Evening star., 1925-04-17
THOUSANDS HEAR
NOTED BACH Choir
"B Minol Mass" of Master
Proves Treat-MrS. Cool
idge Is in Audience.

If the people of Washington yester
day had the rare and wonderful op
portunity to hear the Bethlehem Choir
sing the "B Minor Mass" of Johann
Sebastian Bach, they owe it to the
vision and initiative of DR.. Il. B.
Phillips, rector of Epiphany Church
n leader in the spiritual life of this
community, he seized with under.
standing and enthusiasm upon the
idea of world fellowship through
music" brought forward by Miss Ella
May Powell, and enlisted the support
of other public spirited men and wom-
en- in order to give expression to this
idea by means of the work that is
well qualified to do so
In spite of the religious character
OF the work, there was a decidedly
Festive air about the thousands of
Washingtonians who swarmed into
the Washington Auditorium yester-
day afternoon. The famous Moravian
trombone Choir stood in circular for
nation on the lawn before the per-
formance both afternoon and evening,
and THE Pilgrims Chorus" from
Wagner's ''Tannhauser" rang on the
air about the gathering. 1t was
gratifying to find as large and rep
reSentatiVe an audience listening TO
the Bach work as had gathered for
operate performances during the sea
son. All circles of official and resi-
dental life in the Capital We're repre-
sented. Mrs. Coolidge occupied the
presidential box.
Applause Is Barred.
The audience showed marked en-
thusiaSm throughout both sessions. In
the afternoon this enthusiasm was
bit misguided into applause, which
was decidedly out of the picture for
so dignified a work DR.. Wolfe, Wiz
ardly little director of the choir, tried
10 hush these enthusiasts, but his eff
forts were rather futile. In the eve
ming great black signs were hung on
either side of the stage with 'No ap-
plause" inscribed.
Although the performance was
made possible by the World Fellow
ship Through Music Organization, the
setting and general atmosphere were
distinctly national. Great American
flags draped the raised tiers Of seats
on which the $50 members of this
marvellous choir were seated. At the
end of the afternoon session DIR. Wolfe
invited the audience to join the choir
In singing THE Star Spangled Ban
ner, directing it with remarkable in
depreciation.
Melody Is EVerFlowing.
The Bach Choir has become a mu-
Steal institution known throughout the
world as being composed of lovers of
the music of this great composer. who
have received thorough training under
the magnetic personality of DIR. Wolfe.
Although DR. Wolfe uses his vocal
lists as instruments, he takes marked
interest in each member as an indl-
viduaI. The members are required
not to breathe at set intervals, and
a remarkable effect of ever-flowing
melody with seeming absence OF
breathing is the result. The attacks.
however, are all made with clean-cut
precision, and each member of the
vast choir seems to be thoroughly
VerSed III every tone, so that there is
accuracy of concerted singing in each
note. The pianisSimo passages were
particularly beautiful. The emotional
quality was not lacking, and the ia
nous "SanCtus" of the second part
was perhaps the inspirationaI peak of
the whole performance. The exquisite
chorale from one of BachS smaller
cantataS that. was inserted between
the "Qui TOLLS" and "Qui sedes'' of
the Gloria" and was hummed in the
evening between EFT Resurrexit' and
TT III Splrtun, was touching
tribute inserted by DR.. Wolfe espe-
cially in honor of Mrs Coolidge and
as memorial to her son, Calvin, jr.
The "a cappella" work was inspiring.
Trumpets Add to Beauty.
Both the opening of the "Kyrie
eleison" and the "Credo" were mark
ed with an almost unearthly beauty
in the trumpet choir from ff-stage
and soft, gradually increasing volume
of voices. The 50 members of the Phil
adelphia Symphony Orchestra blended
their work artistically with the voices.
The number of string players was
augmented in order to achieve
proper balance between strings and
wind instruments. This made the
string section larger than it has ever
been at any performance of the mass
as given by the Bach Choir. The
piano seemed decidedly out of place.
Bach did not write music for it and
the instrument was not we'll played.
In Bethlehem an organ is used with
better effect.
OF the soloists, Charles Trowbridge
Tittmann was of special interest to
the audience, for he is leading basso
OF this city. He was in good voice
and the mellow power of his tones
and his artistry of singing were
worthy of praise. He proved "a
prophet recognized in his own land"
His two arias were "Quoniam tn
SoluS Sanctus" in the afternoon and
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