Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-01
IN MUSICAL ClRCLES
A Question for the Choral Society Di-
rectors to Decide
The Georgetown Orchestra to Play
in RichmOnd-Other Matters of
Interest to Musicians.

question that is seriously confronting
the Choral Society is, does oratorio pay? In
the sense of making money, it certainly
does not in this city, and the aim of this
society has never been to present oratorio
from a commercial standpoint Its only de-
sire has been to have the receipts equal
the expenses. But few realize the cost of
giving an oratorio. A quartet of soloists
equal to the task Of any standard ora
torio cannot be secured for less than $500,
and competent orchestra will cost from
800 TO $1,000. Then there are the rent Of
the nall. the advertising and other fnciden-
tails, that will bring the total amount up
to from SLIGO TO $500. If there was a
music hall here that would hold three thou
sand people and it could be filled at each
representation, there would be no doubt as
to the success of the venture, but the
city Is the Grand Opera House. which seats
but 2.2OO This is satisfactory in every
way but as to size, and this can be OBJ
waited by raising the prices.
The society itself works at rehearsal to
properly present the choruses Of the work
to be produced, the members pay their
regular limitations and dues, and in return
have given them one fifty-cent ticket to
each concert. The board of directors have
to plan and devise the ways and means
to keep the society out of debt If con-
cert rails to pay expenses the debt hangs
in the hope that there will be surplus the
next time sufficiently large to wipe it out.
The honorary membership is the mainstay,
of course. and, in the main, there has been
q generous response on the part of the
public In this respect, and the list includes
most OF the people prominent in official,
business and social circles. But even this
Is not sufficient TO guarantee the success of
me series OF concerts given each year, and
the subject will occupy the attention of
a re limo
week.
The work Of the Choral Society in Sam
son and Delilah" was such as to command
enthusiastic praise from all who were pres
emit The cforuses are extremely difficult,
but they were sung with accuracy and
spirit. and made for the society many
friends. Morday night the rehearsals of
Elijah will commence.
The semi-montLly musicale of Miss Katie
" Wilson and pupils was held at the
studio, 1873 10th street northwest last
Wed1 esday evening, and was unusually at
tractive Miss Annie F. Dashiell opened
the program with a piano solo, "Taran-
telle,' and later played a transcription Of
"Oh, Promise Me- her own Arrangement.
The vocal selections were: 'Oh, Happy
Day." Miss Lula Robert; "Slumber Song"
MISS Alice Pillsbury; duet, La Serenata"
Misses BERTHE Thompson and Irma Gala
han; Little Doris" Miss Eta Noah; "She
and l Together" Louise Weldon; "Thy
Blue Eyes" Miss Helen Nye; trio, THE
q IL
Mr.. Jay Marsh; You Spotted Snakes" Ce-
Gillian Quartet; piano solo, Cascade of
Roses" Miss Maude Martin; Echo Song"
MISS Bertie Thompson: cavatina, La Fa-
vorita," Mrs. w. l.. Wilson; Good Night,
Good Night, Beloved" Mrs. Wilson, Miss
Callahan and Messrs. Wilson and Marsh.
After the musical numbers Mr.. David c.
Bangs delighted the audience by a number
of pleasing selections.
The Georgetown Orches ira, under the d.
rection of Mr.. Anton Gloetzner, Is dligent-
ly rehearsing for it's evening concerts One
Is to be given in Richmond. Va, and one in
this city. The trip to Richmond is being
anticipated with much pleasure, and it is
certain that the orchestra will be given a
splendid reception there. The program will
De such as to show the organization at it's
pest, and Will display to the people of that
southern city the large number of excellent
musicians that Washington has,
The program of music at ST. Patrick's
Church tomorrow will be one Of especial
excellence. AT high mass the service will
open with a Laudare Dominum, Gregorian
chants with full chorus. Marza's grand
mass No. will be sung. and a Veni with
bass solo ard quartet. At the offertory an
ave Maria by Francesca Balderi will be
sung by Miss Mary Helen Howe, with or
gan and violoncello accompaniment, the lat
ter by MIR. Thterbach. This Ave Maria is
now an extinct edition. Its Composer was
an eminent organist, and it was frequently
sung in Rome at the beginning of the pres
ent century. 1t was presented TO Nine
Maina by Mr.. Hale, the director of the Bal
timore Cathedral. A full chorus, HOLY God.
will close the morning service. At the YES
pers there will be Gregorian chants, Ave
Regina. soprano solo, by Miss Blanche Mat
tngly; Wiegand's o SalutarIs, con:ralto
solo. by Nine. Paulina Mama, and chorus
and Goeb's Tantum Ergo, quartet and full
chorus. The entire music will be under the
direction of Sig. Mariana Mama.
Inc Harris brothers are diligently at
work on their opera, and although there has
NOT yet been any definite time set for their
production, it is hoped that in the early
spring a date for the presentation of the
will be chosen. The success which the
Inree Dukes attained when produced en-
couraged the Messrs. Harris to believe that
the others will meet with favor.
Miss Anita Cluss is arranging for a harm
recital at Metzerotts Hall the 10Th of this
month when she will be assisted by MI
Frank Gebest, pianist; Mr.. Sol Minister,
y noln st. Mr. Gates. dramatic reader. and
MISS Mary Helen Howe, soprano Miss
Cluss has reputation that extends ali
over this country as harp vrtuoso and
her work is always Of the highest artistic
Mr.. Will Haley, the leader of the new
washington Military Concert Band, is
busily preparing for his next concert which
will be given at the Grand Opera House.
He intends to present some novel features
and to make the program surpass ali
former efforts. He is convinced that the
Washington public will support the efforts
o! good Dand II 1t plays music of a pop-
ular character.
The music Of ST. Andrews Church has
greatly improved since Mr.. Herndon Nor
sell has taken charge, and he intends to in
crease the effectiveness of his force until
1t shall equal that Of any choir in the city.
MIR. Gebest, the organist and director of
the Calvary Baptist choir, is Acknowledges
to be musician Of superior ability. The
solo at each service by Mrs. Tomas c.
Noyes is greatly enjoyed by the large con-
gregation that is always in attendance
Mr.. T. Williams Pearman will be ten
dered testimonial concert, to be held In
the lecture room Of the Church of the Cow
enant, Of which he is the precentor, on the
18th instant Mr.. Pearman is musician
of high grade, ard has finely cultivated
tenor voice. which has been heard fire.
quently in concert during his residence in
this city. He has always been willing to
give his services for any charitable under
taking, and there should now be a gen
erous response in his behalf Mr. Pearman
will be assisted by Mr.. C. J. Toof, Miss
Anita Cluss, harpist; Miss Mary Helen
Howe SOPRANO, and other Xell-knoMn tai