Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-11-19

PLaycu lOI the WeOQlng OF Henri Nv and
Marie de Medici and the coronation OF
Napoleon as Emperor, he played his
arnistice hymn, de Profundis." writ
ten Tor chorus, soloists. orchestra and
organ In memory of the French dead
HIS next feat was series of 1G re-
cltals at the Paris Conservatory. In
which he played the entire works of
Bach from memory. He is a composer
OF rare distinction, his first important
composition, an oratorio, Jacobs
Dream" being performed when Dupre
was only Is years old. As an improvisor
he has no equal, and at his American
oebut IL years ago in the Wanamaker
Auditorium in New York, he impro-
vlsed complete symphony in four
movements from themes he heard but
few moments before.
When Dupre tours outside of his
native country he is supplied with
drawings and specifications of eyery
organ he will play upon. With this
unique book he memories the details
thoroughly so that he needs only time
TO become acquainted with the tone
colors of the individual organ and the
acoustics of the building to be ready
Tor his recital. On his first tour of
america, when he was scheduled to play
on the Philadelphia Wanamaker organ,
the largest In the 'world, he was sent
a photograph of the console. This he
had in his memory when he arrived.
and his complete control of the COM
Fllcated instrument at his recital aston
ished the public.
Mr.. Dupre will include several of his
cwn compositions one by his teacher,
Widor, and two novelties on his WASH
1ngtOn program
HE performance Of Mendelssohn's
Hymn of Praise" to be given next
week by the choir of the Uniyer-
salist National Memorial Church, under
the direction of DR.. Harmed, recalls one
OF the few times Mendelssohn appeared
in public in the role of organist. II was
at the f1rst English hearing of the work
after its universal success in Germany.
Mendelssohn made the trip to Birming-
ham, where the Symphonic Cantata !"
as 1t was called, was to be given in the
Fall Of the year that saw its successful
performance In Leipzig, to conduct his
work. The day before the cantata was
to be sung Mendelssohn played an organ
fugue in public, and again the day after
he extemporized at public concert and
improvised on theme from the final
chorus of the oratorio "Jepthah,n which
was preceding number on the pro-
gram. After the concert In which his
Hymn Of Praise" was programmed,
Mendelssohn remained nearly an hour
seated at the organ alone, playing and
improvising for his own pleasure and
the few friends who were permitted to
remain.
The Hymn of Praise" is considered,
by some as ranking with the finest ex-
amples of Mendelssohn,s genius and
particularly characteristic of his indi-
vidual style. Written for the festival
which commemorated the invention Of
the printing press by the express order
OF the Town Council, 1t was made
companion piece to the "Festgesang."
which was given the first day of the fes-
tival in the open market place after the
unwilling of q statue of Gutenberg. The
second day OF the festival the concert
took place h st. Thomas Church, and
the program consisted of Weber,s "Jubi-
lee Overture" Handels "Te Deum,"
and Mendelssohn's Hymn of Praise.
Throughout the Winter following the
hymn was repeated several times. The
King of Saxony. to whom it was dedi-
Gated, ordered its inclusion in nearly
every concert and in every way ex-
pressed his approval. The purpose of
the cantata is to raise paen Of praise
to God for the triumph of light over
darkness as printing pushed back the
darkness of ignorance and brought the
light of knowledge. The text was COL
lected by MendelSsOhn himself.