Scan 36
Musical Courier 1896-12-02: Vol 33 Iss 874, 1896
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1Dumky Trio, opus 90, finished the program. "Wot's a dumky?" queried a hearer. "That's Dutch for donkey," suggested another. Mr. Dannreuther says it means "moods," however. Well, it certainly was Moody, and it just as surely was not Sankey! Tra-la, Hold the Fort, for I am Drinking, Throw Out the Beltline or Clothesline or whatever it is, Pull for the Store, Sister, &c., and likewise and again tra-la!
3The first lecture recital of the season by Edmund J. Myer, subject tone color and tone character, illustrated vocally by Mr. Allan G. Waterous, basso cantante, and assisted by Miss Edyth Fuller, soprano; Miss Grace Couch, contralto; Mr. G. E. Woodhouse, tenor, and Miss Helen A. Hasbrouck, drew together many people vocally inclined and a pleasant and profitable evening was spent at Mr. Myer's studio.
5The Parish Club (a paper I once wrote for printed this "Irish Club") of the Church of the Beloved Disciple, at Madison avenue and Eighty-ninth street, gave a very interesting entertainment recently, the special features of which were soprano solos (Rainbows and Lady Mine, by C. B. Hawley) by Miss Adele M. Arnold, sung in brilliant fashion; tenor solos, by Mr. Charles Abercrombie; a baritone solo, by Mr. George Fleming, who is a veritable double of George W. Fergusson, and piano solos by Mr. F. W. Riesberg.
7Do you know genial Arthur D. Woodruff? I am beginning to, and am glad of it. He is a pretty busy man these days, what with a constant procession of vocal pupils here in his Fifth avenue studio, over Mason & Hamlin's, a large class in the Oranges, and several choruses under his baton. Of these, the Orange Musical Art Society of sixty women is one of the best. They will give two concerts this season, with eminent soloists, and are at present studying the Rose of Avondale, by Mrs. H. A. A. Beach, Moonlight, by Hollaender, and Saint-Saëns' Spring Song. Mrs. Alexander King is president of the club, and Mrs. Colonel Ryan one of the most active and capable of the various chairmen, or chairwomen, which is it?
9Mr. Woodruff's former organist of the Church of the Incarnation, known here as Miss Augusta Lowell, but now Mrs. E. A. Garthwaite, wife of the mining engineer of Johannesburg, Transvaal, South Africa, writes him a twenty page letter, in which she mentions the big English organ there, also the string quartet club, and finally that she is herself busy "in teaching the young idea how to scoot;" she has three "young ideas," all young Garthwaites, and all sprouting organists, of course! An enterprising pupil of Mr. Woodruff's is Miss Carrie Cleveland, soprano, now residing in St. Paul, Minn., who is forming a chorus of female voices, and will wield the conductor's stick.
11Mlle. Camille Seygard, the soprano, is again occupying her pretty flat on Seventh avenue and Fifty-second street, after a short Western trip, in which she covered 3,000 miles. She sings next week in East Orange, in Jensen's Feast of Adonis, Bruch's Fair Ellen, and also several solo numbers. With Seidl and his orchestra she appears before the next Harmonie Club (private concert), in a Sunday night Damrosch concert at the Brooklyn Institute on December 2, at Francis Fischer Powers' next musicale, and in Toledo soon. She sang in Springfield, Mass., last Tuesday. Busy body!
13Messrs. Edward and W. F. Mollenhauer, of the International Conservatory of Music, on Forty-second street, have recovered their long-lost fiddles, a $3,000 Guarnerius and a fine Benetti; also a $500 Belgian bow, rendered of greater intrinsic worth because of the 3 carat diamond set in the frog. These were "swiped" by a skillful sneak thief during the temporary absence of the owners, pawned for $7 in Grand street, and there recovered. When the "uncle" who had them in temporary charge realized the treasure he had unconsciously guarded, and that the piece of glass in the violin bow was a yenowine diamond, he simply fell on the floor in a heap, muttering Teutonic-Hebraic imprecations such as Lausekerl-Hundsknecht-Donnerundblitzen!
15Young Mr. Mollenhauer tells thrilling tales of his South American trip three years ago, of hunting experiences, attacks by treacherous bushmen, in which the photographer connected with the party was killed with a war club, and exhibits native implements of warfare, a sombrero which a heavy blow with a machete fails to pierce, bills of fare with certain delicacies "à la Mollenhauer," and many other interesting things. Ja, ja, as the traveler poet Heine says, "Und wenn Man eine Reise thut, so kann Man 'was erzählen." The young Emil H. Mollenhauer who died last week, aged twenty-seven, was a son of the deceased 'cellist, Heinrich, who died in 1892.
17An affair of a musical convivial character was the reception and musical given by Mr. Heinrich Meyn and Dr. Chapman last Friday evening in their Fifty-first street house. Here were gathered, handsomely begowned women, singers of note and prominent society people, all come together by one impulse—the musical art. A most enjoyable and informal program was rendered by Miss Adele Lewing, Messrs. Heinrich Meyn, Dr. Chapman, Gerrit Smith, Tom Karl, Mackenzie Gordon and F. W. Riesberg, solo pianist and accompanist. Others who were present were Mrs. Gerrit Smith, Miss Adams, of Long Island; Mr. Whitney Coombs, Mr. Walter J. Bausman, Mr. Dewey, Mr. Hyatt. The feast of raisins and flow of bowl was unlimited; to paraphrase Shakespeare:
19Two beer, or not two beer,
20That's the question,
21and generally 'twas settled that 'ree beer was besser als zwei bier!
23Mr. Francis Fischer Powers gave the first of his soirée musicales Saturday morning in the underground recital hall in Carnegie's. Society turned out en masse. A criticism of the concert will be found elsewhere. The following were present:
25Mrs. Albert Bierstadt, Mrs. Edward Knox, Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Miss Callender, Miss De Forest, Mrs. J. H. Lane, the Misses Lane, Mr. and Mrs. Titus Meigs, Mr. and Mrs. D. P. Merwin, Mrs. Charles J. Hudson, Mrs. Alfred Martin, Mrs. Harris K. Smith, Mrs. Henry Roso, Mrs. James L. Blair, Mrs. Edwin Gould, Mrs. Edward Copeland Wallace, Mrs. Harry Horton, Mrs. Frank Northrop, Mrs. Frank Hastings, Mrs. Charles B. Foote, Mrs. Henry Valentine, Miss Valentine, Miss Post, Mrs. Gregory, Mrs. William Hoggson, Mrs. F. Coit Johnson, Mrs. Wm. Etherington, Miss Charlotte Powers, Mrs. Frank Doubleday, Mrs. Morris Parkinson and Mrs. Waterhouse.
27Mrs. Frederick Betts, Mrs. Frank Wesson, Mrs. Egbert Guernsey, Miss Guernsey, Mrs. Colonel Ingersoll, Mrs. Gamaliel St. John, Mrs. Wallace C. Andrews, Mrs. Robert Endicott, Mrs. Elbridge Gerry Snow, Mrs. Howard Duffield, Miss Beckel, Mrs. Alfred Davis, Mrs. Swenson, Miss Nora Swenson, Mrs. C. C. Worthington, Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt DeForest, Mrs. Augusta Daly and others.
29Mrs. Shannah M. Jones, the Pittsburg soprano, who sang with Seidl's Orchestra at Coney Island last summer, was in town last week. She left Buffalo, where she occupied a high position musically, for Pittsburg, where her salary has been the highest ever paid a church singer there. It is her expectation and intention to fill a place here later. Mark that name, J-o-n-e-s, plain Jones—a misfit name, for she is decidedly not plain Jones, but a very pretty and attractive young woman of the brunette type, a brilliant piano player and good musician. I say, mark that not altogether unusual or conspicuous name, for you'll hear more of her, sure!
31Mr. Andrew T. Webster, organist and choirmaster of St. Paul's Cathedral (Protestant Episcopal), of Buffalo, was another visitor here, and an observant and delighted listener at the choir guild service. He has had an unusual experience. Ten years ago he went to Berlin, Germany, where he studied the piano with Scharwenka a couple of winters. On his return he played for a year in an Episcopal church, where there was a quartet and chorus; then stepped into his present distinguished position, with no previous experience whatever in training a boy choir, succeeding where other and experienced men had failed. He followed Samuel J. Gilbert, who was obliged to leave because of his fondness for liquids other than water; C. Wesley Pyne and a Mr. Carter, neither of whom could manage things. The moral is evident: to become a proficient and successful Episcopal organist/choirmaster hasten and study the piano with Xaver Scharwenka for two seasons!
33Mr. David Bispham, who some people persist in calling English, but who is as good and lively an American as can be found (he hails from the city of Brotherly Love), sings with the Händel and Haydn Society, of Boston, December 20 and 21, and the weeks before with his old Sangesbrüder, the Orpheus, of Philadelphia. He also gives a recital there this week, in conjunction with Miss Marguerite Hall and violinist Gregorowitsch. If there is any singer now before the public who has reason to be in an enviable state of mind it is this same hearty Bispham, for everything he has done has been a success. A peep into his beautiful apartments in an uptown hotel discloses a cheery, healthy looking young man, whose "come in" and cordial hand shake betoken content and peace of mind! And now if some gentle reader will kindly tell me whether this present weather (76° in the shade) is summer or winter; also whether to wear my lung pad or my mosquito netting suit, he, she or it will convey a favor on the writer. But hist! the Wee Kidlet informeth me vociferously that "'tupper_weddy, 'tupper-on-'a-tabull, popsy," so more later.
35F. W. RIESBERG.
37New York Symphony Concert.—The second concerts of the New York Symphony Society, Walter Damrosch, director, will take place at Carnegie Hall on Friday afternoon, December 4, at 2:15 and Saturday evening December 5, at 8:15. Herr Carl Halir will be the soloist. Following is the program:
39Symphony, Romeo and Juliet—Feast at the House of Capulet, Love Scene, Queen Mab, Berlioz; Gesangsscene, for violin solo, with orchestra, Spohr, Herr Carl Halir; overture, Spring, Goldmark; Rondo Capriccioso, for violin solo, with orchestra, Saint-Saëns, Herr Carl Halir; Fire Charm from Die Walküre, Wagner.
41Alida Varena.—The following notice was obtained by Mlle. Alida Varena in Baltimore:
43Miss Alida Varena, of Baltimore, was the soloist at the Peabody concert yesterday afternoon. She sang Haydn's With Verdure Clac, Händel's Angels Ever Bright and Fair, an air from Massenet's opera, Héroïade, and the familiar scene and air from Faust. She also gave six songs by Chopin, Grieg, Bendel, Goring Thomas, James H. Rogers and Henri W. Renfro. Her voice has considerable volume. She sang with earnestness and intelligence, and her enunciation was clear.—Baltimore American, November 7.
45LATEST.
47It is a little premature to announce any successor to the late William Steinway as president of Abbey, Schoeffel & Grau, Limited, but if Mr. Grau refuses, no doubt Jean Reszké will accept the position, provided there is a salary attached to it, which would increase his revenue in the United States.
49He has thus far given evidence of the greatest business ability.
51Metropolitan Sunday Concert.
53THE last Sunday evening concert at the Metropolitan brought forward a new and decidedly rough band of players under Herr Anton Seidl and the soloists Mme. Mantelli, Miss Marie Engle, David Bispham, Plançon and Gregorowitsch.
55Gregorowitsch earned the principal enthusiasm of the night. He played the andante and finale of the Mendelssohn concerto with flowing breadth and purity in the slow movement and considerable dash in the finale. Repeatedly recalled he gave the E flat Chopin nocturne, which his unexaggerated feeling managed to divest of some of its timewornness.
57Mantelli sang with remarkable virtuosity and finish Rossini's Una voce poco fa and after a third recall gave the Habanera. This is one of the best things this admirable artist does and suggests the possibilities of a complete, well conceived Carmen.
59Marie Engle, with her birdlike fluency and ease, sang Dell'Acqua's florid Villanelle, a judicious selection for her pretty, flexible instrument. The encore fiend was out, and she also had to return and sing a little English ballad. She seemed woefully discomposed upon her first entrée.
61Bispham sang with earnest meaning and fine vibrant voice Wotan's Abschied from the Walküre. It was not a good excerpt for the concert room. Long orchestral episodes, filled in by dead inaction on the part of the singer, and an absence of scenic detail pall somewhat. But the singer sang nobly his detached measures, and on his recall gave Grieg's little one verse poem, Ich liebe dich, with most tender feeling.
63The inclement weather affected the house, which was only fairly filled.
65Innes.—F. N. Innes, bandmaster of Innes Band, will probably leave for Europe on a two months' tour next month.
67Vanderveer-Green.—At the jubilee performances at Toronto last week Mme. Vanderveer-Green, the contralto, made a splendid impression.
69The World, of that city, says:
71Mme. Vanderveer-Green made herself a favorite when here with Albany last season, and a treat was expected. No disappointment was experienced, and the contralto solos, both recitative and air, were sung with a perfection of detail which could not be excelled. Mme. Green combines with a marvelously fine voice rich dramatic endowments, and these, coupled with a faultless method, make her singing truly delightful. She was compelled to bow acknowledgments after each solo.
73And the Mail and Empire remarks:
75Mrs. Vanderveer-Green, the solo contralto, has also been heard here before, and added to her reputation by the very evident dramatic interpretation of Woe Unto Them and the smooth and beautiful phrasing of O Rest in the Lord.
77Victor Harris.—The following clipping, which refers to the song recital of Mrs. Corinne Moore-Lawson on November 23 in Chamber Music Hall, is a well merited tribute to the talent of Victor Harris as an accompanist:
79Her interpretations were guided and most ably supported by the judicious, discriminating and most tasteful accompaniments played by Victor Harris, whose work is constantly becoming more valuable and more necessary to artists and to the entire musical world of our city. With his assistance an artist is not only safe, but her efforts are certain to be adorned.—Sun, November 24.
81Elaborate Wedding Music.—The wedding of United States Senator Smith's daughter, Miss Elizabeth, and Mr. Peter Hauck, Jr., in Newark Cathedral last Wednesday was notable in many of its features, but in none more than in the magnificent musical program given by four of New York's leading vocalists. Eleanore Meredith, soprano; Mary Louise Clary, contralto; J. H. McKinley, tenor, and Carl E. Duftt, basso, under the direction of Jos. M. Byrne. Miss Meredith was heard in the Ave Maria, with violin obligato by Maurice Kauffman, the boy violinist, who also played during the ceremony proper. Miss Clary sang the Agnus Dei from Rossini's Messe Solennelle, and the entire quartet, with chorus, sang the Lohengrin Wedding March, as well as the several numbers of Mercadante's mass. Archbishop Corrigan officiated.
83KALTENBORN—BEYER-HANÉ
85String Quartet.
87Also solo work by Messrs. KALTENBORN or BEYER-HANÉ.
89Address for terms, agents or . . .
91144 WEST 91ST STREET, NEW YORK.
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