The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-11-08

Music of the early masters, the Austrian masters, instrumental mu- sic for the block flute choir, folk songs and mountain calls and yodels from the Austrian Alps comprised the program of the Halzburg Trapp Choir last night at the Waterbury Women's club. This presentation, something distinctive in program music, was the first concert of the sort ever offered in this city, and marked the first of the Fine Arts concerts sponsored again this sea- son by the Mattatuck Musical Arts society. The impression made last night by a musicIanly and sustained as well as restrained technique of the unique a capella octet was a favorable one.
 Audience Appreciated
 The audience appreciated to the fullest the capabilities of a family group, mother, five daughters and two sons, each an intelligent mu- sician without the distinction of being great soloists. There was no exceptional voice among the Won Trapp family, but each had c- ocific qualities and all blended favorably as one voice. All artists had per- feet pitch, singing the entire pro- gram unaccompanied. This family of Baron Won Trapp demonstrated the fine old custom, especially prac- ticed in Europeon countries, of in- timate music in the family, all edu- cated in the best traditions of good music. In addition to singing the family Von Trapp played old in- Struments, the block-fiute, gamba da viol, recorders, and the spinet, Dr. Franz Washer, conductor for the group, presiding at the last named.
 The music as presented by the Won Trapp Choir did not call for any great dramatic feeling, but a lightness of ftouch, that was given delicately and skillfully. Two male voices of the sons, Dr. Rupert Won Trapp and Warner Won Trapp har- monized gracefully with the alto and soprano voices of Marie Augusta, Agathe, Maria, Joan, Hedwig and Martina Won Trapp. Their selections dated from the middle sixteenth century down to the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, beginning with "Wie Schon leuchetet der 7Iorgen- stern" from one of Johann Sebas- tian Bach's best chorals.' followed by Purcell's Lord, Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart in Peace"
 Old Choral Work
 This first part of the program also included "Nunc Dimittis" writ ten for morning service at Vest minister Abbey in 1880: "The Silver Swan" by Orlando Gibbons, and Come Away Sweet Love and Play" by Thomas Greaves. The finest specimens of old choral work were included, the section ending with "Landsknechtstaendchen" by Or lando di Lasso with its ringing "don, don, don" refrain.
 In the Austrian Masters group the singers opened with part of the Catholic liturgy for Good Friday. '"Tenebrae factus sunt" by Johann GsAA1ob GOC4 AAAs 44Cy odAA6 AAOAA 00O- zart "Bruder reicht die Hand gum Bunde" and Ave Maria; from Schu- bert the lovely Der Lindenbaum" and from Brahms "Die Waldes- nacht," and "Von alten Liebeslie- dern." The singers were not ap- preciably better in one group of the program than another but their per- formance of the songs by the Aus trian masters was a rare treat.
 An example of early orchestral music as was furnished and the in- struments used by the musicians of an earlier time was given last night in the instrumental section of the program. Dr. Washer, director, pre- sided at the quaint spinet with its stringy tone q .ality. The grc'lp in troduced a trio, Sonata for two recorders and spinet with five short movements all in the early sonata form: a Suite for block-f1uet choir, gamba and spinet, and lastly Sare bande and Curante," the last named by Matthew Locke. the first by George Phillip Telleman, and the