Evening star., 1927-05-22
NJ u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.


n Washingtonians of student
amateur and professional rating dur
ing the season now closing, the top
most impression is one of surprise
at the remarkable progress made III
the number of appearances OH pro-
grams of works by American COM
posers in particular, and OF modern
composers in general. This was also
true of the strictly professional pro-
grams given here by musicians from
out OF town. Songs and other
compositions by the following
Americans, modernists and other
wise. were presented: Charles
Critics, John P-indle Scott (who was
a guest in Washington for several
weeks this Spring., Homer Samuels,
John Alden Carpenter, Emerson
Whithorne. Winttner Watts. Pearl
.Curran, Richard Hageman. Rupert
Hughes. Deems Taylor, Arthur SOM
ervilIe. David Guion. James Rogers,
Cecil Burleigh. Charles Martin Loci
fer. Reises, c. w. Chadwick and
Edward Burlingame Hill,
Among the most active musical
organizations of Washington giving
we'll balanced and varied programs
which present both classical and
modern composers by performers
who are especially equipped to give
Interpretation in each class. is the
Friday Morning Music Club. This
group has made it fundamental
part of the annual schedule to give
a pan-American program early each
season, and both years they have
done SO the programs have proved
very interesting. The Pan-American
Union. of course, under DIR. Rowe
and Franklin Adams, has broadened
the field of production OF Latin
American works considerably in two
particularly brilliant programs dur
ing the season just closed and
third colorful performance at the
time. OF the Pan-American CONNER
cial Congress recently. One OF the
distinctive features of the music pre-
sented at these programs has been
the playing of the United States
Service Orchestra, combination OF
men from both the Navy and Army
band orchestras. The most impress
siye number perhaps was the music
from the new opera The Sun Ood,
based upon Inca themes, which was
written-libretto by DIR. Bartlett b.
lanes of American University. who
IS an authority on historical detail,
and music by John Adam Hugo, who
is an American composer, with an
o,era nremiere at the Metropolitan
to. his credit, his Temple Dancer
having been produced there some
years ago.
In February the Friday Morning
Music Club gave a particularly IN
terestine program of American
music. Mildred kolb Schulze, young
pianist. played works by John Alden
er-characterized i'll Miss
Sewalrs introduction as "a oo-year-
old business man OF Chicago
Charles Tomlinson Critics, the
Young man who starved to death
before he reached his thirtieth blrth-
dav, vet whose works are being III.
creasingly recognized, and two OF
Henry Cowelis much discussed
"tone- cluster" compositions. Elsa
Raner presented violin concerto
written by Cecil Burieig1, who. IS
identifying himself with original
motives. Indian and otherwise, stud
led bv him while living in the west
ern. States of Colorado, Montana
,etc. Mrs. Robert LeFeyre sang the
vocal arrangement OF Walt Whit-
mans familiar poem, Il Hear Amer
,ica Singing" composed by Maud u.
Sewall of this city. Mrs. Hilton con-
Guided highly entertaining pro-
gram with direction of vocal ensern-
blc in three negro spirituals, two ar
ranged by the colored composer, ii.
IT. Burleigh. and the third BY. an
other equally noted colored musician,
Nathaniel Dett. Another modern
program given by the Friday Morn
ing Music Club was composed .oi
Songs OF Innocence" written by
Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge, the
music patroness, who established the
little chamber music auditorium IN
the Library of Congress; two violin
numbers by Carl Engel, chief OF the
music division, Library of Congress; !;
two selections from a dance suite by
Alfredo Casella, written tor string
quartet. and works by Mary Howe,
Washington woman composer. On
a third program given before the
members of this club, early III April,
that veteran American composer. I'd
ward Mcdowell, was honored by a
verbal tribute made by H. h. Bush
Brown, the sculptor, and group
OF MacDowelrs piano compositions
played by Helen Corbin Heinf. local
pianist, who studied under this COM
poser. ..
49,
I a MOTHER much smaller musical
n organization, and one that sees
its fourth birthday celebration Tues
dav night, is the Orpheus Club. a
group of the young musicians and
singers who feel that part OF their
equipment should be a knowledge
OF what the young composers OF
other countries and America, too,
are doing. The. basic reason for the
Orpheus' existence is somewhat OF
the character of musical news
events club" where the moderns,
their works, their plans, the results
OF premieres of such works are pre-
sented, with no attempt at mastery
Interpretation, and discussed. Rather
the idea of this club is OF labora-
tory nature for those who are prac-
tically interested in building up new
and Worthwhile programs. Often
lengthy discussions evolve new ideas
and arouse much interest among the
members. who are very limited III
numbers. ~ 49,.
1t is particularly interesting or
this, the eve of the Orpheus' annual
''dinner, TO trace exactly what the ac'
tive members of this club have done