Notre Dame Scholastic, Vol. 89, No. 26 - Archives - University of ...

FATHER McMULLEN. HIS SISTER. AND FATHER GALLAGHER
Skill and persuasion enchanted the audience
MUSIC
McMullen Captivates
With poise, beauty and talented singing-.
Miss Mary Louise McMullen thoroughly
captivated her surprisingly large
audience in Washington Hall last week.
Miss McMullen's beauty may have lured
the large audience to come to the concert,
but her voice was the lovely instrument
that enticed the group to remain
and revel in the music of a well-chosen
program.
Though she sang in Italian, French,
German and English, Miss McMullen's
diction was precise and sweet throughout
the concert. Her German pronunciations
were especially fascinating, but
it was in the gi'oup of delightfully flirtatious
French pieces that the audience
was charmed completely. It was here
that Miss McMullen displayed how
smoothly, sweetly and quickly she could
sing. Her voice has an adequate volume,
but in singing softly, her notes were persistent,
more precise and most enjoyable.
A lovely young lady singing winsome
French songs with skill and persuasion
was more than enough to enchant
any audience.
In the works sung in Italian, Miss
McMullen presented two of Puccini's
most famous arias, "Si Michiamano
Mimi" from La Boheme and "Un Bel
Di" from Madame Butterfly. Both
were sung well, with tasteful emphasis.
The latter, however, was the more beautiful,
being absent of florid passages
and the extreme pseudo-drama so often
connected with the tragic Butterfly.
The group of songs sung in English
which concluded the concert were further
examples of Miss McMullen's ability to
sing as sweetly as she looked. Her winning
personality was injected into each
piece. "The Little China Figure" by
Leoni was sparkling and cute, while
"Vespers" by Frazer-Simpson was a
simple tender song given a simple, tender
treatment.
—:—
Traubel Is Superb
Helen Traubel and the South Bend
Symphony Orchestra brought Music
Week at Notre Dame to a marvelous
conclusion last week. Before a full
house in the University drill hall, Madam
Traubel gave the anticipated superb
performance of mainly Wagnerian music
— the music one always associates %vith
Traubel.
After opening the concert with the
rousing Prelude to Act III of Lohengrin,
the South Bend Symphony, conducted by
Edwyn Haymes, performed the Prelude
and Love Death from Tristan und Isolde.
The strings in this work were unexpectedly
smooth, perhaps even suave at
times. The orchestra program also included
Tschaikowsky's Overture-Fantasy
Borneo and Juliet.
With the able accompaniment of Mr.
Haymes and the orchestra Ti-aubel presented
her wonderful voice in Elsa's
dream from Lohengrin and Elizabeth's
gi'eeting from Tannhauser. As an encore
she assumed the character of Sieglinde
and sang "You Are the Spring" from
Die Walkure. The fuU, eloquent voice
completely filled the drill hall with no
eftort whatever.
Madam Traubel also presented a
gi-oup of three songs including "The
Heavens Are Telling" and "The Drums
Loudly Beating," two fine songs by
Beethoven, and the lovely "I'm Wearin'
Awa', Jean" by Foote, which she sang
warmly, with much vocal polish. Returning
again to Wagner, Madam Traubel
gave a powerful, effective rendition of
Isolde's narrative from Tristan und
Isolde. In this last group Traubel was
competently, accompanied by Conraad V.
Bos at the piano.
The group of encores was varied. With
artistry and feeling she sang "I Love
You" by Grieg and Frazer-Simpson's
"Vespers." The concert closed magnificently
as she rendered the battle cry,
"Ho-Yo-To Ho" from Die Walkzire.
Nature Boys Ready
To Watch Hamp Rock
Drill Hall Monday
The world's greatest sepia orchestra,
led by the master of vibes, drums, and
piano, Lionel Hampton, will make its
first appearance at Notre Dame on next
Monday evening at 8:15 in the DriU
Hall, when it plays a benefit concert for
St. Augustine Negro parish of South
Bend.
The gross profits of the night's performance
will go to the Negro parish because
Hampton has donated the services
of his band to this worthy cause. This
fine gesture on the part of the band
should be rewarded with a rousing attendance
of Notre Dame students.
For many months, Notre Dame men
have been hoping for just such a concert.
For the last two semesters they've
been fed strictly a classical diet; the
Hampton concert will help balance the
fare. The Rev. Vincent Thilman, C.S.C.,
ND '3.5, pastor of St. Augustine's, is responsible
for bringing the "Flying
Home" man to the campus.
In only eight years this orchestra has
become world famous. Probably the
greatest contributing factor to this tremendous
popularity has been Hampton's
ability to play all types of music, from
soft dinner-music to the loudest boogie
and swing. In other words, the Hampton
band can pick its spots, and thus
make the grade with every type of
music follower.
As the concert Monday evening is a
benefit affair and in no way connected
with the University, students will NOT
be admitted with ID cards nor atWetic
books. Bring your wallets, bo3rs.
—Tom Murray
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