Evening star., 1946-10-06
Mrs. Whittall's
Concert Is
|BirthdayGift
By Alice Eversmon

dation in the Library Of Congress
have been prominent events for
many years past They begin usually
early in the fall and this season the
first public concert will take place
on Tuesday. However, large
group of music lovers in this city
has received invitations for the
same program given a day earlier
and without publicity. Now it has
been revealed that the first of these
fconcerts is birthday present Mrs.
Whittall gives to herself, asking as
many patrons of her series as pos
sible to enjoy it with her without
telling them that, in reality, 1t Is a
birthday party.
The celebration tomorrow will be
in the form of a recital by the re-
nowned violinist, Nathan Milstein,
a longtime friend of Mrs. Whittall.
While this is a private affair. Mr..
Milstein will repeat the program
Tuesday for the public. In addition
to the series given by the Budapest
String Quartet and sponsored by the
foundation, Mrs. Whittall often
brings Individual artists whom she
esteems highly for extra programs
outside the foundations schedule.
These are her gifts to the music
public of Washington and her con-
tribution to musical culture. Thanks,
Mrs. Whittall, and happy birthday
to you.
MendeIssohn Collection.
Tomorrow also will be the OPEN
ing of the exhibit of the autographed
tletters and musical manuscripts of
Felix Mendelssohn-B -Bartholdy re-.
Gently acquired by the Library
through the generosity OF Mrs. Whit
tall. The collection consists of some
800 letters written by the composer
to prominent contempories between
1925 and 1847, the year Of his death.
Some are illustrated with pen
and-ink sketches made by Men,
delssohn and contain references
to several of his finest compositions
such as the violin concerto, which
Mr.. Milstein will play, and his
oratorio, Elijah" Letters addressed
to Mendelssohn, catalogues, hbret-
tos of oratorios, early editions Of his
music and portraits of the Mendel-
ssohn family are part Of the COL
lection.
Billings Anniversary.
This week also celebrates the natal
day of men whose names are linked
with the development of music
through the ages. To one OF these,
William Billings, this country owes
its start as a Nation capable Of pro-
ducing composers of distinction. AL
though blind in one eye, with
withered arm and crippled legs, this
tanners apprentice scrubbed music
on the hides with which he was
working. Not only was he famous
for his "fuguing tunes" as he called
them, and for his "The New Eng
land Psalm Singer" but also as the
composer of the battle song Of the
Revolution when patriotic stanzas
denouncing the British were added
to his already well-known hymn
tune Chester"
Programs tonight will include
some of his numbers and The New
England Psalm Singer" will be on
exhibition In the Library Of Con-
gress the week beginning October 10
as part Of the celebration in his
honor. Published in i77o. the book
| is adorned with an unusual engray-
ing etched by Paul Revere, who, five
years later, made. his historical
midnight ride" The plate repre-
sents seven men seateds around a
cloth-covered table, encifcled by m
oval ring of musical notation with
words glorifying God through the
notes of music"
Other October Birthdays.
Tonight, the National Gallery
Sinfonietta will perform his "David's
Lament" in a set of arrangements
by Richard Bales Of early Ameri-
can songs. In the Covenant-First
Presbyterian Church, the Chancel
Choir under the direction of Theo-
dore Schaefer, will sing Billings
Creation" and BE Glad Then,
America" On the same program
will be works by two other. October
born composers; those of Heinrich
Schuetz, born october 8, 1885, in
Saxony and Ralph Vaughan Will
liams, whose birth date is October
IL, 1872. Schuetz's dramatic feeling
inspired him to bring its influence
into church music and in this re-
|spect he is the forerunner of Bach
and Handel and, to some extent, the
founder of the dramatic oratorio.
His setting of some hundred choral
tunes, used in the Lutheran church
at its inception, are noted for their
power and expressiveness. The Eng
lish composer, Vaughan Williams,
will be represented by his "Shep-
herds of the Delectable Mountains, !"
a pastorale founded on Bunyan's
Pilgrims Progress"
Additions for instrumentalists
and singers are being held for those
interested in the forthcoming pro-
duction of the Gay Nineties," in
conjunction with the dramatic
group of the Interior Department.
Applications should be sent to Fred
Compton, room 5225, Interior De-
partment Building.
D~orM 1A11c n