The Washington herald., 1914-03-01

The third and last OF the Rakemann.
lJchnston ensemble concerts for the sea-
son was given Friday night at the Wash
,inGton Club. Mr.. Richard Lorieberg
l'celiist was the assisting artist. Beetho-
ven's trio for violin, cello and piano
| op. I. No. q major, opened the pro
l57, and the PoIonaise op. 53. OF Chopin for
piano; two short trios for cello. violin,
and piano: Evening Song" by Nachez-
Rakemann, and scherxo. op. les, by
Schubert; the performances closing with
q Sonata, Op. .. of Howard Brockway.
The performance OF the Beethoven trio
one OF the most beautiful of those rarely
beautiful works, was OF a very high order
lof excellence In workmanship and ar
tistic finish. Scholarly penetration and
care for the minutest details was es-
pecialIy exemplifed IN the Largo move
ment; but no less was the yivacity and
spirited rhYthmic charm OF the Scherzo
fully realized
The Evening Song" for violin, cello,
and piano. was given with great tender
ness and beauty of expression. The
scherzo OF Schubert contrasted agreeably
In vigor and lightness.
Miss Ethel Garret Johnston gave an
able and In every way artistic rendering
OF the Poionaise OF Chopin. Her shading
was just and true and her big forte pas
sages. In which this work abounds. gave
the feeling Of power without sacrifice of
the musical tone. Her use OF the pedal
was a telling detail in the whole artistic
result. The Berceuse went WELL but one
would GLADLY exchange a virtuoso per-
formance Of the Chopin Berceuse for Just
a reasonably good performance OF some
thing less hackneyed
The Brockway Sonata, with which the
evening closed. a composition for violin
and piano, Is a work of undoubted high
value. The Allegro. Scherzando. and
Finale, have rhythmic distinction and
great force and energy. The Andante Is
full Of beautiful thematic material, the
piano answering the violin in a series
Of lovely motives. Mr.. Brockway is an
American composer. living In New York
His works. which he gave in a recital
In Berlin some time ago, were most
fiatterinsly received. The Sonata under
discussion Is dedicated TO Mr.. Paul It'd
den. OF New York, who Is an intimate
friend of Mr.. Rakemann.
Members OF the Friday Morning Mu-
sic Club and their guests were given a
musical treat Friday morning when the
youthful but exceedingly gifted Russian
vioiinceliist, Sara Gurowitsch, was the
soloist. A sonata for cello and piano
by yalentini came first on the program.
and this performance at once established
with the audience. the young 'cellist's
position as a true artist Her tones,
shading and phrasing are hawless; and
her poetic Interpretation far beyond her
apparent youth. The second number
was the Variations Symphonique'' OF
Boelimsun: and the final numbers were
a group comprising the "Andants,' from
Gluck's "Orfeo:'' Davidoff's Am Spring
brunnen." and the ''Polonaise de Con-
cert" OF Pepper. The last two were tests
Of technical brilliancy, and the Gluck
number gave opportunity for warm vO-
had won notable triumphs in Europe
before her debut in America Her ac-
compartments were played by Miss
Lucy Brickenstein. which statement Is
equivalent 10 saying that all that could
be said in praise Of accomplishments.
On this occasion Mr.. Heinrich Ham,
mer, director of the chorus of the FRI
day Morning Music Club. presented a
quite new and interesting choral work
OF Horatio Perker: Seven Greek Pas
toral Scenes" This is Mr.. Perker's
Opus "A, and the printed score bears the
date 1919. The words are adapted from
the Greek poems OF Melesger and Ar
gentarius. Five of these scenes. only,
were sung on Friday morning: Windy
Winter from the Sky Is Gone" The
Swallow Song and the Golden Stars
Are Shining in the West" by the
chorus: and II Will Irvine the Violet"
and Love, Cry" soprano solos by
Mrs. Seldomridge. The Swallow Song
is an adaptation Of a folk song that
used 10 be sung from door to door by
came oversee. Mr.. Parker employees
unusual harmonic modulations, and the
score is especially interesting THE
Swallow Song has a delicate. but some
what elusive charm. The last scene is
of more sturdy character. full of rich
moving harmonies. The scenes" arc on
the whole. not nearly so musically sim
pie as the verses. The harmonic COM
plexity seems. indeed. considering the
verses, like saying very simple truths in
more or less sophisticated language. II
is. however, a great pleasure TO hear
these new compositions. and thanks are
due Mr.. Hammer and the chorus for
their excellent Interpretation.
Miss Marion MacFaIl. who has been in
New York the past season. recently
Joined the Jameson Trio Company. sing
ng in vaudeville.
The company had just started on a |
tour Of the South and were TO open
he engagement in Baltimore. They ar
rived in that city two weeks ago today |
Sunday and were on the way to their |
hotel when Miss MacFall slipped on the |
Cy pavement, breaking her right leg |
lust above the ankle. She was taken |
10 the Maryland General Hospital and /
leI physicians say IL will be several |
weeks before she can rejoin her COM