Evening star., 1913-08-10

The annual changes in choir circles
seem to be just now at high tide and
each week brings announcement OF resig-
nations on the one hand and appoint
ments on the other. and fortunate Is the
rector and music committee that has next
seasons contracts with organist and sing
ers already signed, sealed and deliver
ed. The committee of the First Church
of Christ (Scientist), has announced the
engagement OF Mrs. Louis de Haas, who
has arrived here recently from Berlin.
Mr.. and Mrs. de Haas. the former said
TO be a pianist of ability. hail from Hol-
land. but have spent the last year and a
half in Berlin. This Is not their first
venture in this country, however. as they
were at one time in charge of the music
department in one of the large schools
in the south Mrs. de Haas is already in
the city. and will take up her duties at
the church this morning, when she will
sing a. musical setting OF the Lord s
Prayer composed by her husband.
She studied at the Royal Conservatory
AT The Hague piano. harmony, theory,
voice and the languages. her early ambi-
tion being TO become a concert pianist,
until she discovered she had a voice,
when she made a speciality Of voice cul-
ture, Later she continued her musical
Theme for voice and Miss Agnes Johns
for plano. Here she remained for three
years until her marriage to Mr.. de Haas,
when she came with him to this country.
servatory at The Hague and was grad
uated from there. studying afterward
nth Xavier Scharwenka and Waldemer
luetschg in Berlin. Mr.. Haas has writ
ten a number of sacred songs which were
well received abroad and, during his
previous stay in this country, he COM
posed some characteristic pieces of in
strumental music, one of which he dedi-
Gated to Hollins College. Virginia
Sydney Lloyd wrightson. whose physi-
cal breakdown this last winter. caused
through overwork, made him abandon his
work with the Washington Oratorio So
ciety for the balance of last season, is
oughly cured man. This news will be
warmly received by his many friends in
this city. Mr.. Wrightson has been al
Ogunquit, Me-. ever since July I, where
he was ordered by his doctors. He will
not return until the latter part of Sep
rember. Apart from the supervision of
The music at the Church of the Covenant
tent. all plans for which he made be-
fore leaving. he has this summer taken
a complete rest, the first for eighteen
years. He has so far made no announce
ments regarding the personnel of the
choir for the afternoon services at the
Church OF the covenant and IL is not
known definitely whether a double quar-
tet or double sextet will furnish the
music for these services. The evening
choir OF 100 voices, however will be re.
organized Immediately upon his return,
and a well authenticated rumor says that
q solo quartet of picked voices from
local circles will be engaged TO sing
with the evening choir, to be utilized also
with other singers for the Afternoon
services.
The First Congregational Church Is one
OF those I'm which changes Of personnel
I'm the choir are few and far between q
The church year for the choir begins in
April. and last spring all Of the mem.
bers of the solo quartet were again re-
engaged. as well as the choirmaster, w
T. Taber. who was a newcomer last sea.
son. Mr.. Taber spent the month of July
In New England, but was at the organ
again last Sunday when Edwin CaIlow
substituting on very short notice, as
sisted the choir. singing. also. at the
e0ertory. II Heard the Voice OF Jesus