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Musical Courier 1895-02-27: Vol 30 Iss 781, 1895
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1Ondricek, violinists, and Herr David Popper, violoncellist. It is our intention soon to give an article on this old and famous institution, that has introduced into England the principal works of the greatest living composers (frequently conducted by them) since its early organization, dating as far back as 1813. During this time there has been an earnest body of men acting in a purely honorary capacity in the offices of secretary, treasurer and board of directors. This noble society, so ably managed by these gentlemen, has done a lasting benefit to the best music of all countries and all schools. It has enabled the large public that always attends its performances in London to hear these worthy excerpts of representative men under favorable circumstances. We take pleasure in quoting the names of those who are responsible for the above program as the present board of directors: Francesco Berger (honorable secretary), Oscar Beringer, W. H. Cummings, Charles Gardner, Alfred Gilbert, Alberto Randegger and G. H. Robinson.
3We learn from Mr. Vert that Mr. Fernando Vert, who is returning from America on Saturday, has engaged the Kneisel Quartet, so prominent in the United States, for a number of concerts to be given here next June. London amateurs may look forward to a treat from this excellent body of singers. Mr. F. Vert will accompany Mlle. Antoinette Trebelli on her tour to the Cape next month.
5Negotiations are now in progress for Miss Margaret McIntyre to appear in several operatic performances the coming season at Covent Garden. British amateurs will look forward with pleasure to the probability that Madame Nordica will again take up her residence in London next autumn, at least for a time, and will give an extended provincial tour then. Mr. Vert also informs us that negotiations are going forward for an American tour of Madame Albani, commencing next January. The eminent pianist Mr. Franz Rumel gives the first of a series of three piano recitals at St. James' Hall to-day.
7Dr. Joachim will arrive in London next week, and make his appearance at the Popular Concert on the 25th inst.
9Sir Alexander C. Mackenzie delivered the first of a series of three lectures on the Traditional and National in Music at the Royal Institution on Saturday afternoon. His subject was Humperdinck's new opera Hänsel and Gretel, which he took as a new work of purely national character, bearing the impress "made in Germany" in every part of it. Sir Alexander Mackenzie opened his remarks by calling attention to the use of folk songs, and other familiar airs known to the people, for thematic material in the works of the French and other composers. He contended that none had succeeded in elaborating these themes in a greater measure than Humperdinck, and the general trend of his remarks was that the German composer had broken up new ground. Humperdinck's choice and general treatment of the themes so well known to his countrymen might serve as a suggestion to composers of other lands. The lecturer gave an analysis of the opera, with musical illustrations by Miss Jeanne Douste, Miss Elba and Mr. Charles Copland.
11Sir Arthur Sullivan has promised to revise his Light of the World this spring for performance at Cardiff in September. He has always refused his permission to its performance in its present state, but he has, so far, been unable to devote time to its reconstruction.
13Sir Joseph Barnby, in an address at the Queen's Hall the other Sunday, said that he worked all seven days equally hard, and could not see why others might not. But noblesse oblige. Probably the men to whom his remark referred would not object to work in a cosy study, amid the perfume of cigars, and before the cheering blaze of a voluptuous fire!
15At a meeting of the executive council of the Cardiff Musical Festival held on Tuesday last most of the main features of the program were decided upon. So far, it has been determined to perform St. Paul, The Messiah, Beethoven's Choral Symphony, Berlioz's Faust, Sir Arthur Sullivan's Light of the World, revised and conducted by the composer; Sphor's Last Judgment, Timpel's St. Francis," a new cantata, The Birds, by Professor Stanford, produced for the first time and conducted by the composer; a new work by Sir Joseph Barnby and a suite by Mr. Edward German. There will be, in addition, symphonies, overtures, a Wagnerian selection and songs. Among the vocalists to be engaged are Madame Nordica, Mr. Edward Lloyd and Mr. Plunket Greene. The festival will be held in the third week of September, Sir Joseph Barnby conducting.
17Our reviewer of English music makes the following comments on the publications submitted to him this week:
19"Most of the compositions sent in for review are correctly enough written from the standpoint of harmony, but evince a woful lack of training in counterpoint and the study of musical style. Suspensions worthy of Pergolese are found side by side with chromatic phrases from Tristan. Melodies beginning in the fresh, old English manner of Morley wind up in a blood-red Mascagni passion. An accompaniment of sustained chords as devoid of rhythm as a Palestrina mass before long becomes a rhythmic problem worthy of a Berlioz. No! the knowledge of the roots of any or all the chords will not give style. That is a distinct study. A course of modern counterpoint will make the parts move more smoothly. Amateurs seem to think that there is great credit in publishing a song. This is a mistake. It requires no training, no talent, and only a little money to compose and publish a bad song. There is far more credit in refraining from writing down platitudes."
21I learn that there is a movement on foot to organize an Irish Feis or Festival, on the lines of the Welsh Eisteddfod, to embrace national music. Dr. Villiers Stanford, Mr. Alfred Percival Graves, Mr. Plunket Greene and others are giving their warm support and co-operation.
23The Carl Rosa Company was to give a performance of Sir Arthur Sullivan's Ivanhoe at Liverpool on Thursday, with new scenery and accessories.
25Mlle. Chamade closes her provincial tour at Liverpool to-day. Assisted by several well known artists she has given programs mainly made up of her own compositions, and they have met with considerable favor.
27Madame Belle Cole's concert party was snowed up near Aberdeen for fourteen hours and suffered greatly from cold and hunger, as they were unable to procure any food.
29The Santley tour ends in another week and has been fairly successful. Madame Albani arrives here from her Continental appearances on the 22d, and will commence her provincial tour on the 26th at Brighton. Mr. Plunket Greene sailed for America last Thursday, from Queenstown, in the Majestic.
31Mr. Ernest Cavour announces a grand concert early in March, when he will introduce to London a new contralto, Madame Iverni.
33Mr. Farley Sinkins announces a provincial tour under the name of Antoinette Sterling-Campanini Tour. Miss Ella Russell has been engaged to appear in some of the more prominent concerts.
35FRANK V. ATWATER.
37American Symphony Orchestra.—The American Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Mr. Sam Franko, gives its second concert at Chickering Hall to-morrow afternoon at 3 P.M. Mr. Richard Hoffman, pianist, will assist.
39Practicing on the Piano.—The length of time for practice must depend upon the health and the circumstances surrounding the pupil. As much time as possible should be given to daily practice, and two hours, at least, should be devoted to that purpose. The best time of day is in the morning, as the mind is freer and the body in a refreshed condition. Difficulties are attacked with more courage, and their intricacies more easily comprehended and overcome then than in the later part of the day. Practice amounts to very little if the body and mind are tired. Persistence in practice under these conditions—through a mistaken sense of duty—is often injurious to health, and certainly fails of any musical accomplishment. In sitting at the piano the stool should be of sufficient height to bring the elbows on a level with the top of the keys, so that the hands may fall naturally into position. The arms should hang from the shoulders in an easy, graceful position, and not be hugged to the side.—Ladies' Home Journal.
41SPECIAL ATTRACTION!
42The widest ranged Soprano in the world,
43Miss Ellen Beach YAW,
44Supported by the distinguished artists:
45Mr. MAXIMILIAN DICK, Violinist, and
46Miss GEORGIELLA LAY, Pianiste.
47For engagements write immediately to
48Mr. VICTOR THRANE, Manager,
49148 East 56th St., New York City
51The HENRY WOLFSOHN
52MUSICAL BUREAU,
53131 East 17th Street, NEW YORK.
54The most reliable Musical Agency in America.
55Lillian Blauvelt, W. H. Rieger, Adele Aus der Ohe,
56Charlotte Maconda, E. C. Towne, Gussie Cottlow,
57Marcella Lindh, Wm. Stephens, Anthony Stankowitch
58Elisa Kutshera, J. H. McKinley and Currie Duke,
59Eliza Hart, Anton Schott, Dora V. Becker,
60Elizabeth Cary, Emil Fischer, Geraldine Morgan.
61Katherine Wadsworth Perry Avrill,
62Louise Natali, Eriscce Bushnell,
63Mrs. Tyler-Dutton A. W. Ferguson,
64and A. Marescalchi,
65Mme. Emma Juch. Carl Dufft,
66Gertrude May Stein, Conrad Behrens
67Marie Maurer and Guiseppe Campanari.
68Katherine Fleming and Maud Powell String Quartet. Materna after January, 1896
69Authorized to receive propositions for Concerts for the Artists
70Abbey, Schoefel & Grau's Grand Italian Opera Company.
72Fifth Symphony Concert.
73THE fifth afternoon and evening concert of the Symphony Society were given last Friday afternoon and Saturday evening in Carnegie Hall. This was the program given:
75Symphony VII. ………………………………………….. Beethoven
76Six songs—
77Plaisir d'Amour ………………………………………….. Martini
78Già risuonar d'intorno ……………………………………. Händel
79In der Fremde… ………………………………………….. Schumann
80Waldgespräch… ………………………………………….. Waldesgespräch…
81Oh, Ye Dead (old Irish melody)…..Arranged by C. V. Stanford
82Twankydidlo (old English song)…Arranged by Lucy Broadwood
83Mr. Plunket Greene.
84Accompanied by Mr. Walter Damrosch.
86Hamlet Fantasie Overture…………………Tschaiikowsky
87Forest Sounds, from Siegfried…………………Wagner
89Mr. Greene, who sings in most of the tongues of Europe and Ireland, made his first bow this season. He was warmly received by his inevitable contingent of feminine admirers. He looks about the same as ever, has the same space destroying stride, and his blue eyes, Milesian mustache and musical phrasing are all intact. Mr. Greene sang the quaint Martini air with feeling, although his voice was clouded in the piano passages. He skipped the Händel song set down in the musical bill of fare at the matinée, but gave the Schumann songs with finish and feeling. Then he sang an old Irish song with inimitable pathos and a robustious early English song with the roaring title of Twankydidlo. Mr. Greene has never been in better voice. He was warmly received, and at the afternoon concert sang for encore Cornelius' Ein Ton. One wonders if Verdi knew of this charming conceit when he set to beautiful shifting harmonies the twelve strokes of the clock of old Windsor Forest in Falstaff. Mr. Greene sings the Cornelius song with delightful effect.
91The symphony orchestra played the A major symphony very well on Saturday night. The Waldweben was also smoother in the evening concert. It did good work in the Hamlet, which is one of Tschaiikowsky's most satisfying works. Its fiery theme, the tenderness of the Ophelia motif, the entrance of Fortinbras indicated in the staccato chords for the brass, the witching hour of midnight, with the appearance of the apparition and the fierce denunciation that follows, all are in this enormous study in musical psychology. Mr. Damrosch conducted and played at his very best. At the last concert of the season Parsifal will be sung by Marie Brema, Nicolaus Rothmühl, Plunket Greene and the Oratorio Society.
93Very Funny.—Possibly as ludicrous a thing as ever happened was the experience of my friend Professor Roswell Park, of Buffalo, N. Y. A man's life had been saved by the beautiful surgical skill of a successful laryngotomy. When health had been restored, my friend proposed to his patient the insertion of an artificial larynx, so that vowel tones, or true voice, could be added to the whisper that necessarily resulted from the absence of the vocal chords. This apparently highly desirable thing was done, but the tone, of course, was uniform; there was no change of pitch possible to the mechanical larynx, and expression, modulation, timbre—everything that makes voice pleasant and more than useful—was absent. The man could speak, convey ideas perfectly, but when he tried to give emphasis, nuances, shadings, diverse meanings, and especially when he tried to express emotion, anger, or resentment, there was only the monotonous drone and squeak of the intolerable machine. Nothing could control the convulsive laughter of the surgeon and assistants. The poor man's indignation sought outlet in speech, but the very words of wrath were turned to outrageous absurdity by the infernal device. In a spasm of ebullient rage he tore the mechanism out of his throat, cursed the man who had saved his life, and is probably running and hoarsely whispering invectives at him still. He never came back.—Dr. George M. Gould's "Meaning and Method of Life."
95MARY LOUISE CLARY.
96CONTRALTO
97FOR
98ORATORIO AND CONCERT.
99For all information, including dates and terms on various Western and Southern tours,
100ADDRESS DIRECT
101Remington Squire,
102MARY LOUISE CLARY,
103Manager. 113 West 96th St., New York.
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