Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-03-05
JUNIOR ORCHESTRA
SCORES SUCCESS
Four High Schools Repre-
sented in Program En-
Enthusiastically Received.

The members Of the Junior High
school Orchestra last night gave the
erst concert ever given by a Junior
high organization, III the auditorium
~ the Powell school. under the dlrec-
lion Of George r.. Hurt, with SOLO
Numbers hv talented members IRON
tho ensemble and assisted by the Girls
Clee club. Mrs. r. \. burgess
director The audience MED me mann
floor and balcony of the auditorium
listened in rapt attention. ana app" u"
ed long and heartily.
During the intermiSslon MISS bef ne
pachus principal of the school, spoke
xlowingly IF Mr.. Hurts WORK ana alS !
of the vision. grit and leadership
behind The original organization Oh
the Powell orchestra. behind Mf.
IJurt's work. and every other musica !
endeavor I'm the public school music
nroeress. under the general Supe''
vision of Or Edwin \. G. Barnes
director. Miss Bachus said that IN :
interest among the pupils in the must
even eaualed their interest IN athleticSr
The finest thing that this ofches
ira represents rs not nsteu , Oh ,,'
nrogram tonight" said Miss Bachus'
hut IL is the fine sense Of Ideals. cul'
ture and background that such work
Is giving the members.
DIR. Barnes Lauds Work.
pr. Barnes. at Miss Bachus request,
came TO the stage and talked on the
fnspira ton he had experienced upon
hearing the National High Schooi OF
chestra of ESQ pieces play at a western
convention, and urged those present 70
continue to help make possible chill
drens orchestras by leading instru-
ments for use by those who could not
afford to buy them. or helping finan-
cially, and, above all, attend the pro
grams such as the one given last
night. He also mentioned that an in
terhigh festival orchestra OF 90 mem
bers would go to Richmond from
Washington i'll April to play sym
phonic numbers at big Southern
educational conference there.
From the first roll of the drums as
Mir. Hurt stepped TO the stage, through
the amazingly professional quality of
the reading of The Star Spangled
Banner" to the last note of THE Gold
and Blue Powell School Song" this
orchestra did credit to itself and its
leader. The earnestnesS, careful prep
aration and pleasure that these boys
and girls from four junior high schools
showed in their work are to be highly
commended. Sixty days ago 80 per
cent of them had never had a brass IN
Strument in their hands and the wind
instrument section had to be built up
completely within that time. The small
boy who played the bass saxophone
only began his lessons on that instru-
ment three weeks and two days ago.
This very necessary group is not by
any means the easiest to learn.
Coordination Is Praised.
The work of the band showed to
fine advantage in the washington
and Lee Swing and Anchors
Aweigh." Also. in America" and
"Abide With Me-" where the strings
and brass were given separate pas
sages and then united into excellent
co ordination.
The assistant conductor, Meyer
Rather, conducted the Schmidt
''Valse" and kept the rhythm and
emphasis well sustained. There was
good shading in the Victorious
Legion March" and real Spanish
color and swing to "A Spanish
Dance" Among the most snowy
numbers were Souvenir of Krakow"
and the Parent Associa-
ton Song" written by blind Cali
fornian. which was built up to fortis-
simo, admirably. During the pro-
gram Mr.. Hurt introduced the CON
certmeister" and members from the
other junior high schools, to the
audience.
Meyer Rather has real violin
talent and evidently excellent train
ing He has a buoyant, light tone
and played the Drdla Souvenir" and
the Massenet Meditation" very we'll
indeed. His best work was in the I'M
accompanied "Schoen Rosmarin" of
Kreisler's. He has good tone and
control of his chromatics.
Francis Slattery, 11-year-old saxo-
phonist, who has only had his instru-
ment II weeks. gave a very pleasing
rendition of "A Harvest Song" and
received much applause.
Girls Glee Club Sings.
The Girls Glee Club, under Mrs
Burgess, sang three songs and did ex-
cellent work. Wilson's my Song"
was especially pleasing. Hannal
e-f-