In an effort to benefit the community, the Dallas Junior Women’s Club has scheduled several projects for December. Areas of conservation, educa- tion, crippled children, caring and aiding State Hospital are included in the The conservation department will meet Dec. 10. The use of returnable bottles will be dis- cussed at this time. Each year the club provides a area high school senior. A the scholarship applications. by Harry Trebilcox The Wyoming Valley Oratorio Society, under the direction of program of 20th century choral en’s Episcopal Church. Three works were performed—Poul- enc’s Gloria” (1959), Calabro’s “The Floods are Risen’’ (1973), and Vaughan-William’s ‘Dona Nobis Pacem’ (1936). I found two-thirds of the program sup- erb, and my reservations about the remainder have to do with the music, not the performance. The Poulenc ‘Gloria’ was the only familiar work to me. The opening movement (there are six in all) sounded unsettled, short order. The Latin text is taken from the Catholic mass, and Poulenc’s setting of it has always intrigued me. I'm sure the composer had some reason for stressing weak syllables (Je-su Chris-TE), but I haven’t the faintest idea what that rea- son might be. It hardly matters, for the piece works. It is mov- ing, well, even tightly, con- structed, and jaunty. And why not? I know of no law that says praises must be snug solemnly. I have long thought this com- poser at his best in his religious music (perhaps the group will present the ‘‘Stabat Mater’’ in the future) or when he was be- ing urbane, even witty. On other levels of communication (the opera ‘Dialogues des Carmelit- es’’ comes to mind) I find him dull or pretentious. Not so with the “Gloria.” The chorus and orchestra gave of their consid- erable best and delivered an accurate and often very moving performance. I can not say that the soprano soloist, Joanne Netter Herron, sang like an angel for the simple The public affairs chairman, Mrs. Charles Parente, reported that two-way radios will be in- stalled in the school buses to alleviate some of the busing problems. Ninety-two pair of shoes were donated to the Wyoming Valley Crippled Children’s Associa- tion. Anyone with shoes to do- nate can leave them’ in boxes provided at Humphreys or Fairview Shoe Store. A Christmas Party will be given at the Maple Hill Nursing Home, sponsored by the welfare department. A party will also be given at the Retreat State Hospital. reason that T have never heard an angel, but neither do I expect to hear the part sung better. The solo line is treacherously diffi- cult; crossing vocal registers, lying cruelly high, and demand- ing complete control. Ms. Herr- on met the challenge head on. She sang with purity of tone, secure pitch, did not flinch from the altitude of the music and floated roughly a dozen high A’s. (I think they were A’s.) Some of her singing had a dis- embodied, other-world sound that was ideal for the music and the text. Itis a truism that one can only once hear a piece of music for the first time. I was hearing both the Calabro and Vaughan- Williams for the first time. I have come to depend on what is colloquially, if not elegantly, called a gut reaction to music new to me. This reaction falls into two broad categories. The first is, Thank God that’s over; the second, where can I get a score and learn more about this piece. Mr. Calabro’s work hit me in the first category. As with Poulenc, weak syll- ables were stressed (I must confess I could not understand most of the words) and the voc- al writing, particularly for the soloists--Dorothy Balshaw and Christopher Unger--, would be more suitable for a keyed in- strument.=The work is" brief, knowing the forces involved I assume it was well performed, but it did nothing for at least one listener. On the other hand, Vaughan- Williams's “Dona Nobis Pac- um’ (“Grant Us Peace’) al- most did the same listener in. The texts are taken from Walt most poetic), John Bright, the Catholic mass, and the Bible. It It was announced by Mrs. Billie Kisailus, club president of the Wilkes- Barre Junior: Womens Club that due to the re- quests of many residents the club will again have available their, member compiled cook- *“Cooks’ Delight” was a flood- related inspiration by the club members who used ,the pro- ceeds to assist Agnes Flood disaster victims. Many persons were able to feel a little less grief by the donations received from this cookbook, and the members are hopeful that their efforts will again be supported by the entire community. Donations for this ‘secret’ recipe-packed book are $2.50 and a copy may bel obtained by contacting Valerie Johnson, committee chairman at 824- 4766, Barbara Zigmund, co- chairman at 822-8264 or any club member. It Pays To Advertise Sunday 1 on Rte. 6 Call 836-2151 Ae DALLAS, PA. We will prepare your luncheons. Regular dining hours: Fri. & Sat. 5-10 p.m. 675-9639 favorite meal for any Sun. 12 Noon -7 p.m. + Christmas baskets will be given to 15 families in the area, Dec. 15. Food will be collected by area chairman from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6. held Dec. 3 at the Irem Temple Country Club. Dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m. Reserva- tions can be made with Mrs. Andrew Stahovec until Nov. 27. The Dallas Women’s Club Chorale under the direction of Mrs. David Wojciechowski will provide a. program of Christ- mas music. Cookbooks and jewelry will be available for sale at the meet- ing. seems an odd combination but, like the Poulene, it works. Con- sidering the date it was written (1936) it may have been the composer’s reaction to what was happening in Europe. I neither know nor care. That is the sort of thing best left to musicologists. Looking beyond the obvious imagery of the texts, I sense a desire for peace far removed from battlefields of war. And that, I think, I will leave to the mystics. Some of the writing re- minded me of Mahler, but a Mahler with control and no ner- vousness or hysteria. The chor- us sang superbly, although at times they were overwhelmed by the orchestra, the soloists-- Harriet Santos and David Scott: -were absolutely right for their brief but important parts, and the orchestra could hardly have been better. Catharsis is not a word I find much use for, but there was in this performance an element that transcended the limitations of musical notation and human fallibility. Given more rehear- sal time some of the minor rough edges might have been smoothed out. I'm not sure smoothness would be a virtue here. There was a craggy hon- feeling of fulfillment that no amount of polish could ever re- place. ip : eh HELL 2 5 The first Christmas Concert given by the Orpheus Choral Society will be presented Dec. 7, at 8:30 p.m. in the Wilkes College Center for the Perform- ing Arts. Ann Lutz is chairman of the Concert Committee and the chorus. The Chorus will present a variety of Christmas music under the direction of Eugene Kelleher, a resident @ of Plymouth and a graduate of Wilkes College. He has done graduate work at the University of New Hampshire and Kent State University. Mr. Kelleher has given many performances in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Area as a soloist. Marjorie Briggs George who is choir director and organist at the Firwood United Methodist Church will accompany the group. She is Past Dean of the Organist Guild and is a member GIFTS Jewelry Toys Brass SHAFFER'’S PINK APPLE RESTAURANT AND GIFT SHOP open daily 11 a.m. to 11 p.m, CLOSED MONDAYS *« GIFTS ‘Wall Plaques Novelty Items Candles of the Senior Mozart Club. The Chorus gives many concerts throughout the year for chur- ches and other organizations beside their Annual Spring Concert. This Christmas = Concert is being sponsored by the Triple “S$” Class of the Firwood United Methodist Church. Orpheus has approximately 70 members who come from all walks of life but who enjoy singing. The following Back Mountain Orpheus: Martha Dilley, Arline Klinger, Margaret Rowett, Grace Scott, Marie Troxell, Eleanor = Vojtko, Dorothy Adams, Sylvia Schooley, Midge Smith, Elayne Campbell, Richard Oliver, George Stolar- ick, William Clewell and Dave Schooley. A Greenstreet News Co. Publication The Orpheus Choral Society will present their First Christmas Concert Dec. 7 at 8:30 p.m. in the Wilkes College Center for Per- forming Arts. | CHECKERBOARD INN FEATURING Seafood Steaks Homemade Italian Food "Dinners Served Tues-Sat. 5 til 12 Diningroom closed Monday . Peter & Janice Mattioli Carverton Rd. Trucksville 4 superior x CATERING 5 — / Bresven Amine SERVICE ’ RELAX & ENJOY THE HOLIDAYS | OVER Let Us Do The Work This Year! We'll take care of the holiday preparations. so you’ll enjoy entertaining. i Preparing & Delivering Party i Foods Is Our Specialty i CALL 822-7616 i George D. Cave, Prop. 0 269 S. Washington Ave., WB _ ; AE PREPAY YA PAL PRK PRK PAK PK PO PAK PA PAL PRL PAK PA If no answer...... Call 675- 0145 3 TR RATE STR SA PR TR TTR TR RR NR ST RR SN RT SA A ST SR RA 8 _— me a ea
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