Evening star., 1936-12-06
Famous Old Instruments
Played in Concerts
Gertrude Whittall Foundation Provides
Rare Treat for Music Lovers
in Washington.

WEDNESDAY evening, OeCemper q.
They played again at the Friday
afternoon concert, December 4.
The concerts, given in the Elizabeth
Coolidge Auditorium in the Library
of Congress, will include during the
season the following programs: We'd
nesday evening, December IS, the
Gordon Quartet; Friday afternoon,
December 10, the Gordon Quartet;
Wednesday evening, January 6, the
Musical Art Quartet; Friday after
noon, January 8, the Musical Art
Quartet: Wednesday evening, Janu-
ary q, the Roth Quartet. and Friday
afternoon, January 90, the Roth
Quartet. This will close the Winters
season. The afternoon concerts will
begin at $50 o'clock and the evening
concerts at o'clock. Also, music
lovers will be delighted to know, all
doors will be closed when the con.
cert begins, until after the first num-
ber has been played. There will be
no reserved seats. Announcements
will be made prior to concert dates
in the local papers and tickets may
be secured free by music lovers, from
Arthur Smith, distributor. At every
concert the beautiful Stradivari in
struments will be taken from their
permanent display cases in the rare
book room of the Library of Con-
gress and played upon by the artists.
7 Asst YEAR. as sort Of "celebra-
ton" of the Library's new
musical accession, concert was given
in the Chamber Music Auditorium
through the courtesy of Mrs. Whittall,
and on this occasion Pochon played
his "Ballade" in public for the first
time, This work, his own COMPOSE
ton, was dedicated to Mrs. Whittall,
and on that occasion, the famous
Belts" Stradivari, conceded to be the
most perfect and most beautiful violin
the master ever made, was played by
Louis Krasner. The music world was
wildly enthusiastic. An unprece-
dented interest was manifested and
requests for information about the
collection and more Of its donor came
pouring into the Office Of the curator.
With the announcement of the in
auguration of the foundation con-
certs this month, there has been
aroused great national interest and
appreciation.
1T is a dream come true" Mrs.
Whittall says in answer, "One never
knows the end. 1t was an interest
that grew and grew"
Petite and charming as Dresden
figure in her astrakhan fllrs and her
astrakhan toque, this soft-voiced little
lady. with a slow, happy smile. spoke
of the origin Of her interest, that led
through the years to the acquisition
of the Incompatible Stradivari that
are now the property Of the United
States.
II am not a musician myself" she
says. Il cannot play any musical
instrument, but I have always been
interested in music and musicians,
and have always had q deep appre-
citation Of them and their value in
the life Of an individual.
MY real introduction to the
choicest in chamber music came, IS
I said before, when the Fonzaley
Quartet first came to America. They
played for me and my guests in
my home In Worcester. They left
an impression upon me that has never
been eradicated. It was as If I knew
then, subconsciously, that some day
I must play part In making such
music available. America Is q won
derful country, but we need more
music here. In Boston once, at one
Of the Summer concerts on the
Esplanade, conducted by the inspir.
ing Arthur Fielder, I saw . fine,
sturdy Italian, pushing Q baby car
riage in which there were two small
children.
"The first number on this program
strangely enough for out Of doors
was Beethoven. The Italian lifted
first one child and then another on
his shoulder so they might hear the
music. have never forgotten the
expression on his face. He had brought
these two children to the public park
Just to hear the Beethoven number.
When it was finished he departed,
pushing his baby carriage ahead Of
him. That is real love Of music. It
is priceless heritage. We need more
of it here in America.
Later, at Juniper Hall, my home in
Shrewsbury, I was absorbed in my
Garden Of Sweet Remembrance
happy In possession Of my flowers.
After my husband died, when no
longer had my garden to care for, I
found I had to have something pre-
cious to look after. For several years
I Lived IN s0''07 Groups Of nu''-