Scan 17
Musical Courier 1894-03-14: Vol 28 Iss 731, 1894
195 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 18. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1are necessities. The deeper and broader an education a musician has the truer artist he will be.
3Well, to go back, the Arions gave "The Messiah" for their second concert.
5Mr. Whitney Mockridge, tenor; Mrs. Agnes Thompson, soprano, and George Ellsworth Holmes were the visiting soloists from Chicago.
7Mrs. Bodden, a member of the club, took the contralto part.
9Just a word for Mr. Holmes' singing. It was his first appearance in Milwaukee, and he won his way right into the hearts of his hearers by his beautiful voice and very artistic singing.
11His tones are rich and round, full of a wonderfully sympathetic quality. He was grandly heroic in "Why do the nations so furiously rage?" and a continued storm of applause greeted him when he finished.
13Mr. Holmes is an artist in the truest sense of the term and will be heartily received whenever he returns here. The club itself did not do as good work as in its first concert, but that cannot be wondered at when we consider the immensity of the work and the short time in preparing it.
15The new Philharmonic Society, which is supported by some of the best musicians and business men of the city, has given three concerts so far this season.
17The last one, given in Stadt Theatre February 1, I shall make mention of, as it was by far the best of the three. The program included "Im Walde," by Raff; "Romeo and Juliet," overture-fantasia, by Tschaiikowsky; overture to Wagner's "Meistersinger" and "Ball Costumé," by Rubinstein, arranged for orchestra by Max Erdmannsdoerfer. one of two readings
18The last one, given in Stadt Theatre February 1, I shall make mention of, as it was by far the best of the three. The program included "Im Walde," by Raff; "Romeo and Juliet," overture-fantasia, by Tchaikowsky; overture to Wagner's "Meistersinger" and "Ball Costumé," by Rubinstein, arranged for orchestra by Max Erdmannsdoerfer. one of two readings
20Arthur Weld, ex-director of the Arion Club, was the conductor for this concert.
22This orchestra is only in its infancy, and occasionally some player gets off the key and confused generally, but struggles bravely back again.
24Then there is not that unity or sympathy which we hear in older societies, and while I must say they are now very inferior, still they are on the right road and will soon learn to walk steadily and without floundering.
26What they need most is the right kind of directors; then some of these days we shall feel justly proud of them.
28Mr. Weld has shown his ability as orchestra director before, but never as well as at this concert.
30Take away some of the English love of self, add instead some German sticktoitiveness and a little of the dignity of Theodore Thomas, and there will not be a finer conductor easily found.
32He is a thoroughly educated musician; he studied seven years under the very best teachers in Europe, and on three different occasions was complimented and encouraged by Richard Wagner. Some of his compositions possess much merit.
34He has a wonderful memory, enabling him to memorize whole scores perfectly.
36True, his mannerisms are bad; but these are errors not faults. It's art to conceal all fussiness, and he has not yet learned this art, and then he is very young, so there are excuses for him.
38The orchestra was scarcely recognizable under his conducting; they played as if inspired.
40Mrs. Vowell and Mrs. Guthrie-Moyer were the soloists. They are both from Chicago.
42Mrs. Vowell sang an aria from "Samson and Delilah," with orchestra.
44This selection was entirely beyond her capabilities. She produced only sweet lullaby tones where a climax should have been given.
46She has not power to sing over an orchestra, and should not have attempted it.
48Her voice is sweet and mellow and she gave some very pure if small tones, showing a good method. She returned from her studies in Paris about three years ago.
50Mrs. Moyer used to sing in opera here during the summer months at Schlitz Park.
52She sings with fine dramatic power, and has a round, full soprano voice. There is only one fault to find with her, and that is faulty enunciation.
54The Milwaukee Musical Society recently gave a part song concert in the Academy of Music, under the direction of Mr. Luening.
56They were assisted by the Detroit Philharmonic String Quartet and Mrs. Webke.
58This was the program:
60Quartet, op. 18, No. 6…………………L. van Beethoven
61Detroit Club.
62"Neig Schoene Knospe"…………………L. Hartmann
63"Mir Traeumte von einem Koenigskind"………..Mrs. Webke.
65Männerchor a cappella—
66So Weit………………………………….Engelsberg
67Jetzt gang i ans Bruennele………….Arranged by H. Zoellner
68Andante………………………………………Dittersdorf
69Menuetto………………………………………Boccherini one of two readings
70Menuetto…………………………………….Boccherini one of two readings
71Detroit Club.
72"Traum und Erfuellung"…………………Becker
73"Aufschwung"……………………………Mrs. Webke.
75The chorus sang the first numbers well. The tenors are apt to yell instead of sing, and on their last songs they broke down completely. Mr. Luening called them back, and schoolboy fashion they tried their piece over again, barely getting through without another fall.
77This is an old, wealthy society, but too often are poorly prepared in their concert work. Whether this is the fault of conductor or club I know not. No doubt both are to blame.
79Mrs. Webke, of Germany, has a perfect German voice and method. Her tone is immense in volume, and she is a good Wagner singer.
81She is an excellent musician, and scored a great success with the Thomas Orchestra at the Auditorium in Chicago last winter.
83Her husband is one of the actors in the Stadt Theatre here this season.
85The Imperial Male Quartet gave a concert in the Hanover Street Congregational Church lecture course.
87They have good voices, are young and sing with all the abandonment and enjoyment of youth.
89In phrasing, enunciation and attack they are about perfect. A young girl, Miss Lillie Welch, sang two solos, "Ich Liebe dich," by Herbert, and "Twas April," by Nevin. She has without doubt a wonderfully fine voice. In an encore she took high D with great ease and sweetness. She has a beautiful voice a lovely face, and is still a young girl, a pupil of the high school.
91What a future is before her!
93I have heard while studying abroad all of the great singers of to-day—Melba, Nordica, Eames, Patti, &c., and I am only just and honest when I compare her future to the present fame of these ladies.
95Her voice in quality is most like Melba's. She is and has been for four years a pupil of Ernest Catenhusen. Her parents and teacher keep her very quiet and only on rare occasions does she sing in public.
97The coming fall she will study in New York. After two years there she goes to Marchesi, in Paris.
99A newly organized chamber concert company gave their first concert in Plymouth Church. It is composed of Miss Lillian Way, Miss Henrietta Kilbourn and Mr. Jaffe.
101Miss May spent last winter studying organ and piano in Boston. Miss Kilbourn is also from Boston. Jaffe has recently come here from Hamburg. I believe he was court violinist. He has good tone, not strong, and is a fair player.
103This concert was just a trifle amateurish, perhaps because these artists were not accustomed to playing together. No doubt they will improve with practice.
105Milwaukee is sadly deficient in chamber music, and we have only words of praise and encouragement for these artists in their efforts to give us what we so much need.
107HATTIE VON BERGEN.
109TORONTO.
110TORONTO, February 19, 1894.
111Editors The Musical Courier:
113JUST prior to the sackcloth and ashes, of Lenten season, musical and society functions come with a rush in Toronto, and notwithstanding the generally prevailing financial depression this season was no exception to the rule. There has, however, been one great difference; very few outside concert companies have visited us. We have had none of the fine orchestral concerts which so agreeably marked 1892-3; no pianist of world wide fame; while, as to operatic events—well, at best they are always but poor imitations of the genuine article as New York would understand it. A few stars—Marteau, Nordica, Guille, Guilman—have dotted our musical firmament, these shining all the more brightly because they were so few; but home and for the most part amateur talent has provided a larger proportion than is customary of the most important entertainments so far in 1893-4. As it would be strange if the old adage concerning the prophet in his own country did not hold good in Toronto, there is nothing remarkable in the fact that local talent has had many opportunities for investigating the beauties of bench work and upholstery. In one sense local talent seems to have a harmonizing effect; it does so develop a love for home.
115And yet with all this moralizing nothing is further from my thoughts than to sneer at or belittle the work of Toronto amateurs and professionals. We have some singers and players who would be warmly received in any concert hall in America.
117I can't very well particularize without incurring the charge of favoritism; but I could tell you of one young lady (not known to me personally), whose natural beauty of voice—a contralto—I have only very rarely heard equaled; another, a soprano, who with careful and extended culture may easily become a singer of the first rank. Again, we have one or two organists whose highly distinctive merits would be recognized and applauded in any quarter of the world. No, no; Toronto's local talent has no reason to blush for itself, or to hire anyone else to blush for it.
119Now for business.
121TORONTO LADIES' QUARTET CONCERT.
123The personnel of this club now consists of Mrs. d'Auria, Mrs. J. Willson-Lawrence, Miss Edith J. Miller and Miss Ella Bridge-land. On January 25 they, assisted by Cav. A. L. Guille, the well-known tenor; Mr. J. D. A. Tripp, pianist, and Messrs. Bailey, Napolitano and d'Auria, as accompanists, gave a really excellent concert in Association Hall. The Ladies' Quartet sang charmingly and were recalled for every number given. Although almost hypercritical to suggest it, for my part I would have liked a little more body and depth in the lower alto voices—that is for quartet singing. As a soloist Miss Bridgeland was most pleasing. Mrs. Willson-Lawrence gave Gounod's berceuse, "Sing, Smile and Slumber," very acceptably, and Mrs. d'Auria in her duet with Mr. Guille, "Parigi O Cara," "Traviata," acquitted herself with all her usual success. Miss Edith J. Miller sang "I am in her boudoir fair," "Mignon," a selection which showed the young lady's beautiful voice to advantage. And she has a truly beautiful voice—sympathetic and purely musical. Miss Miller has the good sense (alas, so uncommon!) not to indulge in vocal fireworks beyond her capabilities; she sings what she knows and every note of her voice is full of music.
125Mr. Guille, the tenor, carried the audience by storm. What power he has! His success was great, and I presume that he will frequently be heard in Toronto again.
127Mr. Tripp, a Toronto pianist, also distinguished himself upon this occasion. He gave Liszt's Rhapsodie Hongroise No. 2 with fine effect, and had to respond to an enthusiastic recall.
129I have touched on this rather longer than I usually do on local events. My excuse must be that the concert was worthy of it and the large audience that was in attendance.
131TORONTO LACROSSE CLUB MINSTRELS.
133The program, omitting it, I can't give the precise date, but some time in January the Toronto Lacrosse Club Minstrels gave two evening and one matinee performances. With two or three exceptions those taking part were amateurs. The funny men were good, although truth compels me to say that most of their "gags" had a prehistoric flavor. The chorus was excellent as to material, but there was little or nothing suggestive of negro minstrelsy in their efforts beyond the black cork decorations. Mr. Schuch, the conductor, made his forces sing very creditably and generally had them well in hand. Mr. I. E. Suckling, business manager for the event, contrived to have everything run with smoothness and success.
135MR. BROWNE'S RECITALS.
137Mr. J. Lewis Browne, the popular organist of Bond Street Congregational Church, seems to be playing on all the organs in this city. I can't pretend to keep track of his work. I understand, however, that he is booked for recitals in Ottawa, Ont., March 6, and other places East. Here is one of his programs given at St. Luke's Church January 27:
138Sonata, No. 1, in C minor, op. 13…………………J. A. Van Eyken (On the chorale "Befieh Du deine Wege.")
139Andante from Fifth symphony…………………….Beethoven (Arranged for organ by Van Eyken.)
140Vocal solo, "Judge me, O God"…………………Dudley Buck J. Hammersly Willson.
141"Loure"………………………………………Bach
142Gavot………………………………………Bach one of two readings
143Gavot………………………………………….Bach one of two readings
144Serenata, op. 15, No. 1……………………….M. Moszkowski one of two readings
145Serenata, op. 15, No. 1………………………..M. Moszkowski one of two readings
146Fugue on name of Bach, op. 60, No. 6…………….Schumann
147Pastorale, op. 19, No. 4……………………….Cesar Franck one of two readings
148Pastorale, op. 19, No. 4………………………..Cesar Franck one of two readings
149Vocal solo, selected from "The Mount of Olives"….Henry Parker A. E. Ecclestone.
150Marche Solemnelle…………………………..Gounod (Arranged for organ by F. Prout.) one of two readings
151Marche Solemnelle…………………………….Gounod (Arranged for organ by F. Prout.) one of two readings
152Gavot in F…………………………………….Martini-Guilman
153Minuetto scherzoso…………………………..J. H. Anger
154Grand march, from "Rienzi"……………………Wagner (Arranged for organ by E. S. Kelley.)
156PATTI.
158You New York people may not care to turn out in droves to hear Patti, but evidently New York opinion does not lead the world. Here in Toronto when she and her concert company appeared at the Grand Opera House on February 5, standing room was at a premium. Big prices were paid, too, and a large proportion of the audience was drawn from towns within 50 miles of this city. Hundreds could not get into the house at all. One primary reason for all this enthusiasm was doubtless due to the fact that our people were innocent enough to believe that this was an honor-bright Patti farewell; so the gray heads brought their children to hear the diva who has created the greatest sensation of any of the singers of this century. Next time it will be the same—say 1896, or '97.
160"ANTIGONE."
162The sensation of the last few days has been the presentation of "Antigone" (in the original Greek) by students of Toronto University. Those at the helm were Mr. F. H. Torrington, conductor; Mr. W. H. Robinson, chorus master; Mr. H. N. Shaw, stage director, and Mr. I. E. Suckling, business manager. The work was given at the Academy of Music on the evenings of February 15, 16 and 17 and in the afternoon of the last day. The amount of interest created may be inferred from the fact that on each occasion large and brilliant audiences were in attendance, and that our local papers gave up as much as four profusely illustrated columns to reviewing the first performance.
164I had been anticipating a good deal of pleasure in hearing "Antigone," secured my tickets for the only night I expected to be free, but fate stepped in at the last moment and I could not go. Under these conditions it is not possible for me to do more than to say that everybody in town has been applauding the way in which the work was given.
166To Mr. I. E. Suckling, whose executive ability as a manager I have often referred to, a large proportion of praise is due for the way popular interest in the performances was worked up.
168MR. A. S. VOGT.
170At the annual convention of the Canadian Society of Musicians, held in December last, Mr. J. P. Aldous, of Hamilton, was elected president. That gentleman, however, was obliged to decline office, and Mr. A. S. Vogt, a comparatively young but prominent Toronto musician, has received the appointment. This strikes me as being a wise move on the part of the C. S. M., because that organization wants nothing if it be not life and energy, and of these Mr. Vogt has sufficient for his own requirements and enough left over to sensibly affect his colleagues. I think the profession may look for some radical developments on the part of the C. S. M.
172MR. TRIPP'S RECITAL.
174At the fag end of my letter I find myself all but forgetting to note the recital given by Mr. J. D. A. Tripp, a Toronto pianist, assisted by Miss Nora Clench, violinist, and Mr. Pierre Delasco, basso, on January 22. All of these artists have been so frequently mentioned by me before that on this occasion I need not enter upon details, except to say that Mr. Tripp's playing seems to improve with each hearing; he has always been noted for being a "strong" player as well as an artistic one, but in the concert under notice I think he surpassed all his previous records. Miss Clench and Mr. Delasco were in good form and won a repetition of many previous successes. The program was:
175Presto Giocoso (from Italian concerto)…………………Bach one of two readings
176Presto Giocoso (from Italian concerto)………………Bach one of two readings
177Andante and variations (from the "Kreutzer Sonata")………….Beethoven
178Invocation ("Robert le Diable")……………………Meyerbeer
179Minuet in G, op. 17, No. 2……………………….Moszkowski one of two readings
180March, op. 39, No. 1…………………………….Chaminade one of two readings
181Mr. Tripp………………………………………Hollaender one of two readings
182Minuet in G, op. 17, No. 2……………………..Moszkowski one of two readings
183March, op. 39, No. 1…………………………..Hollaender one of two readings
184Airs Russes…………………………………….Wieniawski
185Scherzo, B flat minor, op. 31……………………..Chopin one of two readings
186"The Salt Sea Foam"…………………………….Tripp one of two readings
187Mr. Delasco…………………………………….Mr. Tripp one of two readings
188Rhapsodie Hongroise No. 2………………………..Liszt one of two readings
189Mr. Tripp………………………………………Mr. Tripp one of two readings
190Scherzo, B flat minor, op. 31……………………Chopin one of two readings
191"The Salt Sea Foam"…………………………..Tripp one of two readings
192Rhapsodie Hongroise No. 2……………………..Liszt one of two readings
193Mr. Tripp. one of two readings
194Yours truly, EDMOND L. ROBERTS.
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