Evening Star Newspaper, November 28, 1935, Page 33

Joyous Program Given By Mexican Orchestra Latin American Music Played With Impres- sive Spontaneity Before Distinguished Audience. BY ALICE EVERSMAN. N THE noble Hall of the Americas at the Pan-American Union where the United States service bands %0 often have played the music of Latin America, there gathered last evefing the most picturesque group of musicians that ever has visited the Capital. The Orquesta Tipica de Policia de Mexico, under the direction ©of Maestro Miguel Lerdo de Tejada, an organization of 70 men, brought joy to the hearts of their countrymen and stirred the blood of their American neighbors in one of the most colorful concerts presented in that belutuul auditorium. The trim uniforms of the urvlce bands were replaced by rich Mexican costumes, elaborately embroidered and the huge sombreros adorned with sil- ver so much more romantic than the conventional headgear of the general public. There was a riot of color everywhere, in the scarfs knotted about the throats of the players, in the “sarapes” thrown carelessly over the shoulder and in the draperies scattered about amopgst the instru- ments. Against this background sat the musicians, dark of visage with | mobile features and flashing eyes. Across their knees lay the guitars and saltarios, native instruments whose | tonal color was to merge with the | marimba, the violin, the double basses | and the horns that form the ensemble. | Playing Effective. The musicians waited with that|g patience and immobility only acquired in a land of sunshine until the arrival | of suave and elegant Maestro de Tejada | announced the beginning of the con- | cert. With a lift of the eyebrows and slight but telling indications of his | graceful hands he led his men into the stirring strains of his own compo- sition, “Marcha Patriotica.” With the | opening measures there arose a rich, | melndious sound, harmony and rhythm combined, in which no instrumental medium was discernable, but which | became music of the most effective kind. The men of the orchestra played ‘without the printed page before them, but with their eyes fixed on their con- ductor. No mere setting down of notes ‘were needed, for they played from their hearts and with their entire being. The old man with the huge guitar and the skilful and fleet players of the saltario surely had little use for musical script, for this was the music they had known from infancy and played at every fiesta or in the twilight hours when the day's work was done. Incredibly swift in their movement over the strings and united as one man in their feeling for effects, they threw themselves into the swing of the music with complete abandon. And the effects that were produced: Here a beautiful purring pianissimo, a melodious whisper from somewhere and then a rising crescendo that grew in might and volume with uniform exactness and infinite understanding | of spacing into a glorious quantity of sound that held secreted the mechani- cal means by which it was achieved. | ‘This was music. Not the kind that came from studied violin tone and matching of cello or woodwinds, but ' music of the universe, grand and noble and heart touching. This is what the distinguished audi- ® It's none too early to start planning for Christmas. Old Santaalready knows what every woman wants this Christmas’ For many years to come the holiday spirit will live on in your home — if you choose a ilumm; General Electric efrigerator—a most wel- come gift for all the familv No Down Payment —Nothing to Pay Until Next Year. MAESTRO LERDO DE TEJADA. ence which gathered to welcome the visitors heard in the first part of the program which, after the opening | number, included Maestro de Tejada’s “El Faisan” and Corona’s “Rapsodia Mexicana” and the vocal solo “Gra- nada,” by Lara, sung by Jose Rubio, tenor. Senor Rubio has a voice that is warmly colored, sonorous and pow=- erful when he demands its full re- sources. Literally storms of applause greeted his singing and the number had to be repeated. Some one has said that a people is known by their songs, and so the sec- ond part of the program was mostly vocal. There was the “Cancioneros | Rancheros,” Laura Rivas and Rai- mundo Perez, folk troubadours who | sang songs of the country to the ac- companiment of the guitar, and a group of 15 singers who gave old Mex- ican and contemporary “Las Gavi- otas” in which the “Ranchero” recites with amusing byplay as interlude to the singing of the group. As in the in- strumental numbers, the ensemble was | full of color and fire, the beat of the rhythm catching up the audience with its infectious movement. Brothers Excellent. Two numbers which were perhaps the most outstanding on the program were the marimba selections by the Marin brothers and the dance, “Jarabe Nacional,” by Laura Rivas and Pedro Valdes, which concluded the program. The artistry and skill of the six Marin brothers completely carried the audi- ence away and they were greeted with thunderous applause after each play- ing. Intricate steps ending with a dance around the brim of a sombrero thrown on the floor were incorporsted into the “Jarabe Nacional” with the utmost ease and this too had to be repeated. In a few well chosen words Dr. Rowe thanked Maestro de Tejada and his orchestra for the pleaure they had given, but this expresced but in part the sentiments of the audience, which had been brought in closer touch with another peoples through the magic of an international art. A deeply noble rendition of the two na- tional anthems brought this unfor- gettable concert to an end. E C.GRAHAM, P NATI 1328 New York Ave. ECTRIAL NAtional 6800 —or at the Following Dealers: GARDNER_D. 1013 U St. SONS, C. G St. N.W. TRIBLE'S 1427 Good Hope Rd. S.E. BRACKE' A 1205 Wisconsin Ave. N.W. HECHT COMPANY Jih and F Sts NW. HUB FURNITURE COMPANY Rockville, Md. BURROWS SERVICE STATION 6621 Wisconsin Ave., Chevy Md. COLLINS SERVICE STATION N, DE WILTON H. Indian Head, Md. LAND ELECTRIC APPLIANCE Ave, Hyatts- Waldos WOODFIELD ELECTRIC CO. 7 PALATS m!AL 11th and G Sts. N.W. Gllthenb.uu Md. ZIRKLE HAR| DWARE COMPANY s'k.z": Georgia Ave., Silver Sprins, D. C, THURSDAY, ) EMBER 28, 1935, EXHIBIT and SALE MAPLE and MODERN FURNITURE Rooms on the 4th and 7th Floors LONDON CLUB CHAIR & OTTOMAN For the comfort-loving males on your list. Deep-seated, with just the right tilt to the back ond broad, well-laced arms. An ottoman, too, on which he can park his feet. Choice of tapestry. (Pourth Floor, The Hecht Co.) Q.95 STUNNING BARREL BACK CHAIR A truly handsome chair built for solid com- fort. Spring edges ond seat and loose, spring-filled cushion, Covered in colorful figured tapestry, accented with antiqued nail heads. Ottoman to match, $5 (Pourth Floor, The Hecht Co.) F Street at Seventh l H E USE THE HOME IMPROVEMENT PLAN O NO MONEY DOWN-1, 2, COGSWELL CHAIR 14.95 Always @ favorite. 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