Evening star., 1927-10-23


and so-called trend" of styles
a in a new music season. For
music seasons do have styles and
trends" Just as much as other thing:
in this world which is inhabited by
humanity, in which restlessness and
desire for change each year seem.
inply become more dominant char
acteristics.
One of the features that appear
to be especially developing during
the season lo27-lo2S. musically, is
that of the music lecture. From
time to time during past years there
have been occasional lectures on
musical subjects, but since the dis
continuance of the very popular and
worthwhile explanatory programs
of the New York Symphony Orches-
ira with DR.. Walter Damrosch as
leader and lecturer. there has been
no noticeable concerted effort along
the lectural line in Washington III
conjunction with music.
Now, this year. several well de-
fined and separate projects have
raised their heads almost simultane-
ously above the music horizon and
promise an intriguing mixture OF
wit, knowledge and musical enter
tainment on various occasions dur
ing the coming months.
The first of such programs to be
presented by any group, and an ex-
ceedingly distinctive predecessor for
those that follow. was the lecture
last "Wednesday night given by Carl
Engel. chief of the music division of
the Library of Congress, at the
Washington College OF Music. The
lecture was the first of series out
lined by Mrs. Roberts of the college
staff The next speaker will be DIR.
Edwin n. c. Barnes, director of
nrsic in the public schools.
Mr. Engers subject was THE Be-
sinnings of Opera talk which he
made-or rather, to quote him ex-
actly. paper which he read-last
February before the students of the
Curtis Institute of Music in Phila-
delphia. Any one who is familiar
with the remarkable wit and literary
ability of this writer-musician can
readily see that, combined with his
unusual personality in presenting
any subject, a talk by Mr.. Engel is
bound to be both illuminating and
thoroughly enjoyable. In its adj
n1irable close-knit fashion, this par
ticular paper" set forth the rea-
sons. "culturally, socially and musi-
cally" for the birth and tender years
of growth of that blue ribbon hy-
brid of the arts" opera, upon which
the highly worthy dilettantes of the
Florentine renaissance did not
other authority would express it).
but rather evolved in a fashion that
was quite as natural and inevitable
as the discovery of America by CO.
iurnbus a comparatively short time
previously.
The temptation is strong to 60 on
into further quotation of some of
the many choice expressions and
quirks of humor that lifted this SUBJ
ject to plane of color and reality
for the audience of Mr.. Engeis
paper" yet never once deviated
from the matter at hand though ad-
vancing TO the vanguards of Jazz in
the range of its time and territory.
However. it would seem inevitable
that some time or another in the
near future some publication will
print the paper in its entirety. which
is the only just way of presenting
it to those not. fortunate enough to
have heard Mr.. Engel read it him
self the other night.
* -
A MOTHER distinguished musical
authority who will present a
lecture more in a recital form with
musical illustrations, in the near
future, is Sigmund Spaeth, man
who has played many parts in the
diversified game of earning ones
living" in this world. Mr.. Spaeth
will talk on "Jazzmania."
To revert to lectures more nearly
native to this soil lat the present
time. at least). Miss Julia Schelling,
sister of the pianist Ernest
ScheIiing. and herself notably asso-
ciated with musical matters. is Civ
ing lectures-also on operate sub
jects-in the Jordan studios, as a
preliminary preparation for those
who wish to hear the festival week
of opera 10 be presented by the
Washington Opera Company in
early December. Whereas in re-
lieious matters the would-be pilgrims
fast in preparation for the great
festival; in matters operate, the
method of procedure seems quite
IL Al ...~.,i1 T.
goers enjoy a feast~of literary-musi-
cal preparation before the festival
that Is TO open with NJ. Thomas
"Mignon" and continue for six nights
in Washington with lull in the mid
ole. of that time-if an opera ball
may be called ''lull," for closer ac-
quaintance between the stage-folk
and the audience Miss Schelling' $
lectures, which started last Thurs
day afternoon and are free to the
public, will be held on Mondays and
Thursdays and begin in the after
noon al o'clock.
The Washington Community Cen
ter department, the Washington So
ciety of Fine Arts and the Public
Library have gotten their ambitious
heads together and evolved q series
of fine lectures, including two musi-
cal events (the first the Spaeth talk
above nentioned). on various sub
jects for the current season.
The Jewish Community Center,
too, is publishing a list of fascinat-
ing attractions that have not a little
of the educational or lecture atmos-
phere in the background.
Even the radio, via Station