Evening star., 1928-04-29
M u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.

in washington, will be found, a:
well as the names Of famous con-
cert artists who have been heard
here in programs.
1t is particularly interesting
that two famous choral conduc-
tors, both of whom have con-
Quoted their own organizations In
| the Capital, are here. They are
J. Fred Wolfe, director Of the Bach
Festival Choir. and John Finley
Williamson, conductor and or
ganizer OF the Dayton WeStmins-
ter Choir. MIR. Williamson also
conducted the first choral festival
here last year, when nearly 700
local singers participated. We'd
neSday of this week a second SINH
lar program will be given in
Washington, by 900 Washington
singers, under the direction Of an
other famous choral conductor,
DR.. Daniel Protheroe.
With the local problems, both
operatically and orcheStrally. that
are facing WaShingtonianS inter-
eSted in musical development for
this city at this time, it was in
tereSting to note the presence of
Alexander SmallenS. conductor Of
the Philadelphia Civic Opera Co.; I;
Howard Hanson. director of the
Eastman School of Rochester,
which fostered the American
Opera Co.: Rudolph Ganz. direc-
tor of the st. Louis Symphony Or
chestra, and Fritz Reiner, director
of the Cincinnati Symphony Or
cheStra.
Another personality. almost a
myth to many, yet the authority
for the musical events at the
White House, Henry Junge. is
found in Mr.. Engel'S little list"
THE Washington Composers
l. Club, Dorothy De Muth Wat
son, chairman, entertained 35
leading American composers, who
are here for the Coolidge Festival,
at dinner at the Arts Club of
Washington Friday night. 1t was
unique event in local music an
nails. OF the entire group, per-
haps the most universally ad-
mired, respected and beloved.
both by her fellow craftsmen and
by the music public, is the dean of
the woman composers Of America
Mrs. H. H. A. Beach.
To hear her play the quaint
fancieS she has captured from
"Grandma'S Garden" (which she
tells were really inspired by the
wonderful old-faShioned garden
at the MacDowell Colony on the
piano and watch her cordial in
terest In the anecdotes that much
younger and less experienced
musical folk tell, even the casual
observer cannot but marvel at her
modeSty and broadneSs of inter
eStS in others, characteristics
which are as much part OF Mrs.
Beach as her tremendous talent
and remarkable musicianiship.
Mrs. Beach will receive the de-
gree of master Of arts at the Uni
verSity of New Hampshire June i8,
this year, and though she Is proud
Of the honor, it is quite typical
of this earnest, quiet composer
that she regrets the fact that time
to go and receive the degree must
be subtracted from her precious
month at the MacDowell Col
ony."
Gena Branscombe, a younger
and also extremely talented mem
ber of the woman composers
group, sent to this column a par
ticularly fine tribute, printed in
the New York World Monday,
commenting on the new Beach
work in the composers program
presented last Sunday. Miss
BranScombe says: "I am so hap
py for the lovely tribute to Mrs.
Beach" The article itself says, in
part:
How strongly the audience felt
the sway of works of this order
and how thoroughly 1t was in ac-
cord with the makers OF musical
fare, in this genre, was evidenced
by the fact that every soul in the
kobAtGIAAH tOcSt DO q tAAbueG W
Mrs. Beach, when the veteran
composer of a long list of sterling
contributions in the established
manner appeared with the Mari
anne Kneisel Quartet for the final
number of the program, her
Quintet, Opus 67.' Mrs. Beach's
noble ensemble work may be an
instance of the kind of writing
which the younger generation Of
composers finds too old-fashioned
for It's progressive approval, but
1t was blessed with an articulate-
ness, a depth Of conviction and a
positive technical ability TO say
something worth hearing in a
convincing manner. not often at
the command OF those who pro-
fess TO scorn such efforts ag de-
moded. Mrs. Beach's composition
was not only splendidly construct
ed and filled with many moments
Of moving beauty, but 1T was per-
formed with admirable breadth
and gusto."