Evening star., 1947-05-06
Bx Alice Exersmon

" =
The Cloister Choir of Mount Vernon
Place Methodist Church was heard
In concert Of religious folk music
from different countries in the
Phillips Gallery last night. Ar
rangements Of some OF the tunes
were made for the choir by its di-
rector, r. Deane Shure, while others
were written by him especially for
the groups use. The 80 women who
make up the choir sing q cappella
and the voices are so well matched
that the ensemble has an unusually
finely intergrated tone, pure and
mellow In quality.
AZ soloist with the group and
heard also in two sets of soil was
Margaret Barnwell, soprano, who has
been closely identified with Mount
Vernon Place Church and its music
for some time. Mrs. Barnwell has
one Of the most beautiful voices in
the city and outranks many of the
visiting artists that come to Consti-
tuition Hall in both the perfection
OF her natural gift and In her train
ing and musical feeling. She typi-
fles the ideal combination for a
singer Of a voice Of exceptional
quality, evenly distributed through
out wide range, command Of
technique so thoroughly grounded
as to be imperceptible, superla-
tive /diction and sensitive emo
tional response to the music.
These qualities could all be evalu-
ated In the seven selections she
sang. The two Handel arias, that
OF Poppea from "Agrippina" and
"Care Selve" from "Atalanta," were
given vocal garb Of velvety tones
and phrases notable for beautifully
rounded contour. In contrast was
placed the "Ballatella," from Leon
cavallo's 'Pagliacci," so finely sung
as to put to shame some preSenta-
tions Of it on the operatic stage.
There is never a harsh note or a
forced phrase injected into Mrs.
Barnwelps singing and Bach's my
Heart Ever Faithful" profited by her
skilled vocalism and her natural
singing style.
While shade of the fine tonal
concentration was sacrificed in the
softer moods of the songs that fol-
lowed, its return in Mary Howe's
There has fallen a splendid tear
called for repetition of that num-
Der. Daniel VOLTS Now Sleeps the
Crimson Petal" is a less worthy set
ting Of the poem than that by.
Quilter and Mrs. Barnwell,s effort
to make it effective caused one of
those dispersed tonal moments.
Crisis "The Dark Kings Daugh-
ter" Jared better and proved to be
good vocal number.
The Cloister Choir can provide
the kind of choral singing that is
q delight to the ear. Most of the
selections given to the group had
species Of cadenza at the end
wherein the vocal sections were
interviewer with telling effect. The
HghtneSs and security with which
the members sang these more f1ow-
cry passages spoke well of their
training and ability. There is a
translucence to these voices that
Mr.. Shure knows how to show to
the best advantage in his arrange
ments Of the music. From the basic
tunes and their characteristics he
has made art songs while not dis
turbing the initial simplicity.
The opening group consisted of
"As He Goes Passing By" Bavarian,
~Bells Over Bethlehem" Palestinian
and my Lord, What A Morning."
American, followed later by another
American number, Purple Dawn
Ing" the French "Ode to the Spirit"
"An Old Meditation" Spanish, and
"Ccne Into Daylight's Splendour,"
Saxony. The Chinese God of the
Wind and Wave" the Portuguese
"Lo He Comes With Clouds De-
scending" and the Bohemian aye
Watchers and Ye Holy Ones" con-
cluded with Mr.. Shure's "Alleluia"
which Is the theme song of this
choir.
Dorothy Girdner Bailey, an
nounced as accompanist for Mrs.