Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1951-03-16

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our complex life and turbulent
times, has attained a higher stand
ing due to the skill and efforts
of modern composers, but 1t is
doubtful # much Of it will stand
tho test Of the ages.
Inspirations for the creators of
melodies come from folk songs or
other lands, which disclose a
hundred avenues of expression,
the medium of radio, and themes
from other compositions. For the
n9usically inclined, tunes might be
suggested By many things, such as
special occasions, current events.
looks. pictures and personalities.
Several outstanding composers
were praised for their influence
on The American cultural scene:
Edward NiacDoweil, one of the
best native-torn composers, Char
les Wakefield Cadnaan, prolific
song writer and authority on
American Indian folk son rs;
Ethelbert Nevin, brilliant pianist
and sensitive artistic genius; John
Alden Carpenter, business execu-
tive and musician, the first Ameri-
can impressionist; John Phillip
Sousa, THE March King direct
or of the u. S. Marine Band, who
concertized all over the world
and wrote famous marches such
as THE Stars and Stripes For
ever" and Irving Berlin, composer
Of Call Me Madam and many
hit tunes.
The Metropolitan Opera is one
of the celebrated institutions for
keeping music alive in America,
with a stellar array of singers,
conductors, orchestras and special
commentators, one Of whom,
Deems Taylor, is notable.
Eminent artists who have APP
peared on the operate stage are:
Nelson Eddy, Leonard Warren,
James Melton, Ezio Pima, Bioer-
ling, Patrice Munsel, Gladys
Swarthout, Rise Stevens, Ro g
Bumpton and Dorothy Kristen,
John Charles Thomas, Mario Lam
"a, Thomas L. Thomas, Jeanette
Macdonald and Marion Ander-
son are among those who have
achieved recognition on the con-
cert stage.
Mrs. Cluxton spoke about the
religious opera, Parsifal," by
Wagner which is particularly ap-
propriate for the Easter season
and contains in the first and third
acts the greatest communion ser
vice ever written, and is note
worthy for its Good Friday music.
TIE operettas of Victor Her
bert as we'll as Strauss, Lehar,
Kern and Iomtcrg remain peren-
NAL favoritcs, although in the
glamorous old city of Vienna,
birthplace of light opera, only
one theater remains open for
stage productions. The loveliest
songs and Waltzes are still fre-
4uentiy heard here on stage and
radio.
In the field of American ora
torio, John K. Paine, George
Chadwick, Dudley Buck and Hor-
alto Parker achieved distinction,
although TIandeps THE Messiah"
and Haydns THE Creation" have
never been surpassed.
This rise am growth OF the
z. eat orchestras and symphonies
was sketched. The first native
symphony was written by George
ristow in 1345, only a few having
attempted classical music by the
time of the Civil War. Uriah Hill
founded the first permanent or
chestra few years later, the
forerurner of the New York Phil
harmonic. Henry Higginson or
ganizcd the ensemble which event
ually became the Boston Sym
phony; Theodore Thomas origina-
ted the Chicago Symphony; and
Eugene Ormandy brought the
Philadelphia Orchestra to prom
inence.
Prefacing her recital with in
teresting items about the COM
posers and amusing anecdotes,
Mrs. Cluxton played these selec-
tons with feeling and technical
skill: Were You There When
They Crucified My Lord" Negro
spiritual; "Reverie," George
Tompkins; The Danse Ossiaque,
Louis Gittschalk; Mi Teresita
Valse," Teresa Carreno; Scotch
Poem Edward Mac Dowell;
Military March," James Rogers;
Twilight at Sycamore Nook"
Charles Wakefield c d m an;
"Valse Intermezzo," Wilson G.
Smith, Good Night" from "A
Day in Venice" and THE Rosary"
Ethelbert Ncyin.
At the end, as all true artists
should, she received the enthus-
iatic applause of the audience and,
as a surprise, lovely spring flow
ers from an admirer.
All enjoyed the social hour
which followed, the women having
been invited to the dining room
for the delicious refreshments.
Mrs. Chance and Mrs. R. K. Shaw,
recording secretary, presided at
the tea table laid with silver ser
vice and Easter motif, and a
beautiful arranpnrnanf of onlder