The Washington times., 1916-12-19
ATHLETIC CLUB TO
Be MUSIC CENTER
New Organization Will Have
Orchestra and Auditorium
Seating 1900. ]

The new Washington Athletic Club.
which In now being organized. promises
also TO be vital factor In our music
world. When Il is completed next fall
it will offer TO Washington the musical
advantages, for instance. OF, the Lotus
Club in New York. where the men,
bers have known, at first hand. artists
OF the highest rank. exceptional talent.
whose placement IN tho art world has
been often proclaimed by recognition In
this organization. Albert Chevalier was
one unique personality whom the Lotus
Club hailed as n distinct factor In the
| entertainment field.
Muslc's part as factor I'm this new
organization has been outlined by
Percy 3. Foster. a member OF the board
OF directors and man prominent IN
the music activities OF the city. Mr.
Foster makes us know that through the
athletic club the city aims to offer. In
winter. as many attractions as the
country clubs do In the outdoor sea
son, for both tho men and women OF
the community.
Auditorium seating i,5oo.
Mr.. Foster says that the club will
have an orchestra for It's functions and
will offer vocal features as well. In the
extensive programs planned through
out the season. The architects are
planning an attractive auditorium seat
ing l,500 people. TO be used solely Tor
the activities OF the club. with special
attention given to the acoustics OF the
hall.
Professional recitals Of the highest
type are TO be given for the members
ef tho club. The large number OF men,
bers win make II possible to set aside
a fund that will make these entertain
ments n certainty. They VIII be given
each Saturday evening.
| Washington In to be congratulated.
The arts will hold an important place
in an organization that In proclaimed
athletic. II seems as thought the spirit
OF ancient Greece Ia entering into our
social consciousness. The Developments
from this nucleus seem legend.
within twenty.four hours, recent
iy. n striking illustration was siven In
this city OF the evolution OF piano
music. It consisted OF two recitals In
one day, one tho delightful harp
sichord recital given by Frances Pei
tonJones At the Friday Morning
Music Club. followed In the afternoon
by n piano recital by PadeJewski'
the genius OF the moderns. who puts
| into his music more of emotion, more
| OF the deep passions OF the times than
any other artist.
A Picture of Gestier Days.
The transition from the eighteenth
century TO the twentieth In rs diverse
as a salon picture OF Louis XVI and
the war turmoil OF today. Thus IL
is that the arts mirror the history OF
their times. The delicate harpsichord.
with its ornate decorations of brooads
OF rose, Its sconces and their candles.
and its tinkling tones resembling
both the guitar and the harp, gives
music OF daintiness, OF elegance, OF
court manners and graces- The
music OF the leisure class who think
In the fair, free ease OF the sonnet.
The noble class who have an exquisite
taste and who devote their efforts
TO its adornment through all the arts
which result In the pictures, In the
legends built around historic Fon'
inebleau,
Music today IL sign and symbol Of
the events OF today. Paderewskl en-
bodies its most potent message. From
the roulades, the graceful phrase
the skill In execution of yesterday
we have come 10 seek and find an
emotional content that uses this
chaste art, but that has infused "
with values that search the heart and
touch tho soul OF It's hearers. Thus
we cease, In a measure, 10 estimate
n performance by its dexterity. More
has been put into It's meaning. and o.
Is it's meaning that the modern audi
ences first must know, then IL takes
into account >the more technical foun'
dation upon which this meaning Il
built. Both are requisite. but IL the
meaning fails the performance Is but
n .hadoyy 10 modern ears,