The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-04-02

VA SuBBeSLlOH IOE using anu
preserving the daily music
themes: The teachers of several
classes in music appreciation
report that their pupils are
clipping the themes each day
and pasting them on three.by-
fivemch filing cards with the
names of the composers at the
top, and filing them in alpha
betical order by cOmpOSerS.)
The A Capella Choir of Wash
ington under the direction of
Ruby Smith Stahl gave its annual
Lenten concert last night in the
ballroom of the Mayflower Hotel
to highly appreciative audience.
The choir gave a beautiful
ensemble voice especially when
singing the softer passages.
Rachmaninoff's Hymn of the
Cherubin" and Burleigh's Were
You There" gave opportunity for
the best display of attacks and
contrasting passages.
However, the male sections
when forced we're rather metallic
and infleXible in tone and the
few solo passages would have
sounded better if sung in unison.
The task of keeping a group Of
volunteer singers together in at
tackS and pronunciation is rather
difficult and Mrs. Stahl did noble
work in directing.
Realizing the lack Of musician
ship of the average choir singer,
Mrs. Stahl sought to get results
by using the emotional type of
n Quoting rather than the
technical type commonly used
with instrumental ensembles.
Considering sacred choral work
as usually heard, it is safe to say
that the A Capella Choir is far
above the average. Whenever
singers in sufficient numbers
will consider it a necessary part
of their training to learn music
as an instrumentalist does, then
really superb results will be
heard.
Boston Symphony
The Boston Symphony Orches,
ira under the direction of DR..
Serge Koussevitzky will give the
final concert of the series of
three in Constitution Hall We'd
nesday afternoon at 4:40 o'clock.
DR.. Koussevitzky. the double
bass virtuoso, is noted for his un-
conventional acts. He is always
one of the first to find and pro-
duce modern musical works. For
each two programs he assemblies,
there have appeared an average
of three new works.
Under the direction Of DR..
KouSsevitzky the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra has become
more popular with the masses
while at the same time he still
holds the old conservative ele.
ment from the Back Bay" sec.
ton.
He will present two recent
works on the program by Ravel,
the suite lie Tombeau de Cou-
perrin" in four movements. Pre-.
Jude, Forlane, Menuet and Rigau-
don and the second suite from the
ballet "Daphnis and Chloe" The
latter suite is in three movements,
Daybreak, Pantomime and a Gen.
eral Dance.
Two symphonies are also in
Guided: Schumann's Fourth Sym
phony in D minor and Sibelius'
Seventh Symphony. The Fourth
Symphony is divided into four
movements, although it was the
composers original desire to have
it played without a pause between
movements.
The theme shown above is from
the first movement, the Allegro.
The theme is introduced by the
violins and consists of a flash
ing figure that darts about, re-
bounding from section to section
with a continuous accession of
power and emphasis.
In contrast, the Romance, or
second movement expresses a
grave sentiment with romantic
melancholy. Suddenly the theme
from the first movement appears,
but the plaintive song returns at
the end of the movement.
The third or ScherZo movement
is the only movement in conven.
tional form. The rhythm is strong
and lively although the gaiety
seems calculated and forced.
The Fourth Symphony is not
spectacular, but it is strong, sane
and sweet. 1t is not a good We
hicle for virtuoso conductor who
wishes to show off.
Navy Band Concert
The Navy Band Symphony
Orchestra will give the last con-
cert of the season tonight at 8