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Musical Courier 1895-03-20: Vol 30 Iss 784, 1895
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1THE BOSTON Symphony Orchestra gave its fifth and last concert of the present season at the Academy, and, notwithstanding the weather, a large, fashionable and enthusiastic audience assembled to bid the splendid organization good-bye until next winter. How could it help being enthusiastic? True, the orchestral greatness was at the beginning of the program. Fantastic symphony by Hector Berlioz! Both title and composer conjure up thoughts of what is to follow. Always passionate, fanciful and many hued, unusual must be the effect when Berlioz singles out one of his compositions and labels it Fantastique. Yes, the orchestra must be unusual, and its three drummers and the bars of brass, and its great virtuosity in general, gave a great performance of a wonderful work—symphony of tone, symphony of color. Some painters lay on their color as though with a trowel, but these tones were born of the whirlwind and the cyclone. Berlioz brings them together with the art of Berlioz. A superb musical bouquet, but it is a bouquet of sunflowers and hollyhocks and flags and huge stacks of cabbage roses, with here and there a cattleya or a cypripedium, and trailers of clematis and passion flowers all in a monster vase in the open air with gigantic humming birds and goblin bees feasting about it. Gorgeous faintly describes it. It is the apotheosis of musical tone.
3The balance of the program seemed tame in comparison. But the violoncello solos of Mr. Schroeder were beautiful and the refinement and delicacy were sweetly restful after the cyclonic symphony.
5Philadelphia is upon an era of Wagnerism. Aside from the German opera season the three lecture recitals by Mr. Walter Damrosch, arranged by the Matinée Musical Club, of Philadelphia, are definitely announced for March 25, 27 and 28, at 11 A. M., in the New Century Drawing Room. The subjects are for Monday, Tristan and Isolde; Wednesday, Siegfried, and Thursday, Die Meistersinger.
7The program for the regular weekly meeting Wednesday at the Orpheus Club rooms will be devoted to an afternoon lecture recital on Wagner. Mrs. Anna B. Weimer will read a critical paper on the composer, and the illustrations will include the overture and Elsa's Dream from Lohengrin; the Spinning Song, from the Flying Dutchman; prize song, Die Meistersinger; the Magic Fire Scene and the Ride of the Valkyries, from Die Walküre; the Rhine Daughter's Song, Göttterdammerung, and the Good Friday music from Parsifal. The meeting will be an excellent preparation for Mr. Damrosch's recitals a week later.
9Mr. Ernest Schelling will give two piano recitals at the Orpheus Club room on the afternoons of March 21 and 28 at 3:30 o'clock. Mr. Schelling is already favorably known as a pianist to many musical people in Philadelphia. The recitals, however, will be his first formal appearance in public since his return from abroad, where he studied the piano with D'Albert. The program for next Thursday afternoon is carried chronologically from the classical music of the early eighteenth century down to contemporary compositions, representing a list of composers from Bach to Brahms, Tschaikowsky and Grieg. The patronesses are Mrs. Spencer Ervin, Mrs. Alex. J. D. Dixon, Mrs. George McClellan, Mrs. Charles Whelen, Mrs. Thomas A. Scott, Mrs. William Weightman, Mrs. J. Edgar Thomson, Mrs. Howard Wood, Mrs. N. Chapman Mitchell, Mrs. Edward Hoopes, Mrs. Charles Wheeler, Mrs. Charles D. Clark, Mrs. Charles L. Gilpin, Mrs. W. H. H. Robinson, Mrs. Rodman Wister, Mrs. J. G. R. McElroy, Mrs. Clifford Lewis, Mrs. L. A. Page, Mrs. Cornelius Stevenson, Mrs. T. A. Reilly, Mrs. Austin Heckscher, Mrs. Charles P. Sinnickson and Mrs. Caleb F. Fox.
11Miss Adele Aus der Ohe will be with us again next week for two recitals on Tuesday and Friday afternoons. Her programs as announced will give her a fine chance to display her infinite variety of treatment.
13My own extended views have been given on two occasions concerning the Manuscript Music Society. I here quote from the Times again:
15The Manuscript Music Society is assuming an attitude of increasing importance in the stimulation of musical culture in Philadelphia.
17Simply as a factor of organization, the society has performed a valuable service in bringing into intimate relations the musicians who have most directly to do with the perpetuation of high standards of the art and who day by day, in schools, in classes and in the studio, are working for the diffusion of a sound musical education, which must be the foundation of an improved public taste. The society has met with more than hoped for success in the realization of the special object of its formation. At each monthly meeting a program of original compositions has been presented, the creator has been brought into touch with the interpreter, and both in turn with a large circle of cultured people who wield an influence in the musical community.
19All who are interested in following the development of this valuable organization will receive with pleasure the announcement of the annual church concert next Wednesday evening at the First New Jerusalem Church, Twenty-second and Chestnut streets. Over 1,000 invitations will be issued, and a program of merit has been arranged by the special committee, composed of Mr. A. W. Borst, Mr. Thomas Becket and Mr. Frank G. Cauffman. It embraces an anthem, De Profundis, by Dr. Hugh A. Clarke; a Jubilate and Nunc Dimittis, by Mr. E. M. Zimmerman, and a Recitative and Aria from the Thirteenth Psalm, and a semi-chorus for female voices, I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes, by Mr. W. W. Gilchrist, conductor of the society. The remaining numbers are Mr. A. W. Borst's Pastoral Overture and a march by Mr. Philip H. Goepp, both for the organ; Mr. Cauffman's Requiem for vocal quartet, violin, organ and piano and an Elegie for violin, organ and piano by Mr. Martinus Van Gelder.
21A musicale of unusual interest was given at the studio of Miss Mary Gordon Thunder last Thursday evening. Miss Thunder was assisted by Miss Edith Waylen, contralto; Mr. M. F. Donovan, of St. James' Roman Catholic Church; Mr. Patrick Motley, of St. John's Roman Catholic Church; Mr. William Thunder, pianist. One of the features of the evening was the rendition of The Song of the Golden Calf and the serenade from Faust by Mr. Motley, who possesses a carefully trained voice of fine compass. Mr. William Thunder, although a very young pianist, made a very favorable impression in the Spinning Song by Wagner-Liszt and C minor waltz of Chopin. Among those present were Mr. P. F. Kernon, Rev. William Motley, Mr. Martin, Mr. Engard, Mr. Guiteras, Mr. De Barros, Mr. Dudy, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Kenny, M. Voission, Madame de Grandchamps, Mrs. Loper-Baird, the Misses Donnelly, the Misses Dawson, Miss Jack and Mrs. De Silva.
23At the fortnightly meeting of the Melody Club, held in the rooms of the Orpheus Club, on Friday evening, the program was made unusually interesting by the appearance of Miss Marguerite Hall and Mr. Francis Fischer Powers, of New York, each of whom sang groups of songs delightfully. They were also heard to an advantage in several duos, which were given with artistic finish. It would be difficult to find two more enjoyable singers than Miss Hall and Mr. Powers. It was their first appearance here in concert, and the impression made will endure. The concerted singing was thoroughly enjoyable. Miss McCall, of the Melody Club, accompanied with skill and taste, and won the favor of the large and appreciative audience.
25There will be a genuine treat next Saturday night at the Academy of Music. Rossini's Stabat Mater will be sung, under the direction of Edmund J. Holden, by a chorus of 300 voices, accompanied by the German Orchestra. The soloists will be Miss Augusta Yendik, soprano; Mrs. Luckstone Myers, contralto; Señor Arencibia, tenor, and Signor Naberti, bass—a special quartet from New York. The concert is arranged for the benefit of the Church of Our Lady of Mercy, Broad street and Susquehanna avenue, and the chorus is composed of singers from the various Catholic choirs of Philadelphia.
27Prize Competition.
29THE music committee for the twenty-eighth Saengerfest of the North American Saengerbund, to be held in Pittsburg, Pa., in 1896, issues, in accordance with a resolution adopted by the executive board, the following circular for a prize composition:
31For a work written for one male chorus and orchestra, with or without solos for male or female voices, in the form of a cantata, ballade or dramatic scene.
33The composition to be submitted must be wholly original, never having appeared in print or duplicated by any other process.
35All compositions must be submitted in full score, and with an arrangement for piano accompaniment.
37The time for rendering the work shall not exceed thirty nor require less than twenty minutes.
39The subject of the poem is left entirely to the option of the composer.
41The poem must be German, or a translation into the German from another language.
43The sum set aside is $500, which will be paid to the successful composer at the close of the twenty-eighth Saengerfest of the North American Saengerbund.
45In consideration of this award the executive board becomes the sole owner of the prize composition.
47The composition must not bear the composer's name; the title page shall have a motto written thereon; the same motto with another envelope bearing the name and address of the composer must be sent to the chairman of the music committee.
49All compositions except the successful one will be returned, postpaid, to the respective composers.
51All compositions must be in the hands of the music committee by June 1, 1895, when they will be sent to the three judges chosen for examination of these works.
53Only composers resident in the United States or Canada are eligible for this competition.
55Should the compositions fail to reach a sufficiently high average at the hands of the judge, the executive board reserves the right to withdraw the prize offered.
57AD. M. FOERSTER,
58Chairman Music Committee,
59No. 15 Seventh avenue, Pittsburg, Pa.
61PAGANINI, the greatest violinist that ever drew bow, was noted for his miserly disposition; while Maria Malibran, the singer, had the reputation of being generous and charitable. In his Autobiography, now issued, Mr. George Augustus Sala, however, presents them in a different light. Mme. Sala, Mr. Sala's mother, was a teacher of music who gave occasional concerts, at which it was the etiquette for professional artists to give their services either for nothing or for very little. Paganini, however, stuck out for his terms—50 guineas—and Malibran for hers—£31 10s. When Mrs. Sala went to pay the money she took her little boy with her, thinking the great artists would relent at the sight. Malibran patted little Sala on his head, but took the £31 10s. Paganini also "scrabbled" at his 50 guineas, and bundled the money into a blue cotton handkerchief. As the mother and child were leaving he, however, ran after them and said: "Take that, little boy," thrusting a piece of paper in his hand, which proved to be a bank note for 50 pounds. Paganini was similarly generous in Berlioz's case. In his poverty Berlioz received handsome supplies of money from him, delicately thrust upon him. Paganini, however, made no parade of his benevolence. To the world he was a stingy curmudgeon.
63Echo Verses.
65ECHO verses were sometimes used effectively for epigrams and squibs. Thus a critic once wrote:
66I'd fain praise your poem—but tell me, how is it
67When I cry out "exquisite," Echo cries "Quiz it?"
68And when, in 1831, Paganini was drawing crowds to the opera house at extravagant prices, the Sunday Times printed the following lines:
69What are they who pay three guineas
70To hear a tune of Paganini's?
71Echo—Pack o' innies!
72—All the Year Round.
74Mme. Albani Recovered.—Mme. Albani, who recently was indisposed for a day or two during her stay in Paris, has recovered and is now in Eastbourne, South of England.
76Another One-Acter.—Hans Sommer has just finished a new one-act opera, Der Meerman, after a poem of Hans von Wolzogen. The work has been accepted by the Royal Theatre at Stuttgart for a first representation.
78Death of Ignaz Lachner.—The composer Ignatz Lachner died recently at Hanover at the age of eighty-seven years. He was the second of the three brothers who achieved fame in the musical world.
80Another New Operetta.—Alexander Neumann, the composer of Queen of Gamara, has completed an operetta, Der Pumpmajor, with a Russian subject of Gogol.
821 The Plains of Peace.
83By D'AUVERGNE BARNARD.
84Without doubt the best sacred song since Sullivan's "Lost Chord." A broad and telling solo. Easily effective for concert or church, with accompaniment for piano and organ, ad lib.
85Published in three keys F (a-d), A flat (c-f), B flat (d-g)
86Price, 75 cents.
882 "Don't Be Cross,"
89The English version of the great European success, "Sei Nicht Bös," from the opera of Der Obersteiger, by Zeller, is now ready.
90This is the TUNE of Germany.
91For low or high voice. Price 50 cents.
933 "An Dich" ("To You"),
94Czibulka's LAST composition, and a delightful Valse Serenade, is now ready for Strings and Harp, Full Orchestra, Piano Solo, Piano and Violin, Mandolins and Guitar and various other arrangements.
95These three interesting novelties are published by
96THE B. F. WOOD MUSIC CO.,
97110 Boylston Street, Boston.
98SEND FOR COPY OF OUR LATEST CATALOGUE.
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