Scan 6
Musical Courier 1891-10-14: Vol 23 Iss 608, 1891
101 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 415. See the scan on archive.org.
1more brains and less brawn; therefore he should be listened to respectfully.
3I never realized all this more fully than after listening to Mascagni's music. With the shame of the man who has too liberally "potated" (not the tuber, but the drink) the night before, so I felt as the effects of the Mascagni tipple wore off. His liquor is melodic vodka, and is bound to give you a headache the next day. I little wonder me that Dvorak spoke harshly, for to the creator of absolute music—in a word, the greatest form of music—the composer of musical melodrama, with its "stagy" flavor, must seem below his notice, just as a sculptor, a worker in purely beautiful shapes, must despise the fantocini of the marionette stage.
5I don't espouse George Moore's radical views of the drama, but no music drama in itself is as great as absolute music. I love the Vorspiel to "Tristan" better than the opera itself. I'm tired of people singing words when an instrument says it all so much better. This is not a recantation but a confession. After wallowing in the trough of murder, jealousy, vulgar lust, intrigue and petty personalities of the peasants of Zola and Mascagni, what a glorious relief to ponder the austerely noble typical themes of Brahms or Beethoven!
7Odi profanum vulgus is my mood to-day, and I want no more tawdry opera, but I will go again to listen to "Rustic Chivalry" when Amberg brings it out; for my curiosity, feminine to a degree, will master me. Amberg promises the original scoring this time certainly, and I want to see, or rather hear, if Mascagni really scored his music in the radical style we now hear it, disregarding so flagrantly the limitations of the wood, brass and string choirs.
9Verse, pure and simple, often offers me all I desire, for its musical quality, superadded to the burden of fine lofty thought, is music drama in type.
11To revert to piano technic again, certes is it that the hand and forearm play a tremendously important part in modern music, and mere fingers alone are inadequate to interpret the heavy massed chords and skips of the latter day concerto. Have you noticed how far behind the age French piano composers are? I looked over a batch of new music recently, by well-known names like Godard, Thomé, Widor and others, and saw not a jot or tittle of originality. There is but one man in France at present who writes with solidity for the instrument and that is Camille Saint-Saens, even if he didn't write the Victor Benham F minor sonata.
13Why his three clever mazurkas are not played oftener is surprising. In piquancy of rhythm, harmonic effects, bizarre surprises they are delightful, and the vein of diablerie that scarlet threads his music is here strongly in evidence. The first two are in G minor, the second of which is seldom, if ever, played in public, Sherwood being the only pianist I ever heard give it. The first is never played, though Rummel has it on his programs for this season. The third, in B minor, is the most poetic, and has been played by Ferdinand Zinzig with marked success. Tout de même, these charming cabinet pictures are greatly neglected.
15I realized yesterday, as I looked at Henry Wolfsohn's new musical date book, what a hideous thing it would be if it were a world all music, wherein people sang instead of spoke, and symphonies, not shekels, were the aim and object of life. No wonder the present popularity of sheol as compared with celestial realms, for the idea of heavenly harping protracted throughout eternity literally drives people to the devil. The amount of music so far announced for this season is simply maddening—or shall I say educating?—yes, educating is good; for we go to listen to music not for the sake of its beauty, but to be educated.
17So Glazounoff has been arrested for suspected leanings toward Nihilism. Russian music is nihilistic enough, without its composers entering into any vulgar political intrigues. It merits Robert Schumann's poetical description of Chopin's "Polonaise": "Cannons buried in flowers." Many harmonic bombs may be found in Russian symphonies, but their explosions only cause to wince those musicians who prefer old-fashioned canons!
19"The Tyrolean," which is used at the Casino as a curtain raiser to "Rustic Chivalry," is a pretty opera by Carl Zeller, cleverly Englished by Mrs. H. D. Tretbar. It served to introduce to the Casino patrons Marie Tempest, an artist whose dainty methods, charming personality and finished singing may banish from us all arrière pensée of the burly and ponderous queens of burlesque who have brought comic opera to such a low ebb in this country. "The Tyrolean" has no plot to speak of, but several spots, one the finale quintet which closes the first act, another a romance sung by the Tempest, and the amusing scene of the two antiquated German professors, impersonated respectively by Messrs. MacDonough and De Angelis, which is a genuine bit of low comedy. Mr. Richie Ling, the Aronsons' newly imported tenor, had too small a part to do himself justice, but it was not as small as his voice. His fame is certainly not a success. The rest of the cast are decent and the music innocuously cheerful. Freddy Solomon and Annie Myers do good work. The two operas bid fair to run the season.
21Lady of the House (to famous singer): "Are you going to sing, signor?"
22Signor Seminolini: "I'm going to zinga ze song, 'Walza of ze Flowers,' madame."
23Lady of the House: "Well, will you kindly sing it a little fast, as we have just organized a dance in the next room!"
25The Philadelphia "Times" is responsible for the statement that Ovide Musin was lately the husband of Trebelli, the singer, and the "Recorder" wants to know what has become of that Folville engagement announced last season, all of which is impolite, for the dashing virtuoso has just married the soprano with the "Eiffel Tower" note—Anna Louise Tanner.
27Why will famous singers like Patti, Sembrich and others become "soapranas" literally by giving their indorsement to toilet manufacturers and cigar dealers. Sembrich is out indorsing some brand of mineral pastilles, and not to be outdone the proprietors of the Mastiff plug cut smoking tobacco get up a cut of a Bill-Nye-headed gentleman playing on a Wimball gumwood piano, with the inscription, "The song that touched his heart." The irrelevancy of this is not greater when a singer praises something entirely out of her province. [No reflections here on the use of soap.] I don't care how great a belladonna Patti is (as Mrs. Partington might have said); it won't influence my purchases in the hair dyeing line in the least, all of which leads me to remark that as I'm getting tired you must be so ages ago, so—finis.
29PERSONALS.
31The Goldsteins and Mrs. Harrison.—During the sojourn of Mrs. Harrison, the President's wife, at Auburndale, near Boston, she was entertained by the two Goldsteins, who gave a concert at the villa. Mr. S. E. Goldstein is a violinist, Mr. A. Goldstein a contrabassist, and among other things they played a violin and double bass duo by Bottesini. They are both members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
33Van Stosch.—Miss Laura Van Stosch, the young violinist who will make her début next Sunday at the Seidl popular Lenox Lyceum concert, is a relative of the late Prussian Minister, General Van Stosch.
35Miss Rose Schaffensfels.—This young soprano had a great success at Madison Square Garden Monday evening of last week, at the Seidl concert. She sang the aria from "Samson and Delilah."
37Mr. Myer Returns.—Edmund J. Myer has returned from his summer work at Binghamton, N. Y., and Warren, Pa., and has resumed his teaching at 86 East Twenty-third street. He reports that between forty and fifty pupils studied with him during the summer, fifteen of them being teachers and a number of them from distant States. His intention is to locate a permanent summer school and summer home on Lake Chautauqua.
39Musin—Tanner.—Ovide Musin, the violin virtuoso, and Mrs. Annie Louise Tanner were united in marriage Wednesday last at noon at the home of the bride on Stuyvesant square.
41Because of the recent death of the bride's sister-in-law, Mrs. Arthur Hodges, only the near relatives and friends of bride and groom were invited. The wedding ceremony was performed by the Rev. Thomas B. McLeod, of Brooklyn, a lifelong friend of the bride. Her venerable father placed her hand in that of the groom.
43Mrs. Musin is the pretty brunette who sang in the Madison Square Garden during Mr. Inness' recent engagement. She will soon appear there with Seidl, and she has been the leading singer in Mr. Musin's company for three years.
45Her first professional appearance was made seven years ago at a Sängerfest in Buffalo, conducted by Dr. Damrosch. She comes of the Hodges and Phelps families of New England. Her father is the Hon. A. P. Hodges, of Detroit, and the present Minister to Germany is a relative on the mother's side.
47Mr. Musin was born in Liège, Belgium, in 1854, and has a reputation as being a "romantic violinist." Mr. and Mrs. Musin will have no tour, except that of their regular concert engagements, which will begin in Brooklyn on October 21.—"Sun."
49Reginald De Koven on the "World."—Reginald de Koven, the composer of "Robin Hood," will be the music critic of the New York "World," taking the place of Mr. John P. Jackson, whose tendencies were too Wagnerian for Mr. Ballard Smith. Mr. Jackson is now the foreign editor of the New York "Recorder," a position which he ably fills, though his absence from music this season will be felt. Mr. De Koven, who is a good musician—and report says a good fellow—wrote at one time for that spicy little sheet, the Chicago "Figaro."
51Pleased and Surprised.—I want to add that I have been not only pleased but surprised by the number of answers my small advertisement with you has called forth; also by the earnest character of the inquiring letters. Already I have engaged business enough to repay me many times the expense incurred.—John Howard, 36 West Twenty-sixth street, New York city.
53Mrs. Ida Bond-Young, Soprano.—The address of Mrs. Bond-Young is now 57 West Seventeenth street, this city. She is prepared to engage herself for concert and oratorio work, and as an evidence of her abilities the following letter speaks for itself:
55I have great pleasure in stating that Mrs. Ida Bond-Young has one of the finest soprano voices I have ever met. I feel she must, with her great musical genius, command success as a public singer. She has studied this season with me.
57Wm. Shakespear, London, England.
59Venino's Variations.—Albert Venino, who is a talented pianist with a refined style all his own, has composed a set of variations for his instrument which for an op. 1 display a facility in writing, a happy gift of invention and a sound knowledge of harmony. Mr. Venino has taken the Tschaikowsky variations in F for a model, but not in any literal slavish sense. His variations are spiritually related to those of the great Russian, and in some places the design and figuration are suggestively similar. Mr. Venino has arranged some of his variations for the organ. He will probably publish them soon.
61Friedheim Returns.—Arthur Friedheim has returned to America, and has begun his professional duties at Max Spicker's Groschel Conservatory in Brooklyn. Mr. Friedheim will be heard in concert this season.
63W. T. Glover.—Mr. W. T. Glover, of London, who is manager for Blumenberg, the violoncellist, was in town last week and paid a visit to this office.
65Miss Huberwald in New York.—Miss Florence Huberwald, of New Orleans, a gifted contralto singer, pupil of La Grange, Paris, is at present in New York.
67Ansorge Sails.—Conrad Ansorge sailed from Hamburg October 9 for this country.
69New York Vocal Institute.
71THE first recital of the season of this new institution was held on Friday afternoon last at the parlors of the institute, 97 Fifth avenue. It was "director's recital," at which the singing (except in a duet) was by the director, Mr. Frank H. Tubbs. The audience quite filled the parlors and was much pleased with the auspicious opening. Mr. Tubbs was assisted by Miss Alice B. Altman, a pianist of excellent ability.
73This recital was the first of a series of four which the director will himself give. Other recitals in courses of four will be held. The teachers, the male quartet, the ladies' quartet and the pupils will each contribute a series. The recitals are arranged for educational purposes and if all are as instructive and enjoyable as that of Friday the institute will exert useful influence. Appended is the program:
75Songs—
76"The Rose puts forth"…………………….Hofmann
77"Twitter not before my window,"…Schumann
78Serenade………………………………….Schumann
79Piano solo—
80Polonaise in C sharp minor…………….Chopin
81Valse in C sharp minor………………..Stainer
82Aria, "My hope is in the everlastin," from "Daughter of Jairus"………………………………….Gilbert one of two readings
83Aria, "My hope is in the everlastin," from "Daughter of Jairus"……………………………Gilbert one of two readings
84Duet, "On Mossy Banks"………………..Gilbert
85Piano solo, "Rhapsodie Hongroise," No. 11………….Liszt
86Aria, "Com è Gentili, from "Don Pasquale"……..Donizetti
87Songs—
88"Stay by and Sing"……………………….Jordan
89"Snowflakes"………………………………Cowen one of two readings
90"Snowflakes"…………………………….Cowen one of two readings
91"Ho! the Daffodils"……………………….Bracken one of two readings
92"Ho! the Daffodils"……………………Bracken one of two readings
93"Adeline"………………………………….Campbell one of two readings
94"Adeline"………………………………..Campbell one of two readings
96The Storys.—Mr. Julian Story and his bride, Miss Eames who was, will pay Mr. and Mrs. Barrett Browning a visit ere long at the Palazza Bezzonica, Florence.
98Dowlais Choir.—The famous Dowlais Harmonic Society, the winner of many notable triumphs, has finally decided to compete in the international Eisteddfod, to be held at Chicago during the progress of the Columbian world's fair of 1893.
100The Dowlais choir consists of 250 members, and it is estimated that their trip to the United States will cost $25 000, although the prize offered in competition is only $5 000. The Dowlais Harmonic Society will give a series of concerts in the United States to recoup themselves for their expenses.
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