The Washington times., 1937-02-01
By CARL L. DENIES

By CARL L. DENIES
Winifred Cecil, American
soprano, won a prolonged ovation
yesterday afternoon when she
appeared as soloist with the
National Symphony Orchestra
under the direction Of DR.. Hans
Kinder at Constitution Hall.
Singing several operate arias
with orchestra accompaniment,
Miss Cecil showed a greater ma
turity of voice than when last
heard here in the summer Of 1885,
although the use Of poor ampli-
fication apparatus at that time
prevents accurate comparison.
Certainly she was more sure OF
herself yesterday and the ease OF
tone production was especially
noteworthy.
At the close Of her group Of
songs after the intermission, she
responded with two encores,
repeating "Du bist der Lenz,"
from Die Walkure," (Wagner. .
Her voice has resonant volume
ample enough to carry with a
rather heavy orchestra accom-
paniment. The unifority Of tone
color in her entire range is
beautiful.
DR.. Kinder presented a group
of orchestral gems in the Gluck-
Motif Suite" which, while ar
ranged from four different Gluck
operas, still fitted together suffi-
ciently in spirit and style as if
they had been originally intended
for suite.
Brilliant and sometimes weird
coloration of the Introduction
and Cortege de Noces," from lie
Coo dor" (Rimsky-KorsakoW),
was highly appreciated by the
audience. The heavy use Of brass
in parts of this work brings to
mind something this reviewer has
been listening for all of this sea-
son. With the advent of a new
bass tuba player in the orchestra
the usual tones Of a symphonic
bass tuba have been sadly lacking.
From all appearances and
sounds emanating therefrom, the
tuba must be one of the large bore
instruments known as recording
basses; whereas a symphonic tuba
is of smaller bore and gives a
sharper tone more akin to the
bass trombone. The recording
bass type of instrument, gives a
tone that blends too closely with
the string-baSSeS. In fact this
type of instruments was designed to
be used in q concert band to imi-
tate the sound of the string-baSs.
AS the tuba player doubles on
the string-bass when the score
does not call for a tuba, we see no
necessity for him to ever lay down
the bow until a regular symphonic
tuba horn is available. Owing to
the fact that most symphony or
chestras carry only one tuba
player, hence demand for only
few dozen such instruments in
the entire country. it is easy to
explain the scarcity of a SYM
phonic tuba instrument. If the
avowed artistic level of the Ma
tional Symphony Orchestra is to
be maintained, should this not in
clude the brasses as well as the
strings?
The delightful delicacy of the
Dream Pantomime" from "Hansel
and Gretel," CHumperdinck) and
the contrasting boisterous rhythm
of the Entrance of the Come
dians," from The Bartered
Bride" (Smetana) brought the
concert to a close amidst the roar
of plaudits and DR.. Kinder gave
as an encore. Wagner's "Traume." I"
The theme shown above Is from
waltz. Spring Night in Vienna" !"
by Bainbridge Crist, whose works
are gaining favor in this country.
This waltz will be heard tomorrow
night on the program of the U. S.
Navy Band Symphony Orchestra
at 8 o'clock at the Navy Yard Sail
Loft.
AS the auditorium used by the
| U. S. Marine Band at the Marine