Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-01-28

Inc cnOr dccOmpllSfleS tnlS enQ Dy
adherence to the desire that led to its
organization, and to the working out
of a mechanical means of expression
that will abolish the many disturbing
factors of ordinary choir singing. 1t
holds before its members the thought
that singing is form of worship, that
. responsibility of far-reaChing inf1u-
ence is in their power, and further
emphasizes the most important funda-
mental law of all art-that in order
to reach over to the other person one
must feel strongly oneself. In most
choir singing this law is lost sight of,
sometimes because the music is not
of sufficiently inspirational character,
and almost always because the per-
Sonality of the soloist or quartet is to
be exploited.
From the purely musical standpoint
DR.. Williamson has definite theories
which he carries out in his training.
He visualizes a choir as a pyramid
having heavy base and tapering up
ward with smooth graoations. The
choir Is famous for its resonant low
voices. To do away with another
problem of balance, DR.. Williamson
welcomes in his choir singers with I'M
usual voices. perhaps not suited to
solo work, but useful for the color
they add to the ensemble. Naturally,
there is an art in making such voices
blend with the others and not intrude
with disturbing tone into the refined
quality of the whole, but DR.. William
son has the proper vision. and with
that all things become possible. Frank
Bridge, the eminent English critic, once
said, AT last choir has come into
being equal to the best orchestra and
all that implies
AS an aid to complete concentration
on their work, DR.. Williamson insists
the members sing without music,
knowing well that the finest results
cannot be obtained if attention is dis
tTacted from the directing indications
OF the conductor. The Westminster
Choir, composed of portions of the
faculty and the best voices of the
school, rehearses every day for an hour
or two on programs that have been
cleaned from every country by DR.
deeply into the classics. finding in
them mine of beauty not to be ex-
hausted in many years, nor matched in
modern composition.
The story of the origin Of the choir
and Of the school that later was set
In operation is the story of the I'M
selfish high-mindedness of its owner
and sponsor, Mrs H E. Talbot. 1t
was she who, in 1923, saw the special
gift possessed by DR.. Williamson and
who, realizing the need of betterment
IN church singing. was willing to
finance an attempt to get practical re-
suits. The choir of Westminster
Church in Dayton, Ohio, was first
trained and sent out on concert tours
that, because of continuous success,
eventually became yearly affairs and
extended to European countries. With
the interest aroused by the fine quail
ty of singing and the desire of enter
prising choral directors and singers to
improve themselves, a school was de-
eided upon as a central point from
which the gospel of good choir singing
could be sent out.
The course of training covers four
years and includes conducting, psychol-
ogy, drama, composition, piano and or
gan. Today there are 10000 singers
who follow the principles advocated by
DIR. Williamson, and pupils have gone
out to teach and direct in % States.
There Is Westminster school in ia
pan, and there are Westminster pupils
teaching in far-off India, Palestine,
the Philippines and Central Africa.
The influence of such work is not
confined to a merely religious better
nent, for its ramifications will be felt
tn every branch of music. No one who
has listened to uplifting services of
this kind, in which the very soul of
music Is revealed. can ever remain sat-
isfied with Indifferent presentation,
whether In church or the concert hall