Evening star., 1943-05-04
BY ALICE EVERSMAN.

by ALlCE EtEhSMAN.
A program of compositions by
members of the Washington Com
posers' Club was presented by the
Washington Music Teachers Asso-
citation, Inc, last night at the Textile
Museum before a large audience.
This annual event disclosed wealth
Of talent that is an honor to the
community. A variety of subjects,
showing Imagination and inspira-
ton, was handled with technical
skill and originality and showed not
only the quality but the interesting
diversity that f1ourishes among the
musical writer's of this city.
Those whose works formed the
program were Mary Howe, Alba
Rosa Victor, r. Deane Shure, La
Sale Spier and Emerson Meyers.
With the exception of two numbers
by Nine. Victor, all Of the compo-
sitions presented called for string
quartet, which consisted of Millard
Taylor and Milton Schwartz, vio-
Inns; George Wargo, viola, and How
ard Mitchell, cello. They we're as
sisted at different times by Natalie
Cousins, English horn; HARLAN
Heyer, piano. and Paul Garrett,
clarinet
Mrs. Howe chose for this occa-
sion three pieces for string quartet
inspired by poems of Emily Dick
inson entitled 1.-The Summers of
Hesperides," Birds, by the Sum-"
and God for Frontier" The
delicacy of thought and strength of
feeling which place these poems
among the most appealing of Miss
Dickinson's writings were thoroughly
visualized and reproduced in Mrs.
Howe's musical form with richness
of sentiment voiced by the expert
Interviewing of the instruments
tones, play Of fantasy and breadth
OF design. In the surety in which
she sketched the contrasting beauty
of mood and the aptness OF her
technical scheme, Mrs. Howe has
made notable addition to her mu-
sical writings in these tone poems.
The first opportunity was given
to hear Emerson Meyers "Suite for
Strings and Clarinet" since it won
this years National Federation of
Music Clubs prize for chamber
music. Mr.. Meyers, who recently
was reelected president of the
Washington Music Teachers AS
ISOLATION, and almost at the same
time. 1nducted into the Army, dedi-
Gated his suite to Mrs. Howe. It
consists OF Prelude, Adagio, Aria and
Dance. The Prelude and Aria are
unusually interesting. The work has
clarity of form, new efforts in har-
monlc usage and viril style. Par
ticularly skillful in his writing for
the clarinet.
Using the seldom heard English
horn, played by Miss Cousins,
around which to form a quintet
with strings, Mr.. Shure has written
with strong atmospheric feeling
work IN three movements which are
entitled "Tigris Night" "Assyrian
Shepherd" and slave Dancer of
Nlphates." Tone painting with
colors of the East, Mr.. Shure has
employed the horn in mastery
fashion offsetting it with the more
romantic xtimbres of the strings to
form work. OF rich hlies,@delicate
fabric and subtle pictorization.
What might be considered the
geMef the program was theSstprter
but deeply moving "Epilogue III E
Minor" for string quartet and piano
by La Sale Spier. This composition
has power and feeling in equal meas
ure compactly written with deft and
sure command. Both by reason of
its content and the strength of its
delineation, it stood out with marked
effect among the lengthier numbers.
The only vocal composition on the
program was High Flight" by Nine.
Victor, sung by Helene Gish-Myers,
soprano. The music is the setting of
the poem by John Magee which at
tracted Nationwide attention after
the death Of the young aviator. Nine
Victor has depicted both the me-
chanical means of the flyers profess
sion and the spiritual expansion
which the freedom of the high alti-
tudes awakened, the former in the
original and richly designed accom-
paniment and the latter in the voice
part.
Employing a more modern idiom
than that essayed by the other COM
posers, she displayed a sure and
genuine touch in the arrangement
OF her material for the song and for
the second number programmed
from her pen, "Scherzo" for piano
Playing both the accompaniment
and the piano selection, Nine. Victor
gave noteworthy performance in
which her scholarly musicianship
and individual trend of thought
dominated.
The difficult vocal score of High
Flight" was excellently presented by
Mrs. Gish-Myers, who showed her
self an artist of fine understanding
and sound musical training.
The members Of the string quartet,
together with Mr.. Garrett, Miss
Cousins and Miss Meyer, gave highly
artistic performances OF each num-
ber, being conscious of style, mood
and dynamic effects to a marked
degree. Their careful study and
analysis of the different works re-
suited in presentation of a superior
order.
Organ Festival Opens.
The first of the three programs