Evening star., 1941-03-30
Symphony
Ends Student
Concerts
Children Show
Appreciation of
Special Series
By ELENA DE SAYN.


That interest in music has been
well stimulated and fostered in the
growing generation by the National
Symphony Orchestra was evident
yesterday morning at Constitution
Hall where an atmosphere of in
tormalIty. coupled with exemplary
silence, prevailed throughout the
concert given by that organization
under DR.. Hans Kinder for the chill
dren.
The conclusion of the annual STU
dent series drew a large number of
youngsters. those of Kindergarten
age included Many tiny hands
joined with the rest and clapped
their approval, while others beat
time or made animated gestures
during the performance. 1t was a
happy gathering, the center of
which was DR.. Kinder, who, as in
the past. introduced the selections
on the program and commented
upon each.
Wilton Sykes Shows Skill.
There were no music students
from the high schools this time to
augment the personnel of the Or
chestra instead. a soloist of teen
age, winner of a competition spon-
sored by the Washington Music
Teachers Association, acquitted
himself of his task with flying
colors. Wilton Sykes. sophomore
of the Western High School, es-
Sayed with orchestra part of the
"Adagio" movement, abridged to At
the allotted 15-minute period, and
the Finale" from Bruch's Con
eerto In G Minor"
Master Sykes showed musical
feeling, rhythmical precision,
good tone and fluency which spoke
eloquently for his honest endeav-
ors in behalf of his chosen instru-
ment. Bowing, runs, double stop
ping and other examples of ad-
vanced technique went over with
smoothness and ease, while his in
tonatlon was secure in many
treacherous places He was gener-
ously applauded by his young audi
ence, and was recalled several
times.
On the little square at the left of
the stage, going from one percussion
instrument to another, stood Car
roll Bratman, the other Soloist of
the morning concert with his collec-
ton of instruments many of them
used for initiating the cry of birds.
These limitations and his make-be-
lief shooting eventually stole the
show.
Bratman Applauded.
Mr.. Bratman played concerto by
Schreiner, accompanied by the Or
chestra, in which metallophones,
xylophone. drums, snares. triangle,
chimes, cymbalS. tambourin and
many other percussion instruments
used by him in turn, were special
features. His cadenza, at the close
of which there was an unmiStakable
mass tWltter of starlings, was a
glorious galaxy of sound. The ar
lists modesty, however, did not per-
nit him to take the applause all to
himself and, preferring to be con-
sidered an integral part of the group,
Mr.. Bratman held himself concealed
from view.
There was an element OF refine
ment and finish in yesterdays per-
formance by the orchestra which
presented, among others, Bach's
Come Sweet Death" Coreln's
charming Suite for Strings" one
of the very first numbers in the
symphonys repertory, and Tschai-
kovsky's "Pizzicato Estimate" from
the Fourth Symphony" all of
which the players do exceptionally
well. A huge thermometer, sup
posedly registering the quality and
the enthusiasm of community sing
ing performed its duty to the entire
satisfaction of those present, rising
to excellent"
prelude to Act III" from Wag-
nerS 'Lohengrin' and THE Ride of
the ValkyrieS," the last repeated
by request. were the first and the
concluding numbers of an ENJOYABLE
and well chosen program. DR.. Kin
dler announced that the recent Ma
tional Symptoms drive reached its
full quota, minus only few thous-
and, and that he was looking hope
fully into the future.