davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Messiah to Be Sung
With Double Chorus
And Guest Artists

Handel's "The Messiah" will be
presented by the Washington Choral
Society Thursday night at $3.50
o'clock in Constitution Hall. For
the singing of the "Hallelujah"
chorus the regular group of $50
voices will be doubled. Choirs par
ticipating are: Alexandria Choral
Society, American University Glee
Club, George Washington University
Glee Club, Covenant-First Presby-
terial Church Choir, Foundry Meth
odist Choir, Metropolitan Memorial
Methodist Church and Faith Lu-
theran Choir.
Guest artists for the solo parts will
include Barbara Stevenson. formerly
leading soprano of the Philadelphia
La Scala Opera: Florence McGov-
ern, formerly member OF the Merry
Widow" company during its entire
run on Broadway and on tour;
Julius Huehn, baritone Of the Met
Opera Co., who is believed
to have been the youngest singer to
have sung the role of Wotan at the
MET" and Harold Haugh, tenor and
instructor at the Oberlin University.
Louis A. Potter will direct.
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Symphony Resumes
Students Concerts

The National Symphony Orchestrs
will resume its annual Students
Concerts Friday at 2:30 pm. at the
Armstrong High School. Howard
Mitchell, associate conductor, will
direct. The four remaining concerts
are scheduled: Roosevelt High, Jan
uary 16; Mckinley, January %;
Woodrow Wilson, February 20; East
ern, March S, and Constitution Hall
March 20.
A tour is taking the orchestra to
New Jersey, Vermont, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New York and Con-
necticut. A concert in Hartford
marks the symphony's 18th consecu-
tive appearance there. Upon return,
DR.. Kinder will direct in Washing
ton a week from today and on the
following Wednesday. Dame Myra
Hess will be the soloist on December
IA here and on December 16 in Bal
timore A special Christmas pro-
gram has been planned for Sunday,
Decemher q
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Chilean Artist PLAYS
Piano Recital TODAY

Herminia Raccagni, Chilean pian-
list, will give a concert at the Pan
American Union this afternoon at
$50 o'clock, sponsored by the Chill
can Ambassador and Sonora de
Nieto del Rio She is professor at
the University of Santiago's Ma
tional Conservatory of Music, where
she studied and was awarded the
Orrego Carvallo prize by the Uni
versity of Chile.
The artist is one Of the few
woman pianists who has performed
Ravel's Concerto for the Left
Hand" She gave the Santiago
premiere to Shostakovich's concerto
and has been soloist with orchestras
many times. Besides having con-
certified extensively in recital, Miss
Raccagni took part in chamber
music ensembles and gave programs
of European, North and South
American music with the eminent
musicologist, DR.. Francisco Curt
Lange. She is the wife of Brig. Gen.
Agustin Inostrosa of the Chilean
Navy, now in Washington as guest
of the State Department.
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Meridian Hill transformation

Star In 1860 informs the public that
among other things, this beautiS i.
romantic spot has a bar vi the
choicest liquors, and thai 1t Is
most desirable place for a Sunday
school outing.
Early Subdivision.
Meridian Hill was subdivided In
1867, but 1t was many years later
before 1t began to build up. Some
of the early residents who lived
there between 1887 and 1897 were
Edward Blummer, Samuel ]. Hais-
lett, John Seibel, Gus Kneas,. Ben
jamin F. White and his sons, George
and John c., and his daughters,
Jennie and Bessie; Mrs Faulkner
and her daughter Louise, James F.
Vermillion, Charles Vermillion, CO.
lumbus F. Sherwood, George ".
Beall, Susan E. Fuller and her son
and daughter r-in-law, Mr.. and Mrs.
Theodore F. Fuller; Henry c. Leh-
man. ST.; Napoleon Plunkett and
Harry Hunaker. The Eslins lived
on Columbia road. just outside of
Meridian Hill subdivision. A late
as 1881, the old bowling alley and
cockpits were visible there. Charles
A. Stewart had his home where the
National Baptist Memorial Church
is at Sixteenth street and Columbia
road.
On January 23 1887, Senator
John B. Henderson bought the
northwest corner Of Florida avenue
and Sixteenth streets, and a permit
for the erection of the castle" was
issued April II, 1888 J. E. Gardner
was the architect and J. H. Lane,
the builder.
1t was about the time of the COM
ing to Meridian Hill of the Hender-
sons that improvements in this
locality began. To Mrs. Henderson,
in particular, credit is due for saving
Meridian Hill from the bow vows"
At this period cows, with an attend
ant, were permitted to Craze along
the hills and nearly all kinds Of
animals were allowed to run at large
TranSfOrmat tiOn Seen.
Looking at this part of the city
today, the transformation has in
deed been marvellous. Even the
names of the streets have been
altered. Huron street, for instance.
is now Fuller street; Erie, to the
south, Is Euclid; Superior, down
which ran Slash Run, is Kalorama:
Meridian is Sixteenth, Messmore is
Mozart place; Central is Seventeenth
street, Prospect street is Belmont
place and Crescent street is Cres-
cent place. Champlain avenue and
Ontario avenue retain their original
names. Columbia avenue, now
Fifteenth street, was then exclu-
sively Negro thoroughfare where
the architecture of the houses
differed in width as we'll as in
height.
But shortly after Sixteenth street
was Widened and extended and
Coffin's row, Seibels row and many
other small frame buildings were
removed, the street was soon made
architecturally beautiful with fine
type residences
Evening star., 1947-12-07
InStrumentaliSt
CanLearnFrOm

By Alice Eversmon


One hears good deal about in
strumentalists who have abandoned
their careers in order to become
singers but seldom singers who have
turned instrumentalists. With the
prevalent low estimate of singers
musicianship the reason can be
lightly explained away. Yet this
is a very wrong idea and one that
tnstrumentalists have fostered con-
tinually not realizing that singer
has very definite opinions about
the musicianship of members of
other branches of the music art. It
might be considerable of an eye
opener If pianists, violinists or eel
lists were to study something of
singers approach to music as well
as his technique.
This, of course, refers to real vocal
artists. Many singers are just what
instrumentalists claim Indifferent
to the fundamentals of music, of
little profound musical knowledge
and content with meager back
grounds. But sometimes, even from
the least of these, it is possible to
learn more of artistic interpreta-
ton. A vocalist does not amount
to much If he HAS not an innate
feeling for music and certain tenn
perament. With these, and the text
to guide him, he can often achieve
results that have nothing to do with
actual musical penetration or with
any thought as to how work Is
constructed.
Singing Physical Expression.
Some of this can be accounted
for by the fact that singer is ex-
tremely sensitive to the operation
of his vocal mechanism and gains
Evening star., 1947-12-07
E&&2Hz@E=

Felicia Rybier, pianist, will give
a recital at the Jewish Community
Center tonight at $50 o'clock. Born
in Poland, the artist has studied
in Berlin and is a graduate of the
Sternsches Conservatorium. Miss
Rybier has been featured on the
Baltimore Stieff radio hour and is
q well-knoWn resident teacher.
Mu Phi Epsilon National Music
Sorority will meet tomorrow night
at the residence of Mrs. G. o. Sut-
ton, 1850 Fordham road NV.
The Sligo Music Club will hold
its Christmas party Tuesday at 7:30
pm. at the Sligo Cabin, Guest
artists will present program.
Jesse James Tryon, violinist, has
been selected to represent the Dis
trict of Columbia finals of the Ma
tion-wide additions to be held In
Carnegie Hall, New York, January
II through April "a. Prizes totaling
$4,000 will be awarded. Entries
came from 300 cities and additions
will be held in voice, piano and
violin, conducted by the Associated
Concert Bureau of New York. State
finals for the District were held on
November 13.
The second instrumental music
contest of the Boys Club of Wash
ington. Richard Bales, chairman,
has been postponed to April Is. The
contest is open to any boy or girl
under 10 in Washington and the
suburban areas who studies music.
There will be prizes for the senior,
Junior and intermediate divisions,
The winner in the latter competition
will be given an eight-Week music
scholarship at Deerwood Adiron-
dack Music Center. Other prizes
will be announced later.
Last years grand prizes included
spinet piano and a record player.
Full information is available from
the Boys Club.
41lc NdFdl ACdoClIly dl AlllldpOllS
Md. will give two performances of
The Messiah" Saturday night and
Sunday afternoon, December 13 and
IA, in the chapel of the Naval Acad-
emy. Donald c. Gilley, organist and
choirmaster at the Naval Academy
Chapel, trained a group selected
from nearly 5000 midshipmen The
Goucher College Womens Chorus
will assist, Agnes Davis, soprano;
Florence McGovern. alto; Donald
Read, tenor, and Chester Watson,
bass, will be the soloists. James
Allen Dash, conductor of the Bach
Festival Chorus of Philadelphia, will
direct.
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Tagliavini, Tenor
Of Screen and Met.
Sings Here Tuesday

Ferruccio Tagliavini, Metropolitan
Opera tenor, who recently was seen
and heard here in the screen pro-
duction of Rossini's Barber of Sc
VILE" will give a recital in Consti-
tuition Hall Tuesday at $3.50 pm.
Italian born, the artist made a SEN
sational debut at the MET" only a
year ago in January, and already
has gained a national reputation in
opera and concert.
The assisting artist will be Jascha
Veissi, violst, formerly member of
two famous quartets, the Koliscl
and the Coolidge. Mr.. Veissi came
to the United States from the Uk-
raine in 1920 He has been soloist
on many occasions with the Boston
Symphony, the San Francisco and
the Cleveland Orchestras.
Tossy Spivakovsky, celebrated vio-
linist, who played here twice with
the National Symphony Orchestra
as soloist, will give recital We'd
nesday at $3.50 pm. in Constitution
Hall. These concerts are under the
management of Patrick Hayes.
Evening star., 1947-12-07

more physical comfort through
proper manipulation Of 1t. The need
to sing is often 50 powerful that this
natural urge will supply the I'M
pulse toward artistic expression
And also because the process of
singing is so much a physical oper-
alton, intimately allied to thought
and feeling, the great artist has an
exceptionally keen appreciation OF
the finesse required in execution.
1t is true that all these things
apply with equal force to an in
strunentalist, yet one finds excel
lently trained and gifted musicians
in this field who never reach the
sensitive feeling for music that is
sometimes part of the singer pos
sessed of only mediocre vocal equip
ment. The long years given to per-
fecting technique, to study OF the
many divergent lines that meet to
form Well-schooled instrumental
ist, absorb the mental\and physical
capabilities to an enormous extent.
1t is only when performer is sure
of the mechanics of his art that he
can turn to the finer points
Celebrations Less Discernible.
The musical reasons for every
thing he does is clear in an in
strumentalist's mind. But the other
reason, having to do with intan-
gible things. is less frequently cul-
tivated at the same time. The little
breathing space that finishes one
phrase and sets off another is of
extreme Importance yet its counter
part for an instrumentalist is not
so finely as its use by a
singer. The spirit that stamps a
work and carries it forward in a
particular way is indicated to a vo-
calist by the text while other musi-
clans must find it by their own de-
ductions. Through the words, vari-
GUS subjects leading to color nuan-
ces are given a singer and though
these same things are in any piano,
violin or cello work, they are less
easily discernible.
Perhaps dealing with a diversity of
emotions gives vocal artist a
greater insight into the means of
delivery and the manner of their
Studying the way in
which a phrase is formed by a
singer of artistic stature would be
of help to instrumentalists. The
coloration Of tone. the dramatic
sweep and the delicacy. that can
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Marine Band Concert

The Marine Band, back from a
nine weeks tour to the West Coast
will resume its winter series of
weekly concerts Wednesday at 8.15
pm. in the Marine Barracks, Fifth
and I streets Sc. The first two
programs will feature compositions
played en- tour.
During the season the Marine
Band Orchestra will be used also as
an accompanying medium for the
orchestra's soloists.
There will be no concerts on
Christmas eve and New Year eve
Following the holiday season con-
certs will extend into early spring
presented Wednesday nights under
Maj. William F. santelmann's direc-
ton
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Pianist in Recital
At Polish Embassy

Stanislaw Szpinalsky, Polish pian-
ist, winner of the international
Chopin competition award in 1887
will give a recital at the Polish
Embassy tomorrow. After having
completed his studies under Busoni
and Ricardo Vines, the artist be-
came a scholarship student OF
Paderewski, who took him to his
home in Morges, Switzerland, where
he remained four years.
Marjorie Woods Of this city. at
present student at the New England
Conservatory of Music, will give a
piano recital, December Is, in Brown
Hall of the conservatory.
Evening star., 1947-12-07
Recital Saturday

Virginia Houghton, soprano, and
Edwin G. Davis, pianist. will be pre-
sented by the Rybier Music Club, a
non profit organization, Saturday
at $3.50 pm. at Dupont Circle. Mrs
Houghton, who will sing in the COM
ing production of Puccini's "Suor
Angelica" will be assisted by
Olga Bloecher, futist She is
soloist at st. Thomas Episcopal
Church. Mr.. Davis, a Phi. D. from
Harvard University, studied piano
at the Curtis Institute and with
Heinrich Gebhard in Boston.
Thomas V. Potter has been en-
gagged as baritone soloist with the
choir Of the Church of the Holy
City. under the direction OF Berenice
Yingling.
Evening star., 1947-12-07

TNb6S3o Ullc IldS kloWli Nc-
ridian Hill at least as far
back as the '8Os he cannot
~ fully realize the great
changes that have taken place In
this subdivision since that time.
The writer knew this locality from
childhood days, and resided within
its boundaries for II years, subse-
quent to 1887. At that early date
the few residents there depended
entirely upon wells and the rain
barrel for water There were no
public street or sidewalk improve
ments in this part of the county of
Washington, and there were very
few boardWalks, but paths made
with ashes, provided the principal
means of keeping out of the mud.
The nearest schoolhouse was the
johnson Building, 4-room frame
structure, erected in Mount Pleas
ant, to the north, in 1872, at cost
of $6,000
Off in the northeast corner of
what is now Meridian Hill Park
stood for many years theological
school known as Wayland Seminary
Some 40 years or more ago it was
razed, after headquarters of the in
stitution was removed to Richmond,
Va. This organization was founded
in 1865 by the Baptist Church for
the education of colored preachers
and teachers. The building was of
brick, three stories high, with base
ment, mansard roof and lofty tower
IT was erected in 1884 at cost
.of 5000, the amount being OBJ
tanned from voluntary contribu-
tions All the work was done by
colored labor, and it was a very
attractive building and creditable
piece of work. 1t was large enough
to accommodate 200 students, and
for some years after it was COM
pleted it was one of seven schools
in the South established and fos-
tered by the American Baptist
Home Mission Society.
Seminary a Reminder.
To many people who have lived
for a long while In Washington,
Meridian Hill Is one of the best
known sections, and Wayland Semi
nary and the old standpipe which
once stood at the top of Sixteenth
street hill are reminders of their
childhood days. In summertime
there was always a stream Of boys
vending their way to Rock Creek
for swim. Staughton, Chaplin and
Sixteenth streets and Champlain
avenue we're the principal thorough
fares used by the boys until the top
of the hill was reached. and then
paths across fields were used as the
most direct route to Adams Mill
road, Milk House road. Red House
lane and Quarry road-the same
Quarry road of today, with modifi-
cations.
The old standpipe, which stood at
the top of Sixteenth street hill. was
erected in the spring of 1878, by the
firm of Gray & Noyes, iron founders.
at Maine avenue near Third street
S.W, and was removed on Febru-
ary 8, 1894. This hill was a favorite
shedding place when snow was on the
ground, especially before the grade
was reduced.
There is substantially no history
connected with Meridian Hill prior
to 1916, when Commodore David
Porter, U. S. NJ, purchased it from
Washington Bowie, who had OBJ
tanned title from Robert Peter, jr,
who Inherited it from his father.
The tract is then said to have con-
tanned 157 acres, though 10 acres
Is probably nearer the size. Com
modore Porter paid $4,000 for the
land, and here he became gentle
man farmer, and as such he had
Evening star., 1947-12-07
By John CIogett Proctor

kitchen garden Of 5 acres, but had
to buy vegetables for winter. He
also had a hundred acres in corn,
oats, wheat, ETC., but was obliged
to purchase grain for his stock
Evidently the commodore went into
farming too deeply, for IN 1920, he
mortgaged the property to Comdr.
John Rodgers, and eventually lost
control of it.
Adams Lived There.
In 1929, the Porter mansion and
grounds were leased by John Quincy
Adams, who dispensed with the for
mality of personally turning over
the White House to his successor
Andrew JacksonS and left the Execu-
tive Mansion in the evening of
March and walked out to Meridian
Hill, where for while he resided
During the Civil War, Meridian
Hill was regarded as an appropriate
place for the temporary encamping
of troops, and the Massachusetts
soldiers first stopped here before
moving farther out in the country
to what is now Fort Stevens, which
was erected in October, 1861, and at
first was named Fort Massachusetts,
Later the 77th New York encamped
on Meridian Hill, an account of
which is given by Surg George T
Stevens of that regiment, who says:
1--WE encamped on Meridian Hill
December l, 1861. Meridian Hill
is the most delightful locality in the
vicinity of Washington. The plain
on which the city stands extends
back some miles from the river
and is terminated by a line OF
hills. Along the margin of these
hills were some fine old suburban
mansions. On our right, toward
Georgetown, was Kalorama, once
the home of Joel Barlow, author of
the famous poems, 'Hasty Pudding
and The Columbiad.' The
Porter mansion became our hospital
and also for time served as head
quarters.
Troops Trained on Fields.
1.-THE ground had been elegantly
laid out with box and juniper, while
the adjoining groves of oak and
chestnut lent additional charm to
the locality. From the broad piazza
we could look upon the busy scenes
of the city and see the vessels pass
ing up and down the river. The
country in the rear of our encamp-
ment was charming Five groves,
traversed by streams of pure run
ming water, with fields surrounded
by hedges, stretched far to the
northward. On the open plain
might any day be, seen regiment
of lancers wheeling and charging
in their brilliant evolutions. I" y"
However the old mansion caught
on fire in 1868, and the late DR..
Benjamin w. Sunny saw it burn
to the ground He was a medical
student at the time, attending
Columbian College (now George
Washington University, which then
stood on the west side of Fourteenth
street above Florida avenue.
In addition to the mansion, a
commodious farm house and large
barn, both of brick, were on the
place, and there was a fine open
wood of large growth near the
covering about IS acres.
Just short year before the troops
encamped on Meridian Hill it be-
came picnic place, and the
chances are that there may still be
a few people living who danced the
Virginia reel, the lancers. quadrille
and the old Dutch waltz in the par
lors Of the once palatial home of
Commodore Porter.
A picnic lad" published In The
Evening star., 1947-12-07

reach fragile proportions are ele-
ments that instrumentalists can
copy from a singer. Because a per-
son is born with a good voice and an
instinct for singing does not mean
that vocal training leading to the
most artistic results is not less
arduous. But the feeling and men
tality of a singer is cultivated at
the same time whereas other mu-
sicians must wait longer to perfect
these angles while struggling with
the means of its physical expression.
The inner satisfaction and Joy a
singer experiences is so great that
none would abandon it for an in
strumentalist's career.
Evening star., 1947-12-07
TODAY,

HERMINIA RACCAGNI. Chilean plan
list; Pan American Union, $50 pm.
ELEANOR sTEBER, soprano; song re-
cital, Constitution Hall: pm.
nPangero,".. from Handel,s Julius
Mozart Mozarts Der eT'e schauspieidirektor",;
Mahler's "Liebst du um schoenheit,'
''Wer hat dies. Liedlein erdacht."
,"'selva opaca," from RosSini,s Will
Debussy, sacco, Palmer, Duke,
Dougherty.
GAULT CHAMBER music ENsEM-
BILE, Courine Easterling. cellist;
TsSh9fi soprsno assisting; Barker
As strnS YweA aa.4tes e" pT the snssmbs
Mrieht: Mozart,s ,,', Ave Verum,",,
Mendelssohn's ON Wings OF song,
Massenet's "Melodie," Miss Easter
ling and ensemble; Beethoyen's
"Adagio cantabiIe," aeas,. Bach's chg Che
Donizettrs La Fayorita"' "Ha-
beners;. "seguidilla;I from n1.uHa Bisets .n
reve." woodfordse -Finden's STin /
window" Behrends Bon Jour. ma
BELLE Miss Taishoff.
JOHN JACOB NILES. folk singer;
Phillips PHIL ts GseEy Mgbss PM ne t9ss ys, Spns1 Pqom
III tine Low as'e coanaree M1fss Baes 81 sss Is the
way From My window" Ancient
carols, "Mstthew: Marx, ark Luke Kan and
Sing We the, Virgin Mary" Mod,
TIE Little tsns Rslnds Inv d Wqnde5 Fs4mer as
Wife - k9The GyDSy I,addie,'
"Barbary Ellen" Matte Groves"
wEsTERvELT ROMANO. organ re-
cital; Metropolitan Memorial Meth
odist Church, pm. Wasnerian
program.
COMBINED CHOIRS, Ausustana and
Faith Lutheran Churches; Mrs. Rob-
ert w. Long, director; Faith Church,
Handers "ffhe Messiah"
COMBINED CHOIRS, Georsetown
Presbyterian Churches William O.
Tufts: director, Takoma Park Pres
byterian Church pm. Handers
The Messiah"
ETELKA FREUND: piano recital; Ma
Ian i0nal Gallery all Tbfs Of Art Iop Pm 81 Basn cal
SpsGn' Spon Thee, n Iord; nes e SToceata Fusae:
B Minor; Beethoven's Sonata. F
Minor, op. ST.: Brahms "Eafia-
III Penseroso, "Polonaise. Minor
FE.cle sS RRnfk eanG csnsr Teflts 2sT
d!ne's "At the Convent Beethoven,s
nsfsiiss nsanfts' op chopins 13 Issss Nosturne Sn
de sehsu4s Iune. Mana Ma1a zueea's sass' CUBAN
Dance, ssrissnef a5 s. "Nofturne Eo1sFE rIps for
Dance" Griess Concerto A Minor"
Macrae Cook, second piano.
CHANCEL CHOIR. Theodore Schaefer.
director; Katharine Hansel, soprano
ritt, tenor; Harold Ronk baritone,
sloss eh1las $50 S'15Gn'' p por
ton, Handers THE Messiah"
TOMORROW.
WADE n. STEPHENS. organ recital,
LID S. Chapel, s pm.
ALExANDRIA .,,cI.oI CHORAL ,sn soslEdY, s15aa1
mas portion, Handel's The Messiah"
TUESDAY.
SOLDIERS HOME sYMPHoNETTE.
Stanley Hail, 5:3o pm
FERRUCCIo TAGLIAvINL tenor. song
recital; Jascha Veissi, volist, as
sisting: Constitution Hail. $50 pm.
"MAppari.' from Flotow's Mar
tha'; Gluck's 20 del mio dolce ar
dor" Persolesi's Tire Giornl' Pal
sielio's "Che vucl Ia Zinsarella," =" Mr..
TaEliavini. Handel's Concerto, 3
Minor, M. Veissi: Masssnetis
from Massenet's 1Werther''; Osma's
"Cancion de mi terra" Freire's
Evening star., 1947-12-07
For Antique Lovers
PRIME ANTIQUES AND

THEIR CURRENT PRICES
Edited by Thomas Hamilton
Ormsbee. Mcbride; S15J
This enormous directory Of an
tiques, which contains descriptions,
with provenance and date of the
most important articles sold at
antique and fine arts auctions dur
ing 1867 should be an indispens-
able item in the library of collectors.
More than 1,4o0 reproductions IL
lustrate the text.