The Washington times., 1922-05-25
N0RD|CACL
GIVE EVIDENCE
Of RARE POWER
Concert Shows Great Possibili-
ties for Mrs. Holt's Orches-
traI Organization.

Again has the orchestra Of un-
usual Instruments. the Nordica Man
dolin and Guitar Orchestra. proved
that its director, Walter T. Holt. has
not used the term without warrant.
The twentv.third annual concert OF
The "NOrdica Clubs-that include
three separate organizations OF what
We call Club" instruments. the
smaller instruments-gave amazing
evidence last Friday and Saturday
evenings at the Raleigh Hotel ball
room of tho orchestral possibilities
OF Mr.. Holt's remarkable ensemble.
that is the result OF weekly student
practice and that has become a
really professional organization.
Attune your ears to the lighter
quality Of the mandolin anl the
guitar. with its orChestrally pitched
cCmpa Mons the tenor mandolas, oc-
tave mandolas, mando-cellos and
ma ndo -hasses, and you find a COM
plete string orchestra. They gave
a delightful Interpretation OF the
melodious and lifting music OF Of
fenbaCh, in his "Orpheus" overture,
it's ensemble rising like a tide Of
tone and full rich body OF a harmony
that was fine in it's modulations,
shaded and full of rhythm, and
through which the tunes OF Often
bach ran in sometimes a deep mel
ody or again a rousing one like the
effective finale.
They dared even more. Mr.. Holt
asked the indulgence OF the au.
dience for their attempt to interpret
Beethoven's fifth symphony. Some
might quibble because the mighty
notes Of Fate did not sound out
from the orchestral trumpets and
double basses. 1t is a matter Of
triumph for the musicianship Of Mr..
Holt that they kept the spirit, the
form and the values Of this great
music, giving a sincere and remark
ably enjoyable Interpretation that
could not offend, even though II
lightened the momentous music Of
the giant Of the orchestra, Beethoven.
They dared an impossible thing and
they accomplished II. II was an
amazing achievement. making for
musicianship in the entire group.
Soloist and Quartet.
The Musurgia Quartet gave a
spirited rendition of the sextet from
Lucia, in quartet form. the male
voices being particularly rich in
blend though there was not enough
restraint to let the inner voices
through. James X. Young, tenor;
Fred G. Schaefer, bass; Mrs. Fannie
Heartsill Shreve and Mrs. William
T. Reed, made up the quartet. with
Harry Wheaton Howard at the
piano. They gave as encore a catchy
negro song. and later the Lieurance
"Minnetonka," with an encore.
Mr.. Young gave an effective tenor
solo showing the lyric beauty of his
voice and fine dramatic power. He
also responded with an encore.
Charles A. Conrad, guitar soloist,
gave a composition by himself of
melodious charm and good effect in
harmony. Miss A. f. Hill, in a man
dolin solo, accompanied on the guitar
by Mr.. Holt, displayed a virtuoso
command of her instrument with a
very fine technique.
The picturesque Nordica Hawaiian
and Ukulele Club, with their orange.
colored neck wreaths and Colored
lights, took one to summer climes In
a group OF popular music OF the day
that was excellently played under
Raymond Acton, who played the Ha-
waiian guitar. The Banjo Club, with
the orchestra under Mr.. Holt, closed
the program with another orches-
trally united ensemble OF popular
tunes.
JESSIE MacBRIDE.