Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-25
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

Although Washington does notg have
three months of grand opera each year.
still there is very fair amount of musical
pabulum furnished this community. each
season. So far during the present season
the most important musical event has been
the presentation by Mr.. Henry w. Savage
of Wagner's 'Parsifal" which brought forth
the greatest amount 8 money that any at
traction ever earned in this city in one
week. Besides. we have had Mr. Savage's
grand opera company in a repertoire of
standard operas. and then there has been
large proportion of musical comedies. 50
called. some of which were, and some of
which were not, good music.
OF individual attractions we have had
Paderewski, Sembrich D'Albert, Ysaye,
Hoffman, Melba. Bispham. the boy violin
list Vechy, and others of lesser note, all
of whom have been fairly well patronized,
and some of whom have been greeted with
packed houses. OF organizations, the
Kneisel Quartet has been most important.
though it has been promised that shall
have the Pittsburg Orchestra, under the
leadership of Emil Paur, next month. Crea-
tore and his band paid this city at least
three visits during the season. and each
time he has been well patronized, it will
be seen that Washington people will pay
for good musical attractions of nearly every
kind.
The disjandment of the Washington Sym
phony Orchestra has been a cause of re-
greet to musical people, for it started under
encouraging auspices. and both the director
and the members of the orchestra had
grown remarkably in the three years that
1t lasted. But an organization of this kind
is really a luxury, and is for the cultured
and wealthy. rather than for the masses.
In no city where an orchestra has been
maintained has this been possible except
by the contribution of wealthy people. I'M
til 1t can stand alone on it's own merits.
There are wealthy people enough in WASH
ington to back an orchestra, but they have
not come forth when their aid was needed,
and so the enterprise fell through: The
most prominent local musical organization
is the Choral Society. Its concerts have
always been well attended. and it is ex-
pected that the one which will take place
tonight will be not less attractive than
those that have preceded it, At each con-
cert it brings to Washington a number of
noted soloists. and in its twenty years of
life ii has presented some of the most ia
NOUS singers in oratorio work. Next in
Importance is probably the Washington
Saengerbund, which has record existence
OF over hfty Years, and which has also
brought to Washington some noted singers
and inStrumentalists. The Georgetown Or
chestra, which seemed to be rather in the
shade during the life of the Washington
Symphony Orchestra organization, is now
coming 70 the front, and is preparing to
give a concert some time in May. Other
local organizations that have done good
work during the season have been the Won
UnsChuld Quartet and the trio, composed of
Mr.. and Mrs. Ernest Lent and Mr.. An
ton Kaspar.
Two colleges of music have had success
here, the Washington College of Music
under the direction of Sidney Lloyd Wright
son. and the University of Music and bra
matte Art, of which Marie Won Unschuld is
president
Washington has also two lady managers,
at least, who have brought to this city
outside attractions that have rewarded them
for their enterprise and energy-Miss Katie
V. Wilson and Miss Mary A. Cryder. There
is also large number of smaller musical
organizations here which serve TO keep alive
the interest in musical matters most all of
which are doing good work in the field
which they have marked out for them
selves.
The Georgetown Orchestra is busily re-
hearsing for its concert which will be given
in May, and the program determined upon
is one which will please all lovers of music
1t will include Beethovens "Egmont' over
ture. Mendelssohns Scotch symphony, Ru-
binsteins "kamennor 0strow" Anton
Gloetzners Wedding Music" the love duet
from Germans gypsy suite Saint Saens'
waltz from "Etienne Marcel" and Bockel-
mans Inauguration March from the manu-
script parts loaned by the composer The
soloist will be Miss Francesca Kaspar,
daughter of Prof. Joseph kaspar, the leader
OF the orchestra. who has recently returned
from two years course of study in Eu-
rope Miss kaspar will sing aria with
songs with piano accompaniment.
The peoples sight singing class which
was started ne time ago by Prof J. III
WHEY Is making rapid progress, and those
who have visited the class at its rehearsals
In Pythian Hall Wednesday and Saturday
evenings convinced of the good this
undertaking is doing for the musical in
terests OF this city.
The North Washington Choral Society
met last Monday night at the home of Miss
Westhorpe. the secretary of this oreaniza-
ton. The evelIng was probably spent in
practiclng several choruses after which a
short but meritorious program was rendered
by Prof. Raphael Rooster, Mrs Ianglin
and Miss Westhorpe. A sacred song MY
Harp Is Untuned, Great Master composed
by Mr.. Rooster. had its first hearing before
the Choral Society and well received.
One of the organizations which has won
high place among music lovers in Wash
ington is the Rebew Orchestra, II. w.
Weber, director. With membership of
over forty, composed entirely of amateurs
and comprising some of the best in the
city, the orchestra has reached standard
in playing equal almost to professional mu-
sicians. During the past winter the orches-
ira gave series of monthly recitals which
proved very popular feature. The orches-
ira Is Just finishing its seventh year of ex-
lstence and Is in every way worthy OF
the high esteem in which 1t is held.
When through the disbanding of the
Washington symphony Orchestra the Cho-
raj Society was forced to abandon its plan
to give Sir Edward Cigars setting of Car
dinal Newmans poem. The Dream of
Gerontius, the problem which faced the
society was a difficult one. With the i'm
possibility of learning In so short time
any one great work never before given and
with the field of available well-known solo
lists very limited, the only thing possible to
do was to give varied program of shorter
works. Assisted by the Musical Art So
Aciety and with Miss FRANCESCA Kaspar and
signor Giuseppe Campanon as soloists. an