Evening star. [volume], December 22, 1929, Page 4, Image 60

About Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972

Image provided by: Library of Congress, Washington, DC

                
4
MUSIC I
I BY HELEN FETTER.
THE old familiar carols and
others, perhaps equally old,
but less well known, lead in
the musical interests of
the coming week. Beginning to
day the churches are having only
music appropriate to the season.
The first Christmas oratorio of
the local church performances
was R. Deane Shure’s revised
“Dawn in the Desert,” which had
Its first performance in this form
Tuesday night at Mount Vernon
M. E. Church South, where Mr.
Shure is director of music.
The oratorio, which has become
a veritable institution—Haendel’s
' Messiah"—without one perform
ance of which no Christmas
seems complete, will be sung to
day at Calvary M. E. Church,
where Louis Potter is director of
music.
Another work that also seems
to have gained permanent estab
lishment in Washington the
pageant-drama arrangement of
Van Dyke’s “The Other Wise
Man”—will have three perform
ances during the coming week.
. Katherine Riggs, young Washing
ton harpist, is responsible for the
excellent musical score as ar
ranged appropriately for this en
tertainment.
Other Christmas oratorios, can
tatas, pageants and the singing
of carols and anthems will be
given, as mentioned in detail in
the special page of yesterday’s
Star—" Music in the Churches” —
throughout the many Christian
. churches of the city of Wash
ington.
** * *
A GAIN, Ruth Peter, Washington
soprano, has scored in still
another opera in Italy. In Fer
rara, the same place where she
made her operatic debut, as Mimi
in Puccini’s “La Boheme,” Miss
Peter sang her first performance
of the role of Liu in the same
. composer's “Turandot,” Novem
ber 24.
According to the reports in the
Italian newspapers, Miss Peter
won, afresh, definite success. The
warmth of her voice quality, the
sincerity of her interpretation of
the role, both were commented
on. Moreover, as this perform
ance was given in the town in
which she had her debut, the
• audience showed its interest in
her by hearty applause at her
first appearance on this occasion.
** * *
A “MUSICIAN’S GAMBOL,” it is
announced, will be held at Car
negie Hall a week from tomorrow
night for the benefit of the Ed
ward MacDowell Association of
Peterborough, N. H. There have
been many unusual events pre
sented for the benefit of this
same, very worthy cause from
time to time. Later in the Win
ter a novel program for this bene
fit is being arranged in Washing
ton, In which many leading pian
ists Qf the city will participate.
In the New York “Gambol,” a
fairly dazzling list of names of
famous artists is given, led by
Ernest Schelling, chairman for
this event. Those listed include
Lucrezla Bori, Harold Bauer,
Georges Barrere, Chalmers Clif
ton, Ruth Draper, Walter Dam
rosch. John Erskine, Carl Fried
berg, Ignaz Friedman, Ossip Ga
brillawitsch, Rudolph Ganz, Eu
gene Goossens, Emilio de Gor
gorza, Ernest Hutcheson, Jose
• Iturbi, Serge Koussevitsky, Paul
Kochanski, Joseph Lhevinne, Mrs.
MacDowell, Willem Mengelberg,
Yolanda Mero, Alfred Pochon,
Olga Samaroff, Felix Salmond,
John Philip Sousa and Albert
Stoessel.
Harvard Instrumental Clubs
In Program December 30.
'J’H* Harvard University instrumental
clubs, which will give their only
concert In Washington this season at
the Mayflower Hotel Monday evening,
December SO, at S:3O o'clock, comprise
one of the most famous organisations
of the university on the Charles. Each
Winter this musical and social organi
sation makes an extensive trip during
the latter part of the Christmas vaca
tion.
The history of the organization is
particularly interesting to those who are
at all familiar with Harvard and its
traditions. Some years ago the Uni
versity Glee Club and the Instrumental
Clubs separated from each other. This
split in the organization, which has
been made quite amicably, was due to
a desire on the part of each group to
pursue the path to which it felt its
talents were best suited. The Glee
• Club, under Dr. A. T. Davison, felt that
the paths of more serious music inter
ested them. However, feeling that
there was a geniulne demand from grad
uates and undergraduates for the
lighter and more traditional music
which the glee club had abandoned,
the instrumental clubs in 1926 formed
their now well known vocal unit.
The instrumental clubs render the
traditional songs of Harvard, as well as
a variety of lighter classical music,
marches, spirituals and chanteys. This
year the vocal unit is under the leader
ship of P. Btacy Holmes. '3l. Coached
by F. B. MehafTey, the unit has a pro
gram which cannot but appeal to every
one
Harvard graduates will be particularly
delighted with the aelection of such
songs as “Johnny Harvard," “The Long
shoreman" and “Come Landlord, Fill
the Flowing Bowl,”»while Rachmani
noff's “Qlorious Forever’’ has been ac
claimed by the best musical critics as a
well finished presentation.
Tickets can be had at Mrs. Wllson-
Oreene's concert bureau, 1300 G street
northwest.
Rudy * Idea of a Vacation.
V/TARSHALL NEILAN received the
11 shock of his life the very first day
he began directing Rudy Vallee in “The
Vagabond Lover.”
Before the magic word “go" or “cam
era.” or whatever the starting signal
might be. could be uttered, Rudy blithe
ly stepped out and announced to Nei
lan, "At last I have a vacation.” And
Neilan simply gulped and gazed.
Rudy hadn't the remotest idea of
quitting his new-found job before he
started, as a matter of course. What
he really did mean was that for the
past two years, in New York, he had
arisen at an early hour to make phono
graph records; from noon until 10 p m.
he and his Connecticut Yankees filled
theater engagements; from that time
until some wee sma’ hour in the morn
ing the Villa Vallee Night Club claimed
him. And picture making for him was
—well, a sort of lark, a dream of
Idleness.
It was Rudy’s capacity for work, this
ffenius of being always fresh and orig
inal In his entertainment, and h's limit
less versatility that recently aroused
the Interest of psychologists throughout
the country. ~
■ I I
: | There certainly could not be a i
finer object than the helping of i
the association to raise a fundi
that will give solid foundation to!
carry on this colony founded by i
Edward MacDowell and sustained 1
by persistent, unflagging effort on i
the part of Mrs. MacDowell, in I
spite of much illness and other
obstacles, to give opportunity for ■
young American talent in all the j
arts.
** * *
THE newest organization formed
in the interest of American'
music for Americans is the Ste- >
phen Foster Society. Lorraine I
Foster, a singer, who is of the
same family, heads the group of
musical folk who have launched
this society recently, witn an in
augural program presented in the
auditorium of the Home-making
Center of the New York State Fed
eration of Women s Clubs, Grand i
Central Palace, New York City, j
Dr. Otto Kinkeldey, chief of the j
music division of the New York
Public Library, presided. Arthur
Billings Hunt, musicologist, illus- |
tr%ted the beginnings of American
music. Harold Vincent Milligan,
director of the National Music
League and biographer of Stephen
Foster, gave a sketch of the com
poser. Miss Foster contributed a
group of Foster’s songs and two
unpublished melodies from the
Kentucky mountains. American
musical antiquities also were on
display.
It is the plan of this most re
cent sponsor for the development
and exploitation of American folk
music collections to bring the mu
sic before American audiences by
actual performance as well as in
the more academic form of print
ed material. Miss Foster gives as
a basic principle of the organi
zation the encouragement of in
itiative and the working out of na
tive themes. She says, in part:
“America's musical life has been
too dependent on the works of the
Old World. America must turn
to her folk songs, her folk lore,
her native sources and build an
American music, as has every na
tion of the earth. In this activity
our schools are of utmost impor
tance. It is impossible to estimate
the service American educational
institutions can perform for Amer
ican music, by keeping our own
music before us.”
This is all very true and worthy,
perhaps. However, who that Is
really musical would find the
values and appreciate them in
American music who did not
possess the background of the
many European works that have
come as the heritage of the
American people? As Glinka and,
later, the Russian Five helped to
establish the backbone for music
recognized by the world as great
music inspired by Russia; as Bach.
Schubert, Beethoven, Brahms.
Schumann and Wagner have
placed varied German musical
standards for their country; as
Palestrina, Scarlatti, and—leaping
a chasm—Respighi, and Malipiero
have emphasized the outline of
music in Italy, so it is to be hoped
that MacDowell, Stephen Foster
and Charles Griffes have been
among those planting the sign
posts for the development of an
eventual music that is native to
America. Even Mr. Foster’s most
popular and lasting songs, how
ever, are original and not merely
dressed-up folk melodies. Such is
the really lasting music of any
country, although the folk
melodies frequently play a very
definite part in providing the ele
mental frame upon which inspira
tlon may hang a glorious mantle.
Calvary M. E. Church Gives
The Messiah" Today.
. .
LOUIS POTTER.
'J’HE choir of Calvary M. E. Church,!
Columbia road near Fifteenth
street northwest, under the direction of
Louis Potter, will gtve the Christmas
portion of Handel'a oratorio, “Messiah,”
today at 4 o’clock.
The chorus will be augmented to 50
voices with guest singers and soloists.
Mrs. Emily Dickinson, organist of the
National Baptist Memorial Church, will
accompany, with an orchestra of ac
complished musicians.
Ruby Potter, regular soprano soloist
of Calvary M. E. Church, will sustain
the soprano recitatives and solos.
The contralto soloist will be Helen
Turley, soloist at the Vermont Avenue
Christian Church.
The tenor recitative. “Comfort Ye,”
and aria. “Every Valley,” will be sus
tained by John B Switzer, soloist of,
this church. Mr. Switzer will be heard
‘ for the first time in this work.
The bass-baritone solos will be given
> by H. Blaine Cornwell, jr., of Charles
ton. W. Va., who at present is living
• in Washington. He is soloist at St.
I Thomas’ Episcopal Church.
The Choir Invisible, a choral organ
. ization especially noted for its radio
1 work in this city, will sing the chorus,
“Glory to God.” from the back gallery
t of the church. It was Handel’s own
. idea that the first part of the chorus
t be given “piano, as from a distance.”
> In giving this oratorio, part one alone
I will be used, concluding with the “Hal
. lelujah Chorus,” thus giving some cho
ruses not usually heard in complete
j performances.
» •• ~ ■ ■
Rebecca M. Reichard had charge of
1 a concert sponsored by the League of
• American Civic Service last Monday at
t the Mayflower Hotel.
Those presenting the musical num
-5 bers were Katherine Floeckher Cullen.
■ pianist; Rose Maxwell Dickey, violinist;
• Dorothy Sherman Pierson, soprano: ,
I Ambrose Durkin, bass-baritone; Frank
t Davis, reader, and Christopher Tenley,
accompanist.
THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 22. 1929—PART FOV’R.
THREE PRINCIPALS IN MUSIC OF “THE OTHER WISE MAN” WHICH
WILL BE GIVEN THIS WEEK
jOi '' ipf.
Katherine Rigg-s-
\ f USIC plays a large part In "The
Other Wise Man,” the legend
drama of Yuletide. to be presented this
year for the fifth season at Luther
Place Memorial Church on Thomas Cir
cle. A company of 100 players of re
ligious drama in the city of Washington
will appear in the three performances,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday, at 8
p.m. Bess Davis Schreiner, chairman
of religious drama in the Washington
Federation of Churchec, which this
season, as in time • past, is indorsing
the presentation as part of the cele
bration of the Christmas of the Na
Scenic and Otker Changes
In American Opera' Work
DARELY before in the whole history
*''■ of opera, grand, comic or otherwise,
has any director or scenic designer
taken such liberties with operatic tra
dition as Vladimir Rosing, artistic di
rector, and Robert Edmond Jones,
scenic designer, have taken in adapting
to modern English presentation the va
rious operas in the repertoire of the
American Opera Co., which makes its
third annual appearance in Washing
ton next month at Poll’s, under the
local management of Mrs. Wilson-
Greene.
Not only have Rosing and his asso
ciates revised entire librettos to adapt
the phraseology to modern English lan
guage demands, but the scenery, the
acting and even some of the costumes
have been modernized for such operas
as ‘‘Mme. Butterfly,” ‘‘Faust,*’ ‘ Car
men’’ and others. Incidentally, all
three of these operas will be presented
during the Washington engagement.
Mr. Rosing frankly warns opera audi
ences not to expect these operas to be
presented in exactly the traditional
manner, with merely the language
changed. He is not giving an operatic
equivalent of ‘‘Hamlet” in evening dress
by any means, though Rosing points out
the modernization of these operas has
resulted in a version that, while fasci
natingly interesting, is, nevertheless, a
changed version to some degree.
Lighting, costumes and particularly
scenic effects of the various operas
have aroused much comment. Massive ,
stage sets as well as almost miniature j
settings find their place in the scenic
equipment, which fills five cars of the
special train that the American Opera
Co. uses in its tour.
Bold splashes of color, daring angles
and curious lighting effects—lncluding i
some modernistic touches—have been
introduced by Robert Edmond Jones,
and, in some cases, only the music
scores and actual stories remain intact.
Above all. the productoins of the Amer
ican Opera Co. emphasize beauty, hu
man appeal and romance, rather than
vocal qualities at the expense of the
physical verities. There are no 200-
pound prima donnas interpreting slen
der maidens in Rosing's outfit.
Mrs .Wilson-Greene has announced
that four operas in all will be given
in Washington next month. The open
ing attraction will be the ne v American
opera "Yolanda of Cyprus,” on Mon
day evening, January 20, followed by
"Mme. Butterfly," Tuesday evening,
January 21. The third evening per
formance. Wednesday, January 22. will
be’ “Faust,” with "Carmen given at a
matinee performance at 2 p.m. the same
day.
Reservations are now’ being filled at
Mrs. Wilson-Greene’s concert bureau,
1300 G street northwest.
Congressional Country Club
Has Christmas Carols Today
'THE annual Christmas carol service
I 1 given by the Congressional Country
Club will be held this afternoon at 5
o’clock. W'hen the Wil-Nor Choral Club i
again will present the program around
| the Christmas tree in the lounge of the
| club.
Those w’ho were privileged to hear
that carol service last year will recall
j the beautiful picture these carolers
made in their old English costumes.
One of the unusual features of the
carol service this year will be a group
of children's Christmas songs and the
telling of that lovely old fable, "Why
the Chimes Rang,” to the children and
I those who "never grow up.”
The members of the club, the chil
dren and their friends are cordially in
vited to be present.
German Opera Lectures.
THE* opera lectures on the German
Grand Opera Co.'s repertory for
Washington, to be given by Kurt Hetzel |
at Barker Hall in the Young Women’s j
Christian Association at Seventeenth 1
and K streets, are arousing much in
terest. Mr. Hetzel is an authority on
Wagner. In the days of the*grcat Felix
Mottl, during the Munich festivals of
opera under his guidance. Mr. Hetzel
was his pupil and was associated with
him in the famous festivals that are
still the mecca for all travelers to
Europe.
As artist pianist, Mr. Hetzel brings a
rare gift to his elucidation of the op
] eras and their music scores. He knows
his Wagner so completely that he plays
the music entirely from memory—the
entire operas—in much the same vir
tuoso way as when we find Toscanini
or Stokowski conducting without their
scores.
S. Hurok. managing director of the
German Opera, has arranged to have
Mr. Hetzel give these lecture-recitals to
the public. Thev are presented under
the auspices of the Y. W. C. A. through
its chairman, Mrs. Edwin B. Parker.
Invitation tickets, to the capacity of
the hall, may be obtained from the
music department of the Y. W. C A. or i
from the T. Arthur Smith Concert Bu
reau, 1330 G street northwest.
Mrs. William T. Reed gave a cycle
cf songs by Nellie Yale Hauberg at the j
| histallation ceremonies of Esther Chap
' ter at Masonic Temple Thursday night. :
Mrs. J. Harry Cunningham wu the
accompanists [
V
I It
W JUDV
LVETH
tional Capital, is arranger and director.
Harp music as played by Katherine
Riggs, organ music as played by Mar
garet Hammerness, vocal music as sung
by Charlotte Harriman, all will enter
into the presentation of the drama,
forming a three-fold atmosphere of mel
ody In accompaniment to the Impres
sive scenes as the age-long story of
“This Other Wise Man” is told in brief,
effective dramatic presentation. Judy
L.veth likewise, in interpretative of
rhythm, will give her rendition of the
spirit of the Parthian slave girl, who
calls on Artaban, the Median, for aid.
Women's City Club
Has Program Today
'J’HE Women's City Club Musical En
semble will give a program of
Christmas carols at the club house, 22
Jackson place, this afternoon, when "Le
Sommell de * - >.nt Jesus,” especially
arrarg' ' women’s voices by Ger
trude Ljons, organizer and director of
this ensemble, will be sung, the solo
part being sustained by Marjorie De La
Mater; the Besancon carol (old
French), “What Child Is This?” told
Irish); Luther's cradle hymn, “Ring
Out Ye Bells.” and “Lo! How a Rose
E'er Blooming” will be sung a cappella.
“It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,”
Balfe-Parks, and “Cantique de Noel,"
Adam, will have piano accompaniment
played by Gertrude Walter and violin
obbligato by Lucienne Strocker.
This same group of singers rendered
several of these Christmas carols over
WOL last Saturday evening, and will
sing several of the carols at the Mc-
Kinley High School before the North
Capitol Citizens’ Association tomorrow
evening.
AMERICANS SING IN GERMAN OPERAS
I*
MILO MI LOR.4 DO VIC 11.
\yITH the brilliant solo casts an
vv nounc“d for the German Grand
Opera Co., Mr. Hurok is proud to point
to the fine group of young Americans
who have solo parts in the four operas
to be sung here in January, which has
reversed its order, placing “Die Wal
! kure” as the first opera, on January 6,
with "Tristan and Isolde” for the sec
ond opera, on January 8, Mozart's “Don
Juan" on the original evening of Janu
ary 10, and wdth the second novelty of
the series “The Flying Dutchman.” for
the Tuesday matinee, January 14, to
permit more boarding school students
to hear it.
Ten American artist soloists will.
come with the German opera, despite 1
their foreign names. All of them were
born in this country, though most of
them have had extensive opera experi
ence abroad. Sonia Sharnova, con
tralto, will sing Fricka in "Walkure”
and Brangane in “Tristan and Isolde.”
Dudley Marwich, bass, sings King Mark
in “Tristan” and the Commandant in
“Don Juan," that droll character who
i is later the statue that comes to life.
I Mabel Ritch, contralto, sings Mary,
I Senta’s nurse, in “The Flying Dutch
man,” a role made famous by Mme.
I Schumann-Heink.
Milo Miloradovich, soprano, has
many friends in Washington to wel
- come her in the German opera ranks.
I She will sing the lovely “Battl, Battl,"
Oharlotte: harriman
and to whom he surrenders the last of
his treasures, "his pearl of great price,”
which for three and thirty years he has
been keeping for the king.
Miss Riggs will play Brittain’s "Ori
ental Suite,” Stoughton's “Persian
Suite,” Marcel Tournier's "On the Tem
ple's Threshold,” Frieburg's “Day
break" and “It Came Upon a Midnight
Clear” during the opening scenes of the
drama. Later in the story, as the
scenes approach the crucifixion hour
and the people throng the streets of
Jerusalem on their way to Calvary, the
music changes to Borodin's “Reverie,”
Arts Club Has Carols
For Thursday Program
PROGRAM of Christmas music will
be presented at the Arts Club
Thursday at 8:30 p.m. by the Tuesday
Evening Music Club.
Florence Howard, director, will have
assisting Evelyn Scott, violinist; Alice
Aljen Merrell, cellist, and Donna Tag
gart, pianist.
The members of the Tuesday Evening
Music Club are: Margaret Allison, Mar
jorie Brockett, Florence Bugbee, Vir
ginia Cooper, June Doorley, Clara
Forbes, Adelaide Harbers, Ina Holtz
scheiter. Laura Lyle, Grace Brown,
Ruth Godfrey, Cecile Littlefield, Flor
ence Burdick, Elizabeth Baugh, Wini
fred Royle, Enid Williams, Helen Wil
liams, Helen Neumeyer, Jean Fera. Reba
Will, Catherine Gross, Dorothy Ling
rell, Lillian Llewellyn and Frances
Turker.
The program will be presented In the
costumes of the early English carolers
The same choruses will ba sung to
morrow at the annual Christmas tea
of the University Women's Club, with
Helen Williams, pianist, as assisting
soloist.
as Zerlina in the Mozart ‘‘Don Juan'’
and will be one of the eight Valkyries
in “Die Walkure."
Milo Miloradovich is a native of the
State of Washington, of Spokane, and
her studies have ranged from there to j
Old World centers. Her somewhat 1
romantic name is that of her Russian |
ancestry, a family whose history is one i
with Russia since the days of the 1
Empress Catherine. The singer's per
sonality is eloquent of her traditional
background.
In her earliest years it was decided
s» should become a concert violinist
her career in that medium was
: jandoned only because the natural
1 beauty of her voice became the im
pelling force. Miss Miloradovich has
appeared in leading operatic roles in
Europe and in America and as soloist
with well known oratorio societies and
orchestras.
Edna Zahm, soprano, has the de
lightful role of Donna Elvira in “Don
Juan” and she also is one of the eight
Valkyries.
Others of the Americans to complete
the Valkrie group, of which Director
Knoch is so proud, are Isolde ven Bern
hard, Sheila Fryer, Merran Reader I
Mabel Ritch, Helena Lanvin and Maura I
Canning.
Seats for each of the four operas
can be had at T. Arthur Smith’s con- i
I cert bureau, 1330 G street northwest 1
Chopin’s "Prelude in C Minor,” tradi
tional Hebrew "Passover” music, an an
cient Polish “Choral,” Grieg’s "Ase’s
Death” (Peere Gynt Suite), and the
"Benedictus” from Gounod’s "Ave
Mrria.”
Miss Harriman will be heani in an
old Hebrew lullaby, "O, Shlof Mein
Feigele,” and later in the passover
music and the finale. This will be Miss
Harriman’s third season with "The
Other Wise Man,” and she is remain
ing in the city until Saturday night.
December 28, in order to appear in all
three presentations of the drama.
The Y. W. C. A. Carolers
Give Candlelight Service
Singers of the Young Women’s
Christian Association who have been
singing Christmas carols all during the
week at the dinner hour in the K
street building of the association, under
the personal direction of Lucy Street,
national director of Y. W. C. A. music,
played a prominent part in the old
English custom of “The Hanging of
the Greens” Thursday evening, when
carolers from the Girl Reserve Glee
Club sang in the lobby and corridors,
and the Elizabeth Somers Glee Club
sang their Christmas card program in
Barker Hall, during the evening, as the
colorful Yule-tide ceremonies took
place, including the bringing of the
wassail bowl, the lighting of the Yule
log and other delightful festivities
which always accompany the Y. W. C.
A. Christmas program in this city.
The beautiful candlelight service
will be held today in Barker Hall, in
the main building, at 4 o’clock, when all
groups in the Y. W. C. A. will join in
carol singing, including the Elisabeth
Somers Glee Club. Girl Reserve Glee
Club, the staff members, other Y W
C. A. groups, the Glee Club of' the
Epiphany Girls’ Friendly Society and
many others. The Girl Reserves will
present a "Carol Tableau” as part of
the ceremonials, and will themselves
present the "Processional of the Can
dles.”
The program for this afternoon in
cludes two groups of very old folk
carols from Czechoslovakia, White
Russia, France and England, to be sung
by the Elizabeth Somers Club; a group
of carols by the Girl Reserves Glee Club
including a Coventry carol, and "Shep
herds Shake Off Your Drowsy Sleep” -
the old English carol, “I Saw Three
Ships Come Sailing In,” by the Grade
School Olrl Reserves, and in the carol
tableau Bohemian. Dutch. German,
Austrian and Polish carols will be sung
in costume.
The Soldiers’ Home
Orchestra.
THE orchestra of the United States
Boldiers’ Home Band, John S. M
Zimmermann, leader, and Anton Point
ner, assistant, will give three concerts,
as usual, Tuesday, Thursday and Sat
urday afternoons at 5:30 o’clock in
Stanley Hall. The programs will, as
usual, combine classic and lighter
numbers.
-•
Lovette Choral Club
In Carol Programs
T HE Lovette Choral Club will sing
two carol programs tomorrow eve
ning. going first to the Home for the
Aged at 1255 Wisconsin avenue and
to the Louise Home. Audrev Koons so
prano will sing "The Birthday of a
duct, "Christmas,” by
Shelley, will be sung by Nellie Barber
Brooks, soprano, and Pauline Bruner,
contralto.
The program includes "The First
Noel,” "Silent Night.” "God Rest You
Merry Gentlemen." “We Three Kings
of Orient Are.” “O Holy Night” and
Joy to the World.” Eva Whitford
T W ‘I direct the singing and
Pauline Lishman will be the accom
panlst.
The U. S. Marine Band.
'J’HE United States Marine Band will
give a band concert tomorrow at
j** P- m -; an d an orchestral concert Fri
| day at 3 p.m., both concerts to take
P-ace in the auditorium at the Marine i
Barracks. There W’ill be no concert
, Wednesday night.
The Marine Band will give a program
of sacred music at the lighting of the
national community Christmas tree at
Sherman Square Christmas eve. The
eoncert will begin at 5:30 p.m. and
~‘i? program will include a cornet solo,
Cantique de Noel,” by Adam, to be
played by the second leader, Arthur S.
I Witcomb. The concert will be under
: the baton of Capt. Taylor Branson,
I leader of the United States Marine
j Band.
.
jN. Y. Orchestra January 7.
THE Philharmonic Symphony Orches
tra of New York will open its sea
son in Washington Tuesday afternoon.
January 7. at Constitution Hall. Willem
Mengelberg will conduct. Alexander
Brailowsky, pianist, will be the soloist.
Mr. Mengelberg will present Richard
Strauss' “Don Juan.” This will be fol
lowed by Chopin’s “Piano Concerto in
E Minor,” Mr. Brailowsky. After the
intermission “The Fifth Symphony,” by
Tschaikowsky. will be played.
The remaining two concerts here will
be January 28. with Dan Gridley, tenor
soloist, and Bernardino Molinarl con
ducting. and March 4, with Arturo Tos
canini as conductor.
The concerts are under the local
management of T. Arthur Smith, at
whose concert bureau the tickets may
be secured, 1330 G street northwest.
•
Elena De Sayn, Washington violinist, I
| left for New York to meet Miss Evers-'
j man She will spend the Christmas
holidays as her guest: •
Bits of Life in Opera Careers
The Talking Chromo Portrait
by
mean little to me, but 1
had one that proved startling. It j
came true almost to the dot. Some
might regard it as a warning, some as
a strange coincidence. This much is j
certain, it made the weirdest experience ;
in my life.
When it all happened to me, which
j was in my early youth, I was touring i
i on the Pacific Coast with a light opera
company. Our engagement ending in
a city on Saturday, we were to start j
for a distant one next morning. The
night before leaving I had my dream.
In it I seemed to be lying on a little j
bed in a small room. Just above me 1
a chromo portrait of Abraham Lincoln
hung against the wall, and it kept tell- ,
ing me to move out of an icy draft in
• hich I lay or I would never sing again.
Trying to obey, I could not move. Os
course, tired out, I was too sound asleep
to budge.
Then the dream switched suddenly,
as dreams do, to sound of a great com
motion in the next room. There was
the crack of a pistol shot. Sharp pain
ran through my body. I had been
wounded. With that I woke up, laughed
at the unreality and went to sleep again.
Next morning our whole company left
early, traveling all day and the night I
through. Reaching our destination we
went straight to the theater for re-1
hearsal, as an opera we had not sung ,
before was to be given. This ended, I
stayed behind to see about my costume.
Most of the rest had gone to a hotel,
which I found on reaching it to have
no vacant room for me. A little later
I got quarters elsewhere.
After a restful nap I dined. Then
came the performance. The opera
proved a great hit. Happily excited,
nobody thought of going at once to
bed. What did a 24-hour trip, a re
hearsal and a performance mean in the
first flush of youth? Going with my
friends to their hotel, we had a jolly
supper of cheese and sandwiches.
Then something curious happened.
On entering my room late that night
I noticed for the first time a chromo
| portrait of Abraham Lincoln hanging
just above the bed, exactly as I had
' seen it in the dream. Also I discov
ered that a cold wind swept full length
of my anything but downy cot. So I
dragged it to the far side of the room.
Too drowsy to bother over either co
incidences or things occult, I climbed
in and went to sleep.
The next thing I was conscious of
was. a commotion in the adjoining
| MUSIGRAPHS
AN interesting musical program
will be given at the Dodge Hotel
Christmas eve by Mrs. William
T. Reed, assisted by Gretchen
Hood, Mabel Loftus and Flor
ence Yocum, vocalists, and Jean West- '
brook, violinist.
At the conclusion of the program, the
Chaminade Glee Club. Esther Linkins,
director, will sing carols during the
lighting of the Christmas tree In the
garden.
As Tuesday will be Christmas’ eve,
the usual rehearsal for members of the
Washington Choir has been called in
stead for tomorrow night at 8 o'clock by
Kurt Hetzel, director.
Ruth Thomas presented a group of
piano students in a recital recently.
Those taking part included Mary Steer.
Doris Depp. Marie Sauter, Dorothy
Louise Smith, Robert Sauter, Doris
Long, Helen Smith, Verona Bogue,
Martha Steer, Sylvia Headden, Audrey
Headden, Betty Flather, Jean Lambert
and Edna Braithwaite.
Beulah Beverly Chambers presented j
a group of students in a piano recital 1
at her studio last Sunday afternoon.
Those taking part were Angela ‘
Adams. Cornelia Gray, Grosvenor Far- i
well, Kitty Riggs, Mario Cuniberti. I
Audrey Kubach, Betsy Farwell and j
Leila Hulbert.
At the close of the program Mrs. Duff j
Lewis and Miss Chambers played com
positions for two pianos by Schumann,
Henselt, Saint-Saens and Wagner.
Helen Bury, soprano, assisted with a
group of English and Irish songs. Louise ;
McNerney accompanied her.
Robert Ruckman and Clay Coss pre
sented the first of a series of recitals
in their studios December 14, assisted j
by Edith Martin, soprano.
Students participating were Dorothy i
Marks, Elizabeth Hall. Neil McKillen,
Audrey Moler. Elizabeth Hunt, Frances j
Boss, Grace Swift, Anna Hunter, Wil
mer Helmuth and Gwendolyn Eddy.
Anita Schade, well known dramatic
reader, will give a reading of the orig
inal German text of Richard’s Wag
ners “The Flying Dutchman,” Satur
day night, January 4, at 8 p.m., at her
residence, 1529 Rhode Island avenue
northwest.
Alice B. Harvey, pianist, will play
parts from the "romantic opera," as
Wagner himself called this music
drama.
Members and friends of the German
Literary Society will attend. All others
who know German and are interested
in hearing the reading are cordially in
vited, also
Members of the music section of the
Woman's Club of Chevy Chase gave a
program of Christmas music at the De
cember meeting Wednesday. A trio
composed of Rose Maxwell Dickey, vio
lin; Dorothy Jordan, cello, and Mrs.
Dawson Olmstead. piano, gave selections
as follows: Vido's "Serenade," r Dc
Bussy's "Romance,” Haydns "Minuet”
and "Jesu Bambino," by Pietro Yon.
The soloist was Edith White, con
tralto. who sang "O Babe Divine,” by
Hamblin.
Adam's "Cantique de Noel” was sung
by Mrs. Marshall C. Guthrie, .soprano.
STUDIOS OF WASHINGTON
“An Established Conservator* i
On European I.ines.”
WASHINGTON CONSERVATORY
OF MUSIC, Inc.
North ««ll
tins New Hampshire, at Dupont Circle
VIOMN—PIANO— VOICE ORGAN—CLARI
NET—TRUMPET—MUSICAL KNOWLEDGE
AND HARMONY COURSES. CHILDRENS
DEPT.
Special Rates Govt. Employes. Dav. Nlicht
Classes. New Grand Pianos for Praetire.
Orchestra.
Edward S. Bergh
Teacher of Flute, Piccolo, Fife
Studio and Residence
Portner Apartments. No. 132
Tel. North 1421 •
WALTER T. HOLT
School of Mandolin, Guifar and
Banjo, Hawaiian Guifar
and Ukulelo
Established 1594
Ensemble practice with the Nordlea Clubs
180! Columbia Rd. N.W., Col 0946
I k ’ll piano playing
I A/-/- Taorhl Anr Per.or
j N 20 LESSONS
SAXOPHONE, BANJO, GUITAR
Clarinet. Trumpet. Ukulele. Etc.
Orchestra Training—Send for Booblgt
Christensen School of Popular Music
Via llth St. N.W. District 1271
A
*
:- ■ • . v
. yr M
LAWRENCE TIBBETT.
■
1
j
1
|
;
1
,
room. A man and woman were quar
reling violently. There was a scuffle.
I jumped out of bed to pound on the
thin partition. In that moment a pistol
shot rang out. In a flash there was
sound of running feet toward the npxt
door, on which people began pounding.
"ulling on my trousers I joined the
rest, just in time to see through the
open door a man and woman and hear
lame explanations that the pistol had
gone off by accident. Disgusted per
haps at finding so much ado about
nothing, the survivors being still intact,
the group melted off to bed.
Then my excitement started. When
I reached my room I saw in the glare
of electric light a bullet hole in the
partition and level with the spot where
I should have lain had I not moved my
bed. Things had appeared and hnd
turned out precisely as I saw them in
my dream, all but the speaking chromo
portrait. But the cold draft foretold in
that dream had proved all-sufficient
warning to me to move my bed.
(Copyright, 1929.)
and Mrs. Ralph Wilson, contralto, the
obbligato for violin and cello being given <
by Mrs. Dickey and Mrs. Jordan. Mrs. ’
Olmstead accompanied all numbers.
Herndon Morsell, musical director of
j the section, led the club in singing
Christmas carols.
Alice Eversman left France December
16 and is expected on the Leviathan to
day.
Short -v before sailing Miss Eversman
was active in a production sponsored by
the Prince of Greece, author of a
libretto set to music by Count de la
Croix.
Warren F. Johnson will give an organ
recital at the Church of the Pilgrims at
7:30 o’clock this evening, He will play
“A Christmas March.” by Harvey Grace;
"Variations on a Gevaert Christmas
Carol,” Mauro-Cottone; "Behold, a
Rose Is Blooming,” Brahms.
Mr. Johnson will play “The Chimes
of St. Mark’s,” A. Russolo; “Noel,” by
Mulct, and “Christmas Fantasy in
March Form,”-Roland Diggle, at the 11
o'clock service this morning.
Virginia W. Cureton, well known
Washington violinist, who is studying
; at the Chicago Musical College under
I Leon Sameteni, has returned home to
! spend the holidays with her mother,
i Mrs. V. B. Cureton.
! Gertrude Lyons, lyric soprano, and
j Margaret Bowie Grant, pianist, gave a 4
1 program of Christmas carols Thursday
I afternoon over WOL. Miss Grant
played “Gesu Bambino (Pietro Yon>
: and Mrs. Lyons sang "An Old Sacred
! Lullaby" (Liddle). “O Holy Night”
• (Adam), Luther’s cradle hvmn,
! "Christmas Lullaby” (Gabriel), "The 4
First Noel” and “Silent Night.”
Mary D. Junkin, sponsored by Ger
| trude Lyons, sang “The Morning Is
Calling” (Robert Ferry), “An Irish Love
: Song” (Margaret Lang), “Loch Lo-
I mond” (Max Vogrich), “Song of the
Little Folk” (Eric Coates), “My Lover
Is a Fisherman” (Lily Strickland) and
“Wounded Faun” (Thurlow Lieuranee)
over WOL Saturday afternoon, with
i Margaret Bowie Grant at the piano.
‘First Performance” Operas
In Philadelphia Thursday
’J’HE Philadelphia Grand Opera Co.
will give a double bill of unusual
interest Thursday evening. “Judith”
will have its American premiere. It will
be sung in English and conducted by its
distinguished composer, Engene Goos
sens. The entire cast for this opera,
Bianca Saroya. Ivan Steschenko. Ralph
Errolle. Berta Levina and Carroll Ault,
have been personally chosen by Mr.
Goossens. The score of “Judith” is
said to be of a decidedly modernistic
trend. The orchestral accompaniment
will be played by 75 members of the
Philadelphia Orchestra.
Following "Judith” the companv will
present, for the first time in Philadelphia *
Mozart's delightful “Abduction From the
Seraglio.” which will Be given, «s origi
nally intended by the composer, in the
Italian version, “II Serraglio.”
Beatrice Seymour Goodwin
1406 H St. N.W.
Phone Wisconsin 2949
TEACHER OF SINGING
Director and soprano soloist At. Alban'* Choir .
I Auditions hr Appointment •_ 4
LOUISE COUTINHO
Matter Pupil or Kuoene if Albert
and Boon Petri, Berlin
Latest and Most Efficient Methods In
*_*|sjnjMhliJ'Ave!^Pot ojnae •
ROBERT RUCKMAN
CLAY COSS
Piano Studio
3414 Mt. Pleasant St.
Adam* 4126
BESSIE N. _ WILD
Piano apa Harmon* ,
Studio 6824 sth st., TaKoma Park. D C
Phono Oeorala 1223
HERMAN’S
SCHOOL OF MUSIC
Violin, Guitar. Mandolin. Tenor Banjo
and Piano Accordion
1018 H (IT. N.W. NATL. 4188 \