Scan 6
Musical Courier 1892-03-02: Vol 24 Iss 628, 1892
110 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1FOREIGN NOTES.
3An Artistic Friendship.—Johann Strauss has been greatly devoted to Massenet since the French composer went to Vienna to superintend the presentation of "Werther." Strauss attended all the rehearsals of the new opera.
5"Cavalleria Rusticana" in Brussels.—Thursday, 2 A. M.—"Cavalleria Rusticana" was produced at the La Monnaie Theatre last night. The first tableau and the interlude were an immense success, but the last part was considered inferior by the Wagnerian part of the audience. On the whole it was a qualified success, but the piece will have a good run. Mrs. Denuovina was warmly applauded in the principal female part.
7A Charming Operetta.—An operetta called "Coquette," by Miss Rawlingson and Miss Daisy Sopwith, sister-in-law of General Grubb, was produced at the house of Mr. Sopwith in South Kensington, London, on Wednesday and Thursday evenings of last week. The music is very pretty and the skirt dancing of the young American authoress is charming.
9In Memoriam of Weber by Wagner.—Hans Richter will, at one of his next concerts, perform a composition of Wagner's, composed in 1844, at the time Weber's body was taken from London to Dresden. This work contains a funeral march, written on a motif from "Euryanthe," and a double chorus a cappella.
11Postponed, but Not Abandoned.—Mr. Daniel Mayer's proposed German opera season at London is postponed until next year. This will enable the syndicate to produce "Lohengrin," the copyright of which expires in England on August 28 next.
13"Frogs" Music.—It was intended to produce the "Frogs" of Aristophanes in the original Greek at Oxford, England, during last week. There will be eight performances, beginning on February 24, and including matinées on February 27 and 29. A special feature will be the music, composed specially by Dr. Hubert Parry, who will himself conduct at the performances.
15The 300th Performance of "Tannhauser."—The following interesting notice appeared lately in the Berlin papers: "Royal Opera House, Thursday, February 4, 1892. Three Hundredth Performance of 'Tannhäuser'!—an opera, by the way, which was first produced in Dresden in 1845, but was not accepted by the Berlin manager till nine years later, because he did not believe it would pay. Last season alone it was given twenty-eight times in Berlin and 247 times in the opera houses of Germany and Austria. Yet the famous critic Hauptmann, when he first heard this opera, predicted that not a note of this music would survive Wagner. The "Flying Dutchman" had its 100th performance in Berlin last year on January 8, and at a recent repetition it was given with various changes made by Wagner in the score. On February 13 the Royal Opera Orchestra in the same city gave a concert in memory of Wagner, at which his early symphony was once more played by special permission of his widow Cosima, who, however, said that this was the last performance of the work that she would ever allow. Mrs. Cosima was also present at the 300th performance of "Tannhäuser."
17The Ricordi Prize Competition.—The well-known music publishing house of Ricordi at its last competition of orchestral music received forty-five pieces. The first prize was taken by Ernesto Franceschini, of San Remo.
19Milloecker's Latest.—Another new opera by Milloecker, entitled "Das Sonntagskind," was lately produced with success in Vienna.
21A Mascagni Syndicate.—In London was lately formed a syndicate, with $100,000 capital, having the sole right to perform Mascagni's operas "L'Amico Fritz" and "Cavalleria Rusticana" in the Provinces.
23Paris Grand Opera Receipts.—Twenty-two performances were given at the Paris Grand Opera House during the month of January, the receipts amounting to $2,800, or $2,400 a performance.
25Another Unpronounceable Russian.—"The Prince of Serbreny," music by Koratchewko, libretto taken from the novel of Tolstoi, will shortly be produced in St. Petersburg.
27Explosion at a Concert.—During a concert given in the Salle des Concerts Montagnard at Spa, Belgium, an explosion of gas took place. Scores of the spectators were seriously injured, and one of the artists, Lubin by name, was killed.
29The London Wagner Society.—According to the recently issued annual report the London Wagner Society last year had 214 members. The publication of the translation of the master's prose writings is to be continued, and will consist of "Wieland the Smith," "Art and Climate," and "A Communication to My Friends." The arrangement with Richter for a special Wagner program will not be made this year, but a concert with a small orchestra will be given instead; two lectures will be delivered by Mr. Ashton Ellis on "The Art Work of the Future," and Mr. Charles Dowdeswell will read a paper on the intellectual relationship between Wagner and Schopenhauer.
31Organ Loft Whisperings.
33"A, no! I like it!" An artistic flame flooded the gentle face of Mr. Homer N. Bartlett, organist of the Madison Avenue Baptist Church, as he uttered this emphatic response to the query: "Does an ultra-musical spirit of a pastor or members of a congregation disturb the peace of the chorister?"
35"I like it. One cannot be too musical to criticise music well. A thoroughly musical person knows what he is talking about. He judges of intervals, chords, compositions; not of eyes, hair, dress, relatives or the manner of treatment at the last reception. He recognizes and enjoys a good thing when he hears it, is generous with temporary or involuntary error, and merciless to all quackery and slovenly inefficiency in art, as he ought to be. An artist's recompense is artistic appreciation, which means discriminating appreciation.
37That the members of this particular congregation reciprocate this broad sentiment of Mr. Bartlett is evidenced in the fact that since the last issue of this paper he has been constituted director general of its choral worship, with power to furnish "interval," "chord" and "composition" that shall bear the closest artistic scrutiny.
39The new pastor, Mr. Sanders, and his wife are progressive, enthusiastic musicians, Mrs. Sanders—who was a Miss Butler and a millionairess—being something more than an amateur in musical art. Her home is the centre of choice recitals—musicales in which she is a gifted performer.
41A quintet furnishes the music for the church, consisting of Miss Anna L. Kelly, soprano; Miss Kathryn M. Flemming, contralto; Mr. George Martin Huss, baritone-basso, and Mr. Henry Dunman, tenor. The fifth wheel of this interesting musical chariot is the charming violinist, Miss Dupré.
43This last is a new and so far highly successful venture, Miss Dupré's playing being technically correct and peculiarly soulful in expression, and the tenderness of her legato tones singularly adapted to reverential sentiment. The young violinist is pleasing personally; tall, slender, with lustrous eyes and gentle, refined manners that do not lack force.
45Miss Kelly is considered one of the best choir singers in the city. Aside from having a highly sympathetic timbre of voice, she is reliable in time and tune, a first-class reader—the choir singer's desideratum—and constant and patient at rehearsals. She is an earnest, serious student, withdrawing almost wholly from society to devote herself to her art, and bringing the best she has of voice and vitality into the gallery on Sunday morning.
47Miss Flemming is a young Californian who, with noble contralto notes and superior musical heritage, is bound with more careful training and experience to make a musical mark. She is one of the few pure contralto voices in the city. She last season made the tour as soloist with Mr. Theodore Thomas' Company. She is a girl of rare vivacity and good looks, making the temptations of society life a sore rival to art hermitage. She is devoted to music, was educated as an instrumentalist, possessing what she herself calls "a squeaky little soprano voice," till within three or four years, when it suddenly dropped down to the heavy quality it now possesses.
49Mr. Huss is of too distinguished lineage—son and brother of eminent musicians—to need introduction. Possessed of superior musical sentiment, he is painstaking and conscientious, has an admirable baritone voice and reads music like he does print.
51Mr. Dunman is a graduate of the Royal Academy of London.
53Saturday, 4 P. M., is the time of rehearsal of this choir. Salaries are good and a plush covered spirit exists between organ loft, pew and pulpit.
55Next season the organ is to be rebuilt, when many new features will be incorporated, including an electric motor to supersede the human wind provider of the present, who, though powerful and reliable, is inadequate to the emotional possibilities of the case.
57The acoustics here are good. It is said by those who love their "sermon chat" that slender, telltale wires hang suspended above the heads of the gallery gods, making whispering impossible; but we cannot vouch for the truth of this telephonic echo.
59In regard to church singing unfitting the vocalist for secular work Mr. Bartlett says: "There should be no interference between the different lines of musical sentiment. An artist is an artist in any environment. Adaptability is the artist's ability. Personation is as much the singer's art as the actor's, and she must be able to transform herself from nun to princess without a shadow. Moreover, oratorio, the test of dramatic and musical expression, is but the highest type of church music."
61As to the objection to operatic singers in church work, the feeling varies in different churches. "Other things being equal" there is no objection in the Madison Avenue Baptist Church.
63In one of a row of houses all of which are similar as the notes on a staff of tremolo composition is the home of Homer N. Bartlett, whose name as musical artist is a household one in New York. The storm doors open on a perspective of door mat, polished handles and dainty curtaining, bespeaking an influence not wholly musical. Within the home is restful and artistic to a degree. The music parlor is an ideal one, in mellow coloring, quality of furnishing, sentiment of ornamentation—above all its exquisite neatness and order, in strong contrast with the "musical litter" of the artist male when left to himself and his inspirations. From the bright coal fire and ashless hearth to the polished window panes, the carefully arranged piles of volume and MSS., the thoughtful arrangement of furniture, the small necessaries of secretary, violin stand and shelf, even the loose scraps upon the music rack, where Bach is the upper cover, the hand of woman—with all due deference to Apollo—is evident.
65Perhaps no musician of our town has led a more active, mental life than this kindly artist, whose opera now run in the 120's and who feels that his life work "is not yet commenced."
67Among his ambitious compositions are four concert pieces for organ—one dedicated to Mr. Clarence Eddy; one to Mr. Theodor Dubois, of the Church of the Madeleine, Paris; one to Mr. Gerrit Smith, of New York. An unfinished pile of manuscript writing of a three act opera and another of opera comique lie awaiting revision. A cantata for male voices, entitled "The Last Chieftain," and "Ofttimes a Strain of Music," a work for women's voices recently brought out by Neidlinger; a Concertstück for violin and orchestra and a couple of piano studies for Paderewski, are among his latest endeavors. Church music and ballad have flowed from his pen. Plans for an oratorio are now being formulated.
69The Week's Concerts.
71THE VIRGIL CONCERT.
73RECITAL was given in Steinway Hall last Friday evening by Miss Julie Geyer in the interest of the Virgil practice clavier, the program being arranged to exhibit the use of the clavier:
75Fugue No. 9 …………………………………………………….Bach
76First on the clavier and then on the piano.
77Sonata, op. 2, No. 1 ………………………………………Beethoven
78Remarks—(ten minutes)—Subject: "How Does the Clavier Method of Foundational Instruction Differ from the Prevailing Method?"
79Mr. A. K. Virgil.
80Scherzo ………………………………………………………..Gade
81Volksweise …………………………………………………….Grieg
82Prelude ………………………………………………………..Chopin
83Pastorale ………………………………………………………Scarlatti
84Minuet ………………………………………………………..Paderewski
85Sonata, op. 14, No. 2, last movement …………………Beethoven
86Note.—The above number will be performed first on the clavier, then on the piano. This will show with what accuracy pieces that have been learned on the clavier can be played on the piano for the first time. Miss Geyer has never played this movement of the sonata on the piano, and has never heard it played. It has been learned and memorized at the clavier. She will go to the piano with it for the first time before the audience. This will illustrate an important truth, namely, that the player can reproduce to himself on the clavier the entire content of a composition as well as at the piano.
87Studies for second, third and fourth finger crossings and scale……
88Norm.—The above will be played with the metronome first on the clavier then repeated on the piano. Rate of velocity, 832 notes per minute.
89Remarks—(ten minutes)—Subject: "Is there 'too much technic already?' The assertion is often made that there is."
90Mr. Virgil.
91Waltz, op. 64 ……………………………………………..Chopin
92Rondo Capriccioso ………………………………………Mendelssohn
93"La Regata Veneziana" ………………………………….Liszt
94Miss Geyer.
95Miss Geyer began her studies a little over a year ago and shows a wonderful improvement, her touch is in the main firm and clear, and her work speaks much for the benefits resulting from the use of the clavier. Complimentary tickets for the second recital, March 4, can be secured at Steinway Hall or 26 West Fifteenth street.
97THE HARLEM PHILHARMONIC.
99The second concert of the Harlem Philharmonic occurred last Thursday evening, the public rehearsal being given the afternoon previous. The following interesting program was presented, Mr. Philip Scharwenka conducting his own work in person:
101Scotch Symphony ………………………………………Mendelssohn
102Aria, "Pleurez, mes yeux," "Le Cid" …………………Massenet
103"Frühlingswogen" ………………………………………P. Scharwenka
104"Pêcheurs des Perles" Aria ……………………………Bizet
105"Les Préludes," …………………………………………Liszt
106Mrs. Blauvelt was a warm favorite and delivered her numbers in a most charming manner. The orchestra played in excellent form, and Mr. Fleck, the conductor, is to be congratulated on the fine showing they made.
108MASTER HARTMAN'S CONCERT.
109Master Arthur Hartman's concert was given in Chickering Hall last Friday evening to an overflowing house. He was
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.