The Music Box

The Harvard Glee Club is not an organization whose activities are surrounded by a fanfare of publicity; and perhaps because of this, as well as a decreasing interest in choral music generally, its most recent concerts have not received the popular attention which they deserve. Under the inspiring leadership of first Dr. Davison and now Mr. Woodworth, a progressive and vigorous policy has boon pursued which is reflected in the highly interesting program which the Glee Club is presenting with the Radcliffe Choral Society next Tuesday evening at Sanders Theatre.

New Randall Thompson Work

In addition to fine old standbys which include the magnificence of a Bach cantata and the vigour of English sea chanties, there are to be sung two new compositions, one by Igor Markevitch, and the other by Randall Thompson '20. Markevitch is a young Russian now resident in Paris whose only vocal work, the "Cantate", is to be performed in part by the Glee Club. The other modernist, Randall Thompson, is a Harvard graduate and recent lecturer in these parts, whose latest composition, "The Peaceable Kingdom", in receiving its initial performance by the joint chorus on Tuesday evening.

This work was commissioned by the League of Composers and was originally inspired by the painting of the same name which now hangs in the Worcester Art Museum. Its text, taken from Isaiah, is divided into seven part--each of which is superbly effective through the sheer application of choral tools, without resort to vocal trickery for more dramatic results. It is a significant and welcome addition to a field of music which is too often passed by on the other side.

Symphony Concerts

The Commonwealth Symphony Orchestra is giving a free concert at Sanders Theatre tonight, with an introductory talk by Mr. Leichtentritt. The orchestra is sponsored by the W.P.A. Richard Burgin is conducting this week at the Boston Symphony concerts, and the program contains Roy Harris's Second Symphony, the suite of dances from "The Basque Venus" by Wetzler, and Beethoven's "Emperor" Concerto no. 5 in E flat with Leonard Shure, local artist, at the piano. This is Mr. Shure's debut with the orchestra.