Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-12

In the former Miss Dora de PHILIPPE ana
Miss Ivy Scott, and in the latter MISS
Edith Helena and Miss Johanna Kris
lofty. sopranos of somewhat different
types and characteristics. distinguished
themselves and with the remainder OF
the company's equipment helped to in
crease interest in and thus mark an ad-
vance in washingtons appreciation and
taste for higher and better music. All OF
which is a distinct gain to Washington.
which should be the nations capital In
music, literature and art as 1t is in the
governmental program
There are those too, who feel that de-
spite the financial misfortune which be-
fell Herr De Cortez Wolffungen's venture
with the Washington grand opera
chorus. the organiza ton founded by him
for the study and production of grand
opera by local singers. the city has been
the gamer in a musical way. Faust
as given by this aggregation last Monday
afternoon was an unquestioned musical
success. and it served to disclose that
even in the chorus ranks might be found
vocal talent rare anu we'll worthy of ex-
ploftation. There is, however. wide
chasm between the love of good music
and the Willingness to pay to hear it.
Bogus Masonry. laundering bridegrooms
and Fifty Miles From Broadway seem
unsightly things with which to catch the
fancy of a community on the verge of
spring fever, yet the people easily fell
for them" and, what is more. seemed abb
solutely satisfied with the diet.
on q N
laughable farce, entertained capacity
houses throughout the week. and many
Masonic bodies and affiliated organiza-
tons liked 1t so we'll they gave special
parties to see it. On the other hand. one
hears the management of the Poll Players
was compelled to eject Its orchestra. not
in difference to the new artistic senti-
ment" against orchestras. but to satisfy
the public demand to see their excellent
presentation of Bartholomaes delightful
farce, "Over Night" Those who saw 1t
know what created the desire of those
who wanted to see 1.-THE very good work
of the players in unfolding the many
charms of the play.
The Butterf1eld Players seem able to
put one over on their rivals in the
stock production line in having among
their number a young woman who can
not only act, but who, when occasion
required 1t, could step into the shoes
Of the orchestra conductor and direct
a musical comedy for them. Miss Nina
Melville deserves much in the way OF
commentator for her unique work
and the fine results she obtained.
swiseacres who pretend to know, say
important developments in the theatre
cal line are likely to be made in Wash
ington at no distant date. Million dol
lar theaters and the like have been
the gossip of the local "rialto" for
some time past, even though few seri-
ously believe in their realization, but
the talk now is of managerial rivalry
in the matter OF certain kinds of offer
ings to be presented 1t is said new
Richmonds have stepped into the
theatrical field. and new Richmonds al
ways did make trouble for some one.
THE ROAD TO GOOD MUSIC.-Morton
Adkins of the Aborn English Grand Opera
Company tells an interesting story of the
advance OF the students at Syracuse Uni
versity, where he was music instructor in
taste for and appreciation of good music.
when / first took Up my classes" says
Mr. Adkins, II found the majority of the
students strong for the popular ragtime
swing of the day, and especially keen for
the music that Is usually exploited in
burlesque. Not that they were patrons OF
the burlesque houses, but simply because
il is a we'll known fact that snap and
ginger. are twin sisters of burlesque.
Naturally, they please the ear of the
young, vigorous boy, who Is all snap and
ginger himself.
mysteries. some were pleased to call
il, of classical music. II required some
patience. but they were intelligent. For
illustration. and the better to hold atten-
tion- l discussed the theory of the lighter
operas. and then gradually worked up to
the heavier and more elaborate themes
and scores In time the reward came.
Frequently I was asked why this or
that aria was deemed beautiful. or why
pages of a score that seemed 10 many but
a succession of erratic phrases without
meaning. sense beauty we're described
as great or exquisite. Happily, / was
able. by unfolding the science of compo-
sition. 10 explain why there were beau
ties in music other than melody. and
in time the boys began to understand,
and. understanding. they began to inves-
tigate for themselves. Scarcely before
had the chance to realize IL they were
well on the highway to real musical taste.
Love of music begat the desire to sing
It, and with that came the wish to know
how 10 sing. The boys soon learned that
the study of proper methods meant
health to them. 1t meant breadth of
chest and increase OF lung power, and
that meant more rich blood coursing
through their veins. better wind In ath-
letics and serviceable strength in every
organ of the body. The intimate relation
between good music and good health ue-
ing established. the rest was but a matter
of fashioning taste and a study OF the
deeper mysteries of what some poet has
said is Gods language TO the SOUL
No one who takes the trouble to find
out for himself the meaning of the great
composers will be long in acquiring a
taste for music that is broad and deep
Quiring the habit to understand and APP
preciate a beautiful poem or a lofty bit
Of literature The ignorant may never
see the beauties of either, and yet how
little learning after all 1t requires to open
the eyes and enrich the understanding.
BEHIND THE SCENES.-Seven chorus
girls were demanding more rouge. six
chorus men were frantically calling for
their costumes for the second act, a scene
shifting gang was putting up the wrong
door and the audience was expecting to
see the curtain rise in about two seconds.
All was confusion and to the inexpe-
rienced man who had been allowed to
take peep behind the scenes Ii was
chaos In the midst of II was a slightly
built young fellow in his shirt sleeves.
and half dozen stage properties in the
other. II was edward Morrissey, stage
manager for the Butterfield Players
In the middle of this rumpus a man In