The Washington times., 1916-03-17
Community BODY
] WILL SING OPERA
Spring Production Is Planned at
Theater Here - Musical
Comment.

-
Tho first fruits OF community en-
deavor In Washington this year have
appeared In tho announcement OF a
spring production Of tho opera Mar
'tha.' by Flotow, In one of the local
thenterb by the community Sineing
Society,"" q new civic organlIaticn,
which 10 rehearslnR each Tuesday At !
o'clock In the Thompson Public School,
We have for 80 long built up dreams
upon the possibilities OF our city for
civic art expression, we have told 80
often Of the achievements Of other and
smaller communities In social better
ment, that this promise OF tho Com
munity Singing Society" Seems n def
into fulillment OF our hopes.
The Community sinRing Sncicty 10
recognized rs On activity OF our public
schools. and II stands as an answer TO
the quest on: What wholesome activity
40 ssy we 9 sasoo Sgr yoans people when they
has received the support and patronage
OF nine of the Parents ana Teachers
Associations' Of the District
The society was organized last De
cemher and u under the direction OF
DR.. Albert w. Harmed. II commenced
by singing miscellaneous choruses, but
sucn enthusiasm waa put into the work
INIT ~ soon evolved into the present
project OF presenting the cver-tunoful
ana charming light opera Martha"
win It's score OF genuine musical value.
next TueEday evening at the Thomp.
son school the eighth regular rehearsal
WI be held. The question OF soloists
Tor the opera has not been determined.
Additions to the chorus are still being
made. Its membership extending 70 all
parts Of the city; The results Of this
latest departure In our local activities
VIII be attended with much interest and
the best wishes OF all.
And what Of cur youth In the world
OF music? Is II not true that we give
but little thought to Just what music
may interest. may even captivate, our
yo YOUTH presented in an attractive
In an article by Richard Aldrlch, in
inc inc New York Times. under the caption.
MUSICAL Psbululn for the Young-Sonne
Or the Things. That Ought Not to lie
administered. Mr.. Aldrich advises n
musical menu for the children OF a,most
Ioroiddlng simplicity His discussio on
was provoked by two concerts given In
New York by urchestras OF that city.
which were labeled for the young"
hut which contained things absolutely
remote from the child's experience or
Manfred symphony In its entirety, in
which its first and last movements re-
hSct both melancholy and pessmism.
MT Aldrlch thinks that music for
the children should be pretty riaor-
ously confined TO the elder classics"
BE adds: 1T Is a pity to give Children
the idea that tho chief function Of
music Is to tell n story, and that their
chief preoccupation In listening to mu-
sic should be to watch for and check
on the episodes of a narrative"
Tho question Is manifestly an open
one, We know that to hold the Amsri-
~ ts.Nn 80
him. must give him something tangible
and attractive. Then. again, our youth
9 being taken anew into the realm II
fairy.lore. to keep his fancy alive. I
SELF with the ever Fertile poetic fancy
Of the child. are being fostered today
In all OF his education. Surely such
program as that given by the Sym
cert for young people. which was de-
voted to music inspired by Shake
speare's dramas. holds a vast appeal
Tor the Imagination OF our youth.
merry WSc. OF w IGS "s Overture as ' be
Nicolai. the Queen Nab" scherzo from
Beriioz's Romeo and juliet symphony"
and the Overture. ScherZo. and We'd
alnE March from Mendelssohn's "a
without zoo much OF the burden Of
program music" It also brings tho
youth into active touch with the world
VIDE shakespeare Tercentenary, and
treats him as q true member of the
community who can share in this
high feast.
II was Edith Wynne Matthiscn. one
OF England's foremost interpreters Of
Shakespeare. who wrote of the lasting
influence on her work OF her childhood's
anection for the characters Of Shake
speare. So. II would SEEM should be
the child's ACQUAINTANCE with muse.
Miss Matthison SAYS: my first intro
ductlon to Shakespeare when a very
small child was a marvellous picture
book which 1 found among my fathers
treasures. IN II there were fascinating
witches and fairies. resplendent kings
and queens. testers in their motley. and
glorious monsters that made my blood
creep"
Yet Walter Damrosch. writing Of this
subject in answer to the Times discus
sion. says he agrees most heartily that
program music should be given but
sparinRly at young peoples concerts,
and that he introduces II only occasion
ally to serve n special educational pur-
pose. But he also adds: The only
felt some doubt was the charming
Adventures in a Peranlbulator." by
Carpenter. which is more a sophisti-
Gated work aboat children for grown
ups. than music for children. However,
my audience of young people caught
the spirit o: this delightful work with
remarkable intelli gence."
And so we end with a question: What
music is 1t that means the most to our
children OF today? ]. MacB.