The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1935-06-07
Theme Of "Danse Macobre." by SointSoens

"a suggestion for using and
preserving the daily music
themes: The teachers Of several
classes In music appreciation re.
port that their pupils are clip
ping the themes each day and
pastinR them on 3x5-inch filing
cards, with the name Of the COM
poser at the top, and filing them
in alphabetical order by Com
pOsers.
A ghostly dance is wildly por'
trayed in "Danse Macabre," the
theme Of which appears above
Saint+Saens received his inspira'
ton for this tone poem from a
medieval poem, Dance Of Death"
The scene is in a graveyard; the
clock strikes IL followed by some
mysterious bass notes - e a t h
stalks among the graves in the
pale moonlight; he tunes his tid'
die as the spectres gather.
Death beats time on a stone
with a bone and the Spectres be-
gin their dance. After the dance,
a fugue-like movement pictures
the various groups Of spirits join
ing in the harmony; the bass
(the agedD starts the tune, then
the tenors (the middle-age0 en-
ter, then the altos youths, and
finally the sopranos (children)
The monotonous theme OF death
is repeated over and over.
A tender and pathetic chromatlc
passage interrupts the dance as II
the spirits are pausing to think OF
all the unfulfilled opportunities,
hidden sins, stolen pleasures and
scandals of their past life. Death
jmpatiently interrupts the re
morseful mood and drives them
on with the dance.
A series of chords indicate the
spirits confiding one to the other
their sorrows and woes, but Death
evermore drives them on until the
growing of a cock announces the
coming dawn; the spirits disperse
the cornet plays a calm melody to
show the majestic rising Of the
sun.
The one obstacle now in the
way of the summer series Of con
certS to be given by the National
Symphony Orchestra is a slight
controversy between the Orchestra
Association and the local Musi
clans Union. DR.. Hans Kinder
considers it essential to fill several
important chairs with musicians
from other locals as the number
available in the local union are
not sufficient to maintain the high
artistic standard of the orchestra
Mr.. c. c. Capped. manager OF
the National Symphony Orches
ira, reports that all matters per
tanning to the summer concerts
have been satisfactorily arranged
and definite announcement re
garding the first program awaits
only on this delay in obtaining
the necessary personnel.
The United States Army Band
under the direction of Lieut.
Thomas F.. Darcy will give a con
cert tonight at 1880 o'clock a.
the U. S. Capitol. The program
follows: march, King Cotton.
(SousA: overture. II Guarany,
Gomez: Saxophone solo. "Jul
lana" (Gurewich) played BY
Eugene Hostetter: grand scene
from Aida" (VerdD; dance
suite, 1.-THE Shoe" (AnselD; fo1
trot, "a Little White Gardenia.
(Coslow); selection from Mile
Modesto (Herbert); march, '"Tht
Regiments Return" Crosby.
A recital by the graduate schoo
will constitute the commencement
exercises of the Washington Mu
steal Institute, to be held at thu
school tonight at 8:15. Mary Pau
Freeman will be given a teacher!
diploma.
Dorothy Emery and Wills
Semple will present their piano
students in two class recitals Sat
urday afternoon and evening a
the Woodside Methodist Episco
pal Church, assisted by Norma
Simonson, soprano.
Three delightful al fresct
events are announced by the sum
mer Festival Committee of thu
Community Center Department
and the Office of the Nationa
Capitol Parks for the latter par
of this month at the Nationa
Sylvan Theater at the Washing
ton Monument.
The first event on June 10, a
8 o'clock, will open with a con
cert by the United States Arm!
Band, followed by a performance
of Gilbert and Sullivan's oper
alta The Mikado," presented b.
the Estelle Wentworth Opert
Group. In the cast of THE MI
kado" will be heard all the pop