Scan 17
Musical Courier 1896-07-15: Vol 33 Iss 854, 1896
102 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 18. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE MUSICAL COURIER.
3CHICAGO OFFICE THE MUSICAL COURIER,
4220 Wabash Avenue, July 11, 1896.
6THE musical portion of the public who heard the youthful presidential possibility, William Jennings Bryan, of Nebraska, in his eloquent speech on Thursday last, claim that in him a singer of extraordinary power is lost to the world. Wonderfully voice gifted, and with that magnetic personality that can charm a multitude, one can picture him as an ideal artist. Nature unaided has with him succeeded in accomplishing what art occasionally manages, but alas, infinitely, frequently, absolutely fails. Apart from this the convention week has been wholly without lyric incident.
8Miss May Lucine Potvin, one of our Chicago lady pianists, now visiting her home in Seattle, Wash., has been giving concerts at Tacoma, Portland, Olympia, Victoria and Seattle, with great success. Her programs have included works of Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Tausig, Moszkowski, Bach, Saint-Saëns, Chaminade, Beethoven and other composers, and are sufficiently varied to please all tastes. Miss Potvin will return to Chicago in the fall and resume her regular professional duties.
10June and July are evidently musically marrying months, especially at the American Conservatory. In fact, it has been suggested that a matrimonial bureau be established there. Whatever the cause the fact remains that within the space of six weeks three of the faculty have decided that their prospects at this prospering institution are of so flourishing a description and themselves so firmly established that matrimony was justifiable. The three marrying members are: Victor Garwood, to a former pupil of his, Miss Huddleston; Hubbard Harris, the composer, to Miss Strongback, and Miss Wilkins to Mr. Goodman. The only remaining unmarried male member of the faculty is Allen Spencer, who did some exceedingly good work at the music teachers' convention at Galesburg. I am told that the whole success of the convention was a consequence of the energy and good will with which Mr. Spencer worked, and it has earned praise for him from all quarters. Karleton Hackett, another talented teacher in the American Conservatory, has gone to England to spend the summer months studying with Henschel.
12Mr. Hattstaedt has just added another name to his faculty list, and one upon whom he can well congratulate himself. This newest acquisition is Clarence Dickinson, who as an organist is coming rapidly to the front. Some of the best organ playing in the city I heard from Mr. Dickinson. He is also an excellent teacher, and the director of the conservatory has exercised splendid judgment in securing his services.
14And yet another marriage. To the great surprise of most people Wilhelm Middelschulte became a benedict at Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, June 29, and sailed for Europe July 4 with his bride, who was formerly Miss Annette Musser. The lady was a well-known and promising pupil of the Chicago Musical College. She was well known in the city several years ago as a talented pianist.
16We are promised, among other attractions for the Chicago Orchestra concerts, such stars as Rosenthal, Sauer and Hoffmann. I told you some time ago that on the day that Mr. Wolfsohn received notification of Rosenthal's acceptance of the American tour Miss Anna Millar signed a contract engaging the great pianist for an appearance in November here with the orchestra.
18The reading on Folk Song, with musical illustration, given by Mrs. Regina Watson at Grand Rapids, Mich., Thursday in last week, proved such a brilliant success that she was requested to repeat the lecture at a very early date. In addition to this lecture Mrs. Watson has also two remarkable lectures on old French and Italian composition, each illustrated with appropriate music, and which no doubt will become immense attractions during the coming season. Already dates have been booked and I hear that an enterprising agency is endeavoring to obtain exclusive control of Mrs. Watson's business.
20Various members of the Apollo Club are indignant because I stated that local artists were not engaged for their concerts. Out of fourteen artists who appeared last season no less than four were Chicago musicians—Genevra Johnstone-Bishop, Margaret Phoenix Cameron, George Hamlin and C. W. Clark. The club adds one more to this list in the person of Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler of international fame and calls her a local artist.
22The arrangements already made for the next season by the Apollo Club indicate that some severe work will have to be done to obtain the desired results. December 21 and 23 the Messiah will be given, with Ffrangcon-Davies and other eminent soloists. On February 15 Dvorák's Stabat Mater and Goring Thomas' Swan and Skylark; April 15 Parry's Job and one other new work not yet selected, and for this date Plunket Greene is already engaged.
24As next year is the jubilee of the Apollo Club, the jubilee will take the form of an extra concert and the occasion be fittingly commemorated—if the various factions find it convenient to agree harmoniously instead of agreeing to disagree. What a pity that such a great organization, with a leader who, it is said, cannot be replaced, should be in a state of insubordination.
26Another new musical enterprise looms up. We are to have a Chicago Festival Orchestra founded on the same plan as the Boston Festival Orchestra. The new organization proposes to have the entire Western field to itself, so that it is not necessary for the Boston Festival Orchestra to travel out to this section of the country. The project is as yet in its infancy, but from what I hear will grow rapidly. It does not propose to disturb the Thomas Orchestra at all. Chicago is a big place, but whether there is room for all these new ventures remains to be seen.
28Leopold Godowsky will, I understand, play with the Chicago Orchestra next season. He is already engaged on September 15 or 22 to play with the Symphony Orchestra in Boston.
30After all, Theodore Spiering will not go to Pittsburgh. Luigi von Kunitz will have the concertmastership there.
32Mr. Spiering, having left the Chicago Orchestra, will devote himself to winning fame and fortune for his quartet in the West—and possibly East also. The work done by the members of the quartet last season and the success enjoyed were such as to justify them in keeping right on with their enterprise.
34At the university on Wednesday a charming afternoon musicale was given, the attraction being principally Mrs. Gaynor's compositions. They were received with the greatest enthusiasm. The following program was given:
36The Flatterer. …………………………………………..Chaminade
37Air de Ballet. ……………………………………………..Mrs. Gaynor. one of two readings
38Air de Ballet. …………………………………………….Mrs. Gaynor. one of two readings
40Rose songs—
41If I Knew …………………………………………………Mrs. Gaynor
42Because She Kissed It ………………………………….Mrs. Gaynor
43In My Garden …………………………………………….Miss Lovedale. one of two readings
44In My Garden …………………………………………..Miss Lovedale. one of two readings
46Romance …………………………………………………….Svendsen one of two readings
47Romance ……………………………………………………Svendsen one of two readings
48Ave Maria ……………………………………………………Mr. Kuehn. one of two readings
49Ave Maria ………………………………………………….Mr. Kuehn. one of two readings
50Miss Lovedale. Violin obligato by Mr. Kuehn.
52Reverie ………………………………………………………Mascagni one of two readings
53Reverie …………………………………………………….Mascagni one of two readings
54Dorothy Gavot ……………………………………………Mrs. Gaynor. one of two readings
55Dorothy Gavot …………………………………………..Mrs. Gaynor. one of two readings
57Hungarian Rhapsody …………………………………….Hauser one of two readings
58Hungarian Rhapsody ……………………………………Hauser one of two readings
59Children's songs—
60The Discontented Duckling ……………………………..Mr. Kuehn one of two readings
61The Discontented Duckling …………………………….Mr. Kuehn one of two readings
62Sleep, My Beloved ……………………………………….Mrs. Gaynor one of two readings
63Sleep, My Beloved ………………………………………Mrs. Gaynor one of two readings
64The Sugar Dolly …………………………………………..Miss Lovedale.
66Mrs. Gaynor has lately finished a delightful album of children's songs.
68The Manuscript Society of Chicago is nearing the completion of its organization.
70At the adjourned meeting of the society, held in Room 74 Auditorium Building, Monday evening, July 6, officers were elected as follow: President, Frederic Grant Gleason; first vice-president, Robert Goldbeck; second vice-president, P. C. Lutkin; treasurer, Henry Schonefeld; corresponding secretary, Clarence Dickinson; recording secretary, Mrs. Jessie L. Gaynor; librarian, Eliza Mazzucato Young; board of directors, William H. Sherwood, Adolph Koelling, Adolph Weidig, Harold E. Knapp, Clarence Eddy. From the above it will be seen that the society has started with some splendid people and with every indication of becoming a successful institution.
72The Chicago Piano College has lately added seven new teachers to the faculty list. One of the most prominent of these will be Bernard Hemmersbach, a pupil of Dr. Otto Neitzel. Mr. Hemmersbach is at present touring in Germany, but comes to Chicago in September. He was formerly with the Cincinnati College of Music and has excellent credentials from Mr. Van der Stucken and other prominent musicians. Mr. Watt, the director of the college, is evidently in the race to win.
74Second only in interest to the Thomas Orchestra comes the series of chamber concerts which will be given by Clayton F. Summy in Händel Hall. It is proposed to have only music of the highest order and which will attract all those cultured musicians who do not care for popular programs. The Spiering Quartet has already been engaged and other local artists are also spoken of. Mr. Summy will endeavor to make this series an educational factor in the music of Chicago. The price for the series is but $5 for the eight concerts, which is little enough and gives all real music lovers an opportunity to hear fine music.
76The management does not expect to obtain financial gain from the scheme, but is simply organizing the concerts in the interest of art.
78The Root monument concert was a big success in some ways, although there were several instances of bad management. For instance, the Mendelssohn Club was given a very bad place on the program and the singing of this beautifully trained choir was not appreciated at its worth. Mme. Genevra Johnstone-Bishop scored a splendid triumph, and the singing of the choruses, under the direction of Mr. Tomlins, did credit to the leader.
80If only the roof gardens would have a better class of entertainment, and employ good singers and give a refined program, what a good thing it would be both for the musical profession and the public!
82Although this is the dullest month for music in the whole year, still there is enormous business in preparation for the next season. Foremost and first, with her invincible and indomitable perseverance, comes Miss Anna Millar, the manager of the Chicago Thomas Orchestra. Without doubt she has become the biggest power in musical affairs here, and by her great organizing ability, and the influence her attention to the business arrangements has been able to command, the Chicago Orchestra is given a higher place than ever in the estimation and favor of the public.
84The chorus of 200 voices as an addition to the orchestra is now an accomplished fact, and will be quickly in working order. It is not started with an idea of rivalry or to compete in any way with other choruses, but simply that when works are given by the orchestra requiring a chorus such an one will be ready and capable of singing when called upon. All the same, it is plainly evident that Mr. Thomas has an enormous influence and following when it is known that already many members from the Apollo Club have joined, as well as about fifty singers who were formerly with that organization.
86FLORENCE FRENCH.
88Bayreuth.—The only artist of the season of 1876 who will take part this year at the Bayreuth festival is Vogl, the tenor of the Munich opera.
90Vienna.—The third volume of Dr. Guido Adler's Denkmälern der Tonkunst in Oesterreich has just appeared, with more of the works of the masters of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Among them are the prologue and first act of the opera Il pomo d'oro, by Court Capellmeister Cesti; several compositions of Court Organist Gottlieb Muffat, and the hymns of the Salzburg Capellmeister, J. Stadtmaier.
92… SIGNOR GIUSEPPE …
94DEL PUENTE,
95The Baritone.
96OPERA AND CONCERTS.
97Vocal School: 1726 Spring Garden, Philadelphia, Pa.
99CARL E. DUFFT,
100BASS-BARITONE. Concert and Oratorio.
101Address: 157 East 49th Street, New York.
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