Evening star., 1922-12-13
ADJUSTMENTS
Rubinstein Club Concert.

The Rubinstein Club Claude Robe
son conducting. inaugurated its con-
0ert season last evening at the New
Masonic Auditorium by introducing
two American artists. Olive Nevin,
eoprano. and Harold Aiulligan. COM
oser-pianist. in timely program.
entitled Three Centuries of Ameri-
can Song" Mr.. Mulligan is Il ready
speaker and was both illum ting
and amusing in the talks with which
no preceded each group Of songs Tie
TO the fact that In the movement for
the exploitation of the American
composer there seemed to be Il gen
orally accepted idea that the Ameri-
can composer Is comparatively re-
cant outgrowth of the development
Of music in this country. whereas
tho only new feature IN the situation
10 that the American composer or
today gets a hearing-:hat it is only
the audience that IS new. not the
American composer.
He said, too. that after wide re-
search in every available field he had
Reached the conclusion that the pop
Olar idea that Boston in the early
days Of this country was a musical
center was without foundation i'll
fact; that the Puritans admitted
music to their churches. such as it
was. only grudgingly. and into their
homes not at all. and that New York,
philadelphia and Charleston were
fca, and he produced many facts to
6ubatantiate his statements.
The first American composer. accord
Ing to the lecturer, was FrancuiS Hop
kinson of Philadelphia Can ancestor. by
the.way Of the we'll known writer, Hop
kinson SMITH. who wrote between the
years OF l.:.-179l. He vas an intimate
of George Washington, and according
70 documents discovered by AIR. Multi
gan. dedicated the songs given last eve
ming to his distinguished friend. from
which lie received an acknowledgment
written in the courtly fashion of that
day. An excerpt from thi; letter was
yead by MIR. Mulligan last evening.
The greater part of tine lecture con-
terned stephen Foster, to whose crea-
tive genius he paid high tribute-a tri-
butte amply justified in the charming
numbers given by Miss Nevin. The sue
cess OF his songs. he said. were not only
because of their musical merit. but be-
cause They We're songs ot universal dp-
peal"
Etheibert Ecvin Vas also among the
notables of Afr. Muilss!s list of Anie.'-
tcan composers. as was. ri course. Ed
ward MarDowe!l. Ny. E2vin's co,npo 81
1fons he de;'crihed rs ''porula.r classics. "
Miss Nevin. Il near relative of the coal
poser. inaue an attractive, arpt dr:ince
IN the various picturesque costumes. Az.
her interpretations Were given with a
fine art. She was especially delightful
.n the songs of the second and third
groups, among them \evin's Wood
pecker.' and April My April" by
Mulligan. which We're repeated in re-
Spouse to the insistent demand OF the
audience.
"Three Mystic Ships 'Incarna-
fion," Sacrifice. and Redemption.
by Gene Branscome. gave fine oppor-
tunity for the display of dramatic
power by Miss Nevin. With Mr.. Null
ligan at the piano. she gave also
rho songs representing the century.
My Days Have Been So Wondrous
Free" and "O'er the Hills" by Francis
Hopkinson: sicntle Zephyr" by P.
A. Won Hagen of Charleston: Re
turn. . Love-" by Victor Pellissier:
second century. "Jeanie With the
Light Brown Hair'' and Katy Bell.
both by Stephen Foster: Before the
Daybreak" and "Eocturne." by New
in: "ExaItation." by Mrs. Beach. and
sThe Lark Now Leaves His Watery
Nest" by Horatio Parker: third CEN
tury. Moonlight" by Philip James