The Washington herald., 1913-01-12
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS

Mime. Clara Butt, widely known con-
tralto. and her husband, Kennerley Rum
ford, distinguished barytone, Will be
greeted tonight by probably the largest
Washington musical audience of the sea-
son. at the New National Theater, where
these noted English singers viii appear
in concert. at Sis o'clock.
Boston heard these singers in a recent
Sunday afternoon concert at symphony
Hall, and the large audience was entirely
won by their masterful Interpretation.
Even after the programme was ended
the audience was not satisfied, and Nine.
Butt was recalled She then sang, in her
own language. 1.-The Lost Chord" with an
effect so profound in emotion that her
audience left almost in silence.
Clara Butts love of sacred music was
fostered during her girlhood by residence
in a cathedral city. for. although born
in the little Sussex town of Southwick.
she went when still child with her par
ents to Bristol. 1t was within the fine
old cathedral in Bristol, under the tute-
Iage of W. W. Rootham-a well-known
figure in the English musical world-that
the young singer acquired the spirit for
sacred song.
Mime. Butts favorite oratorios are
Elijah" and THE Messiah" and her
favorite solo, 20 Rest in the Lord"
touch an audience. Another solo which
she has used so frequently is Liddle's
beautiful setting of ABIDE with Me"
This is one of the songs in which her
powerful contralto exalted the English
language 50 effectively in the Boston
concert.
Discussing the qualities requisite for
the singing of oratorio, Mime. Butt said
recently: First of all, the singer must
lalr Of la IL
ton, not merely the part falling to her
share, for only thus can she reproduce
the spirit of the work One must feel
the inspiration. Beginners should try to
cultivate originality, and create solo
part, precisely as an actor creates a dra-
matte role. 1t is the singers task to
study a piece until she can give it her
own Interpretation, and ii is the ability
10 DO this that marks the true musician.
1t is a mistake for beginners to try to
copy famous artists; rather they SHOULD
make their own performance Individual.
II is well, of course, to observe the meth
DDS of successful performers, but any
thing suggestive of slavish imitation
should be avoided.
Another point to aim at" the con-
tralto contends, lis clear enunciation;
for unless the words of a great work
are clearly understood II is impossible to
imbibe the spirit. On the other hand, it
is well for the singer to keep her own
emotions under complete control This
artists concluding hint to the novice is
Don't strain after effect. Avoid fire.
works. The singing of sacred music
should be natural, distinct, full of Seel-
ing. and above everything, full of rever-
ence."
Next Tuesday afternoon the Washing
ton Symphony Orchestra, under the mas
terful direction of Prof. Heinrich Ham
mer. will offer the second concert of the
present season at the Columbia Theater.
The soloist will be Miss Dagmar de c.
Rubner. pianist, who will present
TschaIkowsky's concerto in B fiat minor.
This young artistic received most of her
musical instruction from her father. Prof.
Cornelius Rubner. of Columbia univer-
sity. Miss Rubner made her debut at the
age of fifteen, at which time she also
played at a special concert given for the |
Grand Duchess Louise of Baden. Short |
~ after this she went 10 Geneva. where |
she studied under QuInche, a pupil of
Risler. At seventeen, Miss Rubner came |
TO this country, where she has made /
profound impression among the most eX-
elusive social circles.
The prelude TO "IohenFrin." which will
be the opening number by the orchestra,
needs no introduction TO concert-goers.
tect the descent of the Holy Grail, the |
mysterious symbol of the Christian faith.
and the Grail motive is the key to the
whole composition.
The Slavic dances of Dvorak's are OF
special interest. as having been the first
of this composer to make
his name widely known in the world-at-
large beyond Bohemia. These dances
are intensely national: but they repre-
h. fnIl al ND Cd nad
by all the resources of musical culture.
Their harmony is solid and well-woven.
Those who have not already purchased
tickets for this concert and the remain
ing ones of the series should come TO the
support of Washington's own orchestra.
Tickets may be had at T. Arthur Smiths
agency at Sanders & Stayman's, in +
Street.
The Rubinstein Club, one of the most |
prominent of local musical organizations,
will give it's first evening concert of the
present season next Wednesday night at
the Raleigh ballroom. The FIRST matinee
concert of the club. given some weeks
ago, was a big success, and II is expected
that the concert next Wednesday night
will be one of the best performances
ever given by this popular club.
Following is the programme in full:
Chorus CaD Wanderers Night Song"
rRubinstein), Oh Indian Cradle Song"
Matthew'S, CC) Indian Love Song"
'Codmanl, by the Rubinstein Club; harp
solo. Ca) "Priere'' Hasselmans), Oh
'Reve' d'Amour'' CFaure), Mrs. Dorothy
johnson Baseer: BARITONE solo. ta) AL
erseelen" Orchard Strauss, Cb) ''Lauf
Ter Welt" GriegD, Cc) MY True Love
lies Asleep alexander RusselD, (d)
The Ringers" (Herman Dohr), Mr..
Reinold Werrenwroth: chorus, la BE
ore the Daybreak'' CNevfns-Harris), d.
Elm Ton CCorneliusl, incidental solo,
Mr.. Werrenworth: harp solo, fantasie
n F minor (Saint-Saens), Mrs. Dorothy
Blue Danube" by request John Spicker),
,y the Rubinstein Club; chorus, "Vienese !
Frederick Stevensl, the Ru-
'instein Club, with Mrs. Baseler, harp
st; Mr.. Werrenworth, barytone; Mr..
Richard Lorleberg, 'cellist Signor Inn .
oeratori, violinist; Mrs. Mamie Morris
8urdette, pianist. II
The Philharmonic Orchestra of New ]
Fork. Josef Stransky, conductor, will
make its next appearance in Washington
Tuesday afternoon, January p, at the
View National Theater at 40 o'clock
rhe soloist on this occasion will be Nine :
'chumann-Heink. who will undoubtedly J
,e greeted by a large number of her y
many admirers.
The programme to be offered is as fol-
ows: Overture. Flying Dutchman" {
Wagner; aria, Penelope" from "Odys- c
eus' Bruch. Nine. Schumann- Heink; $
uite, Peer Gynt'' (Csriegl- Ia) 'aT-ba Ri