The Washington herald., 1907-03-17

The musical events EHele. ne WaS III
Norfolk on last Saturday ard Sunday
conferring with Mr. R. H. Sexton, chief
of the department of congresses and spe-
cial events. and Mr. William Wall Whid-
dit. superintendent of music, and after
careful consideration, adopted a pro-
gramme for the music of the exposition
which he has placed before the board of
governors TO be passed upon n the near
future
The plan in many ways differs from
any music that has ever been given at
any previous exposition. The Washington
Choral Society viii augment a chorus OF
500 voices being organized in Norfolk.
for the opening exercises Of the exposi-
tion. which viii take place at II o'clock
on Friday. April Is. This chorus viii
give four numbers the first being a spe-
cial ode and hymn, now being written by
Mr.. Wilberfoss c. Owst, Of Baltimore,
who was especially invited by Mr..
Wrightson 20 undertake this work. Sec
ond. THE Heavens are Telling, from
the Creation" Third THE Hallelu-
jah Chorus" from the Messiah" which
viii be sung Immediately after the Pres
is open, and t:le last number. America -
Mr.. Wrightson has invited Mr.. Whid-
dit superintendent Of music. TO conduct
three OF these choruses, and viii him
self conduct the "Hallelujan" chorus.
The programme for the afternoon has not
Yet been adopted. but in the evening the
Washington Choral Society. augmented
by a chorus Of 100 picked voices from
Norfolk, viii give The Messiah" The
soprano. tenor. and bass viii be engaged
from New York, and Miss Clara Drew, Of
this city, has had the honor Of being
engaged as contralto. An orchestra will
be engaged for this performance. In
the event OF an organ being used, Mr.
S. Frederick Smith will preside at the
same. The morning exercises VIII be
held in the auditorium, but the Messiah
viii be given in the evening in couven-
ton hail. which seats 5000 people, and
viii be given at popular prices. This
opening day programme has been adopt
ed as a settled matter. The rest of the
plans are liable TO be changed in some Of
the details It is proposed on the 18th OF
May to have a childrens chorus of 500
ing, and on that evening the big Sl5090
pipe organ will be dedicated, and series
OF six recitals given that week by the
Organist engaged. and it is hoped now 10
secure the services Of Mr.. Clarence Eddy.
A regular chorus of fifty picked voices
Will be organized, which will be known
as the exposition chorus. and will sing
once week at The exposition, as it has
been planned that on three evenings of
each week Mondays Wednesdays and
Fridays or Tuesdays, Thursdays. and
Saturdays, the auditorium shall be at
the disposal of the music department
for either organ reCitals or concerts. local
or outside artists Including vocalists.
violinists. and pianists to be engaged for
the purpose.
It is further the policy of the music
department 10 bring Ia the exposition
the biggest artists IN the world. especial
ly favOring American artists, or foreign
artists who have become American citi-
zens. and for these events the dates OF
May p, june q July i. August q. Sep
tember 13. October 10. and November u
have been set apart All of these artists
viii appear at popular prices. Tt is furth-
er suggested that the board of governors
shall offer two cups. one valued at $50
for choral contests, and another, valued
al $50, for glee club contests.
This IS one of the most elaborate
plans that has ever been laid before an
exposition board. and. in addition TO ali
OF these events, at which popular prices
Will prevail, band concerts by the differ
ent bands of the foreign nations visiting
the exposition for the naval display VIII
be given around the grounds.
The Takoma Parl, Chorus viii sing al
the Vermont Avenue Christian Church to-
night The leader Mr.. J. W. Dyre. has
brought these singers to a high point OF
excellence, their work this winter hav-
ing being exceptionally good.
The fifth and last of the present series
Of Boston Symphony concerts will be Civ
en- In the New National Theater on next
Tuesday afternoon. March 10. at As.
o'clock. More than usual interest at
taches 20 this concert. since il is pussi-
bly, the last one that DR.. Muck will con-
duct in Washington The presence Of DIT.
Muck In this country has added largely
TO the Importance of the waning musical
season. With him at its head, the Bos-
ton symphony Orchestra has gained those
temperamental qualities in its work which
It heretofore lacked, and this without the
sacrifice of any Of its discipline, for which
Il has always been so celebrated.
For this last concert in Washington.
Dr. Muck has made a programme-with-
out soIoist-which will appeal to the
largest patronage of the orchestra. The
principal Stem on the list win be the
sixth symphony Of Tschaikowsky, known
as the 'Pathetique' the "swaneong'
OF the great Russian genius. So
called because IL was finished and per
formed shortly before Tschaikowsky's un-
timely death from the cholera. The fact
that our greater knowledge Of Tsehai-
kowsky has destroyed the rapidly grow
ing legend that IN this la st work he pre-
figured his approaching death does not
make the symphony itself less pregnant
with grief and despair. bat these GuaIi-
ties. instead Of being personal. are now
regarded as an expression Of universal
feeling In view Of the temperamental
qualities which DR. Muck has DISPLAYED
IN other modern works. his reading of the
Pathetique" VIII be awaited with great
interest
The other two works on the programme
are Berlioz's overture, "Carnaval Ro-
main" and LISTS 'Mephisto Waltz. -
The order of the programme is as fol-
lows:
Berlioz-OveFture "Camaval Roman"
Llszt-Atcp1isto waltz latter Ltnau 5 P0emi.
Tsehaik9wsky symphony in minor, No. g. Pa
thetique.
The concert season Of Washington will
be brought practically to an end on We'd
nesday afternoon. March 20, when the
Boston Symphony Quartet gives Its third
and last concert of chamber music in
the ballroom of the New Willard For
the last concert, Prof. Hess has chosen
a programme which embraces the clas-
sic. the romantic, and the modern. The
first number is a string quartet by
Haydn. in major opus SO, No. 3. a
-.