Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-10
M u SIC
BY HELEN FETTER.


ences, naturally the finest and
most thorough work can be done
with the small children through
such endeavorS as Ernest Schel-
ling has made world famous in his
special concerts for children. He
not only gives them practical ex-
plantations in words of one syllable
concerning the themes and theiS
treatment in classical compost
tons, but also gives them visible
examples of how the various in
! StrumentS in an orchestra are
played; that is, the kind of effect
that calls for oboeS, for the differ
ent members of the horn family
| for other reeds, for violinS, celloS,
etc.
The planting of classes in train
ing for the different instruments
and also for carrying on work
similar to that originated by Mr..
Schelling are leading reasons for
the establishment of the National
High School Orchestra which Jo-
Seph E. Maddy organized and di-
reefs and which comes to WASH
ington for a concert March at
Constitution Hall. This orchestra
will give its first public concert,
outside the programs given at its
Summer camp sessions, the end of
February at the National Educa-
ton Association convention in At
lantic City and will give programs
in New York and Philadelphia pre-
ceding the Washington appear
IN a hi c
orchestra, which each year has a
varying personnel, being made up
as it is of undergraduate students
from the high schools all over the
country, abroad in 1881.
Last Summer a Washington
Schoolboy was the first to attend
this camp as a member of the
National High School Orchestra.
He was William o. Tufts, jr., who
graduated from Central High
School last June and now is at
tending the music conservatory in
Oberlin. Mr.. Tufts probably will
get special leave of absence for
a week from his studies to appear
on this brief tour in February and
March with the orchestra.
-
A WASHINGTON musician who
has worked out something
that is different" as the saying
has it, in the way Of interesting
pupils not only in preparing for
public performance of music, but
in cooperation with each other
for such appearances, is Prof.
Josef KaSpar, known here for
many years as violiniSt, pedagog
and orchestra conductor. Prof.
KaSpar has an entirely individual
idea, as far as Washington is con-
cerned, at least, in his large en-
Sembles of young students who
play remarkably well, interpret
ing classical compositions. Last
Spring a special success was
achieved in the presentation of
Haendel's Largo" from "xerxes"
by 40 students, ranging in size
from years old to advanced stu
dents in their late teens. The
Meditation" from Massenet's
''Thais" was given on an earlier
occasion.
Next Sunday at the Earle The
alter, a similar student ensemble
will be presented by Prof. KaSpar.
40 children playing the popular
violin selection, Alteration" by
BorowSki. The full orchestra and
organ of the theater will give this
ensemble accompaniment. More
over, the success of this idea is
evinced by the fact that this per-
Torrance next week Is request
Encouragement" on the part of
the theater, as a result of the ia
vorable reception given the per-
Torrance last June. There will be
two appearances of the KaSpar
ensemble, in the afternoon and
evening next Sunday. 1t also is
interesting to note that among the
many instruments used on this
occasion will be specimens of some
of the great italian and French
makers.
WHILE fresh, young minds arc
w supposed to absorb most
quickly and thoroughly the seeds
of knowledge, there are some very
worthwhile efforts being made to
give understanding background
along musical lines to adults who
have not been so fortunate as to
have musical training in their
youth. Elsewhere on this page to-
day there is mention of three such
endeavors locally, each differing
completely from the others ex-
cept for the basic idea. Miss Sc
wall is giving a series of practical
talks on music and music history.
Kathryn MacNeal Frost outlines
an unusually interesting method
of education for older persons In
the literature of piano music,
Nine. Anna ,Shomer-Rothenberg,
who is to give a program of Jew
ish folk songs this week, will fol-
low a familiar but usually well
come example of giving short de-
Scriptive sketches in connection
with the compositions on her pro-
| gram.
While there is initiative with
the spur, too, Of mechanical COM
petition for the concert field bv
the radio. there is hope for truly
musical American nation.
|