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Scan 147
Grove's dictionary of music and musicians, 1920
12 lines. Read by computer on 11 September 2026. Printed page 131. See the scan on archive.org.
1BERKSHIRE QUARTET
3BERKSHIRE STRING QUARTET, THE, is the name adopted for the Kortschak Quartet of Chicago as reorganized in 1917 under the patronage of Mrs. Frederick S. Coolidge of New York in connection with the Berkshire Festivals (see above). It consists of Hugo Kortschak and Sergei Kotlarsky, violins, Clarence Evans, viola (in place of George Dasch), and Emmeran Stoeber, 'cello. It is understood that after the Festival of 1920 the Quartet is to be discontinued.
5† BERNERS, Lord [Gerald Hugh Tyrwhitt] (Sept. 18, 1883, London, England), received his musical training in Dresden and London, entered the British diplomatic service in 1909 and since 1912 has been attached to the British Embassy at Rome. He succeeded as Baron Berners in 1918. His first published works were three funeral-marches for piano, the first for a statesman, the second for a canary, the third for a rich aunt. Then followed 'Fragments Psychologiques' and the miniature tone-poem 'Le Poisson d'Or' and 'Valses Bourgeoises,' all for piano. For orchestra are two sets of three pieces each, the first including 'Chinoiserie,' 'Valse Sentimentale' and 'Kasatchok'; the second, a 'Fantaisie Espagnole,' including a Prelude, Fandango and March. The latter set was played at the London Promenade Concerts in 1919. Lord Berners' work is said to be influenced by his association with his friends Casella and Stravinsky.
7BERWALD, WILLIAM HENRY (Dec. 26, 1864, Schwerin, Germany), studied composition in 1883-87 with Rheinberger in Munich and in 1887-88 with Faiszt in Stuttgart. In 1889 he became director of the Philharmonic Society in Libau, Russia, and in 1892 came to America as professor of composition and piano in the College of Fine Arts of Syracuse University, succeeding Goetschius. He is director of the Ladies' Chorus of the College and choir-director at the Fourth Presbyterian Church. The degrees of Mus.M. and Mus.D. were conferred upon him by the University in 1903 and 1912. He won the prize offered by the Philadelphia Manuscript Society for a quintet for piano and strings, a gold medal in the Clemson anthem-competition for 1912 and first prize for a part-song for mixed voices in the 'Etude' competition. His works for orchestra have been performed abroad as well as here. Tertius Noble, at St. Thomas' Church in New York, gave the initial performance of his cantata 'The Seven Last Words of Christ.' His violin-sonata in F received special recognition from Joachim, and his piano-compositions were valued by William Mason. He has been a most industrious composer, long lists of his works being found in the catalogues of leading publishers. They include 73 piano-pieces, 36 songs, 7 vocal duets, 13 part-songs and 11 anthems for women's voices, 106 anthems for mixed voices, 19 anthems for men's voices, 10 cantatas, 3 secular part-songs for mixed voices, two sonatas for violin and piano and two Romances for 'cello and piano. His unpublished compositions are the prize piano-quintet, a piano-trio, a dramatic overture (played by the Court Opera Orchestra in Schwerin, and by the New York Symphony Society in Pittsburgh, Chicago and Syracuse) and an overture, 'Walthari' (played at the Syracuse Festival by the New York Symphony Society and by the American Symphony Orchestra in Chicago). [R.8]
9BETHANY COLLEGE, Lindsborg, Kan., has become a notable center for the musical enthusiasm of Swedish Lutherans. Its first class was graduated in 1891, and from that time music has been a conspicuous element in its entire life. Besides elaborate opportunities for individual instruction, including many instruments, there are two large choruses, two orchestras, two bands and several glee-clubs. For nearly thirty years a May Festival of several days has been held that has become famous. The director is Hagbard Brase, with 14 other instructors.
11BETHLEHEM BACH CHOIR, THE, of Bethlehem, Pa., was organized in its present form in 1900 through the efforts of Mrs. Ruth Porter Doster and under the inspiration of J. Fred Wolle, at that time organist of the Moravian Church. After 1905 it was suspended, owing to Dr. Wolle's removal to California, but resumed in 1912, this time with generous assistance from Charles M. Schwab. Dr. Wolle has been conductor throughout. Up to 1920 fifteen Bach Festivals have been held, those before 1905 in the Moravian Church and those since 1912 at Lehigh University in South Bethlehem. The Festivals now regularly occupy two days, but in the past they have once covered six and once were distributed in three groups of three each. The programs have varied much in part, but the B minor Mass has been sung at every Festival. The St. Matthew Passion has been given three times, the St. John Passion twice, the Christmas Oratorio (complete) four times and the Magnificat four times. Some forty cantatas have been produced, about one-quarter of them more than once, and many detached chorales. The Second and Third Brandenburg Concertos and the Suites in B minor and D have been played. In the early years the chorus was small, even under 100, but has lately been increased to about 250. Originally the orchestra was made up of local players, many of them amateurs, but since 1912 members of the Philadelphia Orchestra have been utilized. Altogether about 700
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