Evening star., 1921-10-02

lHe query SO OIleH VTOpOuHueS DC
to whether the American musician is
without adequate appreciation in his
own country had an answer in a prac-
ttcal way when ten American musi-
clans were commissioned to write the
music for the great pageant held at
Plymouth In July and August. Now
comes the announcement that John
Powell. the American pianist and
composer, has been called upon to
write the music for the Virginia his
torical pageant to be held next spring
at norfolk, and also the interludes
Tor the University OF Virginia centen-
ary pageant. Never before at any one
time have there been SO many foreign
musicians of note in this country. and
yet 1t is to the American composers
that America has turned today for
these notable works
When John Powell plays this fall
with the Philharmonic Orchestra in
New york he will demonstrate his
own faith and appreciation of the
american musician as a composer by
playing a concerto by Daniel Gregory
Mason. which he considers one of the
greatest concertos of modern times
Last season, when he toured Europe
with the Damrosch Orchestra, he
played his Negro Rhapsody" which
was enthusiastically received, espe-
cia!ly in The Hague. London and
italy. Mr.. Powells artistic proficiency
IN music Is not the only field in which
he has superior attainments and in
Wnlch he has won renown, as his love
Tor astronomy is second only to his
passion for music. During his recent
tour with Damrosch he was decorated
by the Societe Astronomique de Paris
for his theories and deductions re-
garding comets.
The annual upheaval in choir circles
has attained this fall more than the
usual proportions and fortunate, in
deed, is the director and music COM
mittee that has the personnel of the
| choir complete for the first of Octo-
| ber.
The choir of the Church of the As
| cension. 18th and Massachusetts ave-
nue., under the direction of George F.
| Bayliss, has been greatly augmented
during the summer months by the ad-
dition of new voices and it is felt that
| the coming year will be one of the
most successful from the standpoint
of music ever had in the church Mr..
| Bayliss has scheduled many new num-
| bers to be rendered throughout the
year. and in addition is arranging a
concert by the choir to be given about
the middle of November. Plans are
also being formulated relative to re-
EivIng this year an ancient custom,
that OF having medieval service on
| Christmas Eve. Il the rendition of
| Christmas caro- to the accompani-
ment of string orchestra. In order
! to carry out this ancient custom, the
| entire service would have to be con-
Quoted by candle light and without
the organ: Such service. it is be-
| lieved, will be an innovation to Wash
| ington church-goers. The soloists
comprising the quartet are Mrs. Will
! liam c. Corbett. soprano; Mrs. Julia
c. Gray, contralto, George F. Bayliss,
tenor. and L. E. Murray, basso. The
quartet is supplemented by a chorus
of twenty-five voices, with John B.
Wilson at the organ.
To coordinate the work of the choir
a social organization has been formed
among its members. which will meet
| the first Friday of each month, and
Charles Holland. Miss Helen Higgins
and Robert Hamil. jr., are planning
many features on these occasions
These will be followed by dancing in
| the parish hall. Rehearsals are held
| every Friday evening at 7:45 o'clock
in the choir room at the church, and
a cordial invitation is extended to all
who are interested in choral work.
The evening choir of the Church OF
the Covenant. directed by Sydney Lloyd
lWrightson, will resume rehearsais fol
it's tenth season. Wednesday evening
in the chapel adjoining the church
This choir numbered 165 voices last sea
son and the director hopes to have as
large chorus this winter. The organ
ization sings only at the evening
services and from the first Sunday il
November to the last Sunday in May
The greater part OF the work this sea.
son will consist Of the choral numbers
many of the solos in the various com.
positions being eliminated.
Singers interested in choral church
music are invited to become members
of the choir whether able to read music
at sight or not. Application may be
made at any of the Wednesday evening
rehearsals- The soloists engaged for the
season, the majority Of whom will sing
at both the afternoon and evening
services. include Blanche Bolln and
Jewell Downs. sopranos; Lura Smitl
and Elsie Lang. contraltos; Richard
Backing and w. S. Blanchard, tenors
George H. Miller and Harry Helwig
basses. Herman FakIer will be an ad.
ditional sOloist in the evenings. Durins
October the music in the evenings viii
Richard Lorleberg, violoncellist. and w
S. Blanchard. precentor. with Harvey
Murray at the organ.
Sydney Lloyd Wrightson returned
to Washington during the past weel
from Ogunquit. Me-. where he spen
the summer recuperating from his Sc
rious illness of last spring, and will
take up his work with his usual en-
ergy, opening his eighteenth season
here tomorrow. He stopped in New
York on his way home to engage hi,
soloists for The Messiah which h,