Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-08
MAY SING FOR TAFT
White House Concert Planned
for Inaugural Chorus.
PLANS FOR THE FUTURE
Suggestion Revived to Make Organ
ization Permanent.
COULD USE NEW AUDITORIUM
Lack Of Proper Place Heretofore an
Obstacle to Perpetuation Of
Great Festival Chorus.

That the inaugural chorus sing for
President TAFT In the White House in the
near future. is a suggestion that has been
made to Percy s. Foster. chairman Of
tho music committee for the Inauguration
and director OF the chorus, and one which
may be worked out.
If such an arrangement should be ap-
proved by the President. the entire body
Of coo singers would probably give such q
concert In the East Room. the scene OF SO
many brilliant social and musical events
in the past. During the past administra-
ton great many famous musical organi-
cations have given concerts In the White
House.
Reviving another suggestion made by
Commissioner Macfarland four years ago.
Chairman Foster said today that there Is
also large possibility that the inaugural
chorus will be formed into a permanent
festival chorus for Washington.
He said that there has been q demand
for such an organisation here In the
National capital for many years. but that
such concerts as might he given retarded
the movement. The formation OF "A cor
poration and the enthusiastic movement
toward the building of q large auditorium
has revived the plan. and with the pres-
emit chorus as nucleus it may be work
ed out.
High Standard Desired.
In the formation of such a chorus the
effort would be made to establish and
maintain q high standard of musical ex-
cellence. not only in the works presented.
but in the quality and vocal ability Of the
individual members. 1t 10 probable that
a committee on testing the voices of mp
plcants would take charge Of that end
of the scheme. The total membership
would probably be limited to 800 voices.
with an extended waiting list.
Another part OF the idea. said Mr.. Fos-
ter, Is that the chorus would not alone
be Of an artistic nature. but would also,
in keeping with its birthplace, the
capital. be national In character.
He said that the membership Of the
present organization is exceedingly cos
mopolitan. as statistics show that every
state and territory in the Union is repre-
scented, except Nevada and New Mexico.
and In addition to Great Britain nine for
eign countries have contributed singers.
He said. further:
THE fact that such musicians as Hora-
ito Parker of Yale and Arthur Whiting
of Boston have written patriotic an
thems for our choir to sing, and that We
have attempted Rossinfs 'Stabat Mater
and several of the classical Oratof!os en-
phasizes the standing of the organisation.
It is not intended to make this choir q
purely artistic one. such as the Worcester
festival chorus, but to emphasize It's ma.
tional character. We desire to make il
distinctive and in keeping with the char
acter of this city,"
Director Foster Pleased.
Mr.. Foster expressed himself as highly
pleased with the results Of the musical
work Of the Inauguration, especially at
the five concerts given in the pension
building last Friday and Saturday. He
spoke in the most complimentary terms
Of the work of the Philippine constabu-
larry Band and the Marine Band In the
concerts. With the work OF his chorus
he also is much gratified and believes
it to have been the best work Of any OF
the inaugural choruses.