Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-15
N MUSICAL CIRCLES
Large Number Of Young People Interested
in stringed Instruments.
The Choral Society's Circular Appeal
to It's Friends-Other Items
of Interest.


body of musicians by constant practice
under Intelligent direction. Washington
has been fortunate in its instrumental
organizations, particularly those composed
of amateurs. who meet for mutual i'm
provement as well as their love for music
Foremost among these is the Georgetown
Orchestra, which has had the longest term
of existence, and which has had the most
ambitious aims. 1t Is still the leading body,
ard under its new director, Prof. Anton
Glcet2rer, is preparing for concert to be
given Immediately after Lent.
The Wilhelmj Club, under the direction
of Prof. Josef kaspar, has gained honor
able distinction for excellent work per-
formed, and though its public appearances
have not been so numerous as those of the
Georgetown Orchestra, nor does it cover
such a wide range of instruments, being
essentially a string organization, it con-
tains some excellent performers, and as
a body plays with fine discrimination.
When Prof. Kaspar conducted the George
town Orchestra he used to join with it the
Wilhelmj Club. SO that at the concerts of
the orchestra the players numbered about
a hundred.
The Washington String Orchestra is the
youngest of these organizations, being not
quite two years old. but under the ener-
getic leadership of Mr. Ernest Lent it has
increased in membership and made rapid
progress III its work. Next season 1t may
be expected to show a great advance and
possibly OTHER instruments that go to make
up complete orchestra may be added.
A notable thing about all, these organiza-
tons Is the number of young girls who
are devoting themselves 10 string instru-
ments. Most of them play the violin, but
some have acquired proficiency upon the
sweet-toned but awkward instrument, the
cello. These young girls play with intel
Egence and precision and manifest really
more devotion to their art than do the
boys and young men.
Mr.. GebeSt, the new organist of the Cal
vary Baptist Church, Will be welcomed to
the ranks of solo pianists in this city. His
playing st Miss Cluss' recital proved him
to be a thorough musician, possessing an
admirable technique. with the fact of in
tellignetly Interpreting composers mean
ing.
The Choral Society directors have issued
a circular to the friends OF the organiza-
tion, urging contributions to cancel the
debt that has been incurred by its two con-
certs this seasor-"The Messiah" at Con-
vention Hall, and Samson and Delilah"
given at Aliens Grand Opera House. This
debt amounts to 1926. and the society has
no resources to meet it. The circular re-
fers to these concerts, particularly the lat
ter, and says:
The undertaking was spoken of before
hand by distinguished musicians of the
country as 'erteIrrising and courageous
High-priced artists were engaged; full
symphony orchestra, comprising many in
struments rarely heard and expensive to
procure, vas employed: ard the long and
careful training of chorus parts was evil
dent III the finished way in which they were
sung. Since its rendition. DR.. Sherman and
the board have received, both from the art
lists who sang the solo parts and from mu-
s;cians Of other cities who heard the per-
fcrmance, hearty congratulations upon the
success OF both chorus and orchestra.
while the artistic success of both these
concerts has never been excelled by the So
ciety, the finar cial result is not equally
gratifying. Handicapped at the beginning
of the season by the diversion of Conven-
ton Hall to the uses of a skating rink the
society was compelled to give The Messiah
in the week preceding Christmas, ard on
the same evening as a Boston Symphony
Orchestra concert, or else abandon the an
nual performance OF this work and possibly
distand the society. Consequently this pop
ulhr oratorio, whose rendition usually
brings the society a profit of several hun
cred dollars, was given at loss of about
800. a result which had been anticipated.
CLOSE following The Messiah came the
recent performance Of Samson and Deli
lah, to which we have alluded, and, al
though the Grand Opera House was well
filled, the receipts fell very far short of the
S1,6oo which it cost to produce the work in
a proper manner"
u
the society will generously respond and
pull it out of the difficulty In which 1t finds
itself.
The new choir at the First BAPTIST
Church is said to be giving satisfaction,
and Mr. Coward the director, has arranged
an elaborate service tomorrow, which will
conclude the first month Of the present ar
rangement. At the request Of the pastor,
Rev. DIR. stakely, and the officers of the
church, the choir will. employ the first fif-
teen minutes of the evening service, from
7:3O to 7:45. each Sunday for praise SER
vice. Tomorrow morning the program will
include Be Not Afraid" from elijah" by
the chorus; Lord God Almighty" by the
quartet consisting of Mrs Gardner Miss
Yewell, Mr.: Hensey and Mr.. Coward; My
Depths by Mr. Coward anu and f0 solo ' bs
Mrs. McEwen. During the evening service
the choir will sing 1.-The Radiant Morn."
Woodward; Jubilate, Patten; Thanks Be
to God" from Elijah Father, From a
rus; solos by Mrs. Gardner and Miss Yew-
ell, and a selection by the male quartet
Mr.. Percy Foster has resigned his position
as organist of this church, and Mr.. Claude
Miller will hereafter play at the morning
and Mr.. John Porter Lawrence at the even
ing service.
The proposed dates for the concerts of the
Capital Glee Club and the Rubenstein Club
will probably be changed. The first comes
during the italian opera season, and there
are many in tho club, as well as many of
the friends of the members, who would like
to hear the opera. The second date fixed
falls on Good Friday, ard that is a night
held sacred from amusements of all kinds
by a large number of people. When the
events do take place they will be enjoyable.
for both organizations have reached a high
degree of perfection.
Mrs. Alice Swain Hunters last musicale
at her studio, No. 1916 N street northwest,
was an enjoyable affair The instrumental
part of the program was performed ny pu-
pills Of her sister. Mrs. Joseph S. Thomas.
Those who took part were Misses Casey
Wright, Ethel Johnson. Ellinor GadsdeIl,
Anzolette Gadsden. Lillian Miller, Florence
Kaestner. Annie Uhler, Susan Grice Young,
Grace Perry, Mary Delaplaine. Elsie Snyder,
Lucille Perry, Harriette Galpin. Hattie
Kaestner and Mrs Jennie Brown. Compost
tons of Rhigini, Diabelli, Clement, Abt,
Geibel. Gounod, Tours, Handel Schubert,
Rossini, Bemberg, Chopin, Mozart, Mer-
cadente and Mendelssohn were rendered.
1t is understood that the Hinrchs Opera
Company, that has been SO successful in
PHILADELPHIA, will come to Aliens Grand
OPERA House during Easter week.
Prof. Anton Gloetzner will give a musi-
Gale by his pupils next Wednesday night.
Mr.. Leo Wheat entertained The veterans
of Cnld