Originally published in The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County on December 6, 1935.
VALPARAISO CITIZENS FIND V.U. SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA IS WELL WORTH PATRONAGE
BY ROBERT ALLETT
Valparaiso citizens are gradually awakening to the fact that Miss Helen Dvorak is building a splendid musical organization at the universityーone which last night proved itself a credit to the school, the director and the community.
One of the largest crowds ever to attend an evening concert of the Valparaiso University Symphony Orchestra responded with sincere applause to the group’s first concert of the present season. There must have been 500 present, the majority being townspeople, and Miss Dvorak has every reason to feel proud today. Her orchestra was excellent, the violin soloist, Darrel Kautz, who is a student of the director, demonstrated masterly technique, and the audience was receptive.
Not a “university” symphony in the strict sense of the word, over half the musicians being from outside the school, all credit must be given, however, to the student council of the local institution as the financier, and to Miss Dvorak as organizer, of so outstanding a group.
Presentation of Tchaikovsky’ “Symphony No. 5 in E Minor” revealed an orchestra that responded nicely to delicate direction; revealed a background that was strong and steady, with fine intonation, and justified the importation of professional players, horns, bassons, obees, and contrabass, that added muchh to the beauty of the interpretation.
Double stops offered no terrors for Darrel Kautz, student soloist who played de Bériot’s difficult “Concerto No. 7 for Violin.” His emphasis on technique made his interpretation clean cut and clear toned and the tricky bowing of the composition was done excellently. Responding to prolonged applause, Kautz played “Goin’ Home” from Anton Dvorak’s “New World Symphony” which was distinctly an anti-climax, especially in the latter part of the composition.
The orchestra caught the stiff rhythmatic mood of Herbert’s “March of the Toys” from “Babes in Toyland,” and in “Dance of the Buffoons” from Rimsky-Korsakov’s “The Snow Maiden” amused the audience with sound effects which gave the percussion department a chance to show off, but in both instances a bit more looseness and humor on the part of the musicians would have added to the effectiveness of the compositions which are, at best, tone-pictures of something light and fantastic.
Violins, which throughout the concert were overshadowed by the horns and woodwinds, came through admirably in “Suite Algerienne Op. 88,” by Saint-Saens, doing some good sustaining work. One thing that can be said of Miss Dvorak’s orchestra as it played last night, no department was overemphasized and there was no evidence of a top-heavy string section. Themes were tossed from instrument to instrument with a finesse that has seldom been heard on the university campus and “March Militaire Francaise,’ second movement of “Suite Algerienne,” which is a perennial favorite on the hill, was never played better by a local group.
Fredrick Schweppe, music director at the university, announced the forthcoming presentation on Sunday afternoon, December 15, of Handel’s “Messiah” as the student council’s annual Christmas gift to the city of Valparaiso. The university choir will be augmented by the Lake county Lutheran chorus and the two groups will total 125 voices. The orchestra, under Miss Dvorak, will play the accompaniment and the program will be free.
Symphony orchestra personnel:
First violinーDarrel Kautz, concert master; edward misiora, Armin Manning, Selma Kroencke, Glenn Tom, Jessie Swanson, *Josephine Wyckoff, *Lois Lichtensberger, Louis Birkholz, *Betty Balleau, *Betty Lichtenberg, *Janice Carstens.
Second violin ー Martin Katz, principal; Alfred Erickson, Paul Egli, Harland Kaufman, Dorothy Mackensen, Donald Wiersbaum, *Mary Ellen Steele, Rosaline Grosz, Betty Pierce.
Viola ー Adeline Eaton, George Myers, *Palmer Myran, *William Nelson.
Violoncello ー Philip Anderson, Clarence Schneider, Edward Egglebrecht, *Jeanette Kamms. Contra Bass ー Harold Rogers, Melvin Breining, Robert Kinne, *Kelen Cook.
Flute ー *Herbert Anderson, William Anderson, *Paul Dolembo.
Oboe ー *H. Buchsbaum, Mrs. William Johnston, August Breitbarth.
Clarinet ー Kenneth Green, Lester Spears, *Jean Ordung.
Bassoon ー *Dall Fields, William Johnston.
Horns ー *Stewart Taylor, Albert Szabo, *Kenneth Hedstrom, *Eva Mitchell.
Trumpet ー H. Fulton, Howard Betz, Harold Jones, *Leroy Brittan.
Trombone ー Arthur Griep. Howard Krieger, Wallace Wilson.
Tuba ー *Robert Kawmmer.
Percussion ー Raymond Handschy, Robert Kinne.
* Guest members
