Evening star., 1928-12-23

WCChs Will pcll bl(u4d1 CAA1
\ phaSiS on the first two days
1t is probable that more people
will participate than at any Other
season of the year, unless it be 81
Easter, for a large proportion oi
the music will consist of the IA
miliar old anthems and carols sci
to tunes endeared by memories OF
early singing in childhood days
and made of the age proof fabric
that only carols and anthems pos
SeSS. 1t is perhaps significant that
practically no moderniStS have at
tempted to write songs to be sung
at Christmas in the vague, minor
keyed styles so prevalent with
what might be called smart, So
phiSticated music circles of today
If anything, the musicians seek
backward into the earliest records
of Christmas music to unearth
new material to vary the tradi-
tional numbers. After all, Christ
mas would be nothing without
traditions, musical or otherwise.
x X x
THE announcements concerning
the music programs for the
churches were published in last
nights Star. Elsewhere on this
page today are given similar an
nouncementS regarding the choral
groups who are specializing in
singing carols in many places in
and about Washington, the club
Christmas programs and the
music for the community Christ
mas tree celebration. This latter
event will be held in Sherman
Square and the United States
Marine Band will play tradi-
tional music, while DR.. Harned'S
National Capital Oratorio Chorus
will sing the vocal selections and
President Coolidge will light the
national community tree.
There only will be two proteS-
sional musical events during the
current week. One is the fourth
annual presentation of BeSS Davis
Schreiner's muSic-drama pageant,
"The Other Wise Man. for which
there have been many requests.
In fact, so popular has this Work
proved that it not only seems to
have become a real Washington
''institution," but also the original
plans for two performances have
had to be extended to three to
accommodate all those who want
to see it. This work, by the way,
was written by a WaShingtonian,
with music arrangements, dancing
and vocal solos all prepared by
natives of this National Capital,
and with the entire cast OF the
production made up Of people or
Washington.
The other event is the ap-
pearance this afternoon or the
Oberlin College Glee Club at the
First CONGREGATIONAL Church. This
should prove especially interest
ing, as Oberlin is noted for It's nne
musical conservatory, out OF which
have come not a few prominent
musicians and composers. The
well known song writer john
Prindle Scott is an Oberlin grad
uate. This glee club is said TO be
unusually well trained. John Z.
Wirkler is the director.
*& 4 y
HAZEL ARTH, the charming
Il young Washingtonian who
brought home the bacon" con,
sisting of first prize for q girl
singer in the Atwater Kent ma
tional addition finals, last Sunday
night. has been literally the
toast of the town ever since, and
her return Thursday night was
marked by a reception at the
Union Station, in which many ao-
mirers participated. 1t Is very
gratifying to find that personal
comments coming from outside
washington, where audiences
might have had keen interest
In some of the other singers, SHOW
almost a universal unanlmlty OF
feeling that Miss Arth deserved
this first prize from every polnt
of view. She has particularly
beautiful voice, which shows ex-
cellent training and complete per-
severance and painStaking prac-
tice. She also has such a lovaole
personality that all Washington
was smiling and glad for her, per-
sonally, as we'll as for the nome
town" when she won out In the
finals. More power to her!
TT was the writer's pleasure to
attend an unusual dinner
about 10 day ago, when all 10
i of the finalistS Of this audltlon
were informally guests OF the
national headquarters in WASH
ington. It was a lovely party In
spite of it's informality, with fancy
ices and candy ribbon decoratlons
and lots of laughter and chatting
among the honor guests. To one
meeting these honored young peo-
nle the first impression was de-
cidedly gratifying-and also were
succeeding impressions. Every
one of these young Americans,
gathered as they were from the
four corners of the country ana
the great open spaces IN between,
known as the Middle west, was
good looking, alert and well man
nered. They were all at ease IN
the big hotel dining room, with
the poiSe of the cosmopolite.
Also. in talking with first one, and
then another, one met with cour-
teous, pleasing answering of ques-
tions, but no egotism. Instead,
there was the self-confidence born
of preparedness. Several chaper-
ons were there for the girl con-
testants, one teacher came, and
the mother of the youngest con-
testant of all, curly-headed little
patrick Henry Wilson of Texas,
was present. 1t was interesting
to meet Miss Cranston of Kansas
CITY. Gladys Balls teacher, who