Evening star., 1926-11-14

XA/ brilliant Dutch conductor,
Wv bringing his Philharmonic
forces from New York for a
concert Tuesday; with Washington S
native son. John Philip Sousa, the
"march king" bringing his famous
band for two programs Friday, and
with Tito Schxpa, the artist among
lyric tenors. ih a recital Saturday
night, the coming week holds allur-
ing musical high lights, not to men
tion several other events of more
local character that should prove IN
tcresting entertainment.
Of course, when anybody is as in
ternationally known as Mr.. Sousa,
there are bound to be many aneC-
dotes about that individual. One
concerning the American composer
that seems especially amusing tells
OF an incident that occurred about
u years ago in Valencia, Spain. a
beautiful town, noted for many
things long before it happened to be
popularized all over Europe last
Summer. and now i'll America, as the
name for a new dance. 1t seems that
Mr.. Sousa was attending an eXposl-
tion in Valencia on day that the
King and Queen OF Spain also visited
the exposition, and when the royalty
arrived at the building the official
band, that had warmly adopted all
the Sousa marches, played his Stars
and Stripes Forever" which consid-
erably surprised its composer
In recalling old days when Sousa
vas more generally in his native
town, Henry Nandcr has offered us
tic information that the march king
e'udied with Prof. Esputa and Mr..
Benkert in the 70s; that while leader
oi the Marine Band he organized the
Marine Band Orchestra, and for
tcw seasons gave Sunday night
concerts at the National Thcater,
with prominent local and metro
politan soloists-the Wagnerian sing
ers, Mariana Brandt and Max
flvary, among them-and that John
Philip Sousa won note as All amateur
boxer and a good shot, even main
tanning at the present time hunting
lodge in the Carolinas.
X x x =,
WHILE on the subject OF march
w music, a news item that has
come to hand states that a new work
In that tempo, written by Harry ).
Morris, retired New York business
man, now residing in Washington,
will be given its premiere perform
ence Wednesday night at I 80 o'clock
over the radio 1t is called the
United States Army Band March,
and naturally enough, will be played
Il
liam ]. Stannard Mr.. Morris is a
lover of military band music and has
written many marches. Formerly he
was a member of the New York 9TH
Regiment.
IT is to be hoped that all directors
l. of choral organizations and chOirS
in Washington will rally around the
flag advertising a massed concert for
the benefit OF the District OF Colum
bia Federation OF Music Clubs funds
and work up something really fine
for next Spring. 1t is high time that
all the good voices in Washington
got together in program. The only
way such a concert can be success |
ful, however, is by Everybody
spelled with capital E-getting |
together, offering suggestions and |
cooperation. Any halfhearted re
sponse will simply put Washington
several steps back in its musical
standing. instead OF forward. Among
those who have shown interest as in
dividuals and who are important III
the musical choral world are Clyde
p. Aitchison. DIR. +. n. c. Barnes,
Herndon Morsell. Percy Foster, Mrs
Emily G. Dickinson and Ruby Smith
Stahl W. f. Brathwaitc is in gen
cral charge OF the meeting to be held
next Tuesday night. and it is the re-
sponsc OF local directors to the call !
at that meeting that will determine |
rot only the fate OF this plan for a |
massed concert. but also the exact |
breadth Of vision and bigncss OF each |
and every local choral director. and |
just how unSelfSh their own aims |
arc i'll this city. There isn't a man or
woman in Washington directing a
choral organization that doesn't |
want publicity and public support for /
his or her oNn group their cooper /
alton or lack OF ii in attending or
sending written expression OF opin- |
sons to Mr.. Braithwaite for this /
meeting VIII show their sincerity or
lack Of il, as musical Washngto- |
mans.
I ATE last week-much too late for !
~ comment to be put in last Sun /