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Musical Courier 1896-12-23: Vol 33 Iss 877, 1896
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1concerto, and the performance of the orchestra was fully up to its high standard. Undisturbed pleasure ceased with the final chord of the overture.
3I fail to see any excuse for the composition of a 'cello concerto in these days. A piece with a suave andante, followed by an allegro for display of agility, may serve the purpose of solo players, but a 'cello concerto of conventional length is an abomination of desolation. For the tone of the instrument, even when the 'cello rests between the legs of the accomplished Mr. Schroeder, soon cloys, and in bravura passages the hearer tires quickly of the sound of flies chased up and down the strings.
5Dvorák seems in this concerto to have used material that was proposed for his alleged negro symphony. The themes are either sentimental or trivial, and the padding in the development is gilded by orchestral means. The "naiveté," which some still delight in, is to be found, but it is insincerity, or tired indifference, rather than the true naiveté in his earlier works, before he knew anything about the Birmingham Festival or had learned how easily English audiences were pleased.
7The statement was made a fortnight ago that the original version of Rubinstein's Ocean symphony would be played. Last night the program bore a pasted slip, "second version;" but there were five movements played. At least I suppose they were, for I heard only the first one, and even that sounded strangely old fashioned. The Roman Carnival overture of Berlioz was first played here in 1857, and last night it sounded as fresh and surprising as though it were in manuscript and produced as a novelty. Laforgue once spoke of the always respectable sea. I fear that the first movement of the Ocean symphony is best described as "respectable."
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11They propose to give Colonel Mapleson a benefit at the Boston Theatre the 27th. Clementine de Vere-Sapio, Scalchi, Challia, de Anna, Randaccio and others have volunteered. Mr. Tompkins will furnish the theatre free of charge. There will be a chorus under the direction of Mr. Rotoli. I am glad to see that Mrs. Dotti remembers the gallant colonel, for she, too, is among those that will appear.
13I understand that the colonel has been endeavoring to reorganize his company, for the purpose of giving some performances at Mechanics' Building; but he found no financial aid, although his arguments were of the finest and smoothest texture.
15PHILIP HALE.
17Boston Music Notes.
18BOSTON, Mass., December 19, 1896.
20The public rehearsal of the Boston Symphony Orchestra takes place on Thursday afternoon, December 24, because of Christmas Day falling on Friday this year.
22Mrs. S. B. Field has sent out cards for an afternoon reception at the art galleries of Williams & Everett, Sunday, December 20. Mrs. Antonia H. Sawyer, contralto, of New York, and Mr. Alex. Blaess, violoncello, will be the soloists.
24Miss Emma V. Foster, of the Ariel Quartet, who sang at the eighth concert of the Star Course, on Monday evening, is a pupil of Mme. de Angelis. The notices in the daily papers all spoke of her having been so well taught, as well as of her magnificent voice. Mme. de Angelis has a number of promising pupils who will be heard during the winter.
26Mr. Stephen Townsend's concert, on Monday evening, was a success in every way, and greatly enjoyed by the large audience. His songs covered a wide range of style and included selections from Ponchielli, Massenet, Tschaikowsky, Schumann, Grieg, Cowen and Stanford. He was assisted by Mr. E. Fiedler, the Verdi Quartet, Mr. H. E. Wry and Mr. Bertram L. Shapleigh.
28The Daughters of the Revolution of Massachusetts commemorated Tea-Party Day in the Old South Meeting House, on December 16. There was an illustrated lecture, "History of Our Flag." Miss Adeline Frances Fitz's song, America Columbia, was sung by a chorus of young ladies, pupils of Mrs. L. P. Morrill, Miss Fitz conducting. This song was composed last June and dedicated to the Daughters of the Revolution. Since then many different chapters have sung it, and it has attained great popularity with other patriotic organizations.
30The Singers, a large social club of which Mr. George A. Burdett is conductor, gave the first concert of their second season on Thursday evening, in Bray Hall, Newton Centre. The club was assisted by Miss Katherine M. Ricker, contralto. Miss Ricker sang Redemption Hymn, by J. C. D. Parker, and two groups of songs. The programs were attractively gotten up in rough paper covers, and printed so clearly and distinctly that it was a pleasure to read them. A few appropriate quotations from Shakespeare gave an additional charm.
32Mr. Eliot Hubbard has been engaged for the concerts in Ogdensburg, N. Y., January 28 and 29, when The Creation will be given. Mr. Hubbard sings in New York December 23, in Chickering Hall.
34Mr. Charles P. Scott, the organist of the First Parish Unitarian Church, Meeting House Hill, Dorchester, has arranged a Christmas service for December 20, when the Christmas music will be sung. This service will be largely musical, and carols by Barnby, Hopkins and O. B. Brown will be sung, the anthems by Bartlett and Sullivan, and from The Messiah the soprano solo, Come Unto Him. The choir is composed of Mrs. H. Carleton Slack, soprano; Mrs. George B. Rice, contralto; Mr. Charles W. Swain, tenor, and Mr. Edward A. Osgood, bass. Mr. Charles P. Scott is organist and director. There was a concert at the Dean Academy, Franklin, recently, when some of Mr. Scott's pupils played. One noticeable announcement on the program would prove of advantage to many other programs if only the rule would be followed, and that is—Encores will not be given.
36The pupils of Miss Marie Louise Everett and Mr. Edward Noyes gave a recital on Thursday afternoon in Miss Everett's studio. No special preparation is made for the programs given at these recitals; it is merely the ordinary work of the pupils. A large number of people were present, who enjoyed the music. Some of the young ladies were so nervous that they could not do themselves justice, but one object of pupils' recitals is to give them courage in singing before audiences.
38Mr. John C. Manning gave a recital in Abbott Academy, Andover, recently, and in January will play at Bradford Academy, Bradford, Mass.
40The B. F. Wood Music Company has just issued some very fine new English songs. This firm has the sole United States rights for the English song publishers, Messrs. W. Morley & Co., of London, whose well-known reputation of publishing the highest class of English ballads makes the new publications eagerly sought for by the best singers.
42Among the new songs that the B. F. Wood Music Company has just issued were noticed the following by the well-known English writer Francis Lloyd: The Way of Peace, The Children of the King, The Sweetest Song, Snow Flakes Fair, and The Gate of Happiness. The Way of Peace is a sacred song, with piano accompaniment and organ ad libitum, and would be equally effective for concert or church use. This song should not be confounded with Barnard's Plains of Peace, which is also published by the B. F. Wood Music Company and has had a very extensive sale.
44The Children of the King is in the nature of a descriptive song, telling the story of a beggar maid who, wandering through the streets on the eve of Christmas, passes by the abbey from whose belfry she hears the chiming of the bells and hears the choir of the abbey singing the well-known Christmas carol, Hark, the Herald Angels Sing. The story continuing tells of the little maid's death on the abbey steps, and the song closes with the grand anthem which she hears, In the Palace of the King. This song will surely be a very great success. Snow Flakes Fair has a beautiful melody in the refrain, with a touch of popularity in it which ought to make it a great favorite.
46Among other new songs are two by Edward S. Quentin, entitled Dream Angel and Conquered. The latter song is intended for baritone. Another fine song for baritone voice is the one entitled Not Mine Be Monarch's Throne, by Gerald M. Lane.
48As a matter of fact the above list is the finest lot of new English songs that have been seen for many a day.
50The second concert of the season at the music room of the Chickering factory, on Thursday afternoon, was not as largely attended as usual, owing to the preparations for the holiday season, probably, that are being made. Mrs. Ellen Berg-Parkyn played in her usual artistic manner. Mrs. A. Sophia Markee sang two groups of songs, playing her own accompaniments, and was highly complimented for her fine voice and artistic singing. Several ladies who remained after the concert was over requested her to sing again for them, as they felt her songs were quite too short. She sang The Maiden and The Butterfly, and a little song the name of which cannot be recalled at the moment. It was all delightfully informal and enjoyable. Mrs. Markee has sung at several concerts in the vicinity of Boston recently.
52Mr. Louis C. Elson lectures in Peabody December 31, Brown University January 5 and 8; Portsmouth, 11; Lincoln, 13, and Charlestown, 14. January 19 he goes on a Western trip, and the last week in January gives a series of lectures in Philadelphia.
54Although, as Mr. Elson remarked, the exact date of Beethoven's birth is in doubt, the anniversary was celebrated by the New England Conservatory of Music Thursday afternoon, in Sleeper Hall, with a performance of Beethoven's Emperor piano concerto, by Mr. Carl Faelten, who was ably assisted by Miss Estelle Andrews. Mr. Louis C. Elson made some appropriate introductory remarks, showing how Beethoven gradually liberated the concerto from the narrow groove in which it was left by Mozart, until the Emperor concerto marked the artistic culmination of the great composer's work in that line.
56Miss Suza Doane, the gifted young pianist, will be heard soon in Boston at a recital in Chickering Hall.
58A concert is announced for Tuesday evening, December 22, in Steinert Hall, by Miss Florence E. Glover, a member of the Cambridge Dilettante Club. Miss Glover, who is a pupil of Mrs. Robert Anderson, has a contralto voice of much promise, and during the past year has been studying diction in Paris under Jancey.
60Steinert Hall was formally opened on Wednesday evening. The hall is found to have perfect acoustic properties, to be handsomely decorated and brilliantly lighted; in fact, an ideal place for music.
62MR. FRED FIELD BULLARD'S SONATA CLASSES.
64We have recently heard the opening lesson of one of M. Ballard's Synthetic Classes in Musical Form, and found it interesting in the extreme. The young teacher has the courage of his convictions, and his enthusiasm lends to his ordinarily quiet manner a charm which, in the case of this lesson at least, held the breathless attention of the class. Instead of analyzing the classic sonatas, Mr. Bullard explains the vital principles of contrast and comparison upon which the sonata depends (in common with all other works of art), and constructs a complete sonata in several movements with the assistance of the class, using original themes furnished by the pupils themselves.
66How much more interesting than the "cut and dried" classes in analysis must such a method of instruction be to the students, who see their own simple ideas grow into larger and broader lines, culminating in musical forms resembling, in construction at least, the works of the best known composers. How much greater the benefit, how much more lasting the impression.
68Then, too, the technical knowledge required for these classes is slight, and a knowledge of harmony and counterpoint not essential, although naturally the greater the attainments of the pupil the greater will be the benefit derived from the course. We were given abundant opportunity to convince ourselves that the results of these classes are very satisfactory to the participants, who have found their appreciation and enjoyment of the higher music much enhanced by increased technical knowledge and broadened conception of the ends for which composers
70Mr. Rudolph Aronson takes pleasure in announcing the engagements for this season of
72The World's Greatest Pianiste,
73MADAME TERESA
74CARREÑO
76Mme. Carreño will make her American rentrée with the Philharmonic Society of New York January 8 and 9; also with the New York Symphony Society on January 29 and 30; Theodore Thomas' Orchestra, Chicago, February 5 and 6; Boston Symphony Society, Boston, February 19 and 20; Cincinnati Symphony Society, March 1 and 2; also with the Boston Symphony Society, Philadelphia, February 22; Washington, February 23; Baltimore, February 24; New York, February 25; Brooklyn, February 26; and Providence, March 10, &c., &c.
78ADDRESS ALL COMMUNICATIONS:
79Concert Direction RUDOLPH ARONSON,
80Bijou Theatre Building, Broadway and 30th St., . . . NEW YORK.
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