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Musical Courier 1891-12-02: Vol 23 Iss 615, 1891
96 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 650. See the scan on archive.org.
1Music in Indiana.
2November 20, 1891.
3The usual round of teaching and concert giving is going on in Indiana, more in some localities than in others. Indianapolis and De Pauw School of Music are considered two centres of the musical enthusiasm.
4I do not hear much from Lafayette, Evansville or Fort Wayne, but I presume they are performing their usual good offices. Indianapolis has been favored with the Emma Juch Opera Company. This company seems to meet so many unfortunate financial vicissitudes that I should think it would be as much as one's financial life is worth to enter into contract with Brother Locke.
5I am informed that Thomas is to give three orchestral concerts in Indianapolis, for which we are truly thankful. Mary Howe and Mr. Lavin have been singing at the "Flower Mission." Miss Howe is always happily received. I understand that Mr. Lavin's voice has improved much since he sang at last year's May Festival. Mr. Ernstinoff has a full class in voice culture, and Mr. Max Leckner always has an enthusiastic class. Mrs. Hunter has joined the forces at the Indianapolis School of Music. That institution is to be greatly congratulated on securing her services. If more of the city teachers were united with this school it could be made a grand institution. At present it is doing good work among the musical element of Indianapolis and environs. Mr. Forsythe, the director, is a hard worker and is presenting to the public the best methods of promulgating the divine art.
6Have not heard much from Miss Alden, who is in charge of music at Terre Haute. We know from the work accomplished when with us that she must be making a success.
7DE PAUW SCHOOL OF MUSIC.
8The De Pauw School of Music has been especially favored this year with liberal additions to faculty and students, who have brought with them a large amount of enthusiasm and courage.
9Students are here from Indiana and adjoining States; also from New Jersey and Massachusetts.
10Miss Gertrude H. French, a young harpist lately introduced, is making a fine record and receives encores whenever she plays. Calls for her are being received from adjoining cities. Large numbers have been forwarded from her former home, distance only preventing her from fulfilling them.
11Miss Burmeister, who was engaged last year, began her work this year and has her time all filled. Miss Burmeister is a sister of Richard Burmeister who is teaching at Peabody Institute, Baltimore.
12The engagement of Mr. Walter Howe Jones, protégé of Mrs. Teresa Carreño, as professor of piano and harmony, is the talk of the university and the announcement is received with marked favor.
13Mr. Jones, while a student in Berlin, received many kind favors from Von Blilow, Joachim and Moszkowski. He is fluent in German and French and used to aid a Russian countess in her receptions and soirées.
14Mr. Howe is now giving piano lecture recitals in Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin, and when he takes his position in the De Pauw University in January he will be fully equipped for giving a series of recitals referred to above.
15The management is now in search of a male voice teacher, one well up in oratorio. An American or Englishman preferred.
16One of the grandest concerts ever given in the chapel of the university occurred last Wednesday, when Mary Howe, assisted by her brother and numerous very distant cousins, Chas. T. Howe, Bertha E. Howe, Walter Howe Jones and James H. Howe, with his De Pauw Symphony Orchestra and Miss Gertrude H. French. The chapel was filled with one of the largest and most fashionable audiences ever assembled in Meharry Hall, a large number having come several miles to listen to the renditions.
17The orchestra never played better. Mr. Werneke executed the trombone solo, "Evening Star," with a fair degree of skill. Miss French charmed her hearers with her harp solo, and was obliged to respond to an encore. The fantasia for the flute, Terschak, rendered by Charles T. Howe, of Columbus, Ohio, was received with rapt attention and proved him to be a flutist of high degree of merit. Mr. Howe is careful and painstaking in his renditions, and has a true artistic appreciation of what is good and beautiful in the art, as his selections prove. He has lately purchased a fine $300 silver flute. The lovers of music will be glad to listen to him should he visit De Pauw again.
18The piano numbers by Walter Howe Jones—"Twelfth Rhapsodie," Liszt, and "Galatea," Jensen—were finely rendered and secured for him much applause. Mr. Jones plays with care and feeling, and was obliged to respond to a hearty encore, which he did and played one of his own compositions.
19Of course it goes without saying that Miss Howe captivated the audience. She was the talk of the university for weeks before the concert, and has been ever since. Such fine presence and grace of manner, such purity of tone and accuracy of pitch, brilliance of execution with fine touches of sentiment, cannot help winning every time. Encore followed encore and still the audience is not satisfied, and say she must come next year. Her brother, Lucian Howe, understands the art of accompanying beautifully. This concert was a fitting beginning of the "University Concert Course." I will close with the words of one of the university papers, "Vive la Concert Course!" The second concert of the course will be given by the Musin Concert Company December 15.
20Respectfully, Hallelujah.
21Music in St. Louis.
22St. Louis, November 18.
23Since my last communication we have had Theodore Thomas and his Chicago orchestra, who delighted our musical public with two excellent concerts which fully sustained the well earned reputation of Mr. Thomas. He was accompanied by Mrs. Katherine Z. Fisk, whose rich and sweet alto voice, distinct enunciation and tasteful singing made a most favorable impression. These concerts were as great a success in a musical as well as financial point of view. Thanks to the enterprising gentlemen in Chicago who secured Mr. Thomas' services, several of the principal towns in the West will be enabled to enjoy the fine performances of Thomas' orchestra at most reasonable prices. St. Louis is one of the favored places and the subscription for the series of six concerts is so reasonable, viz., parquet and dress circle, $5; balcony, $3, that the greater part of the large Music Hall, seating 3,500 people, was filled with subscribers. Mr. Ashcroft, formerly secretary of the Choral Symphony Society, was manager of the concerts, and great credit is due to him for the financial success, as the constant newspaper items drawing attention to these concerts showed that he busily attended to the trust imposed in him. But Mr. Ashcroft will not only be known in future as an importer of musical talent, but also as an exporter, having established a musical agency by means of which he intends to furnish St. Louis talent to neighboring cities. There is no reason why the enterprise should not succeed, for we have excellent vocalists, pianists, violinists, &c., among us, whose abilities are little known outside our city for want of a proper channel to advertise them. I see Mr. Ashcroft is already pushing the interest of the Austrian Juvenile Band, which is to visit us next month.
24Another new temple dedicated to the muses and bearing the name "Hagan Opera House" was opened by the Duff Comic Opera Company, which held the boards for two weeks, but I regret to say that they did not prove to be much of a drawing card, notwithstanding that a new theatre is generally in itself a great attraction. The performances were fair; the chorus, well drilled, was large and good; the costumes were elegant and appropriate, while the stage business was in every respect perfect. As the company only attempt light comic operas great stars are not looked for, and hence the principals, Miss Helen Bertram and Bettina Gerard, as well as Messrs. W. H. Clark, an excellent bass; H. Stanley and John J. Raffael, did creditable work, while the comedian Richard Carroll made himself a general favorite. The cause of the financial failure laid in the fact that during the first week Lecocq's "The Queen's Mate" and during the second week "Paola" were the only attractions. These works are not strong enough in themselves to attract a listener more than once; if the program had been more varied the attendance would undoubtedly have been larger in proportion to the merits of the works.
25The inauguration of the theatre was a novel and imposing scene conducted by the members of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, of which Manager O. L. Hagan is a member, according to their ritual. When the curtain rose a number of the nobles appeared grouped on the stage around their shrine, the potentate in the centre, and, all clad in the rich and curious Oriental regalia, conducted the ceremony dedicating the theatre to music and the drama.
26The opera house, owned by Messrs. Havelin & Hagan, is unquestionably designed with a view to present large spectacles. The stage is 68 feet wide and has a depth of 48 feet; the proscenium arch is 36 feet wide and 37 feet high. The second curtain is fireproof. The interior decorations of the auditorium are chaste and tasteful; the pure white and bright gold colors are touched by delicate bits of frescoing, imparting a subdued and harmonious effect, which is borne out even in the minor furnishings, showing on every hand the touch of the artist. The boxes are rich in upholstery, affording luxurious comfort. The seats, spacious, easy of access and well cushioned, are a luxury.
27The first concert of the season given by the Choral Symphony Society took place last night, and the full attendance, notwithstanding the inclemency of the season, fully testified to the popularity of the society. Mendelssohn's "Ruy Blas" overture was well performed, although the horns seemed to suffer from a cold in the opening chorus. Mrs. Tyler Dutton sang Reinecke's composition, "Miriam's Song of Triumph," in an artistic and finished style; her voice is especially rich in the lower register, while she evinced an intensity of feeling and dramatic fire which roused the audience to enthusiastic applause. Zoellner's "Young Siegfried," by the male chorus, was not so successful; except at the close in the unison passages the voices were not heard to advantage, as they lacked that robust quality and force which the composition evidently requires for its proper rendition, hence the orchestra completely overpowered the voices, which are more suited to mixed choruses. This was fully proven in the subsequent selections of Max Bruch's "Flight of the Holy Family" and Gounod's "Gallia," &c., in all of which the male voices blended well with the sopranos and altos. The orchestra distinguished itself in selections from Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" and Gluck's air de ballet "Paris and Helen;" the latter was received with so much applause that part of it had to be repeated. Mrs. O. H. Bollman's deep and melodious alto voice was heard to great advantage in Händel's aria from "Semele," and also in the subsequent duet, "At the Cloister Gate," by Grieg, with Mrs. Dutton, both of whom were deservedly applauded. The latter composition in its dreamy and mysterious orchestral introduction made a most favorable impression. Mr. Joseph Otten has every reason to be proud of the success of the concert, as the precision and tasteful rendition of the vocal and orchestral selections showed his painstaking drilling.
28W. Malmene.
29A Toronto Correction.
30Editors Musical Courier:
31Mr. C. A. E. Harris, of Montreal, makes complaint regarding some items sent by me for publication in your paper in reference to the "Westminster Abbey boy singer, Williams," and his—Mr. Harris—capabilities as a manager. He has shown me a letter signed "Wm. Sexton, Vicar Choral, Westminster Abbey," which clearly authorized the representations made by Mr. Harris, and as I appear to have done him an injustice it is only fair that I should make an acknowledgment and express my regrets that anything said by me was susceptible of being construed to reflect upon his good name and standing in the profession as an impresario.
32Your kindness in giving publicity to this will much oblige
33Yours truly, E. L. ROBERTS.
34An Ottawa Obituary.
35"His life was gentle; and the elements
36So mixed in him that Nature might stand up
37And say to all the world, 'This was a man!'"
38—Julius Caesar, Act V., Scene 5.
39It has become my most painful duty to chronicle the death of Mr. Rushton Dodd, organist of Knox Church and professor of voice culture at the Canadian College of Music, Ottawa, Canada. A cold contracted on the evening of the 13th inst. developed into pneumonia and pleurisy, which cut short the life of a young and most estimable man. There may be some to whom the quotation above applies, but decidedly to none so aptly as to Mr. Rushton Dodd. Kindly natured, charitable to a fault, ever seeking the opportunity for lavishing his wealth of human kindness, Mr. Dodd made many stanch, loving friends, who did not neglect him in his hour of need.
40At the last concert given by the Canadian College of Music he was seen everywhere, welcoming his many friends, who little dreamed that his cheery smile and warm heart would so very, very soon become only a memory cherished fondly by those he left. Ten short days were sufficient for the angel of death to set his seal on as true a gentleman, sincere a friend, earnest and thorough a musician as has ever breathed. The subject of this notice came to Ottawa some three years since a complete stranger, taking charge of the organ and choir of Knox Church, bringing the choir to such a pitch of perfection as is seldom attained. His bier was covered with floral tributes from the college students, the musicians of Ottawa and private friends. Among his choir and at the college will Mr. Dodd be more particularly missed, in both of which places he had surrounded himself with many ardent admirers.
41Leonatus.
42Rochester Letter.
43Rochester, N. Y., November 24, 1891.
44Thursday, November 19, Melourgia, male voice singing society, twenty members, F. W. Wodell conductor, assisted by Mrs. Anna Burch, soprano; Mrs. Clara Barnes-Holmes, contralto, and Mr. D. M. Wilkinson, flutist, gave the first of a series of three subscription concerts at Music Hall, a large and fashionable audience in attendance. This is the society's second season, and it promises to be financially and artistically successful. The singing of the club was the feature of the evening, being distinguished by excellence of tone quality, precision, good phrasing and a manly virility which 'aroused considerable enthusiasm. The audience, usually rather cold, warmed up wonderfully as the concert proceeded, and encores were numerous. The club is particularly effective in shading, and piano passages are beautifully rendered.
45The assisting artists all gave good satisfaction, the flute soloist in particular winning much and merited praise. Melourgia's concerts are now looked forward to as the most important vocal performances of the season.
46At the next concert the club will be assisted by the New York Philharmonic Club and Miss Marion Weed, and at the last by Mrs. Julie L. Wyman and Miss Maud Powell.
47Providence Letter.
48Providence, R. I., November 28.
49The past two or three weeks have been crowded with all sorts of musical happenings. But as a large share of them receive all the notice they need or deserve in the local papers, I will confine myself to recording only the half dozen or so which seem to merit special mention. The first on the list is the opening concert of the "Star Course," which came on the evening of November 11. The artists were Fursch-Madi, the great dramatic soprano; Mr. Wilhelm Mueller, violin-cellist; Frederick Mahn, violinist, and Miss Amy C. Rider, pianist.
50As it proved one of the best and most enjoyable concerts we have had this season, I give the excellent program in full:
51Trio, G major, No. 1, Haydn
52Miss Rider, Mr. Mahn and Mr. Mueller.
53Tarantelle, Liszt
54Miss Rider.
55Movement, F minor concerto, Vieuxtemps
56Mr. Mahn.
57Recitative and aria, "Queen of Sheba," Gounod
58Mrs. Fursch-Madi.
59Adagio, from "Concerto Patetico," op. 36, Schubert
60Mr. Mueller.
61Passepied (en rond), Bach
62Prelude, D flat, Chopin
63Valse Caprice, Chaminade
64Gypsy Dance, Sarasate
65Geistliches Lied, Fitzhenagen
66Religious hymn, with organ accompaniment, Mr. Mueller.
67Arioso, Mrs. Fursch-Madi.
68Rondeau, op. 16, Chopin
69Miss Rider.
70Fursch-Madi has not been heard here before, although she has twice been advertised to appear, once as soloist for the Arion Club and again last season in this same course. The audience were sadly disappointed—not in her singing, but because she refused them an encore.
71If there is any one thing that the average Providence audience loves more than another it is to get a dollar's worth for 50 cents, and as a result of this praiseworthy (mercantile) sentiment the encore nuisance is carried here to an extreme limit. It is no uncommon thing—if the performers are sufficiently compliant—for a program of ten numbers to be converted into one of twenty, or even more. And this with no expectation or desire that anything should be repeated; they simply want two songs in the place of one.
72So that when our athletic applauders had burst their gloves and kicked all the dust out of the floor to call Fursch-Madi back four or five times, and the only result was a series of very graceful bows, war was declared immediately, and she walked off the stage after her second selection amid a silence as profound as that of inter-stellar space. For my own part I wish that more great artists would follow her example. The little fish can't afford to take such a stand unless the big ones lead the way.
73Mr. Mahn and Mr. Mueller both played excellently, and the whole program, in fact, was faultlessly rendered.
74The pianist of the evening proved a genuine but agreeable surprise: Miss Rider is a Providence girl recently returned from several years' study in Dresden, and this was her first public appearance. Without going into detail it may be said that her playing was of a very high order, and she proved herself worthy to be associated with the other artists, which is a great deal to say of a débutante.
75Another good concert was that of the "People's Course" on the 13th. The performers were Carlyle Petersen, pianist; Alfred De Seve, violinist; Herbert Johnson, tenor; Lillian Carll Smith, contralto, and Daisy Carroll Hoyt, reader, all of Boston. The program—though somewhat long—was a very enjoyable one and the audience large and enthusiastic. I wish that Mr. Johnson would learn a new song. The last four times I have heard him sing his cheval de bataille has been "Cielo e Mar," from Ponchielli's "La Gioconda," and it is not a very remarkable piece of music, to say the least. However, in spite of the apparent smallness of his repertory, he is a good singer and improving all the time besides. Mr. De Seve's violin playing was a pleasant feature, and all the others acquitted themselves well. one of two readings
76Another good concert was that of the "People's Course" on the 13th. The performers were Carlyle Petersen, pianist; Alfred De Seve, violinist; Herbert Johnson, tenor; Lillian Carli Smith, contralto, and Daisy Carroll Hoyt, reader, all of Boston. The program—though somewhat long—was a very enjoyable one and the audience large and enthusiastic. I wish that Mr. Johnson would learn a new song. The last four times I have heard him sing his cheval de bataille has been "Cielo e Mar," from Ponchielli's "La Gioconda," and it is not a very remarkable piece of music, to say the least. However, in spite of the apparent smallness of his repertory, he is a good singer and improving all the time besides. Mr. De Seve's violin playing was a pleasant feature, and all the others acquitted themselves well. one of two readings
77The Austrian Juvenile Band were here on the 16th, but as I was unable to attend I can only note the fact of their appearance. The papers said that "the audience was enthusiastic" and also that "encores were frequent," all of which I can very well believe without having heard it. Miss Marie Glover, soprano, contributed the vocal numbers of the program.
78The Boston Symphony Orchestra gave its second concert of the season on November 18. I was only able to hear the latter part of the program, which was as follows:
79Symphony No. 3, in E flat (Rhenish), op. 97, Schumann
80Serenade, Mignon, Liszt
81Intermezzo Sinfonico from "Cavalleria Rusticana," Mascagni
82Soli for Violoncello, Sarabande, Bach
83Spinne, Hainlitt
84"Widmung," Schumann
85Songs with Piano, Serenade, Richard Strauss
86"Vergebliches Staendchen," Weber one of two readings
87"Vergibtes Ständchen," Weber one of two readings
88Overture, "Euryanthe," Weber
89Soloists: Mrs. Arthur Nikisch, Mr. Alwin Schroeder.
90The local critics spoke of "listlessness and indifference" on the part of the orchestra, which I was unable to detect in what I heard. Mrs. Nikisch made a very favorable impression, and so did the new 'cellist. I am tempted to quote more from the criticism (?) of our local paper, but will refrain from using THE MUSICAL COURIER'S valuable space for the advertising of ignorance and incompetency.
91Mr. N. B. Sprague, the organist of Grace Church, will give a short organ recital after the evening service every Sunday from now until Easter. An extra attraction on the first Sunday of December will be Bruch's "Flight of the Holy Family," in which the regular choir of thirty voices will be reinforced by members of the Arion Club. This custom of Sunday evening recitals was introduced last winter and met with much favor.
92Mr. Edward F. Brigham and Miss Fannie Clifford Thompson, assisted by Miss Jeanne E. Bradford, the new soprano of the Beneficent Congregational Church, have instituted a very pleasant idea this season. This consists in the holding at their music room on the first and third Saturdays of each month a sort of musical 5 o'clock tea, at which time their friends are expected to drop in and make themselves at home for a couple of hours. I think the attempt to get our musical people together in some sort of social way a praiseworthy one, and hope it will be successful. The ladies are charming and the tea good—witness my hand and seal.
93Wm. A. Potter.
94Malten Re-engaged.—Therese Malten, the celebrated Wagnerian soprano, has been re-engaged for ten years at the Royal Dresden Opera.
95A New Management.—Leo Goldmark having retired from the management of the Gruenfeld brothers, a new manager will take charge of their business interests in the future.
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