Evening star., 1934-12-24
New English Singers in
Program of Holiday Music
Vocalists Heard at Library of Congress Saturday
Afternoon-Handers THE Messiah" at
Central High School Yesterday.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN,
.HE concert of the New En-

@HE concert of the New English
Singers at the Library of
Congress Saturday afternoon
i was pleasant surprise at this
holiday time. Their program,
OF course, was composed mostly of
Christmas carols sung only as this
splendid ensemble can sing. There
has been a change in personnel since
the last visit of these singers to
Washington, the new group being
made up of Dorothy Silk, Nellie Car
son, Mary Norris, David Brynley,
Norman Motley and Cuthbert Kelly.
Perhaps this was the reason that
one missed some of the perfect unison
that the original singers had worked
out to such a fine degree, for the
suave line of harmony and effect were
not as pronounced as one had been
led to expect from former perform
ances Of these English visitors. How
ever, there is no other group who can
equal them in perfection Of intona-
tion, diction and phrasing. The voices
are fresh and pure, especially the
sopranos, and in the finishing of o
song with sustained harmony the
ear is charmed with the sheer beauty
Of sound of a well-blended ensemble.
The first part of the program, which
was broadcast, contained the beau
tiful sixteenth century "Angelus ad
Pastores," by Jan Sweelinck, as well
as his "Hodie Christus natus est, /"
both sung in Latin. and two modern
carols. II Sing of q Maiden" by
Martin Shaw, and Gustave Holst's &
"Lullay My Liking" His very diff
cult "Midwinter," the poem by
Christina Rosetti, showed more than
any other number the ability to
sustain a perfect pitch which these
singers do so easily, while a new
arrangement of 1.-The Holly and the
IVY" by Rutland Boughton; Sing We
Noel Once More" by David Stanley
Smith of Harvard University and
Corpus Chriti," by Peter Warlock,
completed the numbers that were
heard over the air.
Mr.. Kelly added interest to the
rendition of Thomas Bateson's Have
I Found Her" and 1.-The Nightingale"
by short biographical sketch Of this
little known composer. The text
of Have Found Her" was written
by Sir Philip Sidney, who added to
his many accomplishments q note
worthy gift of poesy. "The Nightin-
gale" sung by the two sopranos and
tenor, was beautiful example of pure
singing, the voices being exceptionally
well adapted one to the other. A
group of folk songs arranged by
Vaughan Williams and three carols
arranged by Williams, Martin Shaw
and Robert Pearsan completed the
program.
Without any audible means of find
ing the pitch, the singers begin their
numbers with a simplicity and sure
ness that is intriguing. Seated in
formally around table, the ease with
which they sing the intricate har-
mony of an epecially planned program
makes one forget the fine art that
is the foundation of their perform
ance. The popularity and appeal of
this unique organization filled the au-
ditorium on a day that was full of
other demands. While Christmas
carols are sung by every ensemble at
this time of the year, the English
singers bring finer comprehension
as well as finer art to the interpre-
tation Of this charming but difacult
branch Of song literature.
X X \ r
TN THE presentation Of Handers
"The Messiah" yesterday after
noon at Central High School the
Washington Oratorio Society far out
did its performance of last year. Under