Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-23
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

Percy Granger made his annua
appearance yesterday as soloist with
the National Symphony Orchestra
delighting the audience with hi.
gifts as pianist and composer. There
is always another atmosphere to z
concert when Mr.. Granger plays
for the strong individuality that il
stamped on his performance and his
writing is present even in as simple
a thing as his entrance on the stage
The effect of his splendid vitality
of his genuine friendliness and his
modeSty is felt Immediately in g
way no other artist can produce. Il
is as though all his energy was
focused on reaching the piano anc
making it contact vehicle for a
sharing of his musical pleasure with
his listeners.
That pleasure also is unique. Mr.
Granger has a way of unleashing
music SO that 1t passes beyond its
boundaries and scars out to fill
every corner of the hall. Part of
that Is due to the extraordinary
sweeping character Of his technique
and part to his artistry that does not
permit of the personal element en-
tering too much into his playing
He has something vital to give out
whatever type Of selection he is
presenting, and does so joyously and
freely.
Yesterday he PLAYED first the De-
Illus concerto, a work OF beauty that
glowed with many colors in Mr..
Grainger's treatment. The theme OF
the concerto is haunting melody
that the composer uses over and
over again in many combinations.
1t is like jewel that catches the
light AS 1t is turned In the tone
color of different instruments. De-
Illus, who wrote the concerto during
his sojourn IN Florida, has freely
absorbed the atmosphere and the
music Of plantation life and elevated
them to an artistic plane. using their
natural essence with great emotional
effect. The music is deeply poetic
yet full of vigor with continual
mounting eloquence. The piano is
given brilliant display that weaves
In and out of the equally expressive
orchestration.
AS concluding number of the pro-
gram Mr.. Granger played his own
Danish Folk Music Suite" the set
ting of the first two tunes having
been made in honor of the COM
poser's mother The four divisions
OF the work, Power of Love" Lord
Peters Stable Boy" THE Niehtin-
gale and the Two Sisters and "Jut-
lsh Medley" allow for great variety
the final section being a collection
OF songs from Jutland. and. in this
portion, the piano part is four
handed, the composer being assisted
by Emerson Meyers.
The Granger style gives original
1ty and brightness to the whole
Which is arranged in the composer
sklllful manner. Its success with
yesterdays audience brought the
encores which had been hoped for
after Mr.. Graingers solo number.
Among these were the Schumann
Romance in F sharp ma or" and
Gulon's arrangement of Turkey in
the Straw"
The orchestral numbers which DR.,
Kinder programmed included the
hrst performance of Arnold Cor
nelissen's Lilac Bush in Bloom"
and the baton was handed over to
the composer to conduct his own
work. The descriptive character of
the short composition is we'll en-
phasized in the use of the wood
winds and the harp. the lyric quality
OF the melody and in the gentleness
Of the mood. Mr.. Cornelissen is not
original In the manner in which he
has utilized his material, however.
and much of 1t is reminiscent of
Dehussy. 1t has charm and DELI
cately fashioned coloring and the
composer was most successful in
bringing out the details in his con-
Quoting.
Tschaikowsky's francesca da
Rimini' was the major orchestral
number. for the most part excel
lently played. The tremendous emo