Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-12
TWO CHOICE NUMBERS
SELECTIONS TO BE PRESENTED BY
MARINE BAND.
"Samson and Della" and "Fest Over
ture'@Concert at White House
Tomorrow Afternoon.

The United States Marine Band will give
its first concert this season tomorrow after
noon O nthe White Lot. Lieut.. Santelmann,
the leader OF the band has arranged pro-
gram of unusual interest for that occasion.
Two of the numbers to be played will be
especially enjoyed by the music-loving pub
lie. One of these Is fantastic from the
opera of Samson and DELLA" composed
by Camille Saint Saens. one of the great
est of French composers, and the other is
the Fest Overture" by Eduard Lassen,
long identified with German music and
institutions although native of Copen-
hagen.
Those who hear the concert Saturday
afternoon and who are not acquainted with
the music and it's composers will be in
terested in knowing something of the men
and of these particular compositions which
they have produced in order to more fully
appreciate the rendition of the score by
the band
Camille Saint saens. the composer of
Samson and Della" Is ranked one
of the greatest composers France has pro-
duced since Bizet. His liberal endowment
of intellectual vivacity and nervous force
is readily seen in his compositions and
highly exemplified in the selection that
will be given by the Marine Band Saturday
afternoon Saint Saens did not meet with
great success on the operate stage al
though his dramatic works contain much
TO be admired of high order.
Samson and DELLA was produced in
1877 and rapidly won plaudits in Germany.
1t required more time for it's popular recep-
ton in France. The Bible story forms the
plot of the opera. In the first act Samson
leads the Israelites to victory over the
Philistnes. The second act brings him
Della, who learns the secret of his strength
and betrays him into the hands of his enc
mics. The third act portrays the festival
OF his captors and ends with his destruc-
ton on the Temple of Dagon.'
The grand selection to be rendered by
the Marine Band tomorrow afternoon is
arranged by Dan Godfrey of England, who
has transformed the sequence of the num-
bers selected and brings the Hail to the
Mighty God" after Samson's strength has
been shorn from him and when he is led
by little child. This is from the second
scene of the third act. This theme is intro
duced by the clarinets. followed by the
flutes. piccolos. etc. solo sornet carries
the air of Delila's song. 20. love, from thy
power let me borrow, pour a poison in his
heart; grant this. Samson fall tomorrow,
a slave, captive to my art. The Breath
of God" as arranged by Godfrey. is power
full and accumulated by the trombones and
horns.
Dance of the Priestesses
In 1.-THE Dance of the Priestesses of Da-
gon," the finale Of the sixth scene, first
act. the music is fully in keeping with the
fascination of the scene placed on the
stage. In that scene Della waves gar
lands to attract the Hebrew warriors who
are with Samson, while Samson himself en-
deavors to avoid the glances of Della,
though in vain. He follows all her move
ments as she joins in the pastures of her
attendants in the fascinating dance. THE
Dawn Now Awakening" introduced in this
scene. Is tinged with oriental flavor so
characteristic of the composer, st. Saens.
The cornet takes the solo of Softly
Awakes My Heart" and the selection
closes with Israel. Burst Your Bonds"
The rendition of the Fest Overture" by
Eduard Lassen, will be equally interesting.
Lassen met success a composer from
the very beginning of his career and when
Listz retired from Weimar Lassen sue
ceeded to his place, which he retained I'M
til 1898. Las5en had the satisfaction of
producing Tristan and Isolde" in 1874 at
time when no theater but that of Munich
had dared to do so. This festival overture,
which will be played by the Marine Band
tomorrow afternoon, was first played, in
way to attract wide public attention, by
the 134th Infantry Band of Leipsig during
the service of Professor Santelmann in that
band. from manuscript, the composer Las
sen. leading the infantry band in the rendi-
ton Assisting in the rendition under the
immediate leadership of the composer par
ticularly fits Lieutenant Santelmann for the
duty Of reproducing the music through the
Marine Band.
The theme of the Fest Overture" an old
German folk song. is How Can 1 Leave
Thee" The refrain is opened with comets
and brass, in one key. shifting into an
other with oboes and saxhorns. There are
pleasing modulations and alluring recur-
FENCES of the melody variations with the
second line of the verse, How can 1 bear