Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-02
N SICAL CIRCLES
Church Choir Singers Now Getting Back
to Their Work.
Changes That Have Been Made I'm
Music for Helena"

With the beginning Of September comes
the return of the most of the musical neo-
pie who have been resting during the sum-
mer months. Most Of the church choirs
resumed their work yesterday, and from
now on there will be a marked increase OF
attendance at the different houses of wor-
ship until all the congregations shall have
returned from their outing
AT st. Andrews Church there is an en-
drely new quartet. with Mrs. Kitty Thomp-
son Berry as soprano: Miss Eleanor
simonds, contralto; Mr.. Melville Hensey.
tenor. and w. D. Hoover, bass. Mr.. Che
ney. who hes been the organist of that
church for some years. is now the director
or the choir as well Mrs. Shir-Cliff has
gone 10 the Epiphany, and 1t is expected
she Will soon become as popular there as
she was at Calvary.
The return Of Mrs. Zaidee Jones-SmIth to
the leading soprano at st. Matthews will
her true and well cultivated voice
The First Baptist Church will continue
with precentor and congregational sing
ing. at least for the present. There has
neen no move toward selecting a choir fof
the New York Avenue Presbyterian Church
ana Prof. Paul will remain as precentor.
Inc choir arrangements for the ensuing
season at st. Aloysius Church by far ex-
eel any previous efforts of the rector to
secure the best available musical talent.
This church in former years enjoyed the
reputation OF having the best quartet in
the city. That was when Miss Eva Mills
was the soprano, Mrs. Sherman the con-
tralto. Mr.. John Pugh the tenor and Mr..
T. f. Cannon the bass, with Prof Harry
sherman as organist. This year 1t will in
clude two local musical favorites in its
choir who will no doubt attract much at
tention. and, singularly they are both ST.
Aioysius parish ladies. who are enthusias,
tc to elevate the standard Of music in their
alma mater church. Miss Celia Murphy is
the soprano soloist, who enjoys a high rep
utation as church choir singer, and Miss
Kate Mulqufnn, the organist, whose must.
cal accomplishments are so well known
Miss Pauline Whitaker will begin her third
season as contralto soloist, having given
much satisfaction in her past engage
ments Mr. j. Nolan, bass soloist, will also
remain, and under the leadership of Mr.
Hanlin, as director with a good chorus,
there Is every prospect of St. Aloysius
Church having one of the Leading choirs Of
the city.
ST. Patrick's choir will not commence tts
real work until the repairs to the church
are completed, which will probably be about
the first Of October. but Professor Mama,
the director, will begin rehearsals next
Friday night. when he hopes to have not
only the solo quartet, but all those who
have constituted the chorus present. The
new organ of this church is now completed,
and last week Father Gloyd had it tested
ty Professors VIM. Waldecker Arthur
Mayo and Stephen Kubel. all of whom pro-
nounced 1t an excellent instrument ana
one which could not fail to perform with
good effect all the work required of 1t II II
was competently played.
The music that has been composed by Mr.,
A. Tregina of the Marine Band for Robert
Downing's play of Helena" deserves the
highest commentator. Mr.. Tregina and
Prof. Fanciulli are about the only profess
SIGNALS in this city who make a business
Of arranging music for orchestra and mill
TO hon md mob off hofr II 10 oxraSr
known to persons outside Of themselves and
those who engage them to do the work. In
the present case, however, Mr.. Treg1na has
an opportunity to display his work and to
show his ability as q conductor, for he will
himself direct the orchestra at the Grand
Opera House during the whole Of this week.
All the music played will be of his compo-
sitfon, not only that which was especially
written for Sardou's great play, but the
entire act selections will all be the product
of his brain and hand.
Those who were present at the rehearsal
last Thursday night we're emphatic in
praisng the composition of Mr.. Tregina,
SO far as the Helena" music was concern
ed, for 1t was not only meiodious as to
theme and well orchestrated, but 1t was
appropriate to the action of the piece and
to the time Of the plot That Mr.. TreginA
has ability as composer and arranger
has been demonstrated before. but his work
in this direction has added to his reputa-
ton and will undoubtedly cause him to be
sought by other actors who desire appro
pirate music written for the pieces which
they produce.
Marsick the great vtolinist, will arrive In
New York the end Of October, and make
his first appearance In America at Carnegie
Hall, November l and 2, with the SYM
phony Society of New York, Walter DAM
rosch, conductor.
Franz Ondricek, the Bohemian violinist,
who will tour in America during the COM
ing season, has an enormous repertoire,
which comprises almost the entire litera-
ture of the violin and includes number
OF compositions never played by any other
artist. He Is as great in the rendition of
the classic as in his Interpretation of the
modern compositions. Ondricek plays Bach,
Beethoven, Spohr, Mendelssohn Bruch and
Dvorak. as well as Ernst, Paganini Vieux-
temps. Wieniawsky. Lalo. Bazzini. etc.
and he is as often compared to Joachim as
to Sarasate. If the summary of opinion
among the critics of Europe shall be taken
as the gauge of his standing, Ondricek be.
longs to the worlds greatest violintsts; for
this summary credits the Bohemian with
Grand and noble tome" positive purity
Of intonation," warm and sympathetic in-
depreciation" individuality Of concep-
tion." and 'verve and temperament" and
points these qualities out as the salient
ones of his playing.
Paderewsk will visit Washington for two
nights in December, appearing at Metzerott
Hall.