Scan 12
Musical Courier 1896-09-16: Vol 33 Iss 863, 1896
90 lines. Read by computer on 20 September 2026. Printed page 13. See the scan on archive.org.
1Louis Francis Brown.
3MUSICAL management as a fine art, one is tempted to say of Louis Francis Brown and his musical enterprises. This young man, born in Boston, musically cultured, has selected Chicago as his stamping ground, and unites in a singular degree the most marked characteristics of both cities. He has all the progressive energy of the Western man, backed up by the savoir faire and repose of the man born in the East. Mr. Brown knows his London as well as his New York, and has just returned from the English metropolis, where he carefully formulated his plans for the season of 1896-7.
5He has secured for Chicago Medora Henson, the well-known soprano; Marie Brema, Katharine Fisk, H. Plunket Greene, David Bispham (after February, 1897), George Ellsworth Holmes, baritone, and Leo Stern, the gifted English solo violoncellist.
7Among his American artists are the names of Lillian Blauvelt, Marguerite Hall, Corinne Moore Lawson, Janet Boyd-Brown, Anita Muldon, sopranos; Katharine Spencer Bloodgood, contralto; George J. Hamlin and Frederick W. Carberry, tenors; George W. Fergusson, Charles W. Clark and Henry Booth Byers, baritones; W. C. E. Seeboeck and Sara Sayles Gilpin, pianists; Villa Whitney White, for recital talks; the Spiering Quartet, for chamber music; Theodore B. Spiering, violin soloist; 'cello soloist Bruno Steindel, and Mrs. Johanna Hess-Burr accompanist.
9Mr. Brown expects much from the visit of Leo Stern, the 'cellist, who is expected here next February. He has had much success abroad playing in chamber music concerts with Paderewski and Sauret. He played by the composer's request Dvorák's 'cello concerto last April in Prague, and will give it this fall at the Berlin Philharmonie under Nikisch, repeating the work with the same conductor December 3 in the Leipsic Gewandhaus.
11Mr. Stern's 'cello is a Stradivarius, being known to collectors as the General Kidd Strad.
13Altogether Mr. Brown may be congratulated on his list of artists and on his deft management. He too believes that musical management may be made a fine art.
15Emma Roderick.—Mme. Emma Roderick, who has been spending the summer at her cottage, "Oakcliffe," near New Milford, Conn., has returned to New York, and is already busily engaged with her vocal pupils at 118 West Forty-fourth street.
17Carl Halir.—Carl Halir, the German violinist, will make his New York début in the first Philharmonic concerts November 13 and 14, when he will play the Beethoven concerto, in the reading of which composition he is now unsurpassed among the great violinists of the day.
19Lawson.—Corinne Moore Lawson, the well-known coloratura soprano, has decided to reside permanently in New York. Mrs. Lawson has attained a very high reputation for her excellent work, particularly in recital and oratorio appearances. The Hirschberg Musical Bureau has undertaken her management this season, and announces two recitals in Chamber Music Hall for November.
21Lillie Bergh.—Miss Lillie Bergh is now at Duxbury, Mass., visiting her cousin, Mrs. George Wright, at "Pinehill." She sang at a large musical on Friday in Jamestown, given by Mr. W. B. Elliott, of Philadelphia, and has been heard at a number of the fashionable musicals lately given at Newport. At Miss Leary's Miss Bergh introduced her pupil, Miss Eloise Oates, to fashionable Newport. All were charmed with the beauty of her voice and at the remarkable cultivation she displayed for so young a singer. Miss Bergh sang with Miss Oates in duet. Among the guests present were Mrs. Calvin S. Brice, Mrs. Frederick W. Vanderbilt, Mrs. Astor, Miss Van Alen, Bishop Potter Baroness de Seillière, Mrs. Yznaga, &c. Miss Bergh sang at the musical given at the residence of the Rev. Dr. Gilliat. Others taking part in the program were Mrs. Clarence L. Best, Mrs. Thau, Mrs. Captain Chadwick and Miss Post.
23The Virgil Recitals.
25FLORENCE TRAUB, fourteen years of age, played the ninth recital in the series at the Virgil Summer School on Tuesday evening, September 1.
27The Virgil programs are always played entirely from memory, and this one, occupying an hour and a half, was no exception to the rule, nevertheless Miss Florence was more than equal to her task. She commenced technical study in this school two years and a half ago, and has acquired her present playing ability in this short length of time.
29She gave an example of her ability in velocity by playing the scale of C major, hands together, similar and contrary motion, starting at 800 notes per minute; then she played through the scale again at 900 notes per minute, then at 1,000 notes, and then the audience held its breath while she played once more at the rate of 1,152 notes per minute; this was really done, however, with perfect ease and brought forth most hearty applause.
31Her best numbers were the Beethoven Sonata, op. 28; the Spinning Song, Wagner-Liszt; the Chopin Impromptu in A flat, and the scherzo from the Litolff Concerto, op. 102, in D minor, the one played by Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler, with orchestra, last winter. She was heartily encored for her playing of this number, and responded with a charming little tone poem of Wilson G. Smith called the Chase of the Butterflies.
33The tenth and last recital of the series was given by another favorite player of the school, Miss Stella Newmark, who also played a difficult and highly interesting program. Miss Stella is fifteen years of age and has been a pupil of the school not quite two years.
35One of her strongest points is the playing of a piece (which she has learned and memorized on the clavier, and which she has never heard) for the first time on the piano before the audience. This time she had a difficult Scherzetto of Moszkowski's, and she actually played it better and got more out of it than most players would after six months' study and practice on the piano.
37While the whole program was exceedingly well played her versatility and ability were best shown in the Papilons, Schumann, and the brilliant and glorious Beethoven Sonata, op. 53. In response to a hearty encore for the latter she gave a wonderfully melodious etude of Wollenharts (op. 22, No. 4) with a most charming interpretation.
39A lecture recital, taking place on Friday evening, brought the five weeks' summer course of the Virgil School to a most delightful close. On this occasion, as seemed fitting and graceful, visiting talent was represented. Mrs. Kotzschmar, of Portland, was the lecturer, and Mrs. E. W. Childs, a young teacher and pianist from Providence, performed the piano soli.
41Mrs. Childs is a pupil of Mr. A. D. Jewett, of Boston. She began the study of the Virgil method under his instruction last February, having become convinced that this method for either teaching or playing purposes was the most advanced of the day. Students of the Virgil method, no matter what may have been the extent of their previous musical studies, are obliged to discontinue pieces until right playing conditions, right playing habits, and ease and facility of execution, as judged by the method, are thoroughly established. It was evident from the variety and length of Mrs. Childs' numbers that her progress through this period of probation has been unusually rapid, while the quality of her playing attested that thoroughness has not been sacrificed for advancement.
43Up to the point attained Mrs. Childs' technic is of the orthodox Virgil kind. She has surety, dexterity and suppleness of finger action, flexibility of wrist, freedom and ease in arm movements, and the muscular control that gives a certain fullness of tone to chords. Her legato is excellent, and sometimes in scale passages charmingly limpid, while her tasteful use of the other varieties of touch gives color and brightness to her playing. Mention must also be made of her intelligent use of the pedal.
45Mrs. Childs' playing bears the impress of a pure, healthy, but none the less poetic fancy, and, though full of individuality, is unblemished by self-consciousness.
47Mrs. Kotzschmar's gracious personality, sympathetic voice and clear enunciation make her a most agreeable lecturer. The wealth of instructive facts and data contained in her lecture was interspersed with many anecdotes, sad or gay, grave or humorous, aptly illustrative of the character of the composer or the spirit of the time under discussion.
49At the close of the program Mrs. Kotzschmar and Mrs. Childs were the recipients of many appreciative expressions of thanks and congratulation for the more than enjoyable literary and musical evening.
51Toronto Conservatory.
53THE Toronto Conservatory of Music, the pioneer institution of its kind in Canada, was organized in 1887 and opened with 200 pupils. How it has grown and developed is shown by the number of pupils, 396, who obtained diplomas or certificates at the examination this year. The musical director, Mr. Edward Fisher, who has made a lifelong study of the art and science of teaching, is assisted by a staff of forty-seven professors. The conservatory is divided into an academic or preparatory and a collegiate or graduating department; the former open to all persons over seven years of age, and is a general school of music, while the latter is designed to meet the wants of students who are preparing for a professional career, and in it the course of study is intended to occupy a space of three years.
55During the summer of 1892 the conservatory building was much enlarged and remodeled throughout, being now especially adapted to the work of the institution in all its departments. It contains a commodious, well-lighted and well-ventilated music hall, adjoining the reception rooms and offices, where frequent concerts and recitals by members of the faculty and pupils are held throughout the year.
57Steam heating has been introduced throughout the building; electric lighting has largely been substituted for gas; speaking tubes and electric bells have been placed at various points communicating with the office; double floors, partitions and doors have been constructed throughout with the object of more completely isolating the class rooms respecting sound, and many other conveniences and improvements involving large expense have been added.
59With the object of affording its students the highest university advantages the conservatory became affiliated in 1888 with Trinity University, and also in 1896 with the University of Toronto. By virtue of authority conferred upon these institutions, by royal charter, the degrees of Bachelor of music and doctor of music are attainable by students passing the three prescribed examinations as set forth in the university calendars. Conservatory graduates in theory are exempted by the terms of affiliation from the first two university examinations.
61The fall term for the school year 1896-7 begins September 1, the winter term November 10, the spring term February 1, and the summer term April 12, closing June 29.
63Niedzielski.—Professor Niedzielski, the violinist, has been re-engaged by the German Conservatory of Music, New York, as instructor in the violin department.
65FROM PARIS.
66Concert and Church Singer.
67MISS ANNA RUTH BRADLEY,
68Graduate of Chicago Musical College. Paris: Mme. De la Grange.
69Italian Method. Songs and Arias in Four Languages.
70Address CHICAGO MUSICAL COLLEGE,
71Central Music Hall, Chicago, Ill.
73The New York School of Opera and Oratorio,
74110 LEXINGTON AVENUE.
75EMILIO AGRAMONTE, Director.
76The only Special School devoted to the study of Opera and Oratorio in this country.
77SEND FOR NEW CATALOGUE 1896-97.
79ARTHUR M. ABELL,
80VIOLIN SOLOIST and TEACHER,
81Resumed lessons September 1.
82Address: Steglitzer Str. 30-31, BERLIN, W.
84The Great HALIR writes:
85[TRANSLATION.]
86Dear Arthur Abell, up to the 5. I have been your pupil for 5 years, and I recommend him highly as violin teacher, especially for those who wish to have instruction with me later on.
87CARL HALIR,
88First Professor Berlin Royal High School and Conservatory Berlin Royal Orchestra.
89BERLIN, June, 1896.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.