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Musical Courier 1896-12-16: Vol 33 Iss 876, 1896
85 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 22. See the scan on archive.org.
1Stone, who is remembered here for her excellent work in dramatizing The Social Highwayman, and Percival Pollard, one of the cleverest of our young story tellers.
3The First Violin ought to prove a success, for the play with a musical hero might supplant the play with the deadly hypnotist in full blast.
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7Mme. Lablache was once, at the eleventh hour, asked to sing the rôle of Donna Anna in Don Giovanni, in lieu of a lady who had been suddenly taken ill. Mme. Lablache, being unable to wear the stage robe that had been provided for the part, elected to wear one of her own private dresses. Brignoli, who impersonated Don Ottavio, had a very bad habit of continually expectorating while singing, and caused Mme. Leblache grave anxiety as to the possible fate of her beautiful gown. During the famous trio Mme. Lablache watched Brignoli very anxiously, and finally, unable to contain her fears any longer, she whispered to him, in a voice full of appeal: "My dear friend, could you not manage just once to spit on Donna Elvira's robe?"
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11G. R. Sims, the playwright, tells this story about Switzerland. A referendum was approaching its completion. The votes had been given and the chairman was ready to declare the figures. In this moment of anxious expectation, when the fortunes of the country were at stake, a voice from the public gallery was heard crying, "Waiter!" The result was instantaneous. The whole sovereign assembly of the Swiss people rose to its feet as one man, and answered, "Yes, sir."
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15Rossetti and Carlyle, who had no esteem for each other, used to live close together in Chelsea. One day when a visitor called on Rossetti he found him in great excitement. It was at the time when the Salvation Army was just beginning its crusade, and in walking up to the house the visitor had noticed a group of members. "Have you seen those wretches who came here to annoy me?" said Rossetti, who had of course never heard of the Salvation Army; "I am sure they were sent by Carlyle. They stood under my window and began to sing, Come to Jesus! I was so furious that I rushed to the door and cried out to them: 'I'll be damned if I will!'"
17Charles Whitney Coombs.
19On Sunday last was celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the consecration of the Church of the Holy Communion, which was founded by the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, whose influence has been felt in the Episcopal Church throughout the land. This was, it is said, the first church to have a boy choir and daily communion. From the beginning of its history the Church of the Holy Communion has had the hearty support of a large number of cultivated and influential men and women, who have given freely of their time and their means to the many good works that are associated with its name.
21In this atmosphere Charles Whitney Coombs has been quietly working for nearly five years, and the results of his efforts shows the influence of his environment as well as his capability for estimating the scope of his duties and also his fitness for the task he has undertaken. Mr. Coombs received his musical education during the thirteen years he passed abroad, mostly in Germany. Since his return to America he has been organist and choirmaster at the Church of the Holy Communion, and his ability and success in church work have been highly gratifying to all who are associated with him there. As an organist Mr. Coombs has taken a high rank among his professional associates, and as choirmaster he has been remarkably successful in what he has accomplished. The choir has been admirably trained and in precision of attack, quality of tone and general excellence of effect it will compare favorably with the choirs of any of the other leading churches. The brilliancy of the head tones is especially noticeable in the work of the boys.
23The success that has attended Mr. Coombs as a composer is a gratifying illustration of the appreciation by the musical public of compositions of sterling merit. The popularity of a song is by no means a guarantee of its musical value, but Mr. Coombs' works have been welcomed by those whose commendation is an indorsement in this respect. Since the publication of his first songs, some ten years ago, the works that he has given to the public have shown a steady musical growth as well as marked versatility. Among his many songs that have found great favor, The Sea of Sleep, and the Song of a Summer Night, and his beautiful setting of Shelley's I Arise from Dreams of Thee, may be counted as especially poetical.
25It is as a writer of sacred music, however, that Mr. Coombs has chiefly distinguished himself, and in this field he may be said to be the foremost of the younger school of American writers. The great popular success of his recent Christmas song, The Christ Child, with its inspiring refrain, is shown in the sales, which even now are well up in the thousands. His church cantata, The Vision of St. John, has been published only eighteen months, but it has already been performed in all parts of this country. This is the most important work that Mr. Coombs has published, and in it his higher musical gifts are shown at their best.
27The spontaneous melody and the logical thematic development that are so observable in it are accompanied by a delicate appreciation of the spirit of the beautiful text.
29The Ave Maria which Mr. Coombs has lately written is undoubtedly the best of his sacred songs, and it is said by a brother composer to be worthy of ranking with Gounod's treatment of the same subject.
31The musical feature of the anniversary celebration on Sunday was the anthem written for the occasion by Mr. Coombs, How lovely upon the mountains are the feet of Him that bringeth peace to Zion.
33H. W. D.
35Sieveking.—Sieveking, the Dutch pianist, is filling ten of Rosenthal's engagements in the South, owing to the latter's illness.
37New York Philharmonic Club.—The New York Philharmonic Club played with its usual success on Monday, the 7th inst., with the Orange Mendelssohn Union.
39De Macchi Did Not Play.—On the programs for the Cincinnati, Dayton and Indianapolis concerts given by the Nordica-Linde Concert Company the name of Clementine de Macchi, pianist, appeared, but Mr. de Macchi did not play, owing to a misunderstanding with the management.
41The Euterpe Trio.—This trio, composed of Miss Bertha C. Bucklin, violin; Miss Lillian Littlehales, 'cello, and Mrs. Blanch Favelle, piano, are booking numerous engagements for the near future, a trip during Christmas week through the interior cities along the Central Railroad being planned. Their playing at the Buckingham a week ago was greatly enjoyed.
43From Max Treumann.—Editors The Musical Courier: In your last issue, December 9, I see that Mr. Walter J. Hall advertises himself as the teacher of his solo bass in church, Mr. Herbert Witherspoon. I do not know what he teaches to him, but one thing I ought to know, and that is that he never taught him the art of singing. No doubt it would please Mr. Hall to pose as a vocal teacher, and especially as the teacher of my pupil, H. Witherspoon, who has become under my tuition a thorough artist, for it would be quite a card for him, but if he wants to make a name as a vocal teacher let him put forth his own pupils, and not mine. Sincerely,
45MAX TREUMANN.
47National Conservatory Examinations.—The semi-annual examinations of the National Conservatory of Music will take place as follows: Children's day, January 2 (Saturday), piano and violin 10 to 12 m.; singing, January 4 (Monday), 10 to 12 m., 2 to 4 p. m., 8 to 10 p. m.; chorus, 8 to 10 p. m.; piano and organ, January 5 (Tuesday), 10 to 12 a. m., 2 to 4 p. m.; violin, viola, 'cello, contrabass, harp, January 6 (Wednesday), 10 to 12 m., 2 to 4 p. m.; orchestra and all wind instruments, January 6 (Wednesday), 2 to 4 p. m.
49Metropolitan Sunday Concert.—This was the program of last Sunday night's concert at the Metropolitan:
50Overture, Tannhäuser, Wagner; air, L'Africaine, Meyerbeer, M. Cremonini; Scotch Rhapsody, Bruch, for violin and orchestra, M. Adamowski; Recit. et Aria, Eri to, Ballo in Maschera, Verdi, M. Ancona; Air du livre d'Hamlet, A. Thomas, Mlle. Calvé; ballet music, Le Cid, Massenet; duo from L'Amico Fritz, Mascagni, Mlle Calvé and M. Cremonini; Le Rouet d'Orphale, Saint-Saëns; Air du Mysoli (Perle de Brésil), David, Mlle. Calvé; overture, Mignon, Thomas.
52Fourth Operatic Musicales.—Mlle. Calvé will be one of the soloists of the fourth Metropolitan musicale to be given on Tuesday afternoon at the Waldorf. The other soloists are Mme. Theo, who will reappear after an absence of two years from New York, and MM. de Gorgoza, Beigle and Listemann. Maurice Lefevre, a French lecturer on the musical literature of his country, will deliver a talk on this subject, and it will be illustrated by the songs of Mlle. Calvé and Mme. Theo. M. Lefevre, who makes his first appearance in this country on Tuesday, has lectured at the Salle Bodiniere in Paris.
54Suza Doane.—Miss Suza Doane and Mr. Albert Gerard-Thiers gave two piano and song recitals last week in Carnegie Hall to large and enthusiastic audiences. Miss Doane showed that she possesses fine technic and temperament, and gave pronounced evidence of a distinguished future. Her touch is clear and elastic, and her best effort was undoubtedly MacDowell's concert étude, although she gave a right worthy reading of Schumann's Carneval, op. 9. Mr. Thiers sang, as he always does, like a consummate artist. It is rare to hear one so versatile. His method is faultless. Mr. Thiers' control of the varying tone colors of English, German, Italian, French and his knowledge of the diction of these tongues, prove him an artist indeed. Miss Kate S. Chittenden played the accompaniments flexibly and musicianly.
56Steinway Memorial Service.
58SERVICE in memory of the late William Steinway was held on Sunday last, December 18, in the Union Church, Steinway, Long Island City, at 4 o'clock. The artists who took part were Misses Emma Heckle, Jeanne Franko, Marie Maurer, Leontine Gaertner, Mrs. P. Burkard, Mr. A. Silbernagel, Mr. de Lackner, Mr. Hahn and Mr. F. Q. Dulcken.
60Among these were three who participated in the inaugural concert given in the same edifice on May 28, 1891, and who were engaged on that occasion by Mr. Steinway himself. These three were Emma Heckle, Jeanne Franko and Ferdinand Q. Dulcken.
62The situation was a pathetic one for this trio of artists, whose devotion to the memory of William Steinway the good will always remain fresh and strong.
64Blauvelt Engaged.—Mr. Damrosch has engaged Lillian Blauvelt to replace Mme. Nordica for the leading rôle in The Messiah, which is to be sung on January 28.
66Ferranti Dead.—Signor Ferranti, the basso-buffo, died yesterday at the New York Hospital. This information comes to us at the hour of closing the paper.
68Geneva Johnstone-Bishop.—Geneva Johnstone-Bishop is to be the soprano at Ann Arbor and Oberlin this week in The Messiah. She sings in Toronto on New Year's Day.
70Lillian Blauvelt.—Lillian Blauvelt will make her first appearance in public this season on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of the Liederkranz Society in Carnegie Hall on January 8.
72Ella Russell with Handel and Haydn.—The Henry Wolfsohn Musical Bureau has arranged with the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston for the appearance of Ella Russell, to sing the soprano part of Hora Novissima on April 18. Some important festival engagements have been closed for the prima donna and a number are pending.
74Plancon for Baltimore.—Plancon has been engaged for the Baltimore orchestral concert, January 12. No American had a chance to get that engagement. We want foreigners to get all there is in music in America so that they can go home with our money and look at us from the distance with the contempt we deserve.
76Pache Engages Artists.—Joseph Pache, the Baltimore conductor, was in town two or three days last week securing artists for the numerous concerts in Baltimore. Among those engaged were Corinne Moore-Lawson, Gregorowitsch, J. Evans Williams, Anna Taylor Jones, Dr. Carl Dufft and Beyer-Hané, the 'cellist.
78Siegfried Postponed.—Siegfried has been postponed again. Herr Seidl is determined that there shall be no deficiency of rehearsal. The management announces that it will certainly be sung on Monday, December 28. Mine will be sung by Hubbenet, the new tenor, who arrived from Dusseldorf last week. La Traviata, with Melba, is announced for next Monday night.
80Damrosch's Season Opened.—Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 14, 1896.—The Academy of Music was filled with a fashionable audience this evening when the Damrosch Opera Company opened its season. Lohengrin was the opera presented. Most of the interest centred in the appearance of the new singers, and more particularly in Herr Ernst Krauss, who assumed the title rôle. He has youthfulness, a fine physique, and his features are striking. His voice is strong and vibrant, evidently capable of sustained effort, and he uses it with refreshing vigor. Fräulein Johanna Gadski's Elsa has been seen before, and the Ortrud of Fräulein Eibenschuetz was a careful, conscientious performance. Herr Carl Somer was the Telramund, Herr William Martens the Herald, and Herr Heinrich Hobbing the King. The chorus was well drilled and effective.—Herald.
82Carl's Recitals.—Interested audiences throng Organist William C. Carl's Saturday recitals. The central location has much to do with this, the soloists are another attraction, and then the organist has achieved such prominence that he alone will command attendance. The last afternoon was particularly interesting, as the compositions had all been written for that particular recital by French composers. The way Carl gets over the country is a caution. For instance, one night in Columbus, Ohio, the next night in New Brunswick, N. J. Thursday night in Lynchburg, Va.; Friday night in Bridgeport, Conn.; Saturday, New York recital, and Monday at Wilson College for Women, in Pennsylvania; then in New York for four concerts (four only!) next week. This is the list: Musical Art Society, Carnegie Hall, Frank Damrosch; Hotel Waldorf, Mrs. Sawyer's musicale; Lenox Choral Society, Mendelssohn Glee Club Hall; First Presbyterian Church recital, with string quartet.
84Miss Mary H. Mansfield, soprano, and Mr. Luther Gail Allen, bass, of the quartet of the "Old First," assisted vocally, the former singing Costa's I will extol Thee with nice effect, and the latter Claussman's sombre The Night (song of the bird), to the evident enjoyment of the audience. We should like to hear tenor E. Ellsworth Giles, of the same quartet, soon! (Mrs. Sawyer, the contralto, sang a month ago.) The Kaltenborn-Beyer-Hané string quartet will assist next Saturday.
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