The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1938-04-08
SERVICE GROUPS
IN PANAMER|CAN'
MUSIC RECITAL.
By WILLIAM NEWMAN


The concert which framed
Secretary of State Hull'S address
in celebration of Pan-American
Day-read, in his absence by
UnderSecretary Sumner Welles
Offered music of most of the
nations Of either continent.
Doubtless with the limitations
OF the United States service or
chestra drawn from the bands
men of the Army, the Navy
and the Marines had been con-
Sidered by Lieutenant Benter,
Captain Branson and Captain
Darcy in selecting the program
which was confined to works
Of semipopular character.
This group Of musicians, able
In their special field of military
music, naturally lack both train
ing and experience in symphonic
art. Also they lack the advan-
tage of continuous rehearsal to-
gether under a single conduc-
tor. They are wise, therefore,
to avoid the more serious music.
Yet this imposes a disadvan-
tage. No citizen of this coun-
try may presume to say what is
typical of the best in the con-
temporary music of another
land; but it is permitted to as
Sert that Ferdie Grofe'S Missis-
Sippi suite, though clever and en-
Pertaining, is a far cry from the
music of Deems Taylor, John
Alden Carpenter, Leo Sowerby,
Howard Hansen or Earle De-
Iamarter.
PIANIST PLEASES
Under these circumstances
the representation of the better
Pvt NJ either continent was left
TO the greatly gifted Brazilian
p4,AIlSL, 4Noeml BIttencourt. She
is one of the most attractive and
efficient artists the season has
brought to Washington. She is
so expert that one forgetS every
mechanical consideration and
listens only to the music she
presents with poised enthu-
8iaSm.
She played first two little
pieces by Edward Mcdowell to
stress their humor and poetry
and their fragile, elfin senti-
ment, if there can be such a
quality. Thereafter she offered
the music of her own land.
Brief, brilliant pieces by Miguez,
Netto, Mignone and Villa-Lobos
she made to sparkle and pulse,
and to display a variety of at
tractive qualities. She made the
hit Of the evening.
OF the orchestra numbers the
first, a symphonic suite by Vim
cente Ascone of Uruguay, was
the most ambitious. It is a
modern and atmospheric piece
demanding the resources of
finely disciplined ensemble, lack
Ing on this occasion. Domingo
Eantos of Salvador contributed
a good waltz which was well
played. The Brazilian rhapsody
by Luis Levy also lay within the
limitations of the orchestra, as
did the brilliant Mexican march
by Ccdina.
WALTER-MARTIN RECITAL
It was more difficult to pass
on the merits of the one move
ment symphony by Alberto Will
GamS, of Argentine, which suf-
fered by the disparity of tone
between strings and brasses, but
the Indian dance by Galimany,
OF Panama, had fine rhythms
a nd attractive color. The
"Berceuse" for strings and wood
winds by Duran, of Ecuador, de-
veloped nice feeling and char
&cteristic melody.
A joint recital by Wilhelmina
Spandhoofd Walter, soprano,
and Josef Martin, pianist, was
heard by a select group at the
Arts Club last night. Mrs. Wal
ter, who has a cool but sympa-
thetic voice and a nice sense of
style, dealt expertly and taste
fully with a Haydn song and
ais by Bach and Mozart. The
pianist, however, proved to be
no virtuoso. Rhythmically I'M
stable, unschooled in style and
tradition, he, nevertheless, drove
through the great C minor varia-
lions of Beethoven with so much
evidence of personal conviction
that his listeners forgave him
his sins against the classic art
of Haydn.