The Washington herald., 1912-10-27
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

ICyrH Scott b one Of his fsveritsA II,
has Q two years exclusive ne Of IN
imanuscript Of Q concerto by John Dow
en-. Of Richmond. Va. The adagto move
ment OF this concerto contains nogy<
mslodies. Zimbelist 10 himself IN an
bilious composer and . skillful pianist
though he has never had . lesson o.
that instrumsut -
Washington u about to bs very muci
Indebted to Daniel Gregory Mason. o.
New York, assistant professor Of mu
/ sic In Columbia University. for . seriss
Of lectures interpretative Of the musi,
Of . few Of the great masters. Thes'
lectures are to. be given the first 6aturs
day evenings OF November. December
January. February. and March. undei
the auspicee Of the Washington eocist,
OF Fine Arts. in the auditorium Of thu
National Museum new building. Tent
and B Streets Northwest.
open the ears Of the listener to q tone
world Of inspected wealth Of interes'
and beauty. He will throw wide the
doors Of q vast storehouse Of treasure
heretofore the possession Of the fortu
nately trained few.
We hear only what our ears an
trained to hear Mr.. Mason's design h
to explain the productions OF the grea,
composers. select compositions that viii
best illustrate his subjects. and have
them played for his hearers, while hs
explains their content.
Mr.. Mason will make clear the mean
Ing Of motives. phrases. and theses. ex.
plain polyphony As distinguished from
homophony: show the splendors Of mu.
sical colorinG In the great fugues: tracs
the national charactsristics IN the folh
song. and their Absorption into formal
compositions. He will show the nature
Of the suite. built up Of the old stately
dances, the minuet, sarabunde, gigue,
passpied. Bourie Allmande. &c. He will
show the history and Development OF
the sonata.
The first lecture. which Il to be given
November Z will be on Bach, whom
Mr.. Mason likens to Chaucer This
lecture will necessarily treat Of poly.
phonic music. the many voiced. In
which melodies. growing Qua Of mo-
tive germs.' weave in and out an intYi-
cate pattern Of melodious color. Ameri-
cans generally have not begun to ap-
preciate Bach. His music Is admit.
tedly din,cult. but 10 beautiful and in.
teresting that II il Tremendously worth
q great effort.
Mr.. Mason speaks with authority on
any subject. He has written a number
OF works. including "a Guide to the
Study OF Music" Beethoven and His
Forerunners." The Romantic Com
rosers.' From Grieg to Brahms" "A
Neglected Sense in Plano Practice" The
Orchestral Instruments" and The Ap-
nFeciation of Music'
Washington il to have the pleasure Of
hearing the Boston Symphony Orchestra,
with DR.. Karl Muck again Its conductor,
at the National Theater. Tuesday after
noon. November S. at 40 o'clock, under
the local management of Mrs. Wilson,
Greene.
This great musical organization has
the good fortune to begin its thirty-sec-
ond year with the return of Dr. Muck,
for which Boston has reason for self
congratulation. That music lovers of
tnat city appreciate their good fortune
was fully exemplifed at the first two re-
citals Of the Boston Symphony Orches-
ira. early IN October. A most affecting
instance was the spontaneous action of
Mr.. Higainson, the honored patron and
supporter Of the orchestra, when he
walked to the stage and extended his
hand over the footlights in silent greet
Ing to the great conductor.
DR.. Muck began his academic educa-
ton at Heidelberg. which he finished at
Leipsic. while studying music under
Richter and Reinecke. Before coming
to America he had conducted orchestras
in Zurich. Salisbury. Gratz. Prague, and
Berlin. DR.. Muck Is a great conductor,
whose influence over his orchestra is
than commanding personality. a simple.
unaffected man whose quiet gestures
WELD a mysterious magic over his play
ers. His genius lies in great imaginative
powers. a subtle sense Of the composers
meanings, from the broadest to the most
delicate, most elusive. combining emo
tional feeling with intellectual restraint.
hs wing patience for the most minute de-
tails. poetic insight, and mental balance
One Is at loss to say wherein lies his
greatest skill-in the perfect balance of
the Instruments. the splendid surge and
rush of a tumultuous crescendo. or the
breath of a pianissimo. He Is
a mastery interpreter for a great or
chestra.
The Motet Choral Society Of 100 voices
Is now in active rehearsal for its first
concert. to be given in December. Reg
istration for membership continues each
week. but the applicants for admission
to the chorus must be musically pre-
pared. Candidates whose voices are not
who cannot read music are not accepted.
The test is a rigid one, and there have
heen many disappointments.
Only such a selected body OF singers
Is prepared to participate In the pro-
grammes of high standard given by the
Motet Choral Society. The work Of this
organization Is making continually a
deeper impression among the musical
people OF Washington by its finished
by the beauty of its choral
tone, and by the careful selection of Its
The programmes are given
with the one idea of presenting the best
choral music in its highest significance
Of spirit and text.
The first concert of this season will be
given in the middle of December. As in
former years. the spirit of Christmas
will be given during the latter part OF
the programme blythe singing of classical
Latin and German motets. To the audi
ence the impression Of this music. full
of devotional spirit and beauty of text,
has been a lasting and memorable one.
These motets of the Nativity are sung In
The darkened theater about the lighted
trees. Each year in December the Motet
Choral Society will give a similar ex-
preston Of the spirit Of Christmas
The officers of the organization are:
Charles L. Smell. president: Walter Gil |
lam. treasurer; Miss Jean c. Stier. SEC
retary: Miss Rachel Millard. corre- |
Jponding secretary: Mrs. Otto T. Simon |
It the piano. and Mr.. Simon. musical
lirector.
The board Of directors Of the washing- |
on Symphony Orchestra held a meeting |