davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1939-02-05
By Rosa P0nseUe.

A friend of mine dropped in on
me the other day just as 1 was
signing through the last of my
morning mail. My" she said, look
ing at letters piled high on my
breakfast table. this is the life!
Applause on the stage and more OF
the same thing in the mail. 1t must
be grand to be famous!"
That sounds very nice. but all
fan letters aren't bouquets, and
fame has its penalties. There are
always those touching and earnest
pleas from young students who
want to make a career of singing
and don't quite know how to begin
or what to do next if they have
begun. They sadden me because I
feel so helpless before this faith
of theirs in my ability to provide
the right answers.
Music asks SO much of those who
dedicate themselves to it that one
hesitates to assume the RESPONSE
bility of advising any one.
The first and foremost answer
must come from within yourself
1 can't supply the answer; only the
question. To every young hopeful
1 would say, first of all ask your
self this:
rs music such a terrific urge
within me that nothing else will
do?"
Ask yourself that question and an
swer it honestly. If the answer is
yes" then nothing in this world
can stop you from trying. You'd be
miserable If you didn't. And-yes-
perhaps miserable If you do. Be-
cause there will be times when
everything will seem hopeless. when
you'll be so tired in mind and body.
so nervous and distraught that you'll
wish you had peaceful, unexact-
ing job as typist or bank clerk:
any profession but music, which will
give you no peace and very little
time to be young in. Every once IN
a while you'll catch yourself miss
ing gay parties-family and friends
you may have left behind-that
extra helping of mashed potatoes
or chocolate cake.
Urge Which Compels.
In this frame of mind you'll be
an easy victim for self-pity. But
don't indulge it. Don't feel sorry
for yourself It's futile and, what's
more, it's dangerous. 1t skaters
your morale. it breaks your conf
dence and it makes you weak. II
you're meant for music and music is
meant for you. you'll bounce back
for more in spite of disappoint-
ments. because you can't help your
self; because you would rather re-
joice with it and suffer for 1t than
live without 1t.
Given the proper amount of de-
termination, success or failure will
depend largely upon what you have
to offer and how we'll your talent is
directed. And this brings up an
interesting question that has been
put to me many times: How can I
be sure that I have enough talent?"
For one thing, you must be able to
Evening star., 1939-02-05
SINGER HELPS YOUNG BEGINNERS
Success or Failure Depends on Endowment
,ends on Endowment

analyZe yourself 1t isn't enough
that your friends say you're won-
derful and you really should study
seriously" Don't be too impressed
| by words like these. 1t may be
f1attery-and beware of that-or it
may be just a polite gesture they feel
obliged to make
On the other hand. they could be
right. If you honestly think they
are, If you believe in yourself and
are convinced that your career must
be music, then put yourself in the
hands of good teacher.
Degrees of Talent.
Remember, though, that there are
three degrees of talent-great talent,
small talent, and another talent
that lies somewhere between these
two. The finest teacher cannot do
more than help you to develop your
talent, of whatever degree, to the
fullest extent. II natural endoW-
ment and capacity for hard work
are limited. teacher cannot be
expected to accomplish the limitless.
He won't work miracles. But a good
teacher can do wonders for a poten-
TALLY good or great talent. Don't
forget there is room for all three tai
ents when developed to their fullest
and with each you can have q
career.
1 want to quote from a letter that
came to me recently from a girl in a
small city here in the East
Miss Ponselle, I think I have a
good voice and have been making
such progress under a conscientious
teacher here that my friends are urg-
ing me to go to New York City for
further study and more opportuni-
ties. have already won a position
as soloist in the most important
church in our city. An uncle, who
is sympathetic with my ambitions,
has offered to lend me the money
for the trip and study, and I have
saved enough to support myself for
about six months. After that l Shall
have to finance my own way. Do
you advise me to do that?"
Ny dear young lady. would say
to her, if your congregation likes
you. continue to please them. We
need good church singers. Voice,
the ability to sing artistically and
intelligently, are just the funda-
mental requirements. So much
more is demanded The road is
hard and discouraging. If you en-
Joy singing. sing for pleasures sake
and don't make a business of it.
Choose some congenial vocation and
continue your singing as an avoca-
ton.
But if your talent is unusual,
and you must sing and feel that
you cannot be happy in any other
profession. then any and all sacri-
fees will be worth while
Must Study All Arts.
Then start out-f1nd the best
teacher you can, and 60 to it.
Learn how to use your voice to
the maximum capacity Singing is
hard work. and it means keeping
everlastingly at it. I work harder
now trying to better my best than
when I made my debut at the Met
ropolitan. Study all the arts. They
Evening star., 1939-02-05

music came into vogue, the adapta-
bility of the harp to express much OF
its shimmering quality was instantly
recognized. Gradually composers
are taking a new interest in this
instrument and striving to write
music that will utilize its descriptive
range, such as the harmonics, its
guitar and xylophone tones, and
even a drum effect, besides its pecu-
liar power of producing a smothered
tone and the illusion of falling hail.
To Belgian professor at the Paris
Conservatoire. Alphonse Hasselmans,
belongs the honor of awakening a
new interest in the harp. He not
only wrote most playable music for
the instrument. but had as pupils
such men as Carlos Salzedo. Marcel
Tournier and Henriette Renie, who
have so nobly carried on the tradi-
ton he set. The output of his pupils
in the field of composition and that
of others has more or less relegated
the compositions of Hasselmans to
an advanced student repertoire, but
his fame lives on in the outstanding
work which he inspired his followers
to do.
French Contribution.
1t is something of a coincidence
that most Of the prominent COM
posers for the harp, as we'll as the
makers instrumental in its latest
developments, were Frenchmen.
Even Mr.. Salzedo was born and edu-
Gated in France Ravel, Saint
Saens and Faure have contributed
a great number of worth-w while
works to the harp literature, while
many of Debussy's compositions
adapt themselves ideally to harp
use. The most celebrated of the
modern French exponents, both in
compositions and performance, is
Marcel Grandjany. who has learned
his composing technique by a thor
ough study of old masters. Brows-
ing through ancient manuscripts in
old libraries, he has made many dis
coveries of great value which he has
arranged for the harpists' profess
sional USE
In this country, at present. is one
of the greatest of all the harp artists
and composers, Carlos Salzedo.
Through his study and research, he
has succeeded in adding new color
to the harp technique and in open
ing up many hitherto unrealized re-
sources. But even with all the prog
ress that the harp has known with
in the last decade. it still remains
a rarity in the concert hall. The
public is not yet familiar with its
new investiture of Importance, the
composers have not yet thoroughly
digested its possibilities and the
performing artists are still few in
number. Having the occasion to
hear the harp in the hands of real
artists more often will spread the
of 1t that it deserves.
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Choral Society Asks
Aid for Season

The Washington Choral Society,
Of which Louis A. Potter Is director,
is engaged in its annual "subscrip-
ton period" when music lovers and
music patrons are invited to con-
tribute to the support of the organ
izatien for the coming year, in order
that the progress already made by
this local organization of more than
$50 singers may develop into an even
finer choral program for the sea-
sons yet to come.
The next appearance Of the WASH
ington Choral Society will be ut
Washington Cathedral March 20.
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Pons Recital Cancelled

The song recital of Lily Pons,
coloratura soprano of the Metro
politan Opera, which was to
have taken place this afternoon
at Constitution Hall has been
Cancelled due to the illness of
Miss Pons. Tickets for this
recital, under the management
of Dorothy Hodgkin Dorsey,
whether purchased singly or In
series, may be redeemed If pre-
sented for refund at Mrs. Dor
sey's concert bureau In Droop's,
1900 G street NV. any time
during the month of February.
Tickets may also be exchanged
for admission to the John
Charles Thomas recital in Con-
stitution Hall on February 81.
Evening star., 1939-02-05

sunday AZ pm.
Rosa Ponselle will sing two arias,
"Divinites du Styx," from Gluck's
"Alceste,' and "Mariettas Lied"
from Korngold's die Tote Stadt."
Her first appearance with the Ma
tional Symphony since the special
inaugural concert In 1888, Thurs
days concert will give Washington
music lovers an opportunity to hear
this great dramatic soprano with
full orchestra accompaniment.
For the remainder Of the program
DR.. Kinder will present Beethoven's
Eighth Symphony" Borodin's "On
the Steppes of Central Asia" Ba-
lakirev's "Islamey" and the overture
of Lalo's opera, lie Roi d'Ys."
Special attention is called to the
fact that the midweek concert this
week will be given on Thursday
night instead of on Wednesday night
as is customary.
Rosa Ponselle's career, we'll known
as it. is. has been one of the most
dramatic in the history of the Amer
ican vocal art. BY general agree
ment, hers must be ranked as one
of the greatest soprano voices that
America has ever produced.
Started Obscurely.
Starting obscurely in cafes and
motion picture theaters in her home
town of Meriden, Conn, and in New
Haven, she joined with her sister,
Carmela, to pursue highly success
full career in the vaudeville field.
But she was destined for greater
things and, after studying arduously
to perfect her vocal technique and
dramatic Interpretation, she made
her debut at the Metropolitan Opera
In 1918 as Leonora in Verdis La
Fora del Destino," in cast that
included Caruso.
Her triumph in this role was fol-
lowed by sensational successes in
numerous new and revived works.
Possibly her crowning achievement
was the tremendous performance of
the leading part in Bellini's
Norma which had been neglected
for 81 years at the Metropolitan be-
cause no singer had been found who
could negotiate its peruous heights.
In the last few years Miss Ponselle
has devoted herself almost exclusive
ly to concert and recital work.
The two arias Miss Ponselle will
sing are in sharp contrast, the first
being the work of the famous 18th
century composer, Gluck, the second
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Music to Aid Spain

The Musicians Committee of
Washington, for aid to children of
Spain, presents the second of a chill
dren's music series of four fort
nightly concerts on Saturday after
noon, at 2:30, In Pierce Hall, Fiji
teenth and Harvard streets NV.
The artists will be the Pro-Musica
String Quartet, Milton Schwartz,
Ralph Hersch, Jeno Sevely and
William Brennand,. with Phyllis
Schwartz, young pianist, augment
ing the quartet in Schubert quin-
tet. Tickets are available at head
quarters Of the Friends Of Spanish
Democracy.
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Cantata Tonight

The "Deluge," a Biblical cantata
by Saint -Saens, will be sung to-
night at 8 o'clock by the choir OF
Hamline Methodist Church, Six
teenth street at Allison NV. The
choir of so voices is under the direc-
ton of John Marville, who is also
the bass soloist. The other soloists
are Ethel Stickles, soprano; Mabel
Flehr, contralto, and John Murphy,
tenor. The accompaniment will be
played by Lyman s. McCrary. Or
ganist, and Elizabeth Rankin King,
pianist. There y no admission
charge,
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Mrs. Murray to Sing

The fifth concert in the series
sponsored by Howard University will
be a recital by Charlotte Wallace
Murray, contralto, on Tuesday eve
ming in Rankin Memorial Chapel.
Mrs. Murray is a former resident OF
Washington and has given many
highly successful recitals in various
eitiek
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Cantata With Solos

The choir of st. Johns Church,
Sixteenth and H streets. will sing
sacred cantata No. 1870, Deck Thy
self, My Soul, With Gladness," by
j. S. Bach, under the direction of
Arthur Howes, F. A. G. O., on Mon
day, February 13, at $3.50 pm.
Evening star., 1939-02-05

-
factor in concert performance as well
receiving portion Of the attention
COMPOSERS, with the consequence
that its potentialities are being en-
larged and will continue to be as It's
possibilities for greater musical ex-
preston are more and more recog-
niZed.
The standard of performance has
been considerably raised within the
last few years, and we are acknoWl-
edging it's exponents as artists OF the
top rank for perhaps the first time
in the centuries that the harp has
been in use. The days when a few
charming glissandos or rushing ar
peggios constituted the range OF the
harp's appeal have passed, and
through the earnest endeavors OF
number of outstanding harpists. the
public is being acquainted with its
many deeper resources Of musical
value.
In Continuous Use.
Many Improvements that have
been added in the construction Of
the harp gave the first assistance to
this advancement Although its
origin is lost in the mists of an
tiquity, it is the one instrument that
has always been in some sort OF use
from that faraway time to the
present day. It's graceful shape of
the earlier days, lacking the front
pillar, permitted of only sweet, soft
tone and no technical accomplish
ment other than that of the SIM
plest kind. After many experiments
in overcoming the problem OF tuning
and of playing IN different keys, the
present type Of instrument was per-
iected
Coming from out of the Far East,
rhe harp gradually invaded Europe,
becoming identified especially with
the music of Ireland Scotland and
Wales. But the Western form diff
fered from that of the East by the
presence of a front pillar, which was
the first step toward the important
improvements that the compare
lively recent years have brought. For
in this pillar now lies the mechanism
that gives the range and variety to
harp playing.
The sweetness of the medieval
harp. which supplied the musical re-
taxation of troubadour days, has not
been sacrificed in the modern in
strument. but so great has been its
appeal that it remained for some
time the principal reason for harp
effects in the orchestra and more or
less influenced the type of program
in recital work. Composers, because
of their limited knowledge of the
scope Of the harp, were chary in
writing for it, and conductors have
not been energetic in sponsoring its
more extensive use. Now, however,
e new impetus has been given to
harp composition and to harp play
ing by its devotees. who realize the
future of an instrument which has
long outstripped that popular form
used In the time Of Bach, Mozart and
even Beethoven.
Old Masters Music.
The music of the old masters, how
ever, is especially we'll adapted to
the harp, whose tone more nearly
approximates that of the clavichord
than does the piano tone. Artists
Of the instrument have arranged
this music for harp use in their
effort to get away from the innane
repertoire that was all the harpist
had to call upon. When modern
Evening star., 1939-02-05
In Local Music Circles

soprano. in full-length song recital
Wednesday evening at $3.50 o'clock
at the Washington Club. Seven.
teenth and K streets NV. Miss
Miller will be accompanied at the
piano by Allison Sanderford. The
program will include songs in Italian,
French, German and English.
Sophocles Papas announces that
his guitar, mandolin and banjo or.
chestra will begin regular rehearsals
for the spring season on Monday at
pm. in Pierce Hall, at Fifteenth
and Harvard streets. Former mem
bers are cordially invited to join.
Sylvia Kaplowitz of the Homer L.
Kilt School of Music will present
her students in accordion and piano
in recital on Friday evening at 8
o'clock at the Kilt Recital Hall, 1923
G street NV. A feature of the pro-
gram will be a group of numbers,
played by Mrs. Kaplowitzs profess
sional group. featuring Frederick
Farris and Mervin Cohen, who will
be presented with their diplomas.
and the Kilt Accordionettes, Miriam
Madden and William Claiborne. The
public is invited There is no admis-
sion fee.
The Agriculture Chorus will next
be heard when they present a pro-
gram Of favorite selections from
their repertoire at the annual en-
tertainment and dance of the CO.
lumbia Chapter of Royal Arch Ma.
sons at the Mayflower Hotel on
Friday.
Soloists and the chorus from Es-
ther Linkins' studio will give a pro.
gram at the National Lutheran
Home for the Aged Saturday at
$3.50. On Tuesday. February II. at
7:l5 pm, they will sing at the
Home for 1ncurables.
A reception and musical recently
was given by the Washington Alum
nae Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon, mu-
sic honor sorority, for their national
honorary sisters in the field of music,
Sigma Alpha Iota, at the Washing
ton Musical Institute. Sylvia Meyer,
harpist of the National Symphony
Orchestra, played several harp So
los by Salzedo, her composer-teach-
er, and accompanied Vera Neeley
Ross, president of the local chapter
of Mu Phi, in group of songs.
Quinta Frey accompanied Miss
Meyer in the Introduction and
Allegro" by Ravel. Margaret Tolson,
concert pianist, gave q group Of
piano solos.
The Chevy Chase Chanters, under
the direction Of j. Horace Smithey,
made two appearances during the
last week before Washington organ
izations. On Thursday evening this
popular group of male singers pre-
sented program at q gala meeting
Of the La Fayette Lodge at the
Masonic Building and on the fol-
lowing evening sang at the anni-
versary dinner to celebrate the 50th
year of the Vaughn Bible Glass.
The pupils of Eta Schmid Wells
and Marjory Morrison Smith from
both the senior and junior groups
Of the Esmu Club met Saturday aft
ernoon in the Cleveland Park Stu.
dios for a program Of solo, duet and
two piano numbers.
Evening star., 1939-02-05
Harp Rises to New Rank
In Musical Expression
Technique Has Gained in
Color and Composers Give
Greater Charm
Bv Alice Eversman.

evoons that contributed the development
felt
period
long last 1t is
both students
Evening star., 1939-02-05
MUSIC.
American Music Leads
In Symphony Programs
Rosa Ponselle This Week
Is One of Greatest
Native Sopranos
Native Sopranos

American music and musicians will be the spotlight
two OF the National Orchestra for
great American will
$50 o'clock Paul Nordon
world of his
Evening star., 1939-02-05

Soloists and the chorus from Es.
ther Linkins' studio will give a pro-
gram at the National Lutheran
Home for the Aged Saturday at
$3.50. On Tuesday. February II. at
tbs pm, they will sing at the
Home for Incurables.
Evening star., 1939-02-05

The Agriculture Chorus will next
be heard when they present a pro-
gram OF favorite selections from
their repertoire at the annual en-
tertalnment and dance of the Co.
lumbia Chapter of Royal Arch Ma
sons at the Mayflower Hotel on
Friday.
Evening star., 1939-02-05

The pupils of Eta Schmid Wells
and Marjory Morrison Smith from
both the senior and Junior groups
Of the Esmu Club met Saturday aft
ernoon in the Cleveland Park Stu
dios for a program Of solo, duet and
two piano numbers.
Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1939-10-26
CIRCULATION NOTICE

In the cOOPERAToR we have incorporated the
comuunit y's and the viewpoints Of Of
your nG ghbors. Give the staff your criticisms
and suggestions if you want better newspaper.
We ask you to mention the COOPERATOR when pa
tronizing the firms which make this paper pos
sihle by their advertising.
If you do not get your copy Of the COoPERATOR
each week notify the office in Room 2O2 the
drug store, or phone Mrs. Warner, 1866.
The price Of five cents copy Will remain
for mailed subscriptions and for single copies
purchased at the drug store or at our office.
Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1939-10-26

quite a Large order for any Christian or Jew to
undertake, to be sure; and from the standpoint Of
courage and intestinal forti tude, it requires heap
of bravery to work and fight for stable effec
tive democracy in this country, because there WON'T
be any bands playing and flags waving and nobs
cheering to spur these "soldiers"
Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1939-10-26
-FOUR BOOKS" is Ids. TOPIC

"Four Books" will be discussed by Elder Dix Price
at the services Of the Church of the latter Day
Saints Sunday evening at O'Clock in the Social
Room Of the School.
Elder Price Of the speakers at the Green
belt Cooperative Institute earlier in October. The
four books w CHI will form the basis of his SOUS
sion are "Grapes Of Wrath", rGone wi tn the Wind,
"Chi1d of God", and the Book of iomon.
Greenbelt cooperator. (Greenbelt, Md.) 1937-1954, 1939-10-26
MeditatiOns
by
Robert Lee Kinche1oe
Minister to the
Gre enbe1t Communt ty Church


tla.Z by Ha1ford Luccock:
The Church must try to deliver people from dis
torted views of the (war) situation which from
the false snpli Of the issues. Hate is one
of the strongest migrating forces known to man.
It crowds out Of the mind tn ings which must be
to Tt crowds out Of the mind tn ings Viii Oh must
be left there if clear picture is to be had. Our
task is to help people think with their minds rather
than wi tn their emotions... II do not how clear
thinking about this can be done unless there is
clear remembrance of the blu1ders of ritish and
French statesmen in creating the while pursuing
what they deemed to be the interests of their social
and economic class. Now, of course, in the present
situation, that is both difficult and distastefu1.
We will be greeted with angry, "Nty' dig up the
past? Let bygones be bygones." Yet if do that,
We are condemned to get an utterly romantic and mis-
leading idea Of the present conf1ict...
There is an irony in the fact that the control-
ing factor in the policy Of the Tory group which has
governed England has been a jittery, almost patho~
logical fear of Russia, and consequently Of any up
setting liberal leftward movement in England.
That fear has finally given them Russia, linked to
Germary...
This history does not need to be read in the
books Of outside critics of Great Britain and France,
It has never been wildly set forth than by
Winston Churchill in his Step BY Step, published
this He writes: when I think Of all the
opportunities of arreSting the growth Of azi power
and when 7 think Of the immense benefits and
neglected and squandered,I cannot think that
parallel exists in the whole course of history"
Lord Lothian, the present ambassador from Great B
tain, in 1895 revealed the policy which Ia led to
such saster when he said, "Hitler Will be a buff
fer between Great Britain and Mar7ist Russia" The
policy has not been the defense of democracy, Of
the rights of small nations, but the Strengthening
of Nazi Germany nprotection" from Russia, an
encouragement to Germany to "go east". Stain, not
being absolute fool, through it...
To write or say anything Like the above does not
that am at all lacking in sympathy with Eng
land and France in the present an not. But
such knowledge Of history must go into think
ing. do not believe in paying for the ineptitudes
ard betraya1s Of British and French Tory policy wi tn
thousands Of American ives...
The for neutra1it y must continue to be put
not on low motives but high ones-the motive of
preserving democracy and human values and resources
for the service of the world after the war, rather
than reck1essly wasting them...
Also the preacher is left in trust with the
cial problems of our country, such as the vigi1ant
defense Of civil liberties, always first casualty
in wartime and the wide range Of tasks Of defending
feried Inv main democrac1 that ,1o1cs fo,.