Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-20
MUSICAL MENTION

The discussion by the Choral Society OF
the question of giving oraterio on Sunday
has attracted attention outside the bound
| aries of the society's usual audience. The
recent article in The Star on the subject ap-
peared in the Boston Herald as a special
dispatch from Washington. The president
of the society is just in receipt of letter
from one of the society's stanchest friends
in New York, who gives some very interest
ing facts on the subject and quotes no less
authority than Mr. Frank Damrosch very
strongly in support of the Choral Society S
position. The writer is very active in New
York musical circles and says as follows:
Had 1 known of your interrogatories in
Boston l could have given you lots of au-
thoritative information from New York.
have just been talking with Frank Dam
rosch on the subject. and he tells me that
the rehearsals of the Peoples Choral Union
are held Sunday afternoons and the con-
certs given on Sunday evenings whenever it
is possible. He says he considers Sunday
productions of great religious musical
works one of the most important forces
that work for good, and this is one reason
why the Choral Union prefers to have it's
concerts on that day. Great numbers of
people who would not sit through a long
service and sermon will listen reverently
to oratorio and take away with them
impression not only of the sacredness of
text and music, but distinct feeling that
it is particularly a Sunday entertainment of
the highest character. l am giving you the
spirit of Mr. Damrosch's talk, and he says
you are at liberty to quote him under his
own name. He also corroborated my state
ment that the clergy of various denomina-
tons are present at these and the Metro
politan Opera House oratorio concerts.
har ha nrh loc eri1-a
here, l sat where l could two of the
most prominent dignitaries of the Episcopal
Church each studying the score with in
terest, and all over the opera house were
Catholic priests. Their garb of course,
makes it easy to distinguish the Catholic
and Episcopal clergy. Whether those of
other churches were present do not know,
but 1 am told that DR.. Henry Van Dyke
frequently attends Sunday concerts"
1t is now positively assured that the
kneiSel Quartet concerts will be continued
next season in Washington in spite of the
departure of the quartet for a European
season in early March. The concerts, num-
bering five as heretofore, will begin as usual
in the early part of November and continue
at intervals of four weeks, being concluded
just before the quartet's departure. AS the
players will give themselves entirely to
quartet work this season, the audiences
may look for even better performances than
in the past, if that be possible.
There is serious difficulty in finding a suit
able auditorium for the quartet and the
constantly increasing audiences gathered
for it. The banquet hall of the Hotel
Raleigh is now too small for the present
needs, although admirably suited to the
use of the quartet were it's audiences not
constantly increasing.
The dates of the concerts have not yet
been definitely fixed, but an effort is being
made to keep them on Tuesday as hereto
fore. The hour will probably be changed
from $3.50 to 4:15 in the afternoon, although
the question of evening concerts Is under
serious consideration. The dates are not
yet fixed.
The piano and violin pupils of VIM. J.
Oates gave their annual concert this week
at Typographical Temple on G street The
concert was divided into two evenings the
performers being assisted by Mrs S. W.
Mellotte. soprano; Mr.. Thomas H. Max
well, tenor; Mr.. Albert E. Ogg elocution-
list, and Miss Lulu v. Tavenner and Mr.,
Chas. A. Pearson, accompanies. The pro-
grams for both evenings were varied and
interesting, many of the numbers being
given with remarkable skill. Those who
played WERE ,;,,, Messrs: Henry Lee. Edward
Donald. Warren MINIS, James McIver,
Ernest Lee, Miss Helen D. Sage, Mr. James
Mclver, Miss Katherine B. Hartung, Miss
Mary L. Hunter, the Misses Lillian and
Lula Gibbs, Miss Jennie Livingston. Miss
Hattie A. Roberts, Mr.. William r, Duncan.
Miss Pearl Mcclure, Miss Essie Livingston.
Mr.. Arthur Benzler, Misses Mabel L. Benz
Ter and May L. OConnor, Mr. Edward M
Webster and Miss Ethel Hegster. At the
conclusion of the second evenings program
Mr. Oates pupils presented him with a
handsome gold watch charm set with dia-
monds.
The piano pupils of the Columbia Con-
servatory of Music held interesting re-
evening, assisted by Miss Jessica Cowling
violinist; Miss Bertha Wetzel, elocutionist:
Miss Lucia Nola, soprano; Messrs w n
Mundelle, H. G. Wooden and the Columbia
Orchestra. The hall was crowded to its
doors. Those pupils who participated in
the program were Misses Maggie Dunn
Blanche OConnell, Ethel Pattee, Rosetta
Brice, Mathilda Vogt, Marie Little Mrs T
A Sedgwick Misses Clara Birkner. Kath.
leen Phillips, Emma Streeks, Anna Con
nors. Bertha and Marie Wetzel and Ethel
Pattee.
Mr.. George Lawrence will give his thir.
teenth annual musicale with his pupils at
the Church Of Our Father, corner 18th and
L streets northwest, next Thursday even
Ing. He will have the assistance of Mr.
Frederick H. Weber. a Baltimore tenor.
Miss Anita Cluss, harpist; Mr. Walter r
Holt, mandolinist: the Holt Ladies' Mando-
lin CLUB and the Universalist Church choir
The music on Sunday last at the HOLY
Name Church was unusually fine. The
choir, of which Miss Mary Hessler Is d.
organist was on this occasion assisted by
Mrs. D. Morgan Lewis and Mr.. Herndon
Morsell. The o Salutaris, by Braga, was
most beautifully sung by Mrs Katharine
Rogers. with violin obliEato by Mr. Sol
Minister.
The second Evening with the Choir" was
given last Sunday night at Epiphany
Church. Clare's Magnificent and Nunc Dim.
tits, Thayer's Sweet Day Of Rest an I
Barnby's King All Glorious were SPLEEN
didly sung by d chorus of forty voices Mr.
John Finnegan sang the tenor solo parts
very sweetly. His beautiful voice was
much admired by those who heard him
Mr.. Otto Luebkert. who sang the bass
solos, rendered them in his usual mastery
style. The choruses. however, deserve spe-
cial mention, their accuracy and fine tone
showing on to great advantage. especially
In Barnby's King All Glorious"
There will be a joint convention of the
Music Teachers National Association and
the Southern Music Teachers Association