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Musical Courier 1892-03-09: Vol 24 Iss 629, 1892
70 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1Organ Loft Whisperings.
3"YES, indeed, one of the most untenable positions on earth is that of choir singer, and doubtless committees are often surprised and disappointed quite as much as are the singers!"
5Which oracular remark was made this week in regard to the very radical change to take place in the choir of the Fifth Avenue Baptist Church this season.
7The conscientious musical work of Mr. F. E. Bristol as vocal teacher receives recognition in the selection of two of his pupils—soprano and contralto—to sing in this church the coming season, his accompanist being appointed organist and general director.
9Miss Jennie Dutton, the present soprano, has ambitious plans, which will be recorded as soon as perfectly formulated. Mr. Albert King, the tenor, is glad to be released from the confinements of choir work in the pressure of professional duties. Mrs. Gilmore rests for a season, and Mr. Dressler, organist, accepts an engagement in Jersey City, his home, thereby saving his pious soul from the harass of early rising, ferry fare and Elevated discomforts on the holy Sabbath morning.
11Miss Bertha D. P. Lincoln is the new soprano, Miss Emma Müller, contralto; Mr. Wm. H. Rieger, tenor, Mr. Carl E. Dufft remaining as basso.
13Miss Lincoln, daughter of Deputy Pensioner Charles P. Lincoln, of Washington, D. C., is young, refined and cultured, of medium height, rather compact build, dark complexion and extremely bright, vivacious temperament. She inherits her musical talent from her mother, who was a teacher of prominence. Her voice is warm and dramatic, with good possibilities; compass from low A to high C. Her lower tones have contralto quality, her intonation is quite true, sight reading only fair. She is an earnest student and her musical instincts are dramatic. One of her masterpieces is the "Scena and Prayer" from "Freischütz." She will live at the Hotel Lincoln here and continue her studies.
15Miss Müller is of German descent, a blonde of graceful figure and medium height, with even, tranquil temperament, its strongest force centred on music. She is preparing for the operatic stage, and is justified in her ambition, singing from low G to high C with dramatic spirit and correct instincts, being also steady and reliable and a devoted student. She needs study in sight reading.
17Her father is president of the Republican National Convention Committee in Minneapolis, has been Minister to China, where he entertained many notable personages, among them General Grant, and strangely enough was once pastor of the church in which his daughter is now to sing. She is here under the patronage of the best people of Minneapolis, among them Hon. Geo. C. Brackett—six times mayor of that city. A grand benefit is to be given in her honor later on, when Mr. Bristol goes on to Minneapolis to present her there.
19Mr. Rieger is at present at Dr. Kittridge's church, Fifty-seventh street and Madison avenue. He has sung in legitimate opera, did solo work in the "Passion" music under Mr. Damrosch, was elected by Mr. Seidl to sing the "Magic Flute" in duo with Mr. Emil Fischer at the Mozart Memorial, and has now been selected by the Arions as tenor soloist for their European concert trip this summer. Technically he is tenor di grazia, with two octave compass, including B. His voice is extremely flexible, capable of most delicate coloring, and he is reliable in all musical respects. Absolutely free from petty feeling or professional jealousy, frank, generous and amiable, he is a popular musician. He is rather short and stout, with round, brown agreeable young face, heavy mustache, hair inclined to curl and dresses well.
21Mr. Percy has been chosen for two special gifts—one that of organ stop combination, the other for intelligent and masterful drilling of singers. He has for four years been director of Centre Church, New Haven, besides having charge of the music of two other churches there. He reads everything at sight, having an anticipative grasp of a composition, which with sympathy is invaluable to an organist. He is a graduate of Yale, a pupil of Dr. Stöckel; is a fair, boyish blonde, who smiles little, but knows what he is talking about. He was obliged to forego the seductions of Yale athletics on account of the damaging effect upon his hands interfering with his musical work. His plan of repertory, which is intelligent, will be recorded from time to time. He believes strongly in the harmony of sentiment between service and song. one of two readings
22Mr. Percy has been chosen for two special gifts—one that of organ stop combination, the other for intelligent and masterful drilling of singers. He has for four years been director of Centre Church, New Haven, besides having charge of the music of two other churches there. He reads everything at sight, having an anticipative grasp of a composition, which with sympathy is invaluable to an organist. He is a graduate of Yale, a pupil of Dr. Stöckel; is a fair, boisth blonde, who smiles little, but knows what he is talking about. He was obliged to forego the seductions of Yale athletics on account of the damaging effect upon his hands interfering with his musical work. His plan of repertory, which is intelligent, will be recorded from time to time. He believes strongly in the harmony of sentiment between service and song. one of two readings
24Mr. Carl E. Dufft is a musical pillar. Conservative and adaptable in one, he is the support of any musical cause with which he is identified. Being of the high priced stuff that commands big pay for little work, he has made the unique departure of adding the study of medicine to his professional musical career. From a study of the hygiene of the throat for its preservation and development, he passed on to the broad science of medicine in a thoroughly collegiate manner, recently receiving his diploma therefor.
26Mr. Dufft is wholly worthy his wide reputation as a great baritone. Of serious, noble turn of mind, with the best inherited musical instincts, he has not frittered his gifts on small things. Master of the deepest and best compositions, his musical voice, intelligent phrasing, true intonation and splendid presence have won for him the enviable place he holds. Constantly a student, he goes to Europe this summer for the purpose of studying the traditions of oratorio. His compass includes three F's. Mr. Dufft is handsome, sincere, generous—delightful as a friend, respected as a musician.
28Mr. Faunce, the pastor of the church, and his wife are both talented musicians, whose artistic quality may be judged by the music of the best composers lying about on piano and shelf of this pleasant home. He is a pianist of no mean ability; she a singer. Both take the deepest interest in the choir doings.
30The church loves and respects its choir and desires a spirit of friendly sympathy to exist socially and devoutly. At the monthly meetings of the young people of the church, who are enthusiastic musicians, members of the choir are invited to sing.
32The Rockefellers, Bostwicks, of Standard oil fame; Mrs. Colby and Millionaire Dickey are among the choir's sympathizers from a pew holding standpoint.
34The salaries here are first class, but not "fancy." There is rumor of the formation of a double quartet here, but nothing is settled as yet.
36Mr. and Mrs. Georg Henschel.
38SELDOM in the realms of music can one meet those who hold a place so charming in its simplicity, so finished artistically, so unique in its character as that of the subjects of this sketch.
40Mr. and Mrs. Georg Henschel's names are preserved in fragrant memory, notwithstanding the fact that they transplanted themselves from our musical circles to those of London and since have visited us infrequently. They gave vocal recitals here when the fair Lillian Bailey, now Mrs. Henschel, was yet a pupil with a fresh, young voice, and afterward when study and experience had added to and deepened its sweet and endearing tones, and when Mr. Henschel was the idol of the English musical public, as he is still to-day.
42They will soon revisit the United States for the purpose of taking part in musical festivals and to give a series of their song recitals, which are justly considered among the most valuable lessons that students can hear, as well as delightful occasions for the lovers of music.
44Georg Henschel was born at Breslau, February 18, 1850. At the age of five he began to study the piano; at eleven he studied theory with Dr. Schaeffer, and a year after played, with orchestra, Weber's concerto in F minor at a public concert. In 1867 he went to the Leipzig Conservatory, studying with Moscheles, Richter and Reinecke and singing with Goetz. In 1870 he sang in Weimar at the Beethoven festival of the "Allgemeine Deutsche Musik Verein," and there became acquainted with Liszt. This and subsequent visits to Weimar—Rubinstein, Bülow and Tausig were there at the same time—caused him to remove to Berlin, where he entered the Hochschule, in which he afterward became a teacher. He studied composition with Kiel, and at that time composed and performed his beautiful serenade for strings in canon form and the 130th Psalm for chorus, soli and orchestra. After a great success as singer at the Cologne Festival in 1874 his reputation was assured, and from that time dates the distinguished position as a singer that he has since held. His most notable appearance as a conductor abroad before coming to this country was in London, at the first performance there of Brahms' "Triumph Lied." At a performance of Bach's "Passion," in Coburg, the conductor, being ill, offered his baton to Henschel, who left his place among the soloists and continued the work as conductor amid great enthusiasm. In 1875 he gave concerts with Brahms, in Austrian and German cities, and then went to England, which has since been his home except for the time he spent in this country, to which he came in 1880. In 1881 he was called upon to organize and conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which under his three years' labors achieved a position among the great orchestras of the world. Here he married Lillian Bailey, and together they have given those well-known recitals in nearly every civilized country. one of two readings
45Georg Henschel was born at Breslau, February 18, 1850. At the age of five he began to study the piano; at eleven he studied theory with Dr. Schaeffer, and a year after played, with orchestra, Weber's concerto in F minor at a public concert. In 1867 he went to the Leipzig Conservatory, studying with Moscheles, Richter and Reinecke and singing with Goetz. In 1870 he sang in Weimar at the Beethoven festival of the "Allgemeine Deutsche Musik Verein," and there became acquainted with Liszt. This and subsequent visits to Weimar—Rubinstein, Bülow and Tausig were there at the same time—caused him to remove to Berlin, where he entered the Hochschule, in which he afterward became a teacher. He studied composition with Kiel, and at that time composed and performed his beautiful serenade for strings in canon form and the 130th Psalm for chorus, solo and orchestra. After a great success as singer at the Cologne Festival in 1874 his reputation was assured, and from that time dates the distinguished position as a singer that he has since held. His most notable appearance as a conductor abroad before coming to this country was in London, at the first performance there of Brahms' "Triumph Lied." At a performance of Bach's "Passion," in Coburg, the conductor, being ill, offered his baton to Henschel, who left his place among the soloists and continued the work as conductor amid great enthusiasm. In 1875 he gave concerts with Brahms, in Austrian and German cities, and then went to England, which has since been his home except for the time he spent in this country, to which he came in 1880. In 1881 he was called upon to organize and conduct the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which under his three years' labors achieved a position among the great orchestras of the world. Here he married Lillian Bailey, and together they have given those well-known recitals in nearly every civilized country. one of two readings
47Mr. Henschel has wonderful gifts in improvising at the piano on a given theme, especially humorously, in the style of well-known composers. Besides his qualities in composition of admirable technic, melodic beauty and freshness and harmonic subtlety, he is gifted with extraordinary quickness, almost intuition. The music to "Hamlet," which is to be conducted by him at the Springfield (Mass.) Festival this spring, and which is making the round of orchestral concerts abroad, was composed by him in the month of August last—an extraordinary feat. He numbers among his intimate friends Moscheles and his family, Brahms, Max Bruch and Mrs. Schumann, besides numbers of others almost as eminent in the world of music.
49Mrs. Henschel (Lillian Bailey) is a native of Columbus, Ohio. Her musical studies, which were begun at an early age, were continued in Boston under Mrs. Rudersdorf, under whose auspices she made her début at a concert given by Mr. B. J. Lang in 1876. Her voice possessed such freshness and such sympathetic qualities, and her art was even then so finished, that her success was instantaneous and complete, and for two years she was in constant demand in Boston, New York, Philadelphia and other cities. Afterward she went to Paris to pursue her studies with Mrs. Viardot Garcia, and to London to continue with Mr. Henschel. She made her initial public appearance in London at a Philharmonic concert, St. James' Hall, in 1878, and was so successful that the fame of it spread to the Continent, and thereafter she was a leading soloist at the great festivals in Germany, Holland, Scotland and England. The record of these years is one of a continuous series of triumphs for the "young American artist." In the full tide of her success she returned to Boston, and the following spring, 1881, she was married to Mr. Henschel, since when their united careers in America and Europe form a peculiarly brilliant and rare page in the annals of music.
51Their first recital after reaching the United States will be Saturday afternoon, March 19, at Chickering Hall, New York. Their tour will be under the management of Mr. C. A. Ellis, of Boston, and will include most of the principal cities and will extend into May.
53Paris Music Items.
55AS the spring season advances musical matters seem to be on the increase. We are having fine concerts with the best artists here, both vocal and instrumental. At the Opéra Comique Mrs. Calvé is still suffering from influenza; she has had an operation performed upon her throat, and so successfully that she expects to resume her part in the "Cavaliere Rusticana" next week. The opera has been shelved until then, and the opera "Pré aux Clercs" of Herold has been revived. By the way, I hear that Miss Nita Carrite, the young soprano, a former pupil of Lagrange and now with Marchesi, is to make her first appearance at the Opéra Comique shortly. At the Grand Opéra they are doing "Lohengrin," "Sigurd," &c., and popular performances on Sunday afternoon at reduced prices, the bill consisting of "La Favorita" and a ballet, either Thomas' "Tempest" or "Coppélia" of Delibes. I heard "Sigurd" one evening last week, and was much impressed with the delightful singing of Rose Caron and Renaud, the baritone. The other voices were rather mediocre; the tenor, Sellier, seems to be a wreck only of his former self; at times he could hardly be heard. The music of the opera is a very weak imitation of Wagner, the story being the same as "Siegfried" in "Götterdämmerung."
57On February 29 Alboni, the Countess Pepoli, will give a concert at her magnificent hotel in the Cour de la Reine in commemoration of the birth of Rossini. The celebrated artists Gabrielle Krauss and Messrs. Faure and Vergnet will take part. A most delightful concert was given at the Continental Hotel on Saturday evening last under the direction of Marchesi. The artists who took part were: Miss Jane Horwitz, of the Opéra Comique, Miss Sedohr Rhodes, Miss Bergner, Miss Rowe, Professor Trabadelo, Miss Irène Brennenberg and Durand, harpist. The concert was a great success. I hear that Miss Sedohr Rhodes goes to Italy soon to make her operatic début in Florence. I heard a fine dramatic young singer lately, a Miss Sterling, an English girl, a pupil of Vanucinni, of Florence. She goes to Manchester, England, very soon, for a tournée with Sir Charles Hallé. At the Lamoureux concert last week the same program was repeated by request. The program included the Heroic Symphony, the Vorspiel to third act of "Tristan and Isolde," with the English horn solo so delightfully played by Mr. Dorel.
59I see Ethelbert Nevin is here for the winter studying with Saint-Saëns. A fine performer on the violin Miss Leonora Jackson, a young miss of fifteen, who has been studying here at the Conservatoire, leaves soon for Berlin and expects to place herself under Joachim.
61Dubois, the organist, has lately published a suite of ten short pieces for the organ. Among the numbers a "Wedding March" is particularly effective. I heard it performed at a wedding service lately; also six new compositions for the organ, by George McMaster: 1, Offertorei; 2, Wedding March; 3, Communion; 4, Epithalame; 5, Pastorale; 6, Grand Chorus. He is an accomplished writer of organ music; the whole six pieces are all worthy of study. Mr. McMaster is organist at the Wesleyan Church in the Rue Roquepine.
63Miss Chaminate has given a series of concerts of her works exclusively, which have been most interesting; her songs particularly are written in such an original style and so singable. Her newest song, "Amoroso," is much sung here. Augusta Holmes' latest songs are favorite songs in the concert repertoire. At the last Colonne concert her picture was placed in the title page, accompanied by a short biographical sketch of her life.
65Paris, February 16, 1892.
67WILL TAYLOR.
69D'Oyly Carte.—Mr. D'Oyly Carte has resolved to make another attempt at the ill starred English Opera House. He has accepted a light opera, dealing satirically with a phase of university life. The music is by Edward Solomon and the libretto by Barry Pain.
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