Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
MUSICAL MENTION

mann Heink at her recital on "Wednesday
evening gave a program OF the very best
music. There were four songs of Schu-
bert and eight of Schumann. two of the
greatest masters of song, admired by the
most cultivated in music. Then she added
three songs by Brahms, one who has been
called the Browning of music, whose appeal
Is always supposed to be to the reconcile
musicians of the inner circle. One of her
encore numbers was his also. She had a
large audience, comprising, 1t Is true, our
best music lovers, but holding large ma
Jority who came, not because Schubert and
Schumann and Brahms meant anything to
them, but because they were attracted by
the glamour of a noted singers name The
concert was great popular success; the
whole audience was enthusiastic. When
they heard the best music. however unwit
tingly that 1t was the best, sung in the
best manner, 1t touched the universal hu-
man heart. More notable still was the fact
that the marked enthusiasm of the evening
was over a song Of Brahms, the "Sapphic
Ode The very name signifies that it was
far from a popular piece. 1t wasn't
written with that intention; 1t was con-
ceived for the inner brotherhood of the
esoteric. Yet. performed in a style hardly
short of perfection, there were very few in
the audience who did not feel its charm.
even those who knew not the name of
Brahms and to whom the word sapphic
suggests anything but the delicate purity
of the little poem which inspired the COM
best music so full of meaning to the popu-
lar heart when rightly interpreted.
The small audience at the concert of the
Philadelphia Orchestra is cause for sorrow.
The astonshngly fine notices which it re-
ceived after it's New York appearances of
the previous week prepared those who had
read the New York papers for a fine
cert, this denoting an accomplished con-
ductor and a well-trained and skilled or
chestra. But why was Washington not
made aware of these things? Such news
Will be forced upon the public by man
agement which means to achieve success
and reputation. Instead of that all the eff
fort at exploitation was in regard to the
soloist-and what soloist can equal a fine
orchestra to people really appreciative of
fine music? Those who came however
much they admired the all-conquering tech
nique of the SolOiSt, were most impressed
with the work of the orchestra and it's con-
ductor-how he laid bare the complex struc-
ture of the Brahms symphony. how the
Chestra breathed the Slavic soul of Tschai-
kowsky in the orchestral portions of the
concerto, and how even the well-known
Liszt rhapsody marched with an unaccus-
toned dignity under the notable conception
OF the conductor as portrayed by his men.
Let Mr.. Scheel come again to Washington
and he will have warmer welcome.
ST. Augustine's Church is to have new
organ. and Thursday 1t was inspected at
the fctordy wherde it Is being built in Bal
timore by Father Griffith, the rector Mrs.
J. Esputa Daily, the leader of the choir.
and Mr.. Bernardine Smith, the librarian
who expressed themselves as thoroughly
satisfied with the instrument.
The organ will be the largest one in
Washington, with the exception of that at
st. DominicS 1t has all the modern appli-
ances and improvements. and is constructed
Of the very best material. The cost, ex-
elusive Of the frame. will be about 5000.
but when 1t is set up in the church the en-
tire cost Will amount to $1,000.
II will he hrOupht .lqre the ~ of
next week and set up. and every effort will
be made to have 1t ready for the Christ
mas services.
The Nordica Mandolin Club began it's
season this week by playing for the an
nual meeting of the Sons of the Revolution
at the New Willard Hotel. The club is
composed of Prof. w. T. Holt. Charles
Warren mandolins; S. Gamble, mandola,
and Frank Rose. guitar.
w. Scott Macgill, jr, has resigned the
position of organiSt of Mount Vernon Place
NJ. E. Church South.
The Washington Opera Club" under the
direction Of Profs. III. E. SALESMAN and
William de Ford, is rehearsing Gilbert and
Sullivan's masterpiece the "Gondoliers."
This club has given many successful per-
formances of comic opera for several sea-
sons past. and Is working hard to make
the "Gondoliers' the finest yet produced
The cast has been carefully selected and
LIE NilOA HS 40 SOiHpOScu VI SOiIle VI the DeSt
local talent.
During the illness. with typhoid fever. of
Mr. Roland r. Rodrick his position as bass
soloist in the Wesley quartet will be filled
by his brother, Mr.. Walter F. Rodrick
On Christmas day. at II o'clock service
st. Aloysius choir will sing the grand mass
by List. written for the 1.O00th anniversary
Of the cathedral in Gran, Hungary The
mass is written on true Wagnerian lines
and In the style OF that composers later
works. Several motifs serve as the funda-
mental themes and are elaborated in the
choral and orchestral treatment The mass
makes unusual demands on solosts and
chorus, and for this reason Is rarely at
tempted. except in choirs specially equip
ped for a work of such magnitude. For
some years the choir of st. Aloysius Church
has made II point to Introduce new or
rare masses. and LISTS mass Is now added
to its repertoire. which contains masses by
Hummel. Rheinberger. Pizzi etc. and in
cludes, of course. the masses of Gounod
beethoven, Mozart Haydn, etc.
The Choral Society last Monday evening
began its rehearsals for the Messiah"
which is to be presented on Tuesday. De-
cember 30. The old members of the So
ciety are very familiar with the work and
the rehearsals can be completed by the end
OF the month, so as to make the usually
satisfactory presentation. The new menu
bers of the Choral Society have been Sc
lected this year with unusual care. The
quality of the voices is better than usual
and the percentage OF good readers Is
largely increased. Thus the new member
ship Will be able to learn the work without
great difficulty in combination with the old
members who already know 1t.
Tho usual embarrassments about the sub
stitution Of soloists have already begun.
Mrs Rutland of New York. who was en-
gagged for the contralto part on account of
the splendid work which she has done In
oratorio there. is Ill with typhoid fever and
cannot sing. number of other names are
under consideration by the society's New
York representative and good selection
will be made soon as possible.
Miss Sadie J. Gompers, dramatic soprano,
VIII make her debut at Miss Lieberman' 8
coming concert Miss Gompers, daughter
OF the president of the American Fedora
ton OF Labor. Is possess Of a high So
prano voice. flexible, resonant, and with
great carrying power. This Will be Miss