Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03

| lar endingS tor several organ pieces
in succession on a program might
become a fault until he began teach
ing organ TO others.
THERE was another feature to the
i programs given here last week
that surprised the writer. There
were very few works by modernists
presented and there were also prac-
tically no revivalS or rare and un-
usual manuscripts by the old masters.
II did seem odd that i'll conven-
ton where the programs were given
| primarily for those completely in
| itiated and engaged in the art of
organ playing these two facts
| should re true. There was even one
duplication OF selections. two organ
lists playing the same Cesar Franck
"Chorale in A Minor" This, how
ever, was very interesting from the
point of comparison in interpreta-
tons and registration valuations.
TN the first recital of last weeks
series ]. Norris Herring of Balti-
more brought to special notice a
"Vivace" prelude by Saint-Saens,
Vierne's 'Legende" and two short
works by Carl Mckinley. Silhouette"
and Lament" that were different"
In the late afternoon Miss Barthol-
omew of Atlanta, Ga, presented
works by three little known COM
posers, a "Praeludium," by Felix
Nowowiejski; "Fugue in B Minor"
by Carl Piutti, and Louis Thiele's
"Chromatic Fantasia" Miss Carpen-
ter of New York had 1.-THE Wedge"
-"Fugue in + Minor" of Bach
listed.
That evening in the special service
a really unusual work was the karg-
Ebert chorale, "Wunderbarer Koenig"
for organ, trumpets, trombones and
tympani. There was also a prize
anthem on this program.
Wednesday Miss Klein had in her
program Caprice" by Dethier, a
toccata prelude OH the plain song
"Pangue Lingua." by Bairstow, and
lovely Revere" by Bonnet. The
high light of her program was the
unusually fine playing in Bach's
prelude and Fugue in A Minor"
Mr.. Maitland's program was dis
tinguished by the "Fantasie Sympho-
nique for Piano and Organ" written
by Louis Potter, with the composer
at the piano, and by Mr., Maitland's
appropriations for the final SYM
phony. He also played a Legend"
by Howard Thatcher, prominent
Baltimore organist, who was present
and received much applause. Mr..
Maitland paid special tribute to liv-
ing, although not particularly mod
ern," composers, with the exception
of Mr.. Potter's work. for Mr.. Matt
land also played "Nocturne in F
Major" by Russell King Miller of
Philadelphia. In addition were three
welt grouped works of varied char
acter by Bach and one of the works
by the very popular Mr. Rheinberger,
who was generously represented on
all the programs.
Mr.. Pearson of Pittsburgh fea-
tured on his program the rather
peculiar and certainly individual
Passion Symphony" of Paul de
that seemed empty and long drawn
out, yet there was an arresting and
vital quality about the work, with its
very programmatic effects. Anthony
Jawelak's "A Madrigal" was unusual.
TT is very interesting to find the
L earnest attitude and good fellow
ship that seem to dominate this par
ticular group-the American Guild
of Organists. Also it's basic aims
to work practically in convention
meetings. not by any lengthy
speeches or reading of records and
statistics, but by short, blunt discus
sion of facts and personal exper-
fences. and by the means of these
recitals to try out and better the
programs-should do much to ad-
just the conditions which they them
selves acknowledge as not yet con-
ducive to having their instrument
understood and popular. as it GER
tainly should be in time, by the pub
lie.
There is no musical medium with
wider possibilities than the organ
1t is practically indispensable in
churches; it has become a neces-
sity in theaters; the more ambitious
models can reproduce symphonic
works in communities where a SYM
phony orchestra would be out of the
question because of the expense, and
the organ also has a growing popu-
larity in the homes.
Much in the line of real progress
in musical development in the
United States at this time lies in the
hands of the members of this guild
and, judging from their attitudes
and attention at the programs given
here, the indications are that they
are aware of their responsibilities
and are out to handle them properly.