The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-05-19
WILLIAMSON LAYS CORNER
STONE FOR GREAT CHORUS

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The big Choral Festival is past.
At Central High School last eve.
ming, q. climax was reached in our
long anticipated assembling Of the
choral singers Of the city. And
think of it! Some 40 choral organi.
cations were represented in this
concert.
The result was-over 500 voices,
in three big groups, that stood for:
The combined choirs, in a mixed
chorus, of 800.
A male chorus. with over 100
singers, many of them from college
and glee club youth, staIwart
body of musicianly singers who
gave most of their music from
memory.
A woman's chous Of 200 voices,
who/were signally responsive to the
baton of John Finley Williamson.
the director from Dayton, who
brought about this harmonious unity
OF the singing people of the Ma.
tiohal Capital.
There was a stir in the air at
Central last night.
There seemed a potential power
in the occasion. The event was
highly commendable. The future
should build 1t into choral art that
Mr.. Williamson is just beginning to
create.
The world looks to a cultural
leadership, from Washington" Mr..
Williamson said in a few words at
the close of the concert. "The soul
OF this leadership is more important
than all else. All over the United
States, cities pride themselves upon
assembling a choral group that
reaches 300 voices.
Tonight, in the National Capital
you have brought together over
twice that number. / pay tribute
to the leaders, in Washington. who
have so finely accomplished this
work, to the leaders who have pre-.
pared these singers who were only
under my direction for some two
rehearsals, and whom l found so
quickly responsive and so harmoni-
ously organized"
The ffneness of Mr.. williamson 3
appreciation is perhaps the 'soul'
of the event that brought such
zest into the evening. What might
we not accomplish had we given
these groups the requisite rehearsals
together.
The greatly-to,be-desired future.
IS the combined" voices of the 900.
IN some great master-work, under
so awe, so artistic. and so syrnpa.
tnet1c baton as that Of the
conductor from Dayton" John
Finley Williamson.
Il X
What they accomplished brings
first the Choir Chorus" into morn.
lnence. Brings the fine art Of
AdolI Torovsky at the piano, whose
mozart playing In the great
Glorla" from the Twelfth Mass"
was pleasure to hear. 1t was
very lovely singing of the beautiful
Mozart music.
But the most beautiful thing. the
tning that infused the spirit Of
noiinesss, OF better church musie'
Tor which they stood, was the sing.
ing OF Stainer's God so loved the
world. from the oratorio Of .The
Crucifixion. This was the choral
art for which we long. Beneath the
music there was a feeling Of the
SAD meaning OF the message. There
was color and climax. and q
moment Of thrill that transcended
all else.
That Is what we may attain.
They reached it once. They needed
more freedom for the ringing out
OF the Handel fHallelujah Chorus. \
They needed the full 900 voices.
The climax of the Women,s
Chorus was Del Riego's "Homing."
Karl Holer, at the piano, brought
another musician who ornamented
the scores with his playing. The
flowing unity Of attack Of these
voices was high point in their
singing. Mr.. Williamson saanaa