Evening star., 1947-03-09

1NeWSymphony
lis Based on
Folk Tunes
| By Alice Eversmon
Perhaps the most important Of
fering Of the programs planned by
the National Federation OF Music
Clubs for its convention in April in
Detroit will be The world premiere
of John Powell's Symphony In Ar
The federation considers 1t the most
monumental work yet written to
have it's genesis and inspiration in
American folk tunes. It will be
performed by the Detroit Symphony
Orchestra, with Karl Kruger con-
Quoting. The Governor of Virginia,
Mr.. Powell's home State, is expected
to be present.
The symphony was commissioned
by the federation president in 1892
and the composer has spent nearly
Is years in research and experiment
tation before being able to complete
1t. Much of the material has been
taken from his own collection of
folk tunes which he has been assem-
bling over long period of years.
He has gone, however, to the FORE
most musicians Of Virginia and West
Virginia for consultation, including
Uncle Jim Chisholm OF Albemarle
County, Horton Barker, blind ballad
singer OF Loves Mills, Va; Jess
johnson, known as "the fiddlin'
fool" Of Wolf Bend, w. Va, and j.
B. Whitford, banjoist, of Marion,
Va. Mr.. Barker, Mr.. Whitford, Mr..
johnson and Victoria Morris, bal
lad singer, will attend the premiere.
The American folk music tradi-
ton as expressed in song and in
dance serves as the foundation Of
the symphony. But the adaptation
|of modal melody and harmony to
the established symphonic form pre-
sented many new problems for the
composer to solve. The four move
ments are entitled, "The Country
Dance" 1.-THE Folksong," 1.-THE Bal
lad" and '"Ihe Ritual Dance" It's
performance will take nearly an
hour and the time from to 4 pm.
on Saturday, April 26, has been set
aside for broadcast on the Or
chestras of the Nation program of
NBC, Mr.. Powell, who has been
leading spirit in the discovery OF
national folk lore and who has
incorporated a great deal Of it in
his compositions, is the logical COM
poser to write real American SYM
phony and this work, over which he
labored so long and conscientiously,
may well receive recognition as the
great symphonic mirror Of national
life.
H0rowitz Program.
One Of the first to remember that
this year is a Mendelssohn CEN
tenary will be Vladimir Horowitz,
who will give piano recital Tues
day, March 18, at $3.50 pm, in Con-
stitution Hall. In observance of the
Tooth anniversary of Mendelssohn's
death, which occurred in November,
1S47, he will play the Variations
Serieuses," work not often pro-
grammed. He will bring also for
performance his new revision of
Moussorgskys Pictures at an Ex-
hibtion" based on the original piano
manuscript, first published about so
years ago. The familiar orchestral
transcription was made by Maurice
Ravel. In addition to these num-
bers, Horowitzs program will include
five. Chopin works and the Mozart |
Sonata in F Major" .. ~
."4 Additions Announced. STR
The Chamber Music Guild an
nounces that its sixth annual audi
tions for young artists, both instru-
mental and vocal, will be held
April 8. 9. 10. Contestants must
not be over Is years Of age. The
entrance requirements consist OF a |
concerto for instrumentalists and
two arias for the vocalists, works
to be chosen by the contestants.
Well-known artists and musicians
will constitute the panel of judges,
who will recommend the awarding
of cash prizes. Applications for
entrance may be obtained from the
Guild headquarters, 1410 Seven
teenth street NV.
The Arlington Symphony, Van
Lier Lanning conductor, will give its
third concert in Washington Lee
High School Friday night at $3.50.
LYDIA Langford Hinrichs, pianist,
will be the soloist in Rachmaninof'S S
Concerto No. g." She is a graduate
of the Cincinnati Conservatory,
studied in the Paris Conservatory of
Music and with Josef Lhevinne In
this country.
Katherine Bacon, pianist, will be
the artist in the Howard University
series tomorrow night at $3.50. Miss
Bacon's repertoire includes all of
Beethoven's 80 piano sonatas and
the major works Of Schubert. She
these during Beethoven's
centenary celebrations in 1927 in
seven recitals and in observing
centennial in 1923.
The Tau Chapter Of Beta Sigma
will hold spring festival of music
Thursday night at $50 in Pierce
Hall. Patricia Griffin, pianist;
Hilda Nelson, soprano. and Grace
Powell, violinist, will participate.
STAMPS AND COINS.
COINS, American and foreign gold silver
or