Scan 22
Musical Courier 1893-05-17: Vol 26 Iss 689, 1893
163 lines. Read by computer on 25 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 23. See the scan on archive.org.
1While most of the decisions were received with applause, some of them met with signs of disapproval. This is only to be expected where there are so many aspirants. The high character of the judges, however, should disarm criticism. Choruses were judged by Mr. Tomlins, vocalists by Carl Busch, instrumentalists by H. E. Schultze, both of Kansas City.
3The first violin prize of $25 was awarded Miss Kate Blunt, our able accompanist. There were seventeen different prizes offered, aggregating about $1,500. This was raised by the Hutchinson people. I refrain from giving a full list of prize winners for want of room. I cannot close without mentioning the grand drill under Mr. Tomlins, when all choruses united in singing the music to be prepared for the State Day, in September, at the Fair. You will probably hear more of this work in the interim.
5E. R. Jones.
7Letter from Indianapolis.
9THE pupils of the School of Music gave their fourteenth fortnightly recital at the School of Music Hall on Friday evening, the 12th inst.
11The program for the May Music Festival has been published in the "News." There can be no doubt that the coming festival will be the best one we have ever heard. All the credit must be given to Mr. F. X. Arens, who has labored very hard to achieve such splendid results as are anticipated by every one.
13Mr. W. H. Donley will give an organ recital at the Central Christian Church on Tuesday evening, the 16th, assisted by Mr. and Mrs. Ora Pearson, vocalists, and Mr. M. H. Spades, violinist.
15The De Pauw Sextet will give a concert in Lorraine Hall on Wednesday, the 17th inst.
17On Tuesday evening, the 9th, Mr. C. F. Hansen gave an organ recital at Greencastle before a large and appreciative audience.
19When the Detroit Philharmonic Club gave their concert here one of the most interesting, perhaps I may say most interesting, numbers on the program was the quartet by Mr. F. X. Arens, which was played in so splendid a manner as to create quite a stir in musical circles, especially among non-residents, who were ignorant of the fact that Mr. Arens was a composer of the first rank apart from his many qualifications as conductor and teacher of vocal music. In view of this, and by request, the Schliwen Quartet will play the quartet on next Friday evening at the Mancherhor Halle; in addition to the quartet by Arens, they will play quartet, op. 35, Volkmann; violin concerto, Beethoven, with cadenza by Joachim.
21The Sons of Veterans, No. 149, will give a concert Thursday, May 18, at Y. M. C. A. Hall. A quartet composed of Misses Messing and Sweeny and Messrs. Nelf and Wocher will sing. Miss Schellschmidt will play a harp solo and Mr. Schellschmidt will play a 'cello solo. Adieu.
23VIOLA.
25Rochester Correspondence.
27ROCHESTER, May 12, 1893.
29THE musical season in Rochester is drawing to its first close with a series of fine concerts. I say its first close, since after practically closing the convention of the New York State Music Teachers' Association will reopen it for a week in June.
31Melourgia gave its last concert for the season April 18, singing as one of its numbers, "Sing! Sing! music was given," composed for and dedicated to Melourgia by John Hyatt Brewer, who is a warm admirer of the club. The words are by Moore. The club amply sustained its reputation at this concert, although the program lost some of its attractions by the unexpected absence of the club's usual accompanist.
33The Detroit Philharmonic Club appeared for the first time in this city and won instant favor. It is second to none that has played here.
35At its concert in Buffalo the following night Musurgia achieved a strictly artistic success, being greeted very effusively by an audience of about 600 persons.
37Ovide Musin and his concert company played to a crowded house the 27th ult. His own playing was as rapturously applauded as it always is. His wife, Mrs. Tanner-Musin, did not appear to so good advantage as she has heretofore. Pier Delasco, the basso, took the audience by storm, and created a lasting impression with his well trained voice and artistic method. Inez Parmeter is beautifully commonplace, with as much enthusiasm as a lay figure in her singing. She should remember that most of the large cities are quite well acquainted with "Oh, Promise Me." Upon Edward Scharf comes most of the work of the program, and no one could do it better. In accompaniments he is perfect and in solo work very acceptable.
39The Boston Symphony Orchestra was greeted by a large audience May 3. The absence of the director, Arthur Nikisch, was much regretted by all; not that the concert work deteriorated under Concertmeister Kneisel's charge, but many wished to greet Nikisch the last time, and these were disappointed. The general verdict concerning the orchestra is summed up in the "Herald's" criticism:
41"Each one of the four orchestral numbers was rendered in a manner in some respects beyond criticism, and the accompanimental work of the instrumentalists was equally good. The playing of the Boston Symphony Orchestra is characterized by absolute precision of movement, unwavering tempo, faultless modulation and careful attention to detail. The element of abandon is entirely eliminated from its work. There was not a trace of it manifested in any part of the program. There was not a moment when one could have honestly exclaimed: 'That was glorious!' There was not a moment when one could not honestly have exclaimed: 'That was fine!' At all times was that perfect equipoise between 'not quite enough' and 'too much' most exquisitely, most wonderfully maintained. The proportion of various instruments seemed perfect. The volume of sound was in exact accord and under marvelous control. The orchestra played as one man, and that man a master."
43The program committee have broken an ironclad rule in inviting Melourgia to sing at the first concert at the association convention. The club sang at Syracuse last year. They have accepted the invitation.
45The Mandolin Orchestra gave its sixth annual concert to an immense audience at the Lyceum Theatre on the evening of the 12th. The orchestra in its peculiar line of work is one of the best in the country, and its deserved popularity and cheap prices always bring out the people at its concerts.
47***
49Prof. I. V. Flagler dedicated the new organ at the Third Presbyterian Church the 12th inst.
51***
53It is just announced that among others Xaver Scharwenka and Emil Liebling will give recitals during the session of the New York State Music Teachers' Association in this city. Mrs. Gerrit Smith, soprano; Chas. Herbert Clark, tenor, and Francis Fisher Powers will also appear.
55Buffalo Music.
57BUFFALO, N. Y., May 15, 1893.
59MUCH has been going on here lately. Thomas, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Seidil and Damrosch are to come in a fortnight.
61Thomas played a program of a more popular character than I ever heard from him, Massenet's "Phedra" overture, Brahms' Hungarian Dances and other transparent music. Bloomfield-Zeisler was the soloist, and she played the Schumann concerto with immense abandon and fire. Ten years ago Leschetizky said to me at Leipzig, "Watch that American girl; she will make a name." He did not know that she would have a double name with a hyphen. Well, she has "got there."
63Steindel, he of the dog's name—I believe it is "Bruno"—and Schnecker, the harper with his harp, were the other soloists.
65In spite of the absence of our champion conductor-poseur, Nikisch, quite a good sized house greeted the Boston Symphonists, and the weather on that particular evening was horrid. Buffalo weather is like the girl with the curl—
67When she was good, she was very, very good;
68And when she was bad she was horrid!
70These words no Shakespeare wrote, but they applied too pat to be ignored. I know a mother who says "her boy has the sweetest disposition in the world when he is well, but he never is well." However, this does not apply to our weather.
72To return to the concert, Mrs. Kaschoska-Nussbaum, who has taken unto herself a better (and considerably smaller) half since she was here last, contributed the vocal pyrotechnics of the evening, and clean looking, blonde Loeffler "played a thing composed by a saint," I heard a woman say, by which she referred to the Saint-Saëns' concertstück, I suppose. He got a rousing encore. Kneisel handled the baton.
74Seidil's orchestra drew a Sunday night crowd, which filled the Star Theatre; perhaps the long list of charming singers also drew many. There was the plump, petite and blonde Mrs. Elizabeth Northrop, a former Buffalonian; the handsome Fabres, who I trust did not feel as blue as she looked (or was that gown green?) lovely Juch, attired in sombre black, who looked like a nun and sang like a goddess, and numerous other singers, all stunningly gowned, gorgeous to look upon and all possessed with the "yeller fever," so it seemed to many who had never heard the "Valkyries" sing "Ho-yo-to-ho!" The evening was devoted to Wagner, and great excerpts were rendered in a mighty and impressive manner.
76"I tell you not: Tony Seidil's hard to beat!" was the assertion overheard, ventured by a man whose appreciation of the music was greater than his veneration for said "Tony."
78The Rochester "Melourgias," some twenty-two strong, gave a concert in Music Hall which was quite an event. They sing with style, have some high tenors who don't care whether they sing tenor eleven, and under Woodell do some serious work. Their best number was the martial hymn by Gomez.
80Mrs. Clara Barnes-Holmes, our best and loveliest looking alto singer, was the vocalist, the Detroit Philharmonic Club also assisting. Voigtländer, erstwhile confère as a student in Leipsic, and Yunck, who with your correspondent once appeared conjointly in a concert in Chickering Hall, both are members of this quartette. I was glad to note that they were not too proud to speak to Yours, F. W. RIESBERG.
82New Haven Music.
84NEW HAVEN, Conn., May 13, 1893.
86THE week just passed has been an unusually busy one in musical circles. Beginning on the 3d inst. there was the production of "The Pirates of Penzance." Then came the advent of the new choirs, then the "Evening of Song," by the pupils of Mrs. Theodor Björksten; the reception given to introduce Mr. M. F. Keller, and last night Pauline Hall in "Erminie."
88Well, to go back, the Dessauer Opera Company—which, by the way, is composed of local talent—resurrected Gilbert and Sullivan's opera, "The Pirates of Penzance," and gave four performances with Max Dessauer as conductor. The principal rôles were taken as follows:
90Pirate King,……………………………Mr. J. C. Criddle
91Frederick………………………………….Mr. Geo. C. Stock
92Ruth…………………………………………Mrs. Sarah Blinn
93Major General…………………………..Mr. Fred. Leavenworth
94Mabel………………………………………..Miss Lizzie Gaffney
96The principals took their parts in a manner which would make many professionals blush. Mr. Criddle was an excellent "Pirate King," and Mr. Stock and Miss Gaffney made a pair of ideal lovers. It seems a pity that work so commendable should be marred by the clumsiness of the orchestra. It seemed at the first performances to be impossible for the conductor to keep it with the singers, and some of the instruments were noticeably flat.
98Sunday being a good day crowds turned out to hear the new choirs. As a rule the performances were quite satisfactory, although many lacked that precision and finish which is so important. The principal changes were at Trinity P. E. where Mr. M. F. Keller, of Reading, Penn., presided at the organ vice Mr. Warren Hedden; Dwight Place, where the choir was almost entirely new and consisted of Miss Hodgkinson, soprano; Miss Sophie Northrop, alto; Mr. Edw. Woodstock, tenor; Mr. Green, Yale, '94, bass; United Church, where Mr. J. L. Ensign had full charge, with Mr. George Montgomery as precentor; Trinity M. E., where a new choir, consisting of Miss Gertrude Sanford, soprano; Miss Nellie Hofer, alto; Mr. Frank Langdale, tenor; Mr. E. C. Bennett, bass; Mr. Willis H. Alling, organist, held full sway.
100One of the most enjoyable events of the season was the evening of song given by Mrs. Björksten's pupils. The program was as follows:
102"Guarda che Bianca Luna"……………………….Campana
103"Ecco l'aurora"………………………………….D. Perez (1711-1778)
104Miss M. L. Buell, Miss G. Torpadie.
105"Florian Song"…………………………………….Godard one of two readings
106"Florian Song"………………………………….Godard one of two readings
107Miss Bessie Eaton.
108"Le Prisoner"…………………………………….Rubinstein
109Miss Nannie Trowbridge.
110"Russian Nightingale"…………………………..Alabieff
111Miss Ellen B. Yaw.
112Song from "Semele"……………………………….Händel
113Mrs. Hope Lewis Borden.
114Cavatina…………………………………………..Meyerbeer
115Miss Marie Luise Buell.
116"La Regata Veneziana"…………………………..Rossini
117Miss G. Sanford, Mrs. H. L. Borden.
118Songs……………………………………………..Grieg
119Miss G. Torpadie.
120"D'atre nubi è il sol ravvolto"……………………..Asioli one of two readings
121"D'atre nubi è il sol ravvolto"……………………Asioli one of two readings
122"The Birdling"…………………………………….Chopin one of two readings
123"The Birdling"……………………………………Chopin one of two readings
124Miss Gertrud Sanford.
125"Heriodade" (air de Salomé)……………………..Massenet
126Mrs. Grant H. Thompson.
127"L'éco"…………………………………………..Murio-Celli
128Miss Ellen B. Yaw.
130A reception was given by Prof. F. A. Fowler and Prof. T. D. Shepard for the purpose of introducing Mr. M. F. Keller (the newly elected organist of Trinity P. E. Parish) to the New Haven organists, at the former's studio on Thursday evening, May 11.
132During the evening nearly all the organists came in and all voted it a capital time.
134Next week I will try and give a sketch of music as it is to-day in the City of Elms.
136W. H. ALLING.
138MUSIC SENT FOR CRITICISM.
140S. Brainard's Sons Company, Chicago.
142J. DE ZIELINSKI………….Three pieces for the piano.
143These pieces, respectively entitled "Marcia," "Arabic Serenade" and "Reverie," being easy of execution will most frequently fall into the hands of unskilled performers. This is unfortunate, for they contain crudities which require the skill of a well practised musician to hide. The march can hardly be termed martial, for the trio is more remarkable for its legato character than any strongly marked rhythm or onward swing; and some of the progressions in the chief theme are very awkwardly planned.
145Discords abound in the serenade, which may be so smoothed over as to give a curious quaintness, and an effect that is original, when treated with kindness and consideration by an artist; but they will frighten students. The "Reverie" is more useful for general purposes.
147FRANK M. BALL………….Valse alamitos.
148This is a pleasant melody of the accepted type for the waltz, and although not so original or ambitious in character as the above works, is more carefully thought out and correctly expressed. It may even become popular.
150Edward Schubert & Co., New York.
151M. B. RICHARDS………….Waldeinsamkeit.
152This is a song for a contralto or baritone voice with German and English words, which moves freely within the limits of an octave, from E flat to E flat. That is to say, the voice is not continuously kept on the upper five notes or the lower five notes of its compass, but is so varied that the larynx is equally exercised and unstrained. The English text is not completely satisfactory in certain details; for instance, the word "omnipotent" is awkwardly set in a rhythmic sense; but these peculiarities may be easily remedied by the singer.
154J. & J. Hopkinson, London.
155EARNEST BIRCH………….Five songs.
156This is a collection of vocal pieces that are not connected in any way, except that they are published together and dedicated to the Princess of Wales. The book is illustrated by W. Graham Robertson, and has an attractive appearance. The words are favorite quotations from the writings of Sir Philip Sydney, George Barlow, Keats and Alexander Hume (1599).
158"The Pathway of Life" will possibly be found the most admirable in a musical sense.
160Wm. Rohlfing & Sons, Milwaukee.
161WILSON G. SMITH………….Valse Capriccioso.
162This is the third valse de concert by the prolific composer, W. G. Smith. It is carefully constructed, brilliant and effective and not awkward to play. The middle part is especially interesting, and one would bespeak attention for
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