Evening star., 1932-11-20

glfted with special Calent
or not the appeal of song
brings a consciousness in nearly
every one of this latent wish.
The first essay in that direction
is many times a source of muSl-
cal awakening and the beginning
of musical culture. The good fel-
lowship of singing together, the
influence of fine sentiments and
the expansiveneSS of mutual at
tainment are subtle agents in a
gradual instilling of greater love
for music.
These ideas were dimly back Of
the organization of every church
choir where the sociability of
choir practice evenings masked
the more serious work of learning
good music. From the middle
ages the masters of music loved
to write for concerted singing and
felt that voice blending was
complete medium of musical ex-
precision. Through the last few
years the choral societies, which
are q secular development Of the
church choir, have made more
and more use Of the fine musical
literature thus left to them and
the popularity of choral singing
has grown extensively.
The sincerity of musical appre-
citation in Washington is attested
by the number of choral organi-
cations and the high degree of
excellence they have attained
The Rubenstein Club has the
claim of Leing the oldest choral
group in the city and will soon
celebrate the 25th anniversary Of
its existence. The public per-
formances of this club are always
an event Of the musical season.
The first important concert of
this Winter will be given on
January 25, 1888, at the Willard
Hotel and will open, as is the
usual custom, with work of
RubinStein.
The Washington Choral So
ciety, under the presidency OF
Myron Whitney, which is not
affiliated with any church, has
many young singers who are re-
ceiving the excellent training of
their serious program work. For
the past six years of its existence
some well known conductor from
out Of town has been asked to
direct their annual concert which
usually takes place in the Spring.
This year, however, all prepara-
ton is in the hands of Louis Pot
ter who is rehearsing the society
for a second appearance with the
National Symphony.
Two other choral groups, whose
outgrowth is the result of choir
singing, is the National Capital
Choir under DR.. Alfred w. Harmed
and the A Capella Choir under
the leadership of Ruby Smith
Stahl. DR.. Harmed is preparing
his National Capital Choir for a
presentation of work by Dorothy
Emery of Washington. Holy,
Holy, God Almighty" This is a
gigantic choral work and prom
ises to be one of the fnc~t things
the choir has done. 1t will be
performed at the Universalist Ma
tional Memorial Church on De-
cember IL. His choir has achieved
renown through the international
broadcasting of its Christmas
eve carols from the National
Press Club and are yearly fea-
lures Of this organization. The
director of fine arts and education
of johannesburg, South Africa,
has written of receiving the pro-
gram clearly and of his pleasure
In their beautiful singing.
The A Capella Choir, which owes
It's development to the untiring
work of Ruby Smith Stahl, is en-
tering its ninth year with % new
members added to its large mem
berShip. The organization has
grown from a small beginning,
and it's annual concert which
takes place at the Mayf1ower is a
social and artistic event. This
year they have been asked to give
a program at the Music Teachers
National Association Convention
and the last Friday in December
at noon is the time fixed for their
appearance.
The Arts Club choral group,
with Marjorie Lowe, chairman OF
music, has large number Of
SoloiStS among its members. The
musical director is Otto T. Simon,
whose long experience with the
Motet Society has given him the
necessary equipment, has outlined
a Winters work Of artistic value.
The first concert of the season,
which will offer program Of high
classical excellence, will be given
before Christmas.
Esther LinkinS, director of the
Chaminade Club, is pioneer in
children'S chorus work and has
given many successful perform
anceS at the District of Columbia
Federation CT Music Club affairs.
The extent and the Importance of
her work IAN hardly be overeSti-
mated for she is laying a musical
foundation at an early age and
builds for the future. There is a
special technique acquired for this
type of work for which Miss
Linkins has prepared herself out
side of Washington by serious
study under specialized teachers.
The far reaching influence of
choral singing cannot be fully
estimated, but the work that Is
being done is of a value equaling
and to a certain degree resem-
bling a symphony orchestra.