Evening star., 1933-03-29
M U S &c
BENEFIT CONCERT.

"A N audience which filled the hall OF
- the Washington Club to overflow
ing turned out last evening to hear
music of the time of Elizabeth, in the
fourth Of the series of concerts spon-
sored by the Ten O'Clock Club for the
relief of unemployed musicians. In a
setting representing room In a private
home, the musicians, dressed III COS
tunes of the Tudor period, reproduced
an evening of music in a family circle
of that long passed era.
The recital was arranged by Sade G.
Styron. Assisting her were the Madrl-
gal Singers, under the direction OF Mrs.
John M. Sylvester; "Her Majesty's
Consort," a string sextet composed OF
Mary p. Clements and Paul Brighten
burg, violinists; Helen Foster and Oscar
Spencer, violinists; Marcel Ancher and
Louis Potter, jr., cellists, and Helen
Howison, soprano, and Calderon Howe,
recorder.
After a short Introductory talk by
Helen Fetter Cook regarding the i'm
portance of English music Of that
period, Miss Styron gave a detailed
account of the various types Of music
and its place in the daily life Of all
classes The program was made up of
representative compositions by Gibbons.
Bennett, Byrd, Bull, Morley, Edwards
and Nicholson, composers, who had
achieved renown throughout the Europe
of that time.
Two sixteenth century dances, to-
gether with "Pavan and Galliard." by
Gibbons, were played by the sextet,
"Her Majesty's Consort,' the strings
blending we'll in the quaint harmonious
tunes The Madrigal Singers, corn
posed of Elizabeth Waters and Elizabeth
Coping first sopranos; Elsie Graham,
Mrs. Erbin Thomas, second sopranos;
Edward Simpson and George Roth,
tenors, and Benjamin Morrison and
Major Lee Tillotson, basses, dressed
in attractive costumes, sat about a
table and sang, unaccompanied, to the
direction Of Mrs. Sylvester. The
anonymous Carol, Lullay, Thou Little
Tiny Child and Byrd's Canon, Hey
Ho to the Greenwood Let Us Go" were
charming examples of the madrigal
which moved the audience to interrupt
with applause.
Miss Styron. who Is an authority on
ancient music. played four numbers on
the clavichord, finishing with Bulls
Goodnighte," by the composer Bull
The soft, tinkling sound Of the ancient
instrument was most effective IN the
candlelit surroundings, and Miss Styron,
in a rose-colored costume, made par
ticularIy attractive picture.
To string quartet accompaniment
PLAYED by Mr.. Brightenberg, Miss Glenn
ents Mrs. Foster and Mr.. Ancher. Helen
Howison sang two songs by Nicholson.
"John Quoth Joan" and "The Cuckoo
and "Ah, Silly Poor Joas." ANONYMOUS.
The beautiful quality of Miss Howison's
voice was an exquisite medium for
these simple melodies and her un-
affected manner of singing them en-
phasized their charm more fully. Four
traditional tunes for the recorder were
skillfully played by Calderon Howe and
enthusiastically applauded. The pro-
gram finished with group OF songs by
the Madrigal Singers, the last number.
IAN Earthly Tree, Heavenly Fruit, by
Byrd, was accompanied by the string
quartet.
The audience, although asked not to
interrupt with applause, could not be
restrained at several points and demon
strated its appreciation Of the charm
and originality Of the program IN spon-
eonoous fashion. = z.