- min F. Motley, Chief of Staff John A. Gallagher, Department Inspector Charles A. Strobel, Assistant Depart- ment Quartermaster John A. Chisholm, Department Judge Advocate James A, Burns, Department Chaplain Samuel G! Mawson, Bernard S. Buscher, depart- ment graves registration officer; Past Comdr. E. C. Barstow and James E. gmllh of the Gen. Henry W. Lawton ‘amp. William B. Burroughs, Michael F. Mc~ Carthy, Charles F. Wilkie and La Mont A. Williams were mustered in as active members of the Gen. Henry W. Lawton Camp at its last meeting. Past Comdr. Hodges, the first com- mander of Lawton Camp, and Past Comdr. Sheridan Ferree addressed the meeting. ‘The camp adopted a motion present- ed by Past Comdr. Dawson that two of the regulation metal insignias of the Spanish War Veterans be purchased for attachment to the floral wreath or other floral tribute sent by the camp to the funeral of a deceased comrade. A card party will be held next Satur- day at Northeast Masonic Temple. A meeting of the department council of administration of the Ladies’ Aux- | iliaries was held March 5, with Departe ment President Louise M. Moore pre- siding. Chief of Staff Margaret E. | Burns announced a card party by the | department April 9 at 1750 Massachu~ | setts avenue at 8:30 p.m. Until further riotice’ the Col. James 8. Pettit Auxiliary will meet: the second and fourth Mondays of each month at Naval Lodge Hall, Fourth street and Pennsylvania avenue southeast. The next meeting will be held March 24. Rose Mary Woodey was taken into ac- tive membership at the last meeting. At the last meeting.of the Col. John Jacob Astor Auxiliary the following candidates were admitted to member- ship; Cattherine Windsor, Luvenia Heck and Maude Curtiss. The following offi- cers were installed, with Chief of Staff Margaret Burns acting as master of ceremonies: Bessie Maddox, senior vice president; Jessie Penn, historian; Lu- venia Heck, conductor, and Katie Boss, secretary. A card party will be held Thursday night at 921 Pennsylvania avenue southeast, the proceeds of which will be used for the purchase of a new flag. The meeting will open 30 o'clovk. Chief of Staff Margaret Burns made an address. At the next meet | the election of assistant conductor an gux:x"u to national convention will be e F. C. Huhn, chairman of the enter- tainment committee, announces that a night at the me Richard | Fiarden Camp. ¢ gpes il Second Juniors' Concert. 'HE District of Columbia Federatio; T of Music Clubs will present its !un? dors in concert at the Department of Interior Auditorium Saturday at 8 pm. This will be the second of the series of three which the federation is present this season. Little Homer Stephens Mce Allister, aged 5 years, who is & pupil of Frances Gutelius, will play a waltz by Mozart and Allegretto from the seventh syrg&l;wny of bB:ethm-rn. er numbers include Toy Sym- phony by the American Music Aay pre{E-‘ tion Club led by Ivy Lee Newell; piano solos by Alice Alpert, Jane Patterson, Bernice Drissel, Evelyn Brumbaugh, Dorothy Robley and Rachel Duffield; violin solos by William Rodier and Ruth- Hobbs; violin duet by Albert Pergament and Abraham Lynn, two songs by Charles Burton and a quartet number by Frank- lin Hayes, Earnest Weaver, ~Willlam Jones and Howard Samsel. The Junior Club song will close the program. ‘The last concert of the series will be April 12 at the auditorium. These con- certs are under the direction of Mary X-r; : ??lttix?l‘;n. ’t“l;““ chairman for e District federation, and are open to the public. oo STUDIOS OF BESSIE N. WILD Voice Culture, Plano and Harmony 4 5th st., Ti studio 6824 th & :':fi"" Park, D. O SAXOPHONE, BANJO, GUITAR rind pet, Oreameire Traiaiere 8o for Christensen School of P 718 _11th_St. N.W. v fl‘ule 1238 School of Mandolin, Guitar and Banjo, Hawaiian Guitar and Ukulele Established 1804 INSTITUTE of MUSICAL ART, Inc. CONSERVATORY and PREPARA. R . B mz“’"k TRy e Seisiamtat e [ WASHINGTON A .#H#"W'fi A Wr The Musi NEW 'ATION, 1 NOikn " Stieie_Pians. ~ OPERA SIN Vocal Instructor and Operatic Goach Prima Donna will conduet maste: Washington during the Spring, and will ac- cept three more vocal and dramatic pupils. Pupils _prepared for church, concert, operatic debut, and radio. iy Only sel 3 ibition sood nafiral Voices il be accepted. L Volee trial by appointment. _Tel Het. 285 HANENFELIDT SCHOO! ETHER MUSIC | | Afiliated With The 'nlh.{tOl Iklllg of Muslp 2107 8 St. N.W. { Second class starting April 2. Earollment Adaress ingajrige to Hme. I. w-.« GUORI lephone_Potor fne Masier "v‘ln Sings” es. '® ADpeal w .l puplls’ ni m;g artist with such ‘Washington Conserv: of Music .