Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-09
THE HOFFMAN CONCERT.
The Washington Permanent Chorus
Mt the Academy.

The possibilities of music in the co.ored
race in America present one of the most In
teresting art problems of the present and
future. In other arts there has been most
gratifying frution. Mr.. Howells has well
pointed out that the only American paint
ing ever purchased by the French govern
ment is by an Afro-American. the son OF
Bishop Tanner: that Paul Lawrence Dun
bar is not the least among living American
poets; that Booker T. Washington is today
probably Americas greatest orator. and
that Charles w. Chestnutts stories of
southern life give him a right to rank
among our best short story writer's. In
creative music it seems rather curious to
say there has been no such achievement as
yet, although music is the art in which
the co!ored race would most obviously be
expected to excel Nor even in the lower
form of musical execution has any really
great artist been produced. There Is Black
Patti and there is a bronze Melba, but each
many miles below her uncolored original
The casual visitor to Washington Is al
ways interested In the curious harmonies
of the colored boys singing in the streets
at night. The only popular songs distinct
lively American which have commanded
critically are Stephen c. Fosters adapta-
tons of negro melodies; and the greatest
of living masters Of orchestratton and one
of the worlds great melodists, Antonin
heard during his American life enhancing
themes for the construction Of a noble SYM
phony and the most fascinating of chamber
music. Potent facts such as these indicate
that we may ultimately look among co!ored
Americans for composers Of music who will
do honor to their country and their art.
prediction all the more easily made because
of the general recognition given to the
work of S. Coleridge-Taylor man of Afri-
can blood. resident in England whose lila
watha's Wedding Feast" has commanded
the widest appreciation OF. "a high creative
gift.
Such reflections as these bring us to a
very ready appreciation of the Importance
from the standpoint of national art Of the
work now being done In this city by Mr..
cert given last night at the Academy of
Music.
Mr.. Hoffman was ably assisted by Mr.. H.
Nathaniel Bowles as associate conductor
in certain selections; by Mrs Martina Try
ing, soprano soloist; Mr.. William Goodrich.
pure tone: Mr.. Leon Wheeler. an excellent
baritone, and Mr.. William Robinson. solo
cornetist. Mr.. Alex. Sewall played also
with very nice taste a violin obligato for
one of Mrs. Irving's solos. The ensemble
features were by an orchestra of about
twenty, a brass band, somewhat larger.
and the Washington Permanent Chorus.
represented on the stage by about forty
voices.
The scheme of the concert was ambitious.
lections by Herbert, Tobani and others;
the second part by the chorus and the
third by the concert band. including num-
bers by keler-Bela. Bizet and the ever
present Sousa. The work of the band. neces-
sariiy demanding less skill both in per-
formers and conductor was of a gratifying
order: that Of the orchestra shows hope
ful promise not to be entirely fulfilled until