Evening star., 1928-04-16
Nj u SIC
MoMAN CoMpoSERS' PROGRAM.

Unusual and inspiring music, well
Presented featured the concert yester-
cay afternoon at Memorial Continental
Hall given by distinguished members of
the composers group of the League of
American Pen Women.
Tuesday night this group has its IN
itial program, presented by Gertrude
Martin Rohrer and Marianne Genet
both Of Pittsburgh. Yesterday widely
varying districts of this country were
represented by the woman composers.
Mabel w Daniels of Boston was repre-
sented by June Rhapsody" sung by
the Wil-Ncr Choral Club of Wilson
Normal School, Bernice Randall AM
gelico director, with Edith Athey at the
piano. One Of the young girls in the
group. Anna Patterson, also sang as a
solo Midsummer" by Amy Worth. a
composer who lives in Seattle. Wash
This song won the first honorable men
tion in the music contest of the League
OF American Pen Women for 1928.
The next composer represented and
first Of those present I'm person" was
Phyllis Fergus of Chicago This charm
ing woman is well known for her story
poems With musical settings" Out
standing III her two groups was The
beautiful poem with rather moderniStic
piano setting. Blind" The poem was
written by Edward Dawson, an English
writer who is teaching at VasSar Col
lege. This work won the second honor
able mention In the music contest
Perhaps the star of The afternoon was
Gena BranScombe. the brilliant COM
poser from New York. who Is doing
big things in musical composition. util-
sEing native American ideas and themes
HOT Indian or Negro. but early Amer
ican with Pilgrim and Canadian back
ground, This composer won the first
prize of the leagues contest with her
chSral work The Pilgrims OF Destiny"
Excerpts as presented yesterday by
George Brandt excellent New York
tenor, and a group OF WaShington's
delightful SingerS-ArS. W. X Wilson
and Helen HowiSon, sopranos, and
Charlotte Hartman. contralto - con-
ClIued program that held the interest
throughout
II would be a welcome project for
next season TO have some we'll organ
iEed choral group present this work in
rs entirety and give more opportunity
To Judge the work as a whole.
Even more unusual was the pro-
l0gue from The Bells of (-ircllm-
stance" choral work based on Que
oec's history. Mr.. Brandt sang this
selection as well as a song. 'By St
Lawrence Water" The accompaniment
for Bells Of Circumstances. with clever
use Of bell themes in its rhythmic back
ground. must be remarkably beautiful
when played. as intended, by an or
chestra. II is admirable on the piano
alone In this number Washington re-
ceived q premiere" privilege. for the
work viii be given its first perform
ance IN New York next week.
The National Capital was ably rep-
resented by Mary Howe Mrs. Walter
Bruce Howe. who, with Bart Wirtg
Baltimore violoncellist. presented a re-
cent composition, .'Fantasque. which
IS both modeTnistie and individual
This work was given its premiere \
short time ago in Washington al a
Composers Club program.
Another Washingfonian. Elena dc
Sayn. violinist, contributed two num-
bers. winning special appreciation with
Vieuxtempts' Russian Fantasie. she
was admirably accompanied AZ the
piano BY Eugenia CherniavSkaia, also
" known in local music circles. n r