Evening star., 1927-11-14
M u S | C
DAYTON WESTMINSTER CHOIR.

By this Winter season 1928, the
famous Westminster Choir of Dayton,
Ohio. has become a looked for, thor.
oughly satisfactory concert attraction
for the Washington music lovers. Yet
at each concert there are scores Of
new hearers who, after a typical pro-
gram, are delighted over the beauty
OF the singing Of this aggregation Of
American singers and their excellent
training under John Finley William
son, conductor.
The choir made the first of three
appearances in Washington this sea-
son in a special concert complimentary
to the members of the diplomatic
corps in the National Capital yester-
day afternoon at the Maytiower Hotel.
Mrs, II. f. Talbot, chief sponsor and
patroness of the choir. assisted by
Mrs. Henry +. Dimock, held an in
formal reception of the guests prior
to the performance and following the
program she was hombarded with
praise over the performance. Mrs.
William Fl. Taft was among the
guests present. The choir repeated
the program in n public concert at
the hotel last night.
Tonight the choir will give its third
program. n public concert, at Central
High School under the auspices of
the Washington Church Music
Council
Each year sees progress toward alb.
solute perfection in the work of the
Dayton Westminster Choir. The skill
ful Interpretation of counterpoint in
the Bach Sing Ye to the Lord" and
Clarence Dickinson's THE Shepherds
Story particularly, was admirable.
Lorean HOdapp, leading soprano of
the choir. has beautiful voice, which
she uses with marked intelligence and
increasing color in her tones. Her solo
part in the old Catalonian nativity
hymn. 1.-The Three Kings" was eX-
quisite. She also sang the solo part in
Dvoraks Coin Home" as arranged
by William Arms Fisher. and the en-.
core. Swing Low, Sweet Chariot"
These negro spirituals were beautiful
ly presented. but to Southern ears
that have heard the Hampton Insti.
tute Choir of negro voices which so
completely suit these melodies other
numbers on the program had more an.
peal
The members of the Westminster
Choir sing with the power Of orches-
trail effects, yet with the rounded
beauty of the organ tones for which
Mr.. Williamson's singers have been
noted since their first appearance.
There is the rhythm of rising and fall
ing tides in the quality of their sing
ing and in the mystic charm of the
hummed celestial Voices,". the old
French number that was encore for
the second group, it was as though d
great wind had risen and an en-.
chanted. angelic host was heard from
afar. The same quality was notice.
able in the first performance in Wash.
ington of God Is Spirit" written
by David Hugh Jones, the young
organist at the Westminster Church
in Dayton. 1t is a beautifully ar.
ranged work. Harvey Gaul's arrange.
ment of kopolyoff's "Alleluial. Christ
Is Risen" showed typical, Russian
color and style and was eXcellently
sung. Elizabeth Cecil. contralto. sang
the solo part colorfully in an old
twelfth century melody that was sub
stituted for Detts Listen to the
Lambs" in the afternoon program.
and Mr.. Baumgartner. baritone, was
another fine soloist in Lutkins what
Christ Said" AS usual, the Seven
fold Amen" provided an eloquent
conclusion to an afternoon of music
which held its hearers speIlbound
with the perfection of its magic.
III. f.