The Washington herald., 1914-10-11
EAKING THE CITY
MUSICAL CENTER
MOtet Choral Society Highly
Praised for Its Work by
Composers Abroad.
CREDIT DUE TO LEADER
Otto Torney Simon Responsible for
Touch of Genius which Charms
Worlds Musicians.
CREDIT DUE TO LEADER

Washington as a national center has
long been the cherished dream of many
OF the city's inhabitants. As a capita
of architectural beauty, Washington il
rated with Paris, Vienna and other ia.
European capitals. As a national
,1E er Of interest it has its place with
h1a ymooning couples and with every
Au7 Hcan interested in the activities OF
E.f national lawmakers. 1t is known as
anH OF the most cosmopolitan If not the
Hs' cosmopolitan city in America But
air castles so laboriously built by
% and women who know and love
hington- include the citys pre-emi.
IN world of thinkers, poets, ar.
A. musicians; a Washington known to
world as a center of the country s
ectuRl life and perhaps-whisper
softly-so--e day, somehow, a center
- fsIs culture and intellect Of the
world.
Idle dreams7 Perhaps-and perhaps
not. But surely any sign that the world
has glanced this way with a show of
interest will be welcomed ana accepted
as a cause for rejoicing by loyal Wash
ingtonians. 1t is in the field Of music
that they have made themselves heard.
A new school, a movement Of originality
on the highest plane Of art in music has
been initiated and is growing up here.
The Motet Choral Society is nothing new
In Washington; its work is familiar to
many and highly thought OF by all who
know it. But II is just this familiarity,
this presence Of the movement under
ones very noses that has prevented
Washingtonians from grasping the
power and the Importance Of the work
that has been carried on for nearly six
years.
Europe Takes Notice.
ming to hear Of the Motet Choral So
ciety when art and culture were arrested
and submerged in war. America seems
10 be at present nearly the entire civil
lied world in respect to intellectual and
scientific progress. And all corners of
America are being penetrated by the fame
Of the new musical movement
Otto Torney Simon is responsible for
the touch Of genius in the new chord
which is charming the ears of the worlds
musicians. He is the true musician with
whom the new school originated; the art
theories Of the Motet Choral Society
are his theories and the fame of the or
ganization lis due to his work as its d.
rector.
The theory on which the artistic at
fainments Of the society are based is best
summed UP in Director Simon's descrip-
i've term, the school Of repressive tone"
Director Simon's method Is to bring the
utmost beauty from a musical compost
ton simply by control of tone and sub
ordination Of dominance and power to
unusual reserve and suggestion.
Pertinent illustration Of this point Is
best given by quoting Mr.. Simon's own
words He says
OF the sole voice the, question may Be
asked, why sorority OF tone and bril-
hancy Of technique frequently awaken
but casual interest, while the production
Of the mezza VOce or OF controlled pianis-
nimo, especially In the upper registers,
WI Immediately arouse the attention.
and weave about the audience an un-
usual spell OF psychological Significance
The answer would seem to be, that