Evening star., 1927-10-30
NJ i SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.
VOW, with the time come when
the United States OF America
= can command, with a price

European singer or musician, the
cream of talent from continental
capitals, quite contrarly the day OF
the American in music is dawning
surely and broadly.
Until the last few years the Ameri-
can public has been content to listen
to the greatest foreign artists, and
the more difficult a name was to pro-
nounce the more surely the audiences
seemed to feel that the bearer was
likely to be truly great. Even the
American singer whose ability was
far above question had to adopt an
ltalianized version OF the English
name to receive engagements in
opera or concert.
Needless to say it is to be hoped
that the day will never come when
only nationalitieS will be considered,
but that conditions may become
stabilized so that the really talented,
conscientious artist. whatever his or
her nationality may be, will ind
recognition and opportunity 10 ap-
pear before American audiences.
BY the term American in Music.
however, is not meant the strictly
professional performer; rather. the
day seems here when Americans
generally are taking more active
part in music, either by performing
for friends at home in the old man
ner of the chamber music days OF
early England and the Continent, or
by becoming really discriminating
listeners at actual performances or
via radio and DhOnOpraDh
At the recent performance here OF
the new play And SO, To Bed,
which brings to the dramatic stage
that delightful personality, MIR.
Samuel Pepys. the moments OF IN
formal musical performance on lutte,
Aageolet and harpsichord with Incl
dental song. gave vivid pictures OF
the real enjoyment that the cultured
families OF that period seemed to ap-
preciate. In Washington, in a neccs-
sarilv limited way. due to the size
of the seating capacity, the little
auditorium Of the Library OF Con-
gress is bringing rare examples OF
chamber music at its finest through
the auspices of the Elizabeth Sprague
Coolidge Foundation.
1t is encouraging to note the IN
creasing number of informal musical
programs offered in both social and
purely musical circles when the per-
formance of the numbers has that
intimate. spontaneous touch that is
added pleasure to the listener.
OF course, in the early Colonial
days of our own country the alter
dinner musical program was quite
feature, and even in later genera
tions such programs have from
time to time been affected by social
circles. Now, however. after lapse
of some years, American citizens
generally are obviously taking more
personal interest in participation III
musical events than ever before.
Through the Associated Glee Clubs,
the American opera companies, the
school musical performances, the
radio with its demands for much
and varied talents, individuals who
never previously would have taken
part in musical events are doing so
and doing it with gusto.
ONE of the great artists, inter-
~ nationally famous for half a
century, Ernestine Schumann-H -Heink,
will appear in Washington this week.
She claims that later. following this
positively farewell tour, she will
undertake to impart some Of the
great fund of practical knowledge
that she has gained in operate and
concert work during that lengthy
period, to worthy young American
singers.
It is interesting to revive here at
this time mental picture that Miss
Amy Clement Leavitt, well known
local music teacher, has of Nine.
Schumann-Heink at her first ap-
pearance in Washington when she
opened the twentieth season of the
Washington Choral Society under
the direction of Josef Kaspar in Oc-
tober, 1902. Miss Leavitt was then
secretary of the society. and T. Ar
thur Smith, under whose auspices
Mime. Schumann- Heink is appearing
in this farewell recital, was bust
ness manager of the old Choral
Society then.
Miss Leavitt says. regarding the
Schumann-Hein debut in Washing
ton:
Nine. Schumann-Heink came out
in a dark brown taffeta dress. 1t
was a striking contrast to the garb
of most concert singers-who go IN
for fashionable clothes. whispered
to my friend: Why, she looks like
a German housewife, doesn't she?'
But when she sang, one forgot every
thing but her voice. | shall always
remember her standing there, for
nearly half an hour. singing that
beautiful Schubert cycle, 'Frauen
Leibe und Leben.' Schumann-Heink
sang that story of girls lite as II
she were living every moment Of 1t
from the time she whispers to her
mother to the climax-her death.
Each song was rendered as beau
tifui thing, complete in itself, and
altogether forming a work Of art
that has seldom been equaled."
The following year Nine Schu-
mann -Heink appeared here in Joint
recital with David Bispham. Prac-
tically every year since then she has
visited Washington TO sing either
professionally or for some govern
mental activity. During the war,
when she gave up her concert work
10 sing for the soldiers, she visited
Washington to sing at Walter Reed
Hospital Her career has been
closely connected with the city Off
oially as we'll as musically. During
President Roosevclt's administration
she sang at the White House on two
distinct occasions. And once during
President Taft's administration Nine
-Heink appeared TO sing
before the official family.
Saturday afternoon, January q,