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Musical Courier 1893-06-21: Vol 26 Iss 694, 1893
117 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 15. See the scan on archive.org.
1the prose poem, "Forgotten Pages." "The instrument is the saddest, yes, truly; the piano scintillates, the violin opens the torn soul to the light, but the barrel organ, in the twilight of remembrance, made me dream despairingly. Now it murmurs an air joyously vulgar, which awakens joy in the heart of the suburbs—an air old fashioned and commonplace. Why do its flourishes go to my soul and make me weep like a romantic ballad? I listen, imbibing it slowly, and I do not throw a penny out of the window for fear of moving from my place and seeing that the instrument is not singing itself."
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5O symbolists and decadents! Are ye the end of all, or are ye the prophets of the new? Is the suggestion of your music more potent than the actual performance of symphonic poem or dramatic scene? Could any of the fleshly musicians, as Goldmark or Massenet, surpass this prose of Mallarmé? "And thy Venetian mirror, deep as a cold fountain in its banks of gilt work—what is reflected there? Ah! I am sure that more than one woman bathed there in her beauty's sin; and, perhaps, if I looked long enough, I should see a naked phantom.
7"Wicked one, thou often sayest wicked things.
8"(I see the spider's webs above the lofty windows.)"
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12Turn, on the other hand, to the calm reasoning of Paul Souriau, a professor at Lille, where the young Thackeray lay in pawn. "Modern instrumentation is now in the period of complication; as, if one can guess at all of the future, I believe a period of simplification will follow. When the laws that govern the composition of timbres are really known, the musician can produce by the aid of a few instruments uttering very simple and pure sounds all the effects which are obtained to-day by heaping together, pell mell, sonorities. As yet we have only an empirical orchestra, the reunion of all the instruments invented from the most remote age even to our own day, and our composers are just able to make them sound together without charivari. Sometime we shall have the rational orchestra."
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16The George A. Baker Comic Opera Company still holds the Bowdoin Square Theatre. The operetta last week was "Boccaccio," and Irene Murphy in Mephistophelian red rejoiced openly in the possession of a shapely form.
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20Mr. Gardner S. Lamson sings in Bach's "Passion Music according to Matthew" at Chicago the 30th.
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24Mr. H. W. Parker will give an organ recital at the Church of the Advent next Tuesday evening.
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28I regret to learn that there are singers and players in this city who propose to pursue vigorously their calling through the summer months. In some cases this summer breaking is necessary to the support of the offenders, and for them there is nothing but sincere pity.
30When, however, a young man in a prosperous condition sends a piano to a once peaceful farm house, that he may without interruption worship at the shrine of Johannes Brahms, the action should provoke the rage of Nature.
32Over two hundred and fifty years ago Thomas Beard, who, according to his own words, "painfully preached the Word of God and led life without scandal," wrote a book for the benefit of the inhabitants of Huntington. It is entitled "The Theatre of God's Judgements." Wherein is represented the admirable justice of God against all notorious sinners, both great and small; but especially against the most eminent persons of the world, whose transcendent power breaketh thorow the barres of humane Justice."
34This volume of 392 pages tells quaintly of all offenders of every sort. Perhaps musicians were regarded as notorious sons of Belial, and open rebuke was not thought necessary; for I find only one instance of a musician's evil conduct and summary punishment, and this is in the chapter "Of notorious offenders in all kinde of Sinne." Here is the anecdote:
36"There was another king of the Scots, called Atherto, in the yeare of our Lord 240, who shewed himselfe also in like manner a most vile and abominable wretch: for he so wallowed in all manner of uncleane and effeminat lusts, that hee was not ashamed to goe in the sight of the people playing upon a flute, rejoicing more to be accounted a good Fidler, than a good Prince."
38Now, supposing that the piano of to-day had existed as a machine in the days of Thomas Beard, Doctor of Divinity, and that an infuriated player had disturbed the summer peace of the said Beard, "old and ready to lay down this earthly tabernacle," as well as the tranquility of the "Right Worshipfull Master Mayor, the Aldermen and Burgesses of the town of Huntington," would not the wretched varlet have been pilloried for all ages by the stern man of God in his "Theatre of God's Judgements," and pilloried deservedly?
40PHILIP HALE.
42Music in Russia.—The Russian Government will create in the universities of the empire chairs of popular music. The occupants will be charged with the duty of collecting national airs with scrupulous exactness, without alteration or accompaniment.
44New York State Music Teachers' Association.
46THE secretary, J. F. von der Heide, desires to direct attention to the splendid array of talent participating in the annual meeting, to be held at Rochester, the 27th, 28th and 29th, including seven sopranos, five contraltos, six tenors, seven baritones and basses, two violinists, six pianists, seven organists and six organizations, besides nine essayists and lecturers. Among these are the best known and most popular artists in the State, and some from other States.
48A great musical, intellectual and social treat is in store for those who attend.
50Mr. von der Heide also calls upon the members to send in their annual dues ($1) at once, so that their names may be retained on the membership list and appear in next Official Report. Members failing to pay their yearly dues are required, upon re-entering, to pay a registration fee of $1, the same as new applicants.
52Members and others contemplating a visit to the World's Fair may easily take in this great feast en route.
54Excursion rates for members to the State Music Teachers' Convention are one and one-third fare on all trunk line railroads.
56Mr. Holub Makes a Correction.
58CHICAGO, June 17, 1893.
60EDITORS The Musical Courier:
62DESIRE to correct a statement contained among the "Foreign Notes" from Prague in your issue of the 14th inst., relative to the first performance of the opera "Cornelius Schut," by Smareglia. I will state that the first performance did not take place at the Landes Theatre, but at the Bohemian National Theatre, the leading theatre of the city. In the former the performances are in German and in the latter in Bohemian. Furthermore, I will assert upon positive knowledge that a Czech language does not exist in Bohemia, the prevailing idiom being Bohemian. Your news evidently comes from German source.
64Yours truly, B. HOLUB.
66Pianissimos.
68CHARLES JEROME COLEMAN will spend the summer at his new studio, 19 East Sixteenth street, teaching ambitious and perspiration proof pupils how to sing. Mr. Coleman's popularity as a vocal instructor is rapidly increasing, as it should; for he knows just what he is about.
70George W. Fergusson is spending the summer with Mrs. Fergusson in Chicago. Dr. Carl E. Duft is substituting for him at Grace Church. He expects to return to New York in September, to begin work in dead earnest. Mr. Fergusson is certain to win rare laurels here, for he is one of the finest baritones in this country.
72Bonum est for a church choir to be sociable and jolly, not necessarily within the church walls, but outside. Louis R. Dressler and his really fine quartet choir at Dr. Brett's church, Jersey City, have lots of good times, and sing all the better for them. Next Saturday afternoon, for example, after choir rehearsal they will take a horse car by storm and ride for one solid hour to the Shore House, Bergen Point, where they will indulge in a good, old-fashioned clambake. The party will consist of Mr. and Mrs. Dressler, Miss Lillie Kompff, Mr. and Mrs. Frank H. Molten, Mr. and Mrs. Frederick A. Parker, Mr. and Mrs. William F. Brown and John Holland, who occasionally plays his violin at the special praise services. The bill of fare will include steamed clams, little necks, soft shell crabs, broiled and baked bluefish, broiled lobsters, ice cream, black coffee and cigars. The edibles will be washed down with Kill von Kull sea water, as the choir never indulge in anything stronger. Why don't other choirs follow suit?
74Miss Marie Dixon Jones, soprano of Christ Church, Philadelphia, will pass the summer at Media, Pa., where her brother is rector of the Episcopal church.
76Miss Emma L. Heckle, the well-known soprano, will accompany the Liederkranz on their Western trip, singing with them in Cincinnati. As her mother resides in that city, Miss Heckle will remain there a month. Afterward she will visit at Mackinaw Island, and then spend a month in Chicago, returning to New York about the first of October.
78Great things are predicted of the South American Concert Company, which will be heard for some time at Brighton Beach, beginning next Saturday. Among the soloists of the organization are Miss Elsa Gregori, dramatic soprano, recently from Italy, and Mrs. Marie Marguerite Steencken, the beautiful soprano, whose picture adorned the front page of THE MUSICAL COURIER a few weeks ago. Miss Gregori is a very talented young lady, speaking several languages fluently, and composing music with considerable ability.
80Miss Alice Breen, solo soprano of the Brick Church, will spend the month of August at Williamstown, Mass.
82A. F. A.
84New Journal.—A new musical paper, "The Triad," has just appeared at Dunedin, New Zealand.
86Musical Items
88An Unfortunate Nap.—Sleep is one of the best things in the world if taken at the proper time, but there are occasions upon which it is out of place, and gives rise to grave disappointments. A case in point was that told by the Paris "Charivari," of a clerk in a government office at Marseilles which never granted any holidays, who had all his life cherished the fond desire to witness a performance of "The Huguenots," at the Grand Opéra, in Paris. At length, after thirty years' waiting, he managed to obtain forty-eight hours' leave of absence. He took an early train, and arrived safe in the wonderful city. "The Huguenots" was going to be given that very night, and in an ecstasy of delight the poor fellow rushed off to the opera house, and secured a seat immediately after the doors were opened. He waited awhile, madly endeavoring to keep his eyes open, for what with the fatigue of travel and the excitement induced by his unwonted freedom from the cares of his office he was tired out, and fell sound asleep, nor did he awake until about 12:15 the sweeper-out came and roused him.
90"Going to begin, eh?" he asked, rubbing his eyes sleepily.
92"No, indeed, it's all over," replied the sweeper.
94The poor fellow had to catch the next train to Marseilles, and ended his days without ever hearing "The Huguenots."—"Harper's Young People."
96William Flicker's Voice.—"One of the most singular men I ever knew," said a wealthy retired circus man, "was a canvas man in the first show I ever owned. His name was Bill Flicker, and his singularity lay in his voice; he was the loudest talker I ever knew. He disturbed everyone when he talked, and if he talked at night he always woke up the animals. This once came very near getting us into serious trouble. The giraffe one day bit at a little child who had approached too near his cage, and he never would have done this in the world if he had not been made irritable by being kept awake nights hearing Bill talk. There were times when we thought we would have to get rid of Bill, but he was a good hearted man and he did twice as much work as anybody else, and so we kept him, and the time came when we were very glad we did.
98"Our steam calliope, one of the first ever used, was a great attraction. We always billed it very strong as a leading feature of the street parade, and it pleased the people immensely. We were at that time in the far West. In those days there was in every far Western town a considerable number of intensely emotional people, who were always sure to make a great row if things didn't go to please them. While we were in one of these towns our calliope broke down, and the engineer was not able to repair it in time. We dragged it in the procession, but the people were so enraged at not hearing it play that they shot the horses. At the next town the calliope was still out of repair, and we expected that the people there would wreck the show, but at the last moment, just as the parade was going to start, Bill Flicker stepped forward and said:
100"'Colonel, I'll be the calliope.'
101"They took the insides out of the calliope and put Bill in. The player took his place and worked the keys, and Bill talked.
103"After that nobody ever thought of discharging Bill Flicker. He disturbed the animals, but he had saved the circus."—"Sun."
105An Evening of Pure Music.—The Chicago "Evening Journal" makes the following comment on a recital given at Willard Hall in that city on June 9:
107Mrs. Minnie Fish-Griffin and Arthur H. Van Eweyk gave a song recital last evening at Willard Hall. "An evening of pure music" was the announcement, and such it proved to be. The program with full German and English words was an innovation and a great improvement on the usual methods. Mrs. Griffin is gifted with an unusually pure soprano voice, which she uses with great artistic taste. It is seldom one hears such a finished singer. Mr. Van Eweyk has a rich baritone voice, which has been developed under the German method. He possesses unusual dramatic ability and his singing was done with the ease and perfection of an artist. All of the numbers were enthusiastically received by the audience. Mr. Pizzarelli played the accompaniments very satisfactorily. The violin obligato to two of the songs was played by Bennett Griffin in his usual artistic manner. Altogether it was one of the most enjoyable recitals given this season.
109WILLIAM ROHLFING & SONS,
110Music Publishers and Importers,
111MILWAUKEE, – WISCONSIN.
112Depot for Germany: FRITZ SCHUBERTH, JR., Leipsic.
113Depot for England: STANLEY, LUCAS, WEBER & Co., London
114Publishers of "EDITION ROHLFING."
116The most complete stock of all the standard cheap editions found out West. Catalogues free on application. Most liberal and inducing terms granted to the trade and the musical profession in general. American and foreign musical novelties added to their fine assorted stock as soon as issued. Apply and be assured of prompt and quick attention.
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