Evening star., 1940-04-24
Mozart Mass
Is Superbly
Executed
St. Alban's Choir
Impressive Under
Nash's Direction
By ALICE EVERSMAN.

Excellent in every detail was the
performance of MozartS Requiem
Mass" by st. Adams Choir, under
the direction of Walter Nash, organ
ist and choirmaster, last evening. at
st. Adams Church. This work OF
Mozart's, which Otto Jahn described
as his imperishable monument !"
was sung with the utmost reverence
by the singers, whose voices are
admirably .adapaed for bringing out
the varied coloring of this remark
able composition. It was given with
organ accompaniment. E. William
Bracket. organist and choirmAster
Of st. Johns Church, Georgetown,
being at the console in Mr.. Nash's
place, and the regular choir was
augmented by q group of singers
from other ctoirs in the city.
Throughout the Requiem" the
score Of which calls upon a wide
vocal range and the best Of musician
ship, the singers showed the pre-
cision Of their training and the
careful planning for pronounced
effects. The tonal quality of the
group is exceptional in its mellow
ness and purity, even when giving
forth its full volume. Mr.. Nash
skillfully kept the amount of sound
well adjusted to the size of the
church apd the result was most
pleasing to the ear as well as being
a medium for devotional expression.
The singing throughout was clean
cut In the matter of attack and
in the building up of effects, all of
which was accomplished with mu-
sicianly finish.
The contrast between the mems
and women's voices could be most
thoroughly appreciated in the Con-
futatis," where the lovely pianissimo
with which the women's part was
given formed an effective compile
ment to the rich, full tone of the
men. In the following 'Lacrymosa, !"
the crescendo which grew out of the
very softly toned beginning was one
of the finest bits of choral singing
of the evening.
In the difficult fugues of the
"Kyrie," the "Sanctus" and the finale
of the "Agnus DEL" the singing of
the chorus was exceptional in every
respect. The different vocal Sec
tions sustained their line with clar-
ity and rhythmic exactness, con-
serving roundness Of tone and purity
of intonation. Excessive demands
are repeatedly made in the Re
QUEEN" on the highest registers of
the sopranos, yet the singers met
the demands without the slightest
sacrifice of the velvety quality Of
their voices.
Solos and ensemble numbers were
sung by Charlotte Ridley Watkins,
soprano; Teresa Shrader, contralto;
H. Granville Leef, tenor, and
Thomas N. Leef, bass. Led by the
unusually lovely soprano of Mrs.
Watkins, the four singers gave a
striking performance of the Tuba
mirum," the "Recardare" and espe-
cially Of the "Benedictus," which
was impressive for its devout senti-
ment. Mr.. Nash, whose authori-
tative directing dominated the pres
entation, has a keen feeling for
vocal effects and an equally positive
respect for musical traditions. He
infused the reading Of the "Re-
QUEEN" with an exaltation that was
both moving and inspiring.
This great work into which Mo-
zart, feeling his own end approach
ing, put the full power of his
genius, has little of somber .charac-
ter as ordinarily associated with a
mass for the dead. It moves up
ward in spirit with the same fresh
ness and spontaneity that never
deserted him, yet colored with a
deeper note Of poignant meaning.
In the portions Of the work that
are now definitely established as
coming from his pen, the finesse OF
execution and the glowing depth Of
feeling are easily recognized rs his.
In the "Sanctus," "Benedictus" and
part Of the "Agnus Del" which were
completed by his pupil, Suessmayr,
from the outline and by the instruc.
tionS Of kosart, the writing d more