Evening star., 1931-04-19

~ NE Of the books that music lovers will
find essential to their library shelves
is Roman Rolland's Goethe and
Beethoven'-well translated from the
French. A fund of new information,
rs well as attraetively furnished sidehghtS on
the old recommends this book as a dual biog-
raphy which admirers of either Of these two
great men viii find highly stimulating. Herein
one viii find that Goethe said Il can always
work better after have been listening to
music" as also ''It often happens that a hid
den genius whispers rhythmn to me, so that
as wander about I always move to it and
simultaneously seem to hear faint sounds, the
accompaniment of some songs which somehow
pleasantly suggests itself to me-" And from the
large and intensely vital pages M. ROLAND has
put together there is ample evidence of the
guiding hand that music has had in the life
Of one Of the greatest authors and, further
more, much about the master musician Bee
thoven to crowd much thought into warm
and delightful Spring evening of reading.
THE Fox Theater, ever alert to the musical
- trends Of the day, under the capable lead
ership OF Leon Brlsiiof, now volunteers the
information that It is vitality interested in Music
Week-wflich Is to be celebrated so thoroughly
throughout the country.
Mr.. BrusilOH in letter to this department
says: 1.-THE Fox Theater, joining with others
in the City of Washington, plans to do its
share in the observance Of National Music
week. beginning May 3. This theater has all
ways eO-operated in every way and wherever
possible has taken the initiative In fostering
good music We feel a real enthusiasm for the
opportunities which Music week give US IN
stimulating an interest in and increasing
public appreciation for all that music can do
for us In our daily and artistic lives.
I'm keeping with this spirit, the theater Is
inviting Washington glee clubs, choral socie-
ties, choirs and groups of internationaliStS TO
participate In a sefies Of programs TO be held
in the theater during that week. We intend
to award at least two silver cups to the groups
adjudged the best. They will be asked to sing
or play during the regular overture period each
evening, with each group appearing only once
or twice during the week.
All Of which, to our way of thinking is good
news. Although no announcement has been
made as to just what organizations will battle
for vocal supremacy. there is no question but
that Mr.. Brusilod's plan will stir to action
many interesting clubs, ETC. In this way viii
be brought into the public gaze important local
organizations which have biushed unseen for
too long And the thousand and one patrons
of this great theater will be, or should be, re-
galed with much that is interesting in music
and much fine singing which they might by
now have forgotten about.
A ND while rIminating on the great good that
should come out of the imminent Music
week, we have very nearly upon us that an
nual splurge Of color, music and fashion, which,
under the title "The Festival of Nations" come
to light the entire week of April 27.
One of the more astute of the local scribeS
says about this festival as follows "Alluring
dances by highly trained groups of Washington
girls, melodious musical numbers sung by the
finest available singers in the Capital City, a
splendid chorus, a stage band of fretted in
struments-'not too fretted, we hope'-and O
novel arrangement Of pianos and organs played
by Washington artists among the delight
ful features offered by the Festival of Ma
tions,' which, under the auspices Of the Girl
Scouts of the District of Columbia, viii be
presented at Constitution Hall as a great Spring