Scan 24
Musical Courier 1894-12-12: Vol 29 Iss 770, 1894
144 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 23. See the scan on archive.org.
1MUCH interest has been aroused by the rumor of a new school of music in Chicago. Among the musicians it is generally thought that it is really an Eastern enterprise, but so far as I can learn it is to be an entirely local affair. There seems to be no doubt that such an enterprise is in the process of development, and it will soon be in a state of advancement sufficient for a description in detail. At present, however, those interested in the undertaking will say nothing for publication.
3The more the outlook for the advisability of the formation of the projected institution is scanned the more favorable it appears. There is scarcely a doubt of the immediate and emphatic success of a school of music equipped and endowed as it is the intention of the promoters of this enterprise to equip and endow the new school. Chicago is the centre of a great population and interest in the fine arts is growing apace in the West. What, then, is to hinder the establishment here of one of the greatest and most thorough schools of music in the world? It is a well-known fact that when Chicago capitalists are sufficiently interested in any scheme to put their money into it they are neither niggardly in the matter of capital stock nor unmindful of the necessity for work.
5"Irma," a new operetta by Barnes and West, was given its first public performance at the Schiller Theatre Thursday afternoon. The plot is built upon the attempt at elopement of two young people, the parents of one of whom object seriously to their marriage. Of course it is the lady's parents who do the objecting and the young man who suggests and plans the elopement. The old people overhear the plot and their efforts to thwart the plan occasion complications which afford considerable amusement. The music is pretty and well scored. It has several taking melodies; among them the serenade and a romanza are perhaps the best and most pleasing.
7The singers who took part in the performance were nearly all novices on the operatic stage, but the presentation was nevertheless a smooth one when considered as a first attempt of amateurs. One or two of the singers have fine voices, notably Misses Middleton and Osborne. Miss Middleton has a high soprano voice of bright and pleasing quality, and Miss Osborne a mezzo soprano voice of unusual beauty of tone and strength. The ladies have encouragement to study in earnest for the stage, for their performance certainly showed marked talent.
9Emil Liebling gave a concert at Kimball Hall Monday evening. He had the assistance of Adolf Rosenbecker and some of the members of his orchestra. The program was:
10Suite, op. 7, for piano and string orchestra………….Hugo Reinhold
11Allegro ma non Troppo.
12Menuetto.
13Vivace.
14Largo.
15Allegro Assai.
16Piano solo—
17Romance, op. 41………………………………………Raff
18Canzonetta……………………………………………..E. Liebling
19Gavot…………………………………………………….Westerhout
20Petite suite for piano and string orchestra………….Ole Olsen
21Devils' Dance.
22Mazurka.
23Serenade.
24Dance Caprice.
25Papillons.
27Mr. Liebling has given several concerts in which he has engaged orchestra players and he always gives fine work at these entertainments. One of the best productions was that of Rubinstein's beautiful octet which Mr. Liebling gave its first Chicago hearing. The suites given at this concert were well worth hearing and were another evidence of Mr. Liebling's enterprise and devotion to the cause of art. Mr. Rosenbecker is an able conductor; the playing was artistic and the merits of the compositions were well brought out. Mr. Liebling has written a charming canzonetta and played it and the other numbers of his solo group with taste and accuracy of technic. Mr. Liebling is constantly developing in breadth of style and shows a fine comprehension of the meaning of the compositions he interprets.
29Karleton Hackett gave a song recital in Kimball Hall Wednesday evening. He was assisted by Emil Liebling. Florence Castle was the accompanist. The program was:
30Aria, "She Alone Charmeth My Sadness",………………Gounod
31"Air de Ballet"………………………………………Schytte
32Romance, op. 41………………………………………Raff
33"Under the Rose"…………………………………….Emil Liebling
34"Autumn"……………………………………………..Peter Christian Lutkin
35"Sir Marmaduke"……………………………………(Manuscript.)
36Karleton Hackett.
37"Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes"…………………Sixteenth Century
38"Old English Drinking Song"………………………..Seventeenth Century
39"Cavalier Ballad"……………………………………Seventeenth Century
40Karleton Hackett.
41Gavot…………………………………………………….Westerhout
42Canzonetta……………………………………………..Emil Liebling
43"Song of the Brook"…………………………………Lack
44"How Fair Art Thou"………………………………..Emil Liebling
45"The Singer"…………………………………………Fred Field Bullard one of two readings
46"The Singer"…………………………………………..Fred Field Bullard one of two readings
47"Die Beiden Grenadiere"…………………………….Schumann
48Karleton Hackett.
50Mr. Hackett has a voice of smooth quality and richness of timbre. He also has much musical feeling, and the result was a recital which was highly enjoyable. The three songs of Mr. Lutkin's composition proved to be quite effective program numbers. They are well written, both as to melody and accompaniment. Mr. Lutkin shows the ability to properly and adequately express in his music the sentiment of the text.
52One of the most magnificent club houses in Chicago is that of the Lakeside Club, and it was crowded by a brilliant audience of over 1,000 to hear the production by members of the club and some of their friends of Schleifarth's comic opera, "Rosita." This opera was written several years ago. The libretto is by Harry B. Smith and contains some clever comedy situations. The music is tuneful and light, and is in many places catchy. For a performance by amateurs the presentation of "Rosita" was a success.
54Many of the young ladies and gentlemen of the cast and of the chorus have highly cultured voices, and are musicians of fine attainments. Several of them also displayed much natural histrionic ability. The members of the cast were: "Rosita," Miss Millie Benjamin; "Dolores," Miss Stetta Adler; "Minerva," Miss Gussie Mendeissohn; "Inez," Miss Isabella Isaacs; "Juanita," Miss Jennie Steinfeld; "Garrick," Mr. E. Benjamin; "Walter Lansing," Wm. J. Brooks; "Carlos," Lee Jacobs; "Pedro," Mr. E. Newman, and "Encinal," Mr. Arthur Pollak. Harry F. Carson was the director.
56The University String Quartet, of the Northwestern University, gave the third chamber music recital of this season in the chapel of the Woman's Hall, Tuesday afternoon. The program was:
57Quartet for strings, No. 3, op. 15…………………….W. Ildemar Bargiel
58Allegro ma non troppo, A minor.
59Allegretto commodo, C major.
60Andante sostenuto, E major.
61Vivace ed energico, A minor.
62Quartet for strings, op. 51…………………………..Anton Dvorák one of two readings
63Quartet for strings, op. 51…………………………….Anton Dvorák one of two readings
64Allegro ma non troppo, E flat major.
65Dumka (Elegy), G minor.
66Romanze, B major.
67Finale, E flat major.
69The musical department of the university is doing good work. The director has succeeded in arousing much enthusiasm among the students and the concerts and recitals outlined give evidence of a high aim.
71Among the most interesting musical entertainments in this city are those given from time to time by the Germania Club. The male chorus of this organization is well and favorably known. The musical director, Henry Schoenefeld, is one of the most accomplished American musicians and composers, and his efforts are constantly exerted both in public and private for the elevation of the public taste. Thursday evening the club will give this fine program:
72Quartet, D Moll………………………………………Haydn
73Allegro.
74Andante o più tosto allegretto.
75Menuetto.
76Vivace assai.
77Lieder—
78"Lusinghe più care"…………………………………Händel
79"As when the Snow Drift"……………………………Goring Thomas
80"Widmung"…………………………………………..Schumann
81Frau J. E. Duvivier.
82Sonate, "Teufels Triller"…………………………….Tartini
83Herr Theodore Spiering.
84Lieder—
85"Im Frühling"………………………………………..Fesca
86"Herzens Frühling"…………………………………Wickele
87Frau Theodore Brentano.
88Piano soli—
89Nocturne……………………………………………..Schumann
90Ständchen……………………………………………..Henry Schoenefeld
91Walzer…………………………………………………..Chopin
92Herr Henry Schoenefeld.
93Variationen aus dem D moll Quartet…………………Schubert
94Spiering String Quartet.
95Duet—
96"Suisika"……………………………………………..Mendelssohn
97"El Desdichado"…………………………………….Saint-Saëns
98Frau J. E. Duvivier and Frau Th. Brentano.
99Quartet, op. 16, for piano, violin, viola and 'cello……..Beethoven
100Herren H. Schoenefeld, Theo. Spiering, Franz Esser and Herman Diestel.
102The latest musical organization to come before the Chicago public is the Chicago Wind Instrument Society. It is composed of the wind instrument players of the Chicago Orchestra. The prospectus of the society states that it is organized to present the wind instrument compositions of the great classicists and contemporary composers, and is founded upon the lines of similar existing societies in London and Paris. The programs will not be confined strictly to wind music, but its chief effort will be in that direction. The society announces a series of five evening concerts to be given in the Women's Club Rooms. The first concert will be given Tuesday, the 18th inst.
104The second soirée of the Spiering String Quartet was given in Kimball Hall Thursday night. The program was:
105Quartet in F major, op. 74…………………………..Haydn
106Quartet in E flat major, op. 74………………………..Beethoven
107Quintet in E flat major, op. 44………………………..Schumann
109Haydn's dainty music was given with delicacy and lightness and a generally good attention to phrasing and attack.
111The Beethoven Quartet was by no means adequately performed. The true Beethoven spirit was absent, and the playing showed need of rehearsal. The andante was marred by several extremely disagreeable false intonations on the part of more than one of the players, and was poorly interpreted throughout.
113The playing of Schumann's quintet, however, was exceptionally fine. The strings were played with spirit and the precision of attack was commendable. Mr. Sherwood played the piano part of this composition, which is as full of difficulties as are many concertos, in the most masterly style imaginable. His execution was faultless. His phrasing and shading were musicianly, and his reading was broad and dignified and at the same time full of verve, and a crispness of touch that was exhilarating. Mr. Sherwood's work in the beautiful composition was one of the most masterly exhibitions of pianistic ability which Chicago has heard for many a day.
115Theodore Thomas gave one of his "popular" programs at the Auditorium Friday afternoon and Saturday night. It was:
116Vorspiel, "Hänsel and Gretel"………………………..Humperdinck
117(First time in Chicago.)
118Larghetto from Symphony in E minor, "From the New World"……………………………………………..Dvorák
119Scenes Alsaciennes (seventh suite)……………………Massenet
120Dimanche matin.
121Au Cabaret.
122Sous les Tilleuls.
123Clarinet, Mr. Schreurs; violoncello, Mr. Steindel.
124Dimanche Soir.
125"Forest Devotion"…………………………………..
126"Leaping Marionettes"……………………………….Robert Goldbeck
127Two Mexican Dances………………………………..(Conducted by the composer.)
128Waltz, "Beautiful Blue Danube"……………………..Strauss
129"Waldweben," from "Siegfried"……………………….Wagner
130"Tournament March," from "Tannhäuser"……………..Wagner one of two readings
131(Arranged for orchestra and organ.) one of two readings
132"Tournament March," from "Tannhäuser"…………….(Arranged for orchestra and organ.) one of two readings
133Organ, Mr. Middelschulte.
135Humperdinck's overture is a characteristic work. It opens with a short, slow phrase for the horns, which reminds one of "The horns of Elfland gently blowing." It is followed by a light fairylike march movement, which will represent the character of the story. The orchestral color is rich and varied, and the instrumentation shows a thorough knowledge of the modern orchestra.
137Dvorák's exquisite larghetto impresses one more and more with its beauty every time it is heard. Robert Goldbeck's compositions are well written and show familiarity with the technic of orchestration. The "Mexican Dances" are the most original and striking, and will probably become well known and favorite numbers upon the programs of orchestra concerts. The addition of the organ to the "Tannhäuser March" cannot be said to add much to the effect of the performance of the piece. The other numbers have been performed many times here.
139William M. Tomlins has once more fallen upon his feet. The "Handel Musical Association" has been formed for the purpose of assisting Mr. Tomlins in his work by providing a suitable place for him. The organization is capitalized at $80,000, and Mr. Tomlins is to be congratulated.
141English papers are busy chronicling the great success in London of Mrs. Katherine Fisk. Mrs. Fisk is a Chicagoan whose musical education was received in this city. She is one more striking example of what can be done in America in the direction of musical study, and her instant success in the great English capital is another proof that Americans no longer need to go abroad to study music.
143Mrs. Charles French played with great success at a musical given by Mrs. George M. Pullman Wednesday evening. Mrs. French has a fine technic and shows musical intelligence of a high order.
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