Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-11
CHORUS ATTRACTS
CAP AC|Ty AUDIENCE
$50 Washington Singers Give
Outstanding Music Week
Program.

A chorus of $50 Washington singers
presented the outstanding program IN
honor of National Music week in the
National Capital yesterday afternoon.
Organized under the auspices of the
Washington Choral Festival Associa-
ton, this chorus attracted an audience
that filled Epiphany Episcopal Church
to its capacity. The conductor was DR..
Frederick Alexander, generally recog-
nized as one of the leading choral con-
ductors of the country. DR.. Alexander
led similar chorus in a program here
last May.
The present group showed thorough
drilling and coordination for artistic
effects yesterday. Due to the dignity OF
the surroundings and the sacred type
of music presented, there was no ap-
plauSe. It was obvious, however, that
the large audisnce keenly appreciated
and enjoyed the music and many eX-
pressions of satisfaction were heard out
side the church following the program.
Also, the brevity of the program, coming
music" designated on the program,
music" designated on the programs,
was pleasing innovation at this time
of year. The lack of quantity in no
way lessened the excellence Of the
quality of the music presented.
This was most suspicious beginning
for the newly organized Washington
Choral Festival Association, which has
as its joint sponsors three of the most
important organizations in the interest
of music in the city. They are the
Music Council of the Federation of
Churches, the Federation of Music Clubs
and the Friends of Music in the Library
of Congress.
Two short and lovely Palsstrina selec-
tions were first sung by the chorus.
They were "Adoramus TIE" and Gloria
Patri." Both were beautifully done,
emphasizing the control of nicely blend
ed voices In soft passages of song. Per-
haps most effective OF all the choral
selections was the "Gospodi Pomilui," a
chant by Lvovsky, in which the sustain
ing Of even tempos while building tonal-
ly to a gradual loud climax after an
extremely pianissino beginning, was
the dominant feature.
The group of the inner choir, desig-
mated as Madrigal singers of the festi-
val association, was especially noticed in
the only Begotten Son" of Gretchani-
nov. Anothc:' less familiar composer,
also Russian, Tschesnokov, was repre-
sented by the composition THE Thief
on the Cross" The famous Gounod
chorus, by Babylons Wave" was the
IlndIS. 1ulS NUMBER also formed the
| finale of last years program. DR..
Alexander presented it again, conform
ing to his plan. which has proved sue
cessful elsewhere, of bringing each sea-
son one number from the preceding
years program, thus building solidly
for the eventual repertoire. All choral
numbers were sung capella.
Adolf Torovsky, organist Of Epiphany
Church, opened the program with
Bach'S "Toccata and Fugue in d
Minor" which he played very well, in
deed, with fine discrimination in tone
color and smoothness in transition from
toccata into announcement of the first
fugue voice and the contrapuntal de-
velopment. Later Mr. Torovsky played
less interesting "Marche Triumphant"
by Karg-Elert
AT the conclusion the audience dis
persed quietly, but with an air OF
pleasant enjoyment. H. F.