THE MUSIC BOX

Last season, the joint forces of the Harvard Glee Club, the Radcliffe Choral Society, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra presented John Sebastian Bach's magnificent St. Matthew Passion for the first time in these parts in several years. The results so pleased Dr. Koussevitzy that he determined to repeat the work this year in the ideal manner--that is on Good Friday. Thus, today is the date of the performance of the greatest of all Passion music, which is to be given at Symphony Hall in two parts: 4:30 p. m. and after an intermission, 8:15 p. m.

Dr. Albert Schweitzer's description of this work is one of the very best and is here quoted: "The story of the Passion is cast in a series of pictures. At the characteristic points the narrative breaks off and the scene that has just passed is made the subject of a pious meditation. This is effected in arias that are usually led up to by an arioso-like recitative. At minor resting points the feelings of the Christian spectators are expressed in chorale verses."