THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2, 1954 THE MICHIGAN DAILY 'pa [Ywr + trtr' TUE MTCHTGA~V TbATrv a zrAUE THR1XEEZ H; 75-YEAR TRADITION: 'U' Musical Society Presents 'Messiah', To Star Choral Union Group, Soloists ! By DAVID KAPLAN Continuing a 75-year tradition, the University Musical Society's annual presentation of Handel's "Messiah" will take place at 8:30 p.m. Satuiday and 2:30 p.m. Sun- day in Hill Auditorium. Participating in the concerts will be' the Musical Society Choral Un- ion and Orchestra conducted by Lester McCoy, Alice Lungerhausen, Detroit harpisehordist and four noted soloists. Lucine Amara, Metropolitan Op- era star, will sing the soprano role in her first Ann Arbor appearance. Award Winner After winning the Atwater Kent Award in 1948, Miss Amara made her concert debut the following year under Pierre Monteux and the San Francisco Symphony Orches- tra. She joined the Met roster in 1950 and has sung soprano roles in such operas as "Pagliacci" and "Car- men." Lillian Chookasian, also making her Ann Arbor debut, will sing the contralto role. Chicago Education After receiving her musical edu- cation in Chicago, Miss Chookasi- an established herself as a concert singer and oratorio performer throughout the country. Last season, she sang twelve performances of the "Messiah" in cities from coast-to-coast, includ- ing appearances in Boston, Chica- go, Salt Lake City and Milwaukee. Charles Curtis, who will sing the tenor role, began his musical ca- reer when he appeared as a violin soloist in a one-room schoolhouse in his native Kansas. Assistant Conductor During his undergraduate days at Kansas State Teachers College, Curtis was assistant conductor of the orchestra, glee club, band and chorus. He has since appeared in opera, oratorio and in both stage and movie versions of "This is the Ar- my." Donald Gramm, like the other three soloists, will be heard in Ann Arbor for the first time. He has appeared on radio, television as well as in recitals and as soloist with leading symphony orchestras. He has won the Paul Lavalle Scholarship as well as first prize at Chicagoland Music Festival. "Messiah" History Through the years, Handel's "Messiah" has been closely associ- ated with the University Musical Society. Seventy-five years ago, singers from four local church choirs banded together for the primary purpose of singing choruses from the "Messiah." Later its activities were expand- ed to include other choral works as well as a larger choir member- ship. At present, the members of the Choral Union total 330. Choral Union The University Choral Union is .one of the oldest and largest choral bodies in the country, maintaining a continued existence of more than three quarters of a century. Tickets for both "Messiah" per- formances are on sale at the of- fices of the University Musical So- ciety in Burton Tower. Priced at 50 and 75 cents, they will also be on sale at the Hill Auditorium box- office one hour before each per- formance. Celebration In Foreign Lands Vary By MARY ANN THOMAS The Philippines never have any snow due to average winter tem- peratures of 60 to 70 degrees, but they sing "White Christmas" just the same. "Christmas is celebrated very similarly to that in the United States," Eduardo Sevilla, a gradii- ate student in chemistry from the Philippines, explained, "because Americans have lived there for fifty years." "We import imitation snow and holiday decorations," he contin- ued, "but our celebration is much more intense-a fiesta." In the Philippines which is pre- dominantly Catholic, preparation for the holiday begins with Advent when many people give up certain pleasures and attend Mass daily believing they will have a better Christmas. Festivities Begin Early "Nine days before Christmas we have a special Mass called Missa de Gallo at 4 a.m.," Sevilla com- mented. "It is a highly festive af- fair with stalls selling rice cakes, candles, games and breakfasts lin- ing the streets to the church." "This is the time for the young men to get dates to go to Mass together," he smiled. Another Philippine tradition is for each family to make a bam- boo star to hang outside the gate of the house in commemoration of the star of Bethlehem. " Spanish Custom "The Spaniards introduced the custom of acting out the Christ- mas story traveling from house to house singing carols," the chem- istry student added, "and the cele- bration is climaxed with 'a big meal after midnight Mass Christ- mas Eve. "There is always a lot of food in+ every home Christmas Day," Se- villa joked, "so the young men visit all their girl-friends for the food." In addition to exchanging pre- sents with friends and family in the Philippines, youngsters go to all their. baptism, communion and confirmation sponsors and ask for, gifts. Big Parties Held Dec. 23 So the family may be together1 Christmas Eve, all big parties and1 jam sessions are held Dec. 23. "But because of this I usually sleep all1 the next day," Sevilla added. 1 An interesting feature of these1 fiestas is the marathon of bands., By HENRY FINNEY Records make as good Christ- mas gifts as they ever did, if not better. Local record store owners ex- plain that although the variety and quantity of recordings sold remain almost even throughout the year, the number of sales is consistently high. One merchant commented that, just like any other business, the sales do go up at Christmas time, but that the kind of records sold is extremely varied. Although there is a seasonal demand for Carols during the Yule season, the general demand seems to correspond more with imme- diate releases, whether in summer or winter. Few Vacation Jobs Available By LEE MARKS Although Christmas may seem far off, indications are students who want part time jobs before and during vacation will have to look for them early. For instance, post office officials report no jobs available any long- er. Applications were received Nov. 15 and in only a few hours, more than 200 people applied for the 125 available jobs. "They started lining up outside the postoffice at 8 a.m.-mostly University students," a post office employer claimed. . Too Early To Tell Saying "It's still too early to tell for sure," R. Roberts of the Uni- versity Personnel Bureau forecast a fairly tough time for students looking for jobs. "So far eve haven't had any open- ings. We usually get some but you can't go by past experience," Rob- erts said. "This year it seems students are going out on their own, anticipat- ing the rush and getting jobs be- fore employers can report open- ings to us," he continued. Local Unemployment Roberts pointed out an additional complication-local unemployment.' With Michigan plagued by unem- ployment, many townspeople will be competing with students for temporary jobs, Roberts said. Local bookstorcs and shops con- tacted said some extra help would be taken on for the Christmas rush but in many cases jobs were al- ready spoken for. SALES INCREASE: Discs Ease Gift Problem n TV Offers Financial Planning Tips The use of long-playing and high-fidelity equipment has,of course, boosted record sales to new heights. Record companies explain that new equipment, and subse- quently an increased awareness of music by Americans, has forced them to produce competitively better recordings. The repertories of all types of music is being increased by most companies, although many of them are hesitant in greatly increasing their stock of contemporary mu- sic. They claim that record com- panies are not obliged to produce records that won't sell. "Our lis- teners must show a demand first," they all agreed. There are companies, however, that deal specially with less popu- lar records. Esoteric is recording harp music by Poulenc and Satie. Bartok is working on all of Bela Bartok's music. "Bread-and-Butter" Classical best-sellers are mostly "bread-and-butter" items. . Favorite symphonies are Beet- hoven's Ninth, Dvorak's "New World," Berlioz's "Fantastique" and Tchaikovsky's First and Ninth. Among the favorite piano con- certs, according to leading record companies, are Beethoven's "Em- peror," Schumann's "Concerto in A minor," Rachmaninoff's Second and Grieg's A minor Concerto. Accepted as a matter of course are old favorites including Rimsky- Korsakov's "Scheherazade," Ra- vel's "Bolero," Tchaikovsky's "Ro- meo and Juliet" and his "Swan Lake." Jazz Popular Along with the latest hits, the Glenn Miller and the Louis Arm- strong modern jazz albums are selling well. Recording studio jam sessions and concert hall record- ings add to the popularity of jazz records. Benny Goodman, Bessie Smith, Bix Biderbeck, Django Rienhardt and Dave Brubeck are all in de- mand. Many small companies have formed to record first-hand and special kinds of jazz. Records are carrying through their tradition of being popular gifts. Record companies, pushing as fast as popular taste will let them, are coming out with revi- sion and completely new works every year. If enough customers demand a piece of music, they will get it, if not this'Christmas, then next. Help comes'to the harried house- holder, struggling to make the family income go as far as pos- sible. It begins Dec. 5 when University television inaugurates a new eight-week series, "Planning Your Financial Future," which offers practical hints by specialists in various fields of personal finance. The series, designed for those with incomes large or small, sur- veyes such subjects as the family budget, the bank account, finan- cing a home, business and consum- er credit, investments, problems of wills and the new income tax law.' Providing-expert advice on these topics are representatives of De- troit banks and trust companies, which organizations cooperated with the School of Business Ad- ministration in presenting the ser- ies.M ---ies. LUCINE AMARA LILLIAN CHOOKASIAN w 201 SOUTH MAIN AT WASHINGTON sIn Instead of having one band, parties CHARLES CURTIS I LESTER McCOY DONALD GRAMM hire two, which often try to outlast > r S ' 9 4 J %g 444&414g4 4 p CHARLES__________ LESTER _McCOYDONALD_______ each other playing through the night until morning. MAILING HINTS: "Many times I have left a party to go home and when I came back " " the bands were still playing," Se- Postmaster Koch Reports on Anticipated PvilaretarlJeD Practical Joke Day Post Office Plans for Usual Holiday Rush "ettes.Catauhedinsm- festivities. Although held in com- r By DEBRA DURCHSLAG memoration of babies who were ready been received to fill all Dec. 12, and local mail from Dec. martryred, the feast has become Rain, sleet, snow and even openings. 17 to Dec20 another April Fools day. The peak in parcel post mailing Parcel post to distant points "With all the holiday spirit in the Thn ' nis expected to be reached early in should go out no later than Dec. air, the practical jokes catch you The post office's version of San- December, with the main force 8, with Dec. 14 suggested as the unawares," the Filipino comment- ta Claus trudges through snow and of auxiliary workers expected to last date for other packages. ed. slushbial ba f he be put on in mid-December. Because of the large Chinese pop- proverbial Christmas cheer. Special windows for stamps will ulation, two Christmas celebrations Busy stemming the tide of the Beginning Monday, Dec. 13, a be opened in the main Post Of- +ae hel chrtm ontheapart. Christmas rush, the mailman may full force of mail workers will be fice as well as Nickels Arcade and In Februay th ay lack St. Nick's "cheery smile," but on hand to cope with the aval- E. University branches beginning is famed for its lauriats, meals he makes an important contribu- anche. Last year more than 1,842,- Dec. 13. cistinm fo t o 100 main tion to the traditions of the sea 000 pieces of mail were processed Lcsfrot-on n o n shispn ffom 15 to 100p mkin son, by Ann Arbor stations, and a rec- greeting cards will also be given book. Postmaster Oswald J. Koch re- ord load is again expected. out. Cards are requested to be tied "The trick is to sample a little" ... e ,x :> .9,, ... . ? ports that an Ann Arbor staff will Authorities urge early mailing into two bundles, with the labels bit of each dish," Sevilla com- be increased by 125 workers, bring- of both packages and cards. Out- inserted in the bundles. The sys- mented, "but we are used to hav- ing the post office crew to more going letters and cards are advised tem, used in the past two seasons, ing three or four of your main than 300. Applications have al- to be mailed early in the week of has facilitated mail handling. dishes in one meal." See our Op hui cAi4tma 7pee Complete Selection is again avaliable to you for making r STATIONERY your personalized photographic Michigan and Personalized Christmas cards. GIFT BOOKS Children's, Fiction, and Non-Fict FOUNTAIN PENS You may use your own camera, or ours, and we will furnish the lighting and helpful suggestions.. LEATHER G O D Shown Below is a Sample Christmas Card. g DESK SETS Lr WALLETS PHONE US FOR COMPLETE DETAILS a 1.................................. ..v.. 2..sw4w:....'.: "J. lf.1{t iy""{{P. .wJ.-i ; .?.;T , .... ....... '" of A ,ion I, I} r