The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1924-02-23
NOTED COMPOSER
AND PIANIST IS
ST. PAUL VISITOR
X. Nathaniel Dett Appearance at
Peoples Church Heralded
as Music Treat.

II. Ndtndnlel Dttt, CompootI, ptah-
list and director of music, presented
one of the best recitals ever witness
ed in the Twin Cities when he appear
ed at the Peoples church Monday
evening. The celebrated musician
spent several minutes in explaining
the origin of Negro melody and
graphically differentiated the two
forms of music commonly called
spirituals and folk songs in promis-
cuous program was opened with ''The
Magnolia Suite" consisting of Mag
nolias." THE Deserted Cabin" ITO
My Lady Love- Nanny" and ''The
Place Where the Rainbow Ends"
from the poem Of Paul Lawrence
Dunbar. Each OF these numbers
was classic in itself on Negro mel
ody. Following this suite, Mr.. Stan
ley Hoban, barytone from the Central
Congregational church of Winnipeg,
was introduced. Mr.. Hoban sang
three numbers, Poor Me-" Some
body's Knocking at Your Door" and
Bound for Cannan." He possesses
rich barytone voice and was excep-
tionally good in the Interpretation of
these spirituals.
Another Classic.
In the Bottoms Suite began with
a prelude representing nightfall in
the South, the tuning Of banjo. the
stiffness and then His Song" de-
scribing an old man musing in the
quiet evening and humming to him
self a weird melody to appease his
mental singing Honey" taken from
Paul Lawrence Dunbar's poem, "A
Negro Love Song" was the second
number to In the Bottom Suite.
"Barcarolle" and "Juba" completed
this suite.
Mr.. Dett's next offering was taken
from his Enchantment Suite of man
who went in quest of happiness and
wandered into a Pagan temple In
cantation" characterized this pilgrim
age. When once into the temple the
mysterious goddess answered in the
Song of the Shrine" which was one
Of the foremost fairy melodies Of the
program. Strange shapes assembled
before the traveller to Dance Of De-
SIRE" only to vanish leaving the
seeker for the unattainable deserted.
Beyond the Dream" Witnessed the
TRANSPORTATION Of the travellers soul
yet longing for the desire of his con-
quest.
The Enchantment Suite proved the
mastery Of Mr.. Dett in creating mu-
sic that could be visualized into some
thing human. The Interpretation OF
the various features of the quest for
the unattainable were such that none
other than Mr.. Dett might portray.
The fact that the Enchantment suite
was a masterpiece has no derrogatory
inference to Magnolia and In the
Bottoms, as each was an individual
classic.
Mr.. Hoban sang I'm So Glad
Trouble Don't Last Always" Zion
Halleluah" and Follow Ne" after
this suite.
Variations.
Mr.. Dett's Offering Of a variation Of
Negro Themes met with the approval
of the most severe critic In the audi
ence. The Steinway yielded itself to
the touch OF the master composer
pianist. The paraphrasing blended
perfectly with the major chord and
the man-built music instrument as
sumed super-human aspect bring
ing forth volume of separate notes
that mingled together turned loose
in the inclosed space OF the Auditori-
um. There was a hush over the en-
tire audience until applause told that
the music lovers had been returned
TO the human plane after being car
ried into another sphere by the mas
ter Of music.
Mr.. Dett is truly one OF Americas
foremost pianists, and return en-
gagement is earnestly awaited. His
appearance Tuesday evening was nm
der the patronage OF the Everywoman
Council.