Evening star., 1940-04-07

ner's "The Ride Of the Valkyrie" and
the "Lebestad" from Tristan and
Isolde"
Meanwhile, voting for the selec-
tions to be heard on the last con.
cert Of the season-the annual all
request program-closed yesterday.
The final results have not yet been
tabulated, but at this writing, in the
symphony classification, Beethoven's
Fifth in G Minor" Tchaikovsky's
Fifth in E Minor" and Sibelius'
Second in D Major" are leading,
In that order.
Mr.. Taylor, soloist in the Chaus-
son work, is an American trained,
American-born violinist. He ac-
cepted the chair of concertmaster
with the National Symphony in
October, 1888, and has been with
the orchestra in that capacity for
the past two seasons. Chausson's
'Poeme" has been played by the
National Symphony Orchestra twice
previously, the first time with Albert
Spalding as soloist, the second with
Jacqueline Salomons taking the solo
part. The "Poeme" for violin and
orchestra was written by the French
composer in 1896 and was first per-
formed on April 4, 1897, by Ysaye-
to whom it was dedicated.
Resigns From Navy.
Albert Roussel, composer OF the
"Sinfonietta" to be heard on the
latter part of Wednesdays program,
was a French naval officer, who
turned to the arts. Roussel resigned
from the navy in 1894 when he was
Is years old and became the pupil of
Vincent dTndy two years later, one
Of that masters first pupils at the
then newly founded Schola Can.
forum. The "Sinfonietta" (Op. So is
one of Roussel's later works. It was
first performed in 1894, three years
before the composers death on Au-
gust %. 1887 Its performance
Wednesday night marks the first
time 1t has been played by the Ma
tional Symphony and probably the
first time it has been performed in
washington.
Its inclusion in the program also
recalls the friendship which he al
ways had for America. Unlike many
of his compatriots, he viewed Amer
lea and American music making
from a point of a thorough un-
derstanding and was not above call
ing attention to our attitude to-
ward music with honest praise. At
the same time, his genius received
recognition in this country, although
not to the extent that it was appre-
ciated in his own. For in a time
when few French composers could
free themselves from the influence
Of Debussy, he managed to follow
his own style and also to work
himself to the first rank, although
beginning the study of composition
rather late in life. ..e 80
Albert Roussel came from an en-
vironment that in no way encour-
aged the following of music as a
profession. Destined for naval
career from an early age, it was
not until his college years that he
CHANGED upon the discovery that
music and the writing Of it were
to mean more to him than anything
else. In spite of the awakening Of
a desire for music. he continued his
naval studies, being assigned to a
training ship and eventually receiv-
ing his first commission. His initial
trip as a naval officer was to French
ndo-China, and the impression
that he then gathered colored both
his music and his life from thence
forth.
Home in Paris.
It was our privilege to form M.
Roussel's acquaintance in Paris and
to be invited to his home. Situated
in q quiet, aristocratic section of
the city, the whole atmosphere of
his apartment radiated the same
quiet and reserve. What struck
one most. in entering the drawing
room, was the predominance of blue