The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-14
RARE PROGRAM
 PRESENTED HERE.
Westminster Chorus of In- ternatiOnaI Fame Was
 Artistic Musical Event

The Westminster Chorus con- ducted by John Finley Williamson presented Q program of old choral, modern and traditional foIk-tunes last night at the Waterbury Wcm- ems club auditorium in the second concert of the Fine Arts Series sponsored by the Mattatuck Musical Art society of this city. The unique group of about forty vocal artists was heard by c large and spon. taneous audience. Many enccfes were given after each group of songs, and MT. Williams prefaced each with some explanatory re. marks relative to the nature of the numbers or instances connected with their previous performances in other countries.
 The Westminster Chorus is per- haps the only singing ensemble of this particular nature, combining the qualities of both choir and con. cert choral organizations. Each one of the singers Is . musician In the true sense of the word. since all the works presented are sung . capella. For th'1 reason their musicianship Is outstanding, and this added to sensitive feeling for the text in- volved, as we'll as technical finish in the matter of attacks, phrasing, and accuracy as to pitch, makes for a smooth performance. The start and finish of each number were as finely tuned as a symphonic group of in- struments, the voices often re. sembling the qualities of same.
 The singers last night opened with Johann Sebastian, Bachs naotet, "sing Ye the Lord" with four move. ments as though. orchestrated, al- legro moderate, anda1te sostenuto, poco allegro and allegro vivace. In the second selection of songs there was nice variety of. more popular choral songs such as ."Walfe Up, Sweet Melody" by Noble Cain, with finely sustained work; a'negro work song. '"Water Boy by Avery Robin: son: Q typical cowboy song Who. pee i.Yi-Yo" by Godfrey O'Harat ! and last among the four 'The Show CT" by W. Angeli, which as MT. Wil- liamson said, was written for the chorus during one of their concert tours in Russia. The song was sung in Russian.
 Roy lTarris' choral symphony was among the most difhcult and tech nical of the program numbers. It was A skillfui demonstration of the modern school of choral writing, the music arranged to lines by Walt whitman. It was in three parts, "Song for All Seas, All Ships" "Tears," with the text spoken and sung, and Inscription" composed in the manner of c triple fugue, the only composition of this nature se written, as explained by MT. Will liamson. The introducing of the theme, and It's repetition in con- trapuntal style by another voice was varied with the introduction of one theme by the ladies, another by the male voice, and then another, with each theme always clearly defined.
 Jerome Kern"s "old Man River" Qeoffrey O'fIarra's arrangement of '"rhe Echo," Carl Augustus Fischer's "siumber Song, land Victory Song (Pawnee Indian song)" by Natalie Curtis, were the songs included In the final group. The last named. by the way, as was explained, Is said to be the only harmonized In- dian song and was recorded by the writer mentioned above, differing from most Indian music which describes . melody only without harmoni2atio The soprano echoes backstage in the second song were admirably achieved by members of the ensemble. The "Slumber Song" was beautifully effective. In this as In other vocal demonstrations of an unusual character the Westminster Chorus displayed . remarkable voice control The tenor solo work in we. ter Boy" "Old Man River" and other songc was highly commend able. John Baumgartner was the soloist. Mis- Helen Maitland did the incidental soprano solo work.
 Among the encores sung were two hymns Of the church, Sweet savioy,s," and Praise the Lord." also "Yn Egypt's Land, Let My People Go" "A Song Without Words" hummed throughout and for closing "Denediction."
 M. M.