Evening star., 1940-12-12
Concerts Given
In Two Churches
BY ELENA DE SAYN.

An atmosphere of peace on earth
and good will among men" reigned
in the dramatic hall of the Foundry
Methodist Church and at the Cove
nant-First Presbyterian Church last
night, where concerts took place
The former was for the benefit of
British war relief. given by the
choral group of the Takoma Park
Women's Club and assisting artists,
the latter presenting a Christmas
concert in which Clokey's cantata,
When the Christ Child Came" for
solo voices. chorus, harp and organ,
had a hearing.
Sponsored by the Woman's Welsh
Club of Washington. the program
at the Foundry Methodist Church
was varied one, featured singers. in
Guiding Mrs. Kelly Tatum, soprano;
Winifred Thomas Clark, contralto;
David H Manley, tenor, and Erbin
G. Thomas, baritone. The Takoma
Park Ladies' Chorus was under the
direction of Carolyn o. Green, ac-
companied by Alvina S. Schmitt,
pianist. and assisted in one number
by the Mount Vernon Male Quartet;
a string quartet, consisting of Eu-
genia Botkin and Mary Park Glenn
ems, violins: Laura Fairchild Ward,
viola, and Daisy Fickenscher, cello,
was presented also.
Harmonious and sweet was the
offering of the ladies' chorus, heard
in 10 selections. counting the Welsh
national anthem. Neither the solo,
ist nor the chorus limited them
selves to American numbers, but
gave cosmopolitan program which
included compositions by Clokey,
Koonz-Baldwin, Campbell-Tipton
Deane Shure, Moss, Spross, Wald-
teufel, Strauss. Bizet, Haendel. ST.
belius. Kodaly, Puccini. Wolfe,
Respighi, Roger, Welsh and Russian
folk songs.
Especially lovely was the singing
of an arrangement of Sibelius'
"Valse Triste" and of the Little
Log Cabin" inscribed for the ladies'
chorus by the composer A melodi-
Gus setting to descriptive poem by
Clarence Blachly. Takoma Park
poet. it called attention to the title
by an effective passage for mems
voices. the Mount Vernon Male
Quartet adding volume to the
women's ensemble Mr.. Shure, who
was in the audience, acknowledged
the applause awarded his number.
Pleasing selections by the soloists
and the string quartet contributed
to the success of the evening.
Assisted by Gertrude Hopkins,
harpist, of New York. who opened
the program with Aria in the
Classic Style" with organ accom-
paniment by Grandjany, the quar-
tet and chancel choir of the Cove
nant-First Presbyterian Church
gave it's Christmas concert at that
church. the impressive interior OF
which created a frame for the occa-
sion.
The performance bore the stamp
of a professional one and made an
impression by the care given to
it's details Clokey's cantata, when
the Christ Child Came" and the
three selections of Bach, which pre-
ceded it, emphasized the fine voice
quality of the soloists, Juanita
Claxon, soprano; Henrietta Bagger
Plum, contralto: William Hayghe.
tenor. and Gordon Barnes, bass, and
the pliability of the large chancel
choir Theodore Schaefer, minister
of music. who presided at the organ,
had the qualification of an un-
divided attention of a large audi
ence, which seemingly appreciated
his efforts and those of his asso-
ciates.
Clokey's work is one of those sing
able numbers where the human
voice is allowed to flow unhampered,
fattered by harp obbligato and a
variety of registers upon the organ.
Each voice in turn is given an aria,
while the choir is heard a cappella
or against the sonorities of the
organ A dignified and pleasing
selection, it deserves a repeated
hearing.
/ kAl~