Evening star., 1923-12-21
TRIUMPH SCORED
BY CHORAL SOCIETY
Motet Organization Gives
Christmas Concert, Combin-
ing Exquisite Numbers.

The Motet Choral Society ascended
to new heights of achievement last
night at Memorial Continental Hall
in a Christmas concert of singular
beauty and appeal
Under the direction of Otto I.
Simon this organization of Washing
ton musicians revealed what can be
accomplished in the form of music
which encourages not only the heroic
tone OF The objective school, but also
the repressive tone, as a necessary
medium for the finer psychological
expression"
And it was finer expression.
which brought to the distinguished I'd
and appreCiative audience an eXqui-
site evening. Splendid balance of
parts, precision of attack, excellent
modulation and delicate responsive
ness of the big chorus revealed intel
ligent and skillful training. Like one
great living. breathing organ OF hu-
man souls. the chorus rose into the
sacred feeling of the music and fairly
transported all who heard into realms
Of purest spiritual delight.
Six ChOruses Lead Program.
Six choruses from Israel in Egypt"
by Handel. opened the program. Of
fering wide opportunity for express
sion, varying from rich tonal quality
of And the Children of Israel
Sighed" to the delicate diminuendo of
He Sent Thick Darkness"
Many choral organizations attempt
the fugueS of Handel and Bach. but
few there are which can interpret
with such apparent freedom and ease
the almost ineXtricable counterpoint
of these old masters. Bach's motet,
"Sleepers, Awake. was perhaps the
most ambitious number on the pro-
gram. Into it was infused not only
harmony of sweet sound" from ex-
tremely difficult passages, but also a
warmth color, life and responsive
ness which must have touched the
heart OF the coolest exponent of pure
technique.
There were three choruses by
RublnStein from The Tower of ~ :
bel" songs of the children of Shem.
Ham and Japheth, beautifully sung.
Textures of the Program.
Beginning, however, with a tenor
solo by Berlioz, 80 through the Des-
ert Forth They Went" expressing
with exquisite tenderness the wan
dering and weariness of Joseph and
Mary, with the infant, Jesus" the
lights in the hall were dimmed, then
darkened. while Victor Golibart. ten
or, sang with fine expression. Follow
ed then "Lo. How Rose Fer Bloom
ing by Praetorius, softly by the
!,
when half spent was the night" 1t
was beautifully done, in a darkened
hall. two candles burning on the
piano.
Then burst of light, and be
hind the chorus, Christmas
lance as the strains of Three
Kings Have Journeyed" swelled into
joyous refrain. John Waters. baritone,
being admirably supported by the
chorus
Silent Night. Holy Night" ar
ranged by Damrosch, carried on the
high feeling awakened by the series
before, while there was revealed in
its Interpretation a demonstration of
the repressive tone, proving indubi-
tably it's power of refinement.
Concluding Number.
HandeTs For Unto Us a Child Is
Born" from "The Messiah" brought
to sweet conclusion a program. which
truly could be called glorious. Mrs.
Walter Nash was an Intelligent, sym
pathetic accompantst- In the nall
where many nations recently gather
the same flags still waving there, the
concert offered up, in reverence, in
beauteouS artistry, the Christmas
spirit of a. Christian people.
1t was for the benefit of the Found
lings' Home. Boy Scouts from vari-
Gus troops in the. District were ushers
of the evening. Patsanesses included
the following: Mrs. Woodrow Wilson
Mrs. Larz Anderson. Mrs. Walter A.
Bloedorn, Mrs. Rolfe E. Boiling. Mrs
Peter A. Drury. Mrs. Alexander H
Calf. Mrs. Cary T. Grayson, Mrs.
Charles NJ. Ffoulke, Mrs. Victor
Kaufman, Mrs. Lyman B. Kendall.
Mrs John A. Lejeune, Miss Sarah P.
Lynch. Mrs Robert A. Mackenzie.
Mrs Rowland c. Ringgold, Mrs. Cuno
H Rudolph and Mrs. Charles BouSh-
ton Wood.