The Washington times., 1921-01-27
PAUL IS SUNG
| IN PLEASING STYLE
Motet Choral Society Presents
0ratorio' lmpressiveIy at
Central High.

The seldom heard oratorio of est.
Paul" by Mendelssohn. was given a
pleasant rendition last evening by
the Motet Choral Society under the
direction OF Otto T. Simon at Central
High School, with a solo quartet OF
Washington singers who gave this
tender and melodious music most i'm
pressively
The oratorlo as a whole develops
with an anti-climax, the latter half
bringing less conviction In Its story
OF the converted Paul, than the first
part that told OF the turbulence OF
Saul, the oppressor. The Bible story.
however. holds many effective parts
In this sacred oratorio OF the great
writer OF melody but no concerted
work OF moment for the solo quartet
Ethel Holtzclaw Gawler, soprano,
Beulah Harper Dunwoody, contralto'
Martin Richardson. tenor, and Charles
Trowbridge Tittmann. bass. made up
a group OF soloists OF exceeding ex-
cellence. The solo voices are chron-
iclers. and each one sang with ad-
mirable dlction.
Mrs. Gawler's voice holds pathos.
aud its sweetness carries to her top
most range. IL was free and flowing.
and her word values were excellent.
In telling OF Saul and of steven in
And the witnesses" her voice was
/ exquisite while the closing words
"oVer Him" were nlled with feeling.
II will sing OF Thy Great Mercies'
was tenderly lovely, dramatic recita-
tives bringing contrast to the So
prano role.
In a single recitation and solo for
contralto Mrs. Dunwoody gave the
most finished work OF her career.
Her voice was delightfully smooth.
its utterance soulful. tender. sweet,
with meaning and beauty in And
the Lord Is Mindful OF His Own" and
forceful defamation in the recita-
tive.
Martin Richardson combined viril-
ity and tenderness in his telling" OF
the stery. Some phrases were elo-
quent, some noble. as in the recita-
tive Suddenly Shone Around Him. -
He restricts a more mellow quality
by a tremoio that greater freedom OF
throat would make a rich vibrato
His BE Thou Faithful Unto Death
was given effectively.
The great vibrant bass voice OF
Charles Trowtridge Tittmann. in two
big solo parts. established the
breadth OF the work. His 20 God
Have Mercy" was appealingly sup
plant. his depth OF range gripping
MS tOp VOICE. III HOIulnS the
melodious music to its text The
finale is in his hands, with But Our
God Abideth in Heaven" in which he
rose to a truly magnificent climax.
CHORUsES ADMIRABLY SHADED.
The choruses Mr.. Simon made ef-
| fective in artistic expression. They
were admirably balanced in the parts,
the mems voices being notably ex-
pressive and rich. The most vital
, chorus was the excellently rendered
haste in the stone Him to DEATH"
the women's voices in telling of the
"Nazarene" being also potent Lovely
effects in soft and eXcellently bal
anced and shaded tone brought this
big mass of singers out like a single
voice, but with all its beauty there
was lost the JOY of Happy and
Blessed are They" and the upbuildinG
in the message of promise in the final
choruses by too constant repres-
sion. Good climaXes there were, but
there lacked conviction in the chorus
Of the comforter "See What Love
Hath the Father" by it's too subtle
treatment.
The boy choirs OF st. Johns and St.
stephens churches brought a spiritual
quality into the finale. Particular
praise is due Edith u. Athey at the
organ for the beauty of many Of her
accomplishments Arthur ID. Mayo gave
appreciative support at the piano.