The Washington times., 1906-06-24

from the Fiat Symphony and the overture
10 Magic Flute besides two Wagner numbers
we're heard. Schubert's Symphony IN was
heard at the third concert; Haydn's Military
Symphony and the Symphonic Pathetique Of
Tschaikowsky at the fourth, and, finally, the no
table Wagner programme at the fifth.
''The orchestra was increased from ffty-six
instruments at the first concert to 104 at the
fifth This was needed for the selections given,
but II was made possible through the financial
success of the venture
"When the symphony concerts were pro-
posed. DR. Wolfe, who did not regard himself
orchestral but rather a choral leader,
urged TO accept the responsibilities of direction.
His success IN the role won him high praise
IhuS. IN notable way. DR.. " ole has mark
ed the beginning OF his work as occupant of the
newly created chair of music of the University
of California work which be undertook last
fall at the personal solicitation OF President
Wheeler
full Bach festivals Is Bethlehem, Pa. DR.. Wolfe
had had q chorus IN Bethlehem for fifteen years
singing Bach music, but the famous Bach chair
was not organized until 1895, and the first festi-
val was given IN 1900.
Three years later the chorus had grown 20
lis voices, IN addition 10 boys choir of fifty
voices The orchestra included sixty pieces. Ten
thousand persons attended the concerts that
year. and the fame of the festivals firmly
established
In Bethlehem forty-three years ago DR..
Wolfe was born When, IN ISG9. an organ was
placed in the chapel of the Mo'avian Seminary
for Young Ladies. of which institution his father
principal, the boy was not long IN finding
his wav 20 the instrument
His life's passion music. Years later he
studied in Munich under Rheinberger, who first
opened To him the great treasures of Bach, whose
ardent devotee he has since been.
When the chair Of music was created at the
University of California. authorities of the IN
stitution selected the famous choir leader OF
Bethlehem 10 formulate and plan the course and
develop the department in its entirety
He lectures upon the history of music and
the theory Of composition In addition to ha :
ing a large chorus to direct in training and
actual productions 800 students composing the
body by which "The Messiah" was to have been
-iven-he has also assumed direction OF the or
chestra, which has now been augmented TO 1o4
pieces.
Dr. Wolfe makes his concerts educational
usually developing plan Of historical remnis-
cence When the Bach concerts at Bethlehem
began attracting general attention. some noted
critics iourneved thitherlo analyze the under
lying motif of the scheme from the standpoint
of musical education.
One of these attending the concerts few
years ago. writes his impressions as follows:
ANALYSIS Of the programmes shows that they
hsYe heso 9esSnf @ SCI n IN the e Frotesfa5 81 oit ~
The hrst three sessions dealt with the Sayiours
birth although IN no rcidly precise way Monday
evenings sesson-each the festival series
is called sCssio1-Nas = prelude 10 the series
con whole
depSurg concerts the only purely Instrumental fea
grea.est Of orstorioe the Matthew Passion
which oscupied- the two sessions of Thursday
T1,1ri1r the next two days We had la do with the
ascension ars the proclamation faith, the result.
81 Tar as ts-lifc concerned If Chrst'S
The works chosen for this nhase OF the subject
Faster cantata THE Heavens Laugh n
ascension csntata God fioeth I-p With Shouting
followed on the closing day bS the Bminor Mass
This statement gives an idea OF the educa-
tional value placed upon music by DIR, Wolfe