The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1955-02-05
MUSIC CIRCLE
BY PsUED0RA CUNNINGHAM

@HA - - -
BY PSUEDORA CUNNINGHAM
Number Five hundred fifty
eight, Massachusetts Avenue,
an historic building, formerly
the Farwell mansion, is a five
story brick structure adorned
with intricate black, lacy, ir-
on grill work, somewhat after
the manner of the lovely an
tebellum homes of New Or
leans, Heavy, handmade doors
of imported wood and silver
hinges, mantleS of Italian mar
BILE and French mirrors and
generous borders of baroque
architecture grace each vast
room. A wide satinwood STAIR
way, with a carved replica of
the FarWell dog reposing on
the newell post, leads to the
second floor mirrored corri-
dor, which opens into the Ii
brary named for Maria L.
Baldwin.
Incorporated as the League
of Women for Community Ser
vice in 1920, with Maria L.
Baldwin as the first preSi-
dent, it has become a place of
fine musical events over the
brated Samuel Coleridge Tay-
bratedSamuel Coleridge Tay-
Tor Club, receptions or such
opera stars as Muriel Rain
and others have been held
there. Eeach month marks
some important musical pro-
gram. And last week heralded
the most unusual and possibly
the first of its kind in Bos-
ton, a Soiree Musicale, with
Lillian Byers as hostess. This
/ program featured African Mus
ic done by Africans here in
diplomatic service and as uni
yersity students. AS 1 wrote in
a previous column, the fas-
cination Of African music is
its precise rhythm and ability
OF each singer to pick up the
rhythm at any point of the
beat and harmonic without
losing count. One readily sees
the influence of this music
upon the contrapuntal compo-
sltionS Of Bach and Handel
Motion is always a part OF
melody. The African cannot
keep still while singing. This
motion is not the wild, vulgar
body commissions propogand,
lied by movies but rather :
d1gllif1ed controlled moyemen.
with definite Interpretation a,
any other serious ballet per.
Torrance. The African artist!
were AdebiSi Otodeko. Akir
AkiWowo and QuarmanfC
Smart Abbey, highlightinf
their program with the melo
dies, A Lullaby, A Quarrel
Laundry Song, several song.
from High Life and Jul Ju. al
done in African Language.
Guests attending the Soire,
Musicale included Mr.. anc
Mrs. Josh Lotion, Misses Tom
mye and Vera Lightfoot. Mrs
Geneva Shaw, Marian Ham.
mond, Ruth Fitzpatrick, Mar.
guerite Winston, Jackie Rob.
inson, Henry Tolbert, Benia.
min Cunningham and Mour
ice Bishop.
On the agenda for Numbe
SOB will be program of musi,
by Boston composers. Tn,
Board of Directors for thi!
distinguished club house, Mrs
William Goodell (more than
80 years old one of the found
ers, Mrs. Robert Miles, Pres
Mrs. Frederick Yancey, Vice
Pres; Mrs. Doris Jackson, 2nC
Vice-PreS.; Mrs. William War
ner, Treas; Mrs. Emma New
man, Clerk; Mrs. Harold
Smith, Cor Sec; Miss Gladly
Holmes, Social Worker; Mrs
Geneva Shaw, House Director
Mrs. Henry Jackson, Mes.
danes Gertrude Chandler
Rose Jeffries, Beatrice Saun.
ders, Nellie Green and Jose.
phine Williams.
WITHIN THE CIRCLE
Amanda Kemp, Soprano, start.
February 3 on her concert toul
of Texas, Little Rock, Kansa.
City, Connecticut and New
Jersey . Baritone Rober
McFerrin in debut at Metro
politan Opera House as Anon
asro in Aida.