Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-11
MUSICAL MENTION

The Washington Symphony Orchestra
will end its first year this month, and it's
career so far is In every way commendable.
1t Is in some respects a unique organiza-
| ton. and differs from similar orchestras
| formed in other cities in that it has sought
Its members from among the local musi-
clans. In the formation of no other SYM
| phony orchestra has there been any other
idea than to secure the best musicians, ut
teriy regardless of where they lived or
with what organization they con-
| nected. Those who were responsible for
| the existence of the Washington Symphony
Orchestra started out with the intention
| that 1t should be thoroughly home affair,
1 They believed that there was a sufficiently
| large number of local musicians to form an
! orchestra if they were properly brought
| together. The result has proved that their
| judgment was correct, for the performs
! ances of the orchestra have been highly
! creditable. both to the members of the or
| chestra and to the conductor. This has
been accomplished only by hard work on
| the part of both members and leader and
| Mr.. De Koven has said frequently that he
| could not have secured such good work had
| 1t not been for the personal interest mani
tested by his force.
The ladies and gentlemen who were the
guarantors for this first year recognize the
value Of the orchestra both as means OF
entertainment and an educational fac
tor in the community, and will no doubt
continue. their subscriptions for next sea-
son. Other wealthy people are beginning
to realize that they owe something to the
city of Washington in which they reside
during the winter season and are coming
forward. to enroll their names among the
list of guarantors for next season and
it is expected that next fall the orchestra
Will do even better and more ambitious
work than it has done thus far According
to the statement of Mr. E. H. Droon the
general manager and treasurer the de-
ficit for this season has been about $40 aOn
This is remarkably small sum for such
an enterprise, and it has only been kept
down to that figure from the fact that both
Mr.. De Koven and the officers of the or
chestra have served without any compen-
services from their love of the art of
music. and their desire to elevate the gem
eral musical taste of the community
The last regular concert of the Symphonv
orchestra will be held on the 21st Instant
and the program, which has already been
pupilshed, Will be one of the most attrac-
tive of the series, including the fifth sym
phOny of Beethoven. Ben. Davis the Eng
fish tenor, will be the soost who has not
been heard here in several years. He
stands today at the head of English tenors
and has been singing all his life having
began his work as choir boy In Swansea
Wales. His first oratorio engagement was
secured on the recommends ton of Santley
who heard him sing the tenor part in Men
delssohn's Hymn of Praise" as a student.
Davis was engaged to sing at a series of
concerts at the worlds fair in Chicago.
but on the night before he and his wife
were to sail he received a cablegra can
ceiling the engagement. Never mind"
said Mrs Davies, something may come of
it, let's CO. He consequently cabled: sToo
late; am sailing tomorrow"
Upon their arrival at Chicago the Welsh
people and the worlds fair musical com
mittee arranged to give seven concerts
Nothing was said to Davies as to terms
Every concert was a success, and at the
end of the series the manager handed to
the tenor the sum of $4,000. the amount of
the original contract Mr.. Davies has
visited this country every year since. sing
ing at festivals and with choral and or
chestral societies, and always with re-
markable success.
An operetta under the direction of Mr.
Ernest T. Winchester. organist and choir
master of ST. Pauls Church. will be given
next Monday and Tuesday evenings. at the
parish hall, 23d street, below Washington
Circle. The characters are selected from
the principal voices in this well-known
choir. AS the seating capacity of the hall
Is limited. 1T will be rendered two evenings.
the proceeds to be devoted to the organ
fund.
The musicale to be given by Carroll In
stitute Choir on April 20 next promises
to be very successful, judging from the
number of supporting members that have
been enrolled. All the principal solos will
be sung by the best singers of the various
church chOirS.
The S. Coleridge Taylor Choral Society.
WHoSc CHOTuS CONSISTS OF ABOUT ltU OF tho
best colored singers in Washington, is max
ing commendable progress with the re-
hearsal of "Hiawatha," which 1t will rem
der at the Metropolitan Church April q.
1t has had its first rehearsal with the or
chestra. and showed remarkable steadiness
in view of the very elaborate orchestral
score. Considerable interest has been man.
ifested in this forthcoming concert as it is
the first rendition in Washington and the
first time in its entirety in the United
States
Mr.. Eugene e. Stevens. Mr. D. q. Pfeiffer
and Madame Josephine Esputa DAILY have
recently visited the chorus and expressed
themselves as being very much. pleased
with its work.
To the success OF the Leavitt Quartet Is
due the formation of the "Schumann La
dies Quartet" which is now in rehearsal
under Miss Leavitts direction. Miss May
Adele Levers and Miss Lillian Chenoweth
of the quartet of the Presidents church arc
the first soprano and first alto, respectively.
Until called away from the city Mrs. FL
lott Hough was the second soprano, her
place being satisfactorily filed by Mrs.
Jessie Price Snifen, who has been singing
that part In the Leavitt Quartet. Miss
Leavitt, who Is singing second alto for the
present. promises good results very soon.
the voices being well balanced and the
members working earnestly for perfect
ensemble.