Scan 18
Musical Courier 1893-06-07: Vol 26 Iss 692, 1893
99 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 19. See the scan on archive.org.
1Musical Items
3Adele Lewing.—Miss Adele Lewing recently filled very successful engagements in Cincinnati, Dayton and elsewhere. The statement that she would play at the Indiana State Building at the Columbian Exposition, made in a recent issue, is erroneous. She will play at the meeting of the Indiana State Association to be held at La Parke, Ind., the latter part of this month. She will give a recital of her own compositions at the fair before the M. T. N. A. the first week in July.
5The Kuss-Anderson Concert.—A concert was given recently at Y. M. C. A. Hall, Peoria, Ill., by E. E. Kuss, assisted by Miss Zoa Andersen in an entertaining program.
7A Pupil of Wm. C. Carl.—The second of a series of organ recitals will be given on the new Roosevelt organ in the Randall Memorial Church, Staten Island (Snug Harbor), by Mr. James C. Crabtree on Saturday afternoon at 3 o'clock. Mr. Crabtree, who possesses much talent, is the organist of the church and a pupil of William C. Carl, of this city.
9Women Composers.—Mrs. H. H. A. Beach, of Boston, who composed a jubilate for the Columbian celebration, is authority for the statement that between the years 1615 and 1885 women composed 153 musical works, including fifty-five serious operas, six cantatas and fifty-three comic operas.
11A Journey of Observation.—G. Edward Stubbs, organist of St. Agnes Chapel, Trinity Parish, sailed on the Servia the 6th inst. on one of his triennial tours of the English cathedral choirs. The London and Oxford choirs will get the lion's share of his attention, although he intends visiting the cathedrals neglected in former trips.
13Mr. Stubbs claims that St. Paul's Cathedral choir is the finest he ever heard, the Oxford choirs ranking next, and Chester, York Minster and Norwich following closely.
15Dr. Martin Sings in Oratorio.—Dr. Carl E. Martin, the basso, is closing his season with a series of engagements at various music festivals. He recently sang the title rôle in "Moses in Egypt" with the Williamsport (Pa.) Oratorio Society, and last Thursday evening sang in "Elijah" with the Nyack Choral Society. He has also been engaged to sing at the Findlay (Ohio) Music Festival.
17A Dramatic Bridal Tour.—Miss Louise Hamilton, a clever soubrette, was recently married to Mr. Herbert Wilson, an English actor, who is also a composer and pianist. The couple intend starting on a theatrical tour through the New England States.
19Caroline Ostberg's Success at Worcester.—Caroline Östberg's second concert in Worcester took place May 30 at Mechanics' Hall. She had the assistance of the Y. M. C. A. Philharmonic Orchestra, and Mr. Louis Blumenberg, the celebrated violoncellist. Caroline Östberg had a perfect ovation after her singing of the aria from "Traviata." She was recalled during the evening nine times. Besides a group of Scandinavian songs she also sang the aria from "Gioconda." Mr. Blumenberg's violoncello solos drew forth great enthusiasm. Mr. Emile Levy was the accompanist.
21A Mount Vernon Concert.—Professor Carl L. Praeger's concert took place at Mount Vernon last Friday evening. He had the assistance of the Mozart Club, Misses Finch, Daisey Wilson, Agnes Osborne, Messrs. Grey, Trost, W. A. Bentley. The instrumental soloist of the concert was Louis Blumenberg, the violoncellist.
23The Seventh and Eighth.—The seventh and eighth recitals at the Klauser Music Institute, at Milwaukee, were given May 17 and 27, when, as usual, the artistic programs were very finely given.
25Hinrichs' Opera Company.—Opera at popular prices still continues to draw large houses at the Grand Opera House. There is a nightly change of bill. Ponchielli's "La Gioconda" was sung last week in the most creditable fashion. It will be given again to-night.
27A Correction.—Miss Adele Lewing, the Boston pianist, begs us to correct the statement that appeared in these columns to the effect that she would play at the Indiana State Building on the Exposition grounds. Miss Lewing will play at the Indiana State Association, Laporte, Ind., June 30. She will not play in Chicago until the first week of July, and will then give a concert of her own compositions.
29Carl V. Lachmund's Pupils.—Mr. Carl V. Lachmund, the well-known pianist and composer, has every reason to feel gratified at the artistic results of his recent concert in Madison Square Hall. Franz Rummel and Materna, who were in the audience, expressed themselves as being highly pleased with Miss Eloise Shryock's performance of Liszt's E flat concerto, which Xaver Scharwenka conducted. It was brilliant, sustained and technically most admirable.
31Mr. Scharwenka, too, was also delighted with Miss Shryock's work. Miss Neel, another pupil of Mr. Lachmund, was also warmly received. She played Godard's introduction and allegro, and although suffering from nervousness at the outset, played with much spirit. Altogether, considering the favorable manner in which Mr. Lachmund's own contributions were received (a poetical setting of Gilder's "Fades the Rose" and some warmly tinted Italian sketches for orchestra) by both audience and orchestra, he must have the consciousness of knowing that his season's labor has been fruitful. The pecuniary results of the concert for the benefit of the "Tribune Fresh Air Fund" were also satisfactory.
33Laura G. Beach.—Laura G. Beach, a young lady who has been looked upon for the past three years as a most promising pianist in Philadelphia, has also been devoting her attention to the organ.
35She is an ambitious worker, and being of a musical temperament accomplishes much.
37The Trinity Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill secured the services of Miss Beach some three years ago.
39On Sunday evening last the first of a series of short organ recitals was given by Miss Beach at the above named church. The program consisted of the following numbers: Fifth Sonata………………………………………Mendelssohn Allegretto in B flat……………………………….Lemmens Litany……………………………………………..Schubert "Death of Aase" ("Peer Gynt")…………………Grieg one of two readings
40On Sunday evening last the first of a series of short organ recitals was given by Miss Beach at the above named church. The program consisted of the following numbers: Fifth Sonata……………………………………………..Mendelssohn Allegretto in B flat………………………………………Lemmens Litany…………………………………………………….Schubert "Death of Aase" ("Peer Gynt")………………………..Grieg one of two readings
42Callers.—Miss Adele Lewing, pianist and composer; Miss Rose Schottenfels, soprano; E. M. Bowman; Emilio Pizzi, the composer (who has sailed for Milan); Eugene Weiner, director of the Philharmonic Club; L. Michaellis and Alfred Veit, were callers at this office last week.
44Seidl Back at the Garden.—Anton Seidl and his Metropolitan Orchestra are playing at the Madison Square Garden again, the vaudeville entertainment having proved a failure. The Spectatorium in Chicago has gone to smash.
46Chas. Santley in Search of Health.—Charles Santley, the famous English baritone singer, is going to the Cape of Good Hope for his health. He will start this week.
48Mrs. Wagner and the Parisians.—Mrs. Cosima Wagner has reached a decision that will seriously modify the plans for the Wagner productions at the Grand Opera in Paris. It had been proposed to bring out, after "Die Walküre," "Die Meistersinger" and "Tristan." Now Mrs. Wagner says that the next work of her husband's to be produced must be "Tannhäuser," which was hissed down at its memorable first production in Paris thirty-two years ago.
50Not Flesh but Stone.—When the new opera of "Phryne," by Saint-Saëns, was produced in Paris recently there was much curiosity among the audience to know how the librettist would treat the dangerous theme, particularly the trial scene, where the fair sinner is unveiled in all her unclad beauty before the admiring eyes of the judges. The delicate problem was solved to the satisfaction of the most prudish of spectators by the substitution for the heroine of a statue of Venus for which she had posed. The production of the opera was the most important event of the Paris musical season, and the Opéra Comique was packed from pit to dome.
52Sembrich Captures St. Petersburg.—Mrs. Sembrich has been singing "Lucia" at St. Petersburg, and has received a great ovation. She was on several occasions recalled ten times, and the stage was literally covered with flowers showered upon her.
54Musical Students in Italy.—Washington, June 4, 1893.—Mr. George W. Pepper, United States Consul at Milan, has made a report that will interest a great many Americans who propose studying music in Italy. Mr. Pepper has studied the question closely. He says the main difficulty to be encountered lies in the dishonesty of the teachers, who wish to get the pupils' money, and consequently will not give a fair verdict as to the chances of success. In all his experience he knows of only one person who was told his voice did not warrant the expense of cultivation. Another trouble is that Americans come to Italy, with a false idea as to the expense of living there. The cost of living, including lessons in Milan, is not less than $60. Furthermore, at least two years' study is necessary to fit anyone for the stage. Then, too, social etiquette requires that a young woman be attended by a third person while she is taking her lesson. This custom is giving way, but it has recently subjected a number of young American women to offensive persecution.
56The greatest number of American musical students in Italy come from New York, Ohio and California. The purity and range of their voices surpasses those of the pupils from other nations, but the fact is apparent, says Mr. Pepper, that not more than 5 per cent of them attain great success on the stage.—"Herald."
58Stage Illusion in Paris.—The elaborate mise-en-scène of "La Valkyrie" at the Grand Opera is probably the most ambitious effort of the kind ever made at that theatre, where nevertheless startling effects are by no means uncommon. It is therefore not without interest to know "how it is done" in connection with some of the most striking pieces of stage realism with which the management has at a great expense sought to surpass anything of the kind previously seen. In the first act the brazier, over which is suspended the pan containing the meal for Hundung and Sieglinde, is a marvel of realism, with the flames and incandescent portions of the fire beneath. The logs which make the fire are in fact iron pipes with escapes for the flames at irregular intervals. They are partly covered by reddened flax, which forms an excellent imitation of burning coal. The remainder of the illusion is obtained by the use of red glass and the electric light.
60The remarkably vivid greenness of the trees, which are suddenly brought to view when "Siegmund" bursts into his spring song, is produced by a new arrangement of green lanterns. The rams which draw the car of the goddess Fricka are real animals, in strong contrast to the ridiculous cardboard sheep which proved a complete failure at Brussels. To come to the great spectacular effect of the whole performance—the Ride of the Valkyries, which at other opera houses has been obtained by transparencies and magic lantern effects—it is done here by real figurantes, who cross the stage on mechanical horses running on inclines—in fact upon a sort of switchback railway. Numerous cloudy veils are suspended between the audience and the performers, so that the "woodenness" of the steeds is not discernible. The platform on which the horses run is a strongly built structure 27 feet high. In the great fire scene, the effect of which is far grander than that with which "Sigurd" has made us familiar, tresses of cotton wool, which burn at intervals, produce an excellent imitation of will-o'-the-wisps, while the smoke is imitated by steam, according to the system invented by Wagner himself.—Paris Correspondence London "Telegraph."
62Panic in a Theatre.—Leghorn, June 3, 1893.—During the performance of "The Chimes of Normandy," at the Alfieri Theatre this afternoon, a fourteen year old boy fell from the second gallery to the floor of a stall.
64His head was crushed, and he died a few minutes after the fall.
66The accident caused a panic. The audience crowded to the doors in haste, and refused to listen to the assurances of the actors on the stage that there was no danger.
68Before the house was cleared many persons had been knocked down and trampled. Several are suffering from broken limbs, and dozens who were severely bruised are under medical treatment.—"Herald."
70Too Many "Merry Wives."—Ed. Hanslick is of opinion that the popularity of Nicolai's "Merry Wives" will prove in Germany a hindrance to the acceptance of Verdi's "Falstaff."
72Giacomelli.—The death of A. Giacomelli, founder of "La Press Musicale," is announced from Paris. He was well known as a concert agent.
74Leoncavallo.—At the Royal Opera House in Stockholm it is intended shortly to produce, for the first time, Leoncavallo's two act opera "Pagliacci," which in Swedish is entitled "Pajazzo."
76A New Journal.—"O Mundo da Arte" is the title of an illustrated musical paper just started at Rio Janeiro.
78Sigrid Frederiksen.—The Copenhagen "Musikbladet" speaks in highest terms of the playing of a new Danish violinist, Miss Sigrid Frederiksen, sixteen years of age, who has recently made her debut at a concert in Copenhagen, both as a soloist and also as a leader of Beethoven's string quartet in F, op. 18.
80Salary in Vienna.—By the terms of his last engagement with the Vienna Court Opera, Felix receives an annual salary of 7,000 florins.
82Another One Actor.—Mr. Preben Nodermann, a new Swedish composer, has just completed a one act opera, entitled "Kung Smek."
84Mr. Dubois.—On May 16, at Roubaix, Mr. Th. Dubois conducted several of his works for chorus and orchestra. The solos were taken by Mrs. Bosman and Mr. Minsart. The following were some of the compositions performed: "La Farandole," for orchestra; "Les Vivants et les Morts," a choral work; "Bergette," soprano solo with chorus, and "L'Elève de Proserpine."
86Coppee on Wagner.—In an article on "Miousic" in "Le Journal" Mr. Francois Coppee protests against the prevailing Parisian enthusiasm for Wagner's music. He gives an anecdote about an old gentleman who at the end of a dinner, during which he had uttered not a word, was asked what he thought of Wagner's music. "Oh, as for me, madam," he replied, "I find that there are difficulties in 'Les Noces de Jeannette.'"
88ATTENTION.
90In accordance with the resolution of the executive of the Northeastern Sängerbund resident composers are invited to compose a lied in popular style. It will be produced as a mass chorus at the New York Sängertfest in 1894.
92The compositions must be sent in not later than October 15, 1893, to the music committee. The choice of the text is left to the composer, but it must be in the German language or in a German translation. A prize of $150 will be given for the first composition and a prize of $50 for the second.
94Conditions.—Candidates must send in their copy in a large envelope, and with it their name and address in a small envelope. Both envelopes must be marked with the name "motto."
96All correspondence must be addressed to Mr. Aug. Goertz, 284 Morris avenue, Newark, N. J.
98S. K. SAENGER, AUG. GOERTZ, H. F. A. HESSE, A. HIRSCH. Committee.
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