The Washington herald., 1914-10-11

the latter quality exerts a peculiar stim
ulus on the imagination. It has tn,
power to quicken, to evoke a mood. and
to arouse in the subconscious self OF
the listener certain states of latent i'm
preston and memory, Of reminiscence
Of keener sense Of beauty, and of ideals
! and hopes long dormant.
Such conditions in the deeper strata
Of mans being are awakened, not by
the tone Of effulgence, but by the tone
in shadow"
Choir of Hundred Voices.
The Motet Choir in itself is a singing
society of 100 mixed voices giving two
concerts each year. under the direction
Of Mr.. Simon He is pupil of Sir Asgar
Hamerik, the reat Danish composer.
Mr.. Simons was an instructor at Pea
body Institute in Baltimore for five
years while Sir Asgar was director of
that institution. On the Tooth ami
versary of Peabody Institute Mr.. Simon
brought out the great composer s
Requiem Mass. Mr.. and Mrs. Simon
have recently returned from a visit to
Mr.. Simon's former master at his home
in Denmark. He has also studied under
Emil Behnke, of London, collaborated
with Marchesi, Of Paris. and several
DlAslC IN
The work of the Motet Choir and. Mr..
Simon taken together constitutes the
movement which promises fame and
prestige to Washington as the home of
definite school of musical expression.
The Musical Courier, one Of the fore
most musical papers of the country, has
an editorial appreciation Of Mr.. SImon's 8
theories which will sound his praises to
readers throughout the country, and has
contracted with him for a series of arti-
cles which will carry his theories to the
attention of an interested world.
ITO Mr.. Simon beauty represents the
basis of musical art" says the appre-
citation. ''and musical art he regards
as one of the greatest factors for spirit
ual expression. In his work with the
Motet Choral Society he has introduced
his method Of voice training, and the
artistic technic of this body Of singers
in Washington have been unreservedly
praised by cultured professional listeners
and discerning laymen alike. Reserve
suggestion, responsiveness to the finer
and subtler moods, beauty of tone, ab-
solute control Of breath and certain spe-
cial effects in lighting and Illuminating
are some Of the features of the Motet
Choral Society in which its perform
ances seek to differ from other singing
societies"
The recent receipt of letters from two
of the foremost members Of the school
of modern English composers testifies to
the growing interest in the Motet Choir
outside of this country. Granville
Bantock and Joseph Holbrooke have
each written Mr.. Simon expressing their
appreciation OF the excellent presenta-
ton Of compositions by them which were
sung at concert last season.
The work for the present season which
has already been started will result in
the first concert to be given in Con-
tinental Memorial Hall one evening in
December. A first rehearsal was held
last Tuesday evening at St Johns
Church. Sixteenth and H streets north
west Mr.. Simon outlined the program
were welcomed by Edgar R. S.
Embrey, eecutive chairman of the or
ganization. Mrs. Simon. who is an ex-
ponent fthe method Of Tobias Mathai, |
Of London. is an active assistant to her
husband both at concerts and re-
hearsals
Mr.. Simon during his residence IN |
has also directed the Musical |
Art Society, the Church Choral Society |
and the Polymnia Chorus which met for
four years at the home Of Mrs. Herbert |
His theories. It has been said, include
special lighting effects Of the hall in
which the concert 10 given. This will be
Illustrated. as II was last year, at the
Christmas concert when the latter half
of the program win be given In the dark
med auditorium the chorus grouped
about a lighted and gayly decorated
Christmas tree.