Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-08-17
w WASHINGTON has several
M wide = awake choral
groups that are doing

ira, for special recognition. This
chorus is the National Capita
Oratorio Association. The organ
izer and leader is DR.. Albert w
Harmed, who has been active II
local musical endeavors for some
time. DR.. Harmed is generally re-
spected for his thorough must
cianship, his marked gift as g
choral conductor and his high
ideals in choice of material to be
performed by his chorus.
The National Capital Oratoric
Association has just signed the
formal contract to appear in the
outstanding event of the Beethov-
en- Festival, which will be the
most unusual feature of the COM
ing music season. This chorus
will sing in Beethoven's famous
Ninth Symphony" his only
choral symphony, on the last day
of the festival, December 6-when
the Boston Symphony Orchestra
will present both the eighth and
ninth symphonies. 1t will be a
Saturday afternoon performance.
Now that the contract has been
signed and the music scores re-
ceived through cooperation OF
the Library of Congress, DR..
Harmed is calling his singers to-
gether for first rehearsal the last
week in this month. In the mean
time, he is taking a rambling,
vagabondiSh vacation, a semi
aimless jaunt in his automobile
all by himself. DR.. Harmed was
very i'll from cold that went into
pneumonia after the strain of two
big choral efforts two Winters
ago, but seems to have recovered
his health quite fully now and is
filled with the dynamic energy
and enthusiasm that are domi-
nant characteristic of his per-
sonality.
It viii be recalled that this
chorus made its public debut in a
production of Gounod's Re
demption" at the Washington
Auditorium a couple of seasons
ago. The next Fall, after an even
more complete organization, the
National Capital Choral Associa-
ton presented Handel's Messiah"
in Central High School. On both
occasions the excellent co-ordina-
ton of the chorus in varied en-
Semble effects was commented on
by many who heard these per-
formanceS.
THEN 1t was that DR.. Harned'S
group was chosen to sing the
choral finale in America" the
prize symphonic poem written by
Ernest Bloch, at its first produc-
ton in the Capital OF the United
States. DR.. Koussevitzky and his
orchestra brought the work here.
1t will be remembered that
loyal group Of music lovers of this
city got together under the gen.
eral direction Of Carl Engel and
raised several hundred dollars
to build the platform necessary
for DR.. Harned'S singers TO stand
on. while participating in the
Bloch work.
Also there are not a few who
are keenly interested in musical
matters here who recall equally
wildly that DR.. KousSevitzky ex-
pressed himself in no uncertain
terms as thoroughly delighted
with the work of DR.. Harned's
group Of local singers. The dis
tinguished Russian praised, to
several music lovers, the imme-
date response Of the chorus mem
beers to each gesture of his baton
and the ensembles admirable
T,aoIfAah4lt% 20 Tia SlfChfaSk sx,r,
geStion for change in expression
made by him. He mentioned that
only with the most experienced
and seasoned choral groups had
he ever had such complete and
intelligent cooperation.
At that time DR.. Koussevitzky
told DR.. Harmed that he wanted
this group to sing the choral SYM
phony Of Beethoven with his or
chestra. That was some time ago
March 6, 1929. In the mean
time, there have been other or
CARNATIONS that have sent word
TO Boston that they would gladly
attempt the choral symphonies
soon as 1t was announced that
this work was to be the feature
Of the coming festival. DR..
KousSevitzky has been in Europe
all Summer. However, he told a
friend who he knew was coming
to Washington this month, on the
occasion OF visit in Prague, to
be sure to see DR.. Harmed and
tell him that he was pleasantly
anticipating having his choral
group, which had acquitted itself
so admirably in the Bloch work,
sing under his direction when the
Boston Symphony Orchestra pre-
sents the Beethoven Ninth" in
Washington in December. And
now, from Boston direct, has come
of1cial confirmation in the per-
son OF the orchestra's manager,
w. H. Brennan, with the contract
within the last few days.
This Washington group may
feel all the more pride in its Sc
lection and put forth all the more
energy to live up to this unusual
opportunity, as 1t is known that
DR.. KousSevitZky vetoed sugges-
ton that the New York chorus
which sings this symphony with
the Boston orchestra in the me-
tropollS this Winter, be brought
to Washington. DR.. Koussevitzky
has shown complete confidence In
DR.. Harned's ability to prepare the
local group for this occasion and
faith In the singers ability to CO.
operate to that end. Certainly
there could be no higher or more
definite praise than this.
+
THE average person with 6
casual interest in musica
affairs often makes the mistake
~ faiy,LiVaO that nYnIV the T1o0St