Evening star., 1935-04-10
OF
AMERICA HAVE
FESTIVAL HOUR
They Are Well Repre-
spnted in Recital at Lii
brary of Congress.
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

The disadvantages OF being young
country has often been impressed
upon Americans, but yesterday morn
ing, at the program OF works by
American composers at the music fes
tival at the Library of Congress our
youthfulness was a source of rejoic-
ing. In the three compositions by
outstanding native composers there
was present an unspoiled zest, an hon.
esty of purpose and fluent vein OF
musical delight most refreshing after
the musical cynicism that runs ram
pant in modern composers today.
Freshness of ideas and sound
knowledge backed by an inspirational
impulse were so plentiful in the quar-
tets of Quincy Porter, and Werner
Jansen and the quintet Of John
Alden Carpenter that it was difficult
to have preference among these tall
ented workers. The works were inter-
preted by the Gordon String Quartet,
violinists: Paul Robyn, violist. and
Naoum Benditsky, cellist, assisted by
Frank Sheridan, pianist.
In spite of a recent biting denuncia-
tion Of American music by Ernest
Newman, English writer and critic
one could feel proud of the way in
which its representatives measured up
with the musical lights of other ma
tionalities at yesterdays concert
Throughout the three movements OF
Porters Quartet No. 3" composed in
1880, there is fine solidity and uni
formity, q definite plan and an ar
resting working out of real idea
There are no vagar1es in Mr.. Porter's
writings and no moments of seeking
but q logical working toward an end
A touch of fantasy. a generous portion
of sincerity and impeccable workman
ship, combine in a work that contains
every element that makes for Longevity
Mr.. Jansen is an imaginative
writer not disdainful of the American
spirit as expressed in lighter moments.
To these he ados dignity and his own
invention, allying them to the origi-
nality of his own genius. He writes
with spontaneity and one senses that
the source of his inspiration is but
tapped and that there remains much
still unsaid. His music is vital, bright
and, as in the 'Largamente Sostenuto.
lyric and soulful In whatever line
he places the divisions Of this Quar- :
tet No. in E." composed in 1888. he
brings into concentration a forceful
and absorbing flow of ideas and
ripe musical consciousness.
Linked more to the past than the
future, although less than year old
the Quintet by Carpenter, Is as
fine and wholesome bit of writing as
has come to the fore Always sincere.
Mr.. Carpenter has reached noble
plan of feeling in this latest work,
which he expresses with individuality
and with a convincing musical idiom
He leaves one with the satisfaction OF
having listened to real music pre-
sented in a harmonic frame, modern
vet rounded in the old fashion.
The performance of the Gordon
Quartet was replete with technical
fiuency which the finely spun violin
tone of Mr.. Gordon influenced in no
mean manner. Mr. Sheridan. at the
piano in Carpenters Quintet" is
that type of player who feels the
needed tonal color for union with a
string group. The enthusiasm that
has marked each concert Of this fes-
tival series continued unabated.
X
The closing concert of this series
was devoted to the works OF Igor
Stravinsky who, as in a previous con-
cert here, was most ably assisted by
Samuel Dushkin, violinist. The only
vocalist to appe>r on these programs
was Olga Averino. whose strong and
beautifully toned soprano interpreted
q group of Stravinsky's songs. In
other numbers the Gordon String