Scan 22
Musical Courier 1894-10-03: Vol 29 Iss 760, 1894
120 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 23. 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.
1evening of July 20. It would take too much space to describe the outing fully, so I will just state that fun of the best kind reigned continually. On the evening of our arrival at the beautiful resort we gave a concert that had been liberally advertised by the hotel people, and a low estimate of the number in attendance places it at 2,000.
3The event took place in the large dining room, and it was filled to standing room, together with the extra broad piazzas on either side. The event was a grand affair, the society and its assistants doing themselves proud, and widely extending their reputation. Nearly fifty members of the society took the trip, and the assisting artists were Miss Blanche Heimburgbe, soprano, of Albany; Miss Belle Munn, pianist, of Troy; Dr. J. Albert Jeffery, organist, of Yonkers, and the Excelsior Quartet.
5It was the unanimous choice of all present that we again visit Hotel Champlain next season, and it is expected metropolitan artists will accompany us.
7The Troy Choral Club will commence its rehearsals Monday night, October 1. This popular mixed chorus will give four concerts during the season.
9We also have two excellent bands here—Doring's and the Troy City. The first named usually gives two concerts, and the second one; so you can see we are sure to have twelve first-class concerts, the Troy Vocal Society giving five, the Choral Club four, Doring's Band two, and the Troy City Band one.
11What is creating great interest among our musicians here and what is a grand undertaking is the founding of a conservatory of music and art. This has only been recently considered, but the energetic people that have it in charge have it established on a very firm basis. The famous Willard Seminary, which is located here, and which up to a year ago had been gradually going into "innocuous desuetude," has lately been given a long lease of life by some grand gifts. The pot was started boiling by L. E. Gurley, who gave a handsome stone building, to be known as the Gurley Memorial and which cost about $75,000. This gift was followed by Russell Sage, whose former home was in Troy, and who gave a beautiful building to be used as a dormitory, and to be called "The Russell Sage Hall," and which cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. Of course the erection of these buildings necessitated the tearing down of the old and famous one, so that a graduate would not know the place in its present state.
13Mr. Sage's gift was followed by the one that I have reference to. Miss Plum gave a building to be devoted to music and art, and to be known as the "Anna Plum Memorial," and which cost $25,000. This is the building of course that is of greatest interest to musicians. It was first intended to have only scholars at the seminary attend the Conservatory, but a more liberal view obtained, and it is to be open to all applicants of both sexes. The building is finely adapted for the promotion of the divine art, and is being finely furnished for the purpose.
15The trustees have selected a faculty, choosing Miss Marion Sim as principal. The following extract from the Troy "Press" will give an idea of her capabilities:
17"Miss Sim came to Troy from Montreal, where she occupied a high musical position. She began her musical education in that city under a pupil of Stephen Heller, and went from Montreal to Paris, studying the piano under Delanux, and concerted music under Jehin Prume, violinist to the King of the Belgians. When she returned to the United States she went directly to New York and took a special course as to how to conduct a conservatory under Alexander Lambert, director of the New York College of Music, upon which principles Miss Sim will direct the Troy Conservatory. This study will be invaluable to her in her new undertaking."
19Music in all its branches will be taught, arrangements having been made already for teaching voice-culture, piano, violin, organ, flute, violoncello, clarinet, cornet, harmony, counterpoint, fugue, sight-reading, solfeggio and choral classes. Vocal culture, &c., will be taught by Giuseppe Piravano, of Albany; the piano will be taught by Miss Sim, the organ by Miss Clara Stearns, the violin by W. J. Holding, the 'cello and clarinet by E. S. Thornton, the flute by W. G. Franke, and the cornet by Geo. F. Doring. The Conservatory will be formally opened Wednesday, September 12, and it is to be known as the Seminary Conservatory of Music of Troy, N. Y.
21FRANKLIN. one of two readings
22(no line here) one of two readings
24PITTSBURG.
26PITTSBURG, Pa., September 6, 1894.
28THE musical season this year in Pittsburg will be ushered in, as it were, by a sound of trumpets greater in number than Sigismond's interpretation of Rossini's 1, 2, 3 trumpets, in which he shouted, stuffing his ears: "One hundred and twenty-three trumpets! Corpo di Cristo! The world's gone mad and I shall go mad too!"
30In the first place Innes is here with his magnificent military band of sixty-five performers, giving two recitals each day of music which will please those whose ears have been cultivated to the classic form, as well as those who are inspired with rhythms which are measured by the "foot." The crowning glory, however, of Director Innes will be in the firing of the big guns as well as the hearts of the G. A. R. men with his very appropriate work entitled "War and Peace." Innes is a great favorite here, and his engagement for the Exposition season will be very profitable to the management of the Exposition Society.
32Next week will be the time for the 123 trumpets, for it is to be the G. A. R. encampment. There will no doubt be bands from all the States in the Union, the combined noise of which will entirely overshadow the Innes Band, or, in the words of the sky poet, Innes will be "out of sight."
34On account of this encampment, it is no use of teachers trying to organize their classes, for, like the small boys at the circus, there will be a great "following of the band wagon."
36After the excitement incidental to such an occasion has simmered down, the hope of the longing professor will be fixed upon a more successful year than was experienced in the collegiate year which has just been buried without any mourners for its demise.
38There is, however, a brighter prospect in Pittsburg, for the rhythm of the rolling mill and the ring of the glass manufacturers' metal, which produces the jingling coin in the pockets of Pittsburg's artizans, is here moving in a tempo accelerando.
40This week brought to the Alvin Theatre De Koven and Smith's opera, "The Fencing Master." Pittsburgers were especially interested in this production, as one of her sons was on the fence. That is, Harry Brockett was fencing with the Fencing Master.
42Harry has improved since he left his native city, and although he began his stage career with a "foil," yet notwithstanding, he has satisfied his friends, who have great hope in his operatic future.
44Some changes have been made in the musical departments of some of our colleges. Among the most prominent is the engagement of Mr. Ad. M. Foerster as musical director of the Pittsburg Female College. The selection of Mr. Foerster was an excellent one, and will do a great deal of good in the way of systematizing the course of studies as well as adopting methods of conservatory teaching.
46A new music school will be opened next week. This one will be like the spreading chestnut tree, or like the vine with its many branches. The trunk or stock will be in the heart of the city.
48Mr. Beverage Webster is the prime mover in this new venture. Like all young enterprises, great claims and statements are made in the prospectus, which underestimates all the actions of its predecessors. The young doctor who has just received his sheepskin, looks upon the aged and gray physician with his years of experience as an old fogey or a back number.
50"Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."
52At the Duquesne Conservatory of Music the well known piano teacher, Mr. Joseph Gittings, has been engaged as principal of the piano department. Mr. Gittings is also director of the music department of the Pennsylvania College for Women.
54SIMEON BISSELL.
56COLUMBUS.
58COLUMBUS, Ohio, September 12, 1894.
60THE quiet, peaceful, Sabbath-like stillness that has pervaded the musical atmosphere in this vicinity for the past two months is broken. The musicians have nearly all returned from their summer vacations and are busily engaged in mapping out the coming season's work; a few are still absent, but they have been heard from at different points, and if the recent rains do not affect the roads to a great extent they will come straggling in by Saturday.
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64The two leading musical societies, the Arions and Euterpeans, are making many promises, the most important being that this year will surpass all previous ones—a promise that will be hard to fulfil, as both societies outdid themselves last year.
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68The Arions, at a meeting Monday evening, elected Mr. Otto Engwerson as director, to succeed Mr. C. A. Graninger, of Cincinnati, who so successfully piloted them last year. Mr. Engwerson is a thorough musician and instructor, and will undoubtedly make a good showing this year. The first rehearsal will occur on the 17th.
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72The Euterpean Society, composed of the Orpheus Club and Columbus Orchestra, a male chorus of about 40 and an orchestra of nearly sixty, have already begun rehearsing. Both societies have been augmented during the summer, and expect to appear in the first concert 100 strong. The members are showing a great deal of enthusiasm this season, the energetic manner in which they are conducting their campaign for subscriptions showing that the recent infusion of young blood was greatly needed and of great benefit.
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76The only occurrence of any moment in a musical way during the summer months was the presentation of the extravaganza "Aladdin," a one act burlesque of much merit and entirely original, composed by Mr. Charles T. Howe, of this city. The plot being a "take off" on the Arabian Nights' story of "Aladdin" much of the music naturally follows the style by common consent attributed to the Chinese. This is particularly the case with the incidental music and a few of the choruses. The solo numbers however are greatly varied in character and are of a superior order. Two especially are worthy of favorable comment, the "Song of the Princess," a charming melodious waltz song, and the "Song of the Magician," the latter being worthy of a better place than it occupies. It is tuneful and really classical and if clothed with appropriate words would make a pleasing selection for the concert stage. Mr. Howe has gained an enviable reputation as a composer, among his compositions being a number of songs, orchestral selections and solos for the flute, an instrument on which he is an artist, but in "Aladdin" he has eclipsed all former efforts. The libretto was furnished by Mr. O. C. Hooper, also of this city. It abounds with witty dialogue and comical situations. On the strength of the great success of their work Messrs. Howe and Hooper have been engaged to write a three act extravaganza to be produced next season. They expect to begin upon it shortly.
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80The Apollo Quartet has returned from a concert trip through Kansas, and the members report good success. Inasmuch as the boys came home in a parlor car and rode up from the depot in a cab it is almost safe to say they made some money.
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84The ranks of the musicians have been augmented by the arrival of two new martyrs, who will make a heroic effort to raise the standard of music, and incidentally, a few dollars. The new comers will be warmly welcomed and cordially invited to play (free of charge) at the thousand and one charitable entertainments that are given here annually. Happily, a refusal will not be a suicidal course.
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88My next letter may be able to give the definite plans of the different organizations for the approaching season.
90FOREIGN NOTES.
92Buenos Ayres.—The theatre which is being built at Buenos Ayres will, it is said, be the largest in the world. It is intended to seat 5,000 persons, and the stage will allow the display of a troupe of 800 persons.
94An Old Violin Concerto.—A violin concerto by the late Wilhelm Taubert, conductor at the Berlin Royal Opera in William I.'s reign, has recently been found among his papers by his son, Prof. Emil Taubert. Dr. Munck, of the orchestra of the Royal Opera, has completed the scoring of the accompaniments, and the piece will be played this winter for the first time by Prof. Waldemar Meyer.
96Mlle. Duvernay.—From some interesting notes by the French historian, M. Pougain, concerning the late Mrs. Lyne Stephens (Mlle. Duvernay) we gather that this distinguished première danseuse was a pupil of the famous Coulon, and made her début at the Paris Grand Opéra in 1830, about three years before she came to the old King's Theatre in the Haymarket, London. Shortly after she made her début she, from religious scruples, retired from the stage and entered a convent, but she did not take the vows, and returned to her professional duties a few months afterward. A little later on, after she had won great success in Halévy's opera ballet "La Tentation," she was the victim of an unrequited affection, and attempted to poison herself, but she was saved by the promptitude of a physician, and very shortly afterward she gained high celebrity by her dancing in the ballet "La Juive," which was afterward turned by Halévy into an opera.
98Mrs. Powell.—Mrs. Alma Webster Powell, an American pupil of Mad. Lankow, has been engaged by the Frankfort-on-the-Main Opera House for first colorature parts, the engagement to begin in January, 1895.
100Pachmann in Berlin.—Vladimir von Pachmann has not been heard in Berlin for many years. He is announced to give three piano recitals there at Bechstein Hall in December.
102A Bülow Story.—The following stories about Hans von Bülow are given in the "Neue Musik Zeitung:"
104"While he was staying at Carlsbad, von Bülow was very much annoyed by visits which tormented him from morning till night. To free himself from this trouble he fastened his visiting card on the door with this notification:
106'HANS VON BÜLOW
108cannot be seen in the morning, and not at home in the afternoon.'
110"The morning after a mediocre performance at the Hanover Theatre, at which von Bülow was engaged as conductor, a lady inquired of him: 'Is it true, Herr Hofkapellmeister, that you stopped your two ears last evening so that you might not hear?'
112'Alas, madam, it is not quite true! I stopped my left ear with my left hand, but as to the right, I wanted that for conducting.'"
114The Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory at Berlin.—The Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory at Berlin is making efforts in the right direction by the constant engagement of eminent artists as teachers. The acquisition of that grand master of the vocal art, Mrs. Amalia Joachim, created quite a sensation and promises well for the future artistic development of that branch of the Conservatory. Lately we hear of the engagement of the well-known virtuoso Prof. Waldemar Meyer for the violin classes; and not only he, but also Mrs. Marianna Scharwenka-Stresow, whose brilliant career as mistress of the violin is still in everybody's remembrance, has consented to give part of her time to aspiring young talent at this Conservatory. Mrs. Scharwenka-Stresow will also appear again in public next winter, and will play for the first time a new violin concerto written by her husband, Director Philipp Scharwenka. This is a piece of news which will be welcomed by Berlin concert-goers. At any rate it is certain that the Klindworth-Scharwenka Conservatory since it has joined forces with Prof. Hermann Genss and under the guidance of so energetic a gentleman in conjunction with his co-directors has lately conquered for itself a leading position among the many conservatories of Berlin.
116CHAS. B. HAWLEY,
117BASSO—CONCERT AND ORATORIO.
118VOCAL INSTRUCTION.
119Studio: 136 Fifth Ave. (Mason & Hamlin Bldg.).
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