Evening star., 1953-12-13
News Of Music
News Of Music
Songs for Christmas
The Trupp FumiIy and Other Groups
Sing Special Seasonal Programs
BY Alice Eyersmon

AS the Christmas season
nears. vocal music steps into
prominence in the calendar
Of concert events. Il is Is II
the spirit Of man wished to
express itself In the age-old
manner as the time for spe-
cial rejoicing approaches. In
churches and In concert halls,
groups gathered together to
give expression in song to q
universally Of feeling freshly
awakened as the Yuletide be-
gins. And the fact that q
solo voice is only incidental In
a musical program at this
time, shows that the instinct
Of man seeks fellowship for
the full expression Of certain
sentiments.
The religious undercurrent
Of all performances by The
Trapp Family Singers who
come to Constitution Hall this
afternoon, will complement
the festive Christmas programs
in many Of the churches today.
The Trapp Family is unique
among concertiZing groups.
Not only have they revived
the making of music in the
family circle but its founda-
ton is laid in religious feeling
that permeates every minute
of their daily living. How this
has grown in spiritual signif1-
canoe is shown in remarkable
manner in Maria Augusta
Traps book, Yesterday. To-
day and Forever" published
last year.
Their Salvation
Mrs. Trapp related the story
of her family in entertaining
fashion in her first book.
1.-The Trapp Family Singers"
What had been a pastime
designed to bring together the
several children in Baron Won
Traps family when she be-
came their governess, proved
to be the salvation Of them
all when, as the Baron's wife,
she took charge of their flight
from occupied Austria. Some
thing like a century ago, an
cestors of the Tyrolean-born
Mrs. Trapp, toured. America as
the famous Rainer Family of
singers. The solution of the
Trapp Family survival came
with the decision to emulate
the efforts of the RainerS.
The American public of the
1840s succumbed completely
to the talent and charm Of
the Rainer Family's singing.
Their success started q vogue
that not only f1ourished for
many years but, in the case of
the Hutchinson singers, had a
decided effect on the political
events of that period. The
rivalry between the various
family groups was strong but
friendly. Among those show
ing in public performance the
concerted talent in a home
circle were the Baker, Bur-
dett. Andrews, McGibeney.
Stanyan, Luca and Flowers
families, the Andrews Family
of Minnesota specializing in
light opera.
GIee Clubs Sing Here
Since the beginning Of this
century, such intimate family
singing has given way in this
country to more pretentious
choral groups. Nearly all the
great universities have a we'll
trained glee club, two of which,
the Smith College Glee Club
and the Princeton University
Choir combine in a concert in
Lisner Auditorium Saturday
night. This afternoon at 4
the glee club of the Virginia
Military Institute will take
part in the evensong service
at the Washington Cathedral.
Fifteen years ago, SIS young
men comprising the Helsinki
University Chorus made their
local debut in Constitution
Hall. War and their country's
adversely have taken many of
these young singers yet the
spirit that has made this group
world famous will be felt Fri
day night in the same hall.
The same conductor, Martii
Turunen. who conducted the
earlier group will direct the
program. He is one of the out
standing musicians of Finland,
identified with the Chorus
since his student days. In
1927 he became assistant con-
ductor of the 44-year-old
chorus and full conductor in
1881. Extra duties include
editorship of Finland's music
journal, director of the Com
posers' Copyright Bureau, exc
cutive head of the Finnish art