Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
ENERPsICHoRE

Washington quite f1ttingly
with the Spring time
Poets write about the
Spring among their earliest
efforts. Hardly a composer but
who has at least one Spring song
either verbal or without words
like MendelSsohn's most famous
example, listed among his efforts
However, the Joy of motion, dane
ing, seems the most fitting of al
artistic expressions of the season
When Ruth st. Denis brings
her company of young Americans
to Mckinley High School Wednes-
day night, she will feature a
dance travelogue" giving dances
Of various nations. She, herself,
will appear in several solo num-
bers. Probably the most novel of
these is a dance characterization
Of Kwannon, japanese goddess of
mercy. A photograph of Miss st.
Denis life-sized portrait, painted
by Albert Herter, is shown else
where on this page, depicting this
character. The bejewelled crown
is dazzling above shimmering
golden draperieS with a back
ground of midnight blue. The
teakwood base and lotus blossoms
placed on either side of the figure
add authentic touches to this
number.
TN this age of action the dance
is assuming more prominence
than ever before in the list of
formal concert entertainments.
The season last Fall started local
" quite promisingly with La
Argentina and that pair Of
Mary Wigman opponents, Harald
KreutZberg and Yvonne Georgi
in two dance recitals that were
novel for the majority of people
in their audiences. Later the
Duncan Dancers from Moscow
were listed but postponed their
programs here indefinitely. Thus
there has been quite hiatus and
the Denishawns are doubly well
come.
In New York where the number
of dance recitals listed has in
creased considerably within the
past season, there was not a little
perturbation aroused by the en-
forcement of Sabbath day laws
which would prohibit dance re-
citals on Sunday afternoons or
evenings. AS many Of the dancers
had programs scheduled for Sum-
day performances, there was con-
siderable excitement.
AS many of the ultra modern
dances seem little more than
sensible calisthenics one wonders
why all the disturbance. Surely
the Characterization that hap
pen to include motion such as
Angina Enters and other individ-
ualtistic artists present in so
called dance recital are no more
than vivid character portrayals.
At least, IL worst should come
to worst in the dancers lot in
New York, he or she can always
pack a suit case and hop a train
for Hollywood which seems to be
the newest IS. paradise for the
chorus1girl and the trick dancer,
y ~
THE National Symphony Or
chestra will give its second
program at Constitution Hall
Friday afternoon. These pro-
grams are in the nature of expert
naents and not to be judged as
finished products such as the
Boston, Philadelphia and New
York orchestras have brought
here this season. These 80 Wash
ington musicians are getting to-
gether in the few precious hours
that they can snatch from duties
at motion picture houses or as
teachers and trying to build
something that they hope will
have the quality of permanence
and possess ability to grow stead
lily in Importance and artistry.
The new orchestra has to give
It's concerts in the afternoon be-
cause its members have to play in
the various photoplay houses
during the evening hours. AS a
matter Of fact many of them have
less than Is minutes between the
time scheduled as the end Of the
symphony program and the time
for the beginning of the program
at certain motion picture thea
tiers. This means that these men
: are taking this effort seriously
and putting everything possible
into it to make it go. They are
doubly handicapped until they
find a man qualified to be their
regular conductor to give them
! steady, intelligent drilling in
playing together. 1t is significant
/ that the members of the orcheS-
! ira themselves choose their lead
ers and, when they feel it neces-
sary, reject them.
Two famous musicians will
share the baton Friday. The
Dutch 'cellist and conductor, Hans
Kinder, who has been heard here
in the role of conductor for cham
Der music events at the Library Of
Congress, as well as SoloiSt, will
lead standard orchestral works.
Washington offers a gesture of
friendly hospitality to the sister
city of Baltimore, by inviting
Gustave Strube, conductor Of the
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra,
/ to lead the National Symphony
Orchestra in three of his own
works. This emphasizes the chief
aim of the orchestra, which is to
I produce at least one work by an
American composer on each pro-
gram. Originally a work by Mary
Howe Of this city was announced
for the current concert. 1t was
found, however, to be too difficult
for preparation for performance
at this time, with both conductors
and men pressed for time and
practice together. 1t would seem
quite wise TO have the composer
himself conduct his own works, as