Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-05

| Technology for its expression
But may it not employ all means,
so long as it be true to the funda-
mental conception? To stir an
emotional or intellectual response,
may it not weave in all the ele-
ments it needs, provided this be
done with discretion and convic-
ton? The esthetic result depends
upon the selection and sensitive
combination of the elements.
ITO convey a dramatic idea, an
artist does not choose a lyric
form; to create a fantastic dec
grafton. he does not use profound
dramatic contrasts. The form
grows from the idea just as sure
ly as the flower from the seed;
it's proportion and line and color
are predetermined by its concept.
But to carry the smile further
a Burbank may find method Of
Decentralization and thus create
new Specie-or another artist
may take that flower, and in COM
bination with others create dec
grafton that has form and line
and rhythm of its own, still con-
siStent with the original inSpira-
ton.
MY concept of expression
through movement is founded on
a belief in the dignity and beauty
of the human form as part of
the technique of life, and as
necessary vehicle for emotional
expression both on the stage and
off; that there should be a union
of the lyric arts-and that such
union must add to the spiritual
life of both the individual and the
community. For I believe that
the supreme aim of life is one
with that of art to raise the in
dividual out Of himself and to
identify him with his race"
\ 4 X
CTILL another angle on the new
- ballet movement was shown in
the programs presented over the
week end in Newark, N. j., where
Irma Duncan, one of the original
group of adopted girls who be-
came sincere disciples of Isadora
Duncan, led the Duncan Dancers
of Moscow, Russia, in some of
their now famous programs, fea-
turing the revolutionary group Of
folk songs and their dance inter-
pretationS. This, one of the most
coaaplete and logical of the
schools of interpretative dancing,
originally conceived by Miss Dun
can, and an inspiration to the
Russian ballet in it's sluggish days
when the California girl first car
ried her startling conceptions to
Europe, still remains a leading
factor in the development of even
newer schools of the dance. The
crude, spontaneous quality of the
singing in the revolutionary num-
berS. combined with dramatic
power in the gestures and con-
certec mass rhythmS Of the group
as Fwhole, made stirring effects
that wrung enthusiastic. braves
from even a Sunday afternoon
audience. The trilogy-"Labor,
Famine and Labor triumphant
was, perhaps. the most expansive
ly effective of all. The AmaZonian
quality of "WarShavianka" (revo-
lutionary Russia of 1909 provided
virile drama and opportunity for
a great variety of poStureS for the
falling in the imaginary
battle, until the stage was several
times more CORY looking than
after a Shakespearean tragedy.
The Chopin and Schubert groups
on the program were all too long,
and too similar in style and mood.
It was the final Russian revolt
tionary group that brought new
life and meaning to an accredited
form Of dancing.
TWO events of first Importance
l. to the country at large, must
cally, and, incidentally, to the
world, will take place over the
coming week end. One of these is
the performance of Monteyerdi's
very first opera, "Orfeo," at Smith
College, Northampton, Mass, by
the music department of that
school, Prof. Werner JoSten, direc-
tor. Mr.. JoSten is responsible for
the American premiere of I'll
Combattimento di Tancredi e
Clorinida," just given a New York
premiere as above mentioned. It
is possible that "Orfeo," if sue
cessful at Saturdays performance
at Smith College, also may be
brought to the big city later on.
francesca Malipiero is reported to
1aova adj%ad %Ioa am old SoOrn
of his countryman's opera.
The other imposing event for
the week end FRIDAY and Satur-
day. is the performance Of Bach'S
"St. Matthew's Passion" as 1t has
reached the ripe age Of 200 years
exactly this year, at Bethlehem,
Pa, by the Bach Choir. They also
will do the famous MASS in B
Minor" thus providing a rare
combination of Bach compost
tionS. The st. Matthew score was
given it's premiere performance in
Leipzig, on Good Friday, 1923.
Exactly a century later it was re-
vived by none other than Felix
Mendelssohn. Now it is to be
given by the world-famous Amer
lean choir in performance for
which all tickets have been sold
long since.
X X y 4
WASHINGTON will have it's own
w choral festival Wednesday
night of this week, when choirs
and choruses, including even
children's chorus of 100 voices
and a violin group of 20 children.
with Sylvia Lent, the youthful,
but internationally famous Wash
ington violinist, as the only solo
artist. will present q MaSsed