Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-09-19

Mr.. and Mrs Otto Torney Simon have
returned from their summer spent In
England, France, Switzerland and Hol-
land. and are at their home, 1870 street
northwest. Among the many musical per-
formances heard by them while they were
abroad was the great Handel-Mendels-
sohn celebration at the Crystal Palace,
near London. OF this performance Mr..
Simon says: "Only d few years after
the death Of Handel in 1859 the first fes-
tfval of his works rendered as a homage
to his genius was given in Westminster
Abbey before the king and high dig
nitaries of the nation. Since that time
many special performances have taken
place. 1t was not, however, until about
1850 that a regular arrangement for a
triennial festival was instituted, which
this year included not only the music Of
Handel. but also that Of Mendelssohn, the
lishmen especially honor by the frequent
performance of his works. The centenary
Of Mendelssohn's birth, which occurred
this year, was the reason for linking to-
gether these two great names"
The announcement that r. Mills Silby,
organist and assistant choirmaster of the
Westminster Cathedral In London, had
arrived in the city to direct the sanctu-
airy choir of st. Patrick's Church, has
excited no little interest. especially among
those VINO wish success to the male choir
and the church music reform movement.
1t Is an admitted fact that the movement
for supplanting the former chOirs of
mixed voices by male choirs has not, SO
far, been the success that was hoped for.
Many reasons have been given to account
for the fact that one of the most potent
was the unfamiliarity of our own choir
masters, however accomplished they might
be otherwise, with that particular line Of
musical work and the training of the
boy voice. Mr.. Silby comes equipped by
seven years Of experience with choir
that is generally considered the equal Of
any in Europe. and it is admittedly the
best Catholic male choir abroad.
At the present time the boys are re-
hearsing every day. but it is impossible
to say just when the choir will be ready
to sing at the church services. Mr.. Silby
intends to entirely reorganize the choir,
adding to the BASES and tenors, II he
can get the voices he is looking for among
local singers.
Mr. Oscar Franklin Comstock has re-
turned, after an absence of over two
months, which was spent at his old home
in Flatbush, N. ". excepting for a few.
attendance upon the convention Of the
National Association OF Organists. Mr..
Comstock took part once a week during
the summer in a. Trio Evening"" which
and just before leaving for Washington
he gave two organ recitals in the after
noon on the famous gallery organ in Old
Trinity. and at night in All Souls Church.
Flatbush. Mr.. Comstock's program In
eluded such exacting numbers as Bach
staccato and Fugue," In d minor;
Guilmant's Caprice" and "Marche Re-
ligieuse,'' aria Dethier); "Berceuse'
Uhame), I'm Memoriam'' Noerster), BELL
Ronda" fMorandD and ''Hosannah"
already begun. and this promises to be an
exceedingly busy season. He is also hear
ing voices for his choir at Trinity Epis-
copal Church.
AZ Waugh Methodist Church the even
chorus choir. under the direction of Mr..
William G. Atherho1t. will sing the an
them. THE Earth is the Lords" by Fill
more. The offertory number will be a
tenor solo. The Pilgrims" Adamsl. sung
choir at the morning service will be For
God So Loved the World by ,Heyser.
Mr.. Donald Freeze will preside, as usual,
at the organ.
liam G. Atherholt, first tenor; Carl
Xanten, second tenor; F. G. Schafer. first
bass, and H. c. Forker. secoud bass. will
resume rehearsals tomorrow evening at
the residence of Mr.. Atherholt. 1880. Ames
place northeast.
Miss Margaret Follin. soprano, ac-
companiedi by her sister. Miss Katharine
Follin. has returned from q .two-month
vacation spent on farm IN western
Maryland. where she was the guest OF
relatives.
Sol Minister returned early in the week
from New York, wo1oco ho detected a