Scan 19
Musical Courier 1897-07-14: Vol 35 Iss 906, 1897
64 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 20. See the scan on archive.org.
1responded to by President Gerrit Smith in much the same vein, followed by his annual address, on the topic, Professional Ethics and the Future Welfare of the Association.
3Then Herbert Wilber Greene, President of the M. T. N. A., read an address, and there was a short discussion. The morning concert followed, with a piano and song recital by Alberto Jonás, pianist, and Albert Gérard-Thiers, tenor.
5There was a monotony in Mr. Thiers' first group of five songs, all but one being andante, and several in the same key, and all were of the period 1659-1800. Mr. Jonás gave a refined interpretation of the Sonata, op. 57, Beethoven (Apasionata), and a group of modern composers of which Stavenhagen's Menuetto Scherzando was charming, and Liszt's Campanello exactly suited to his technic. These were beautifully done. By this time hunger was gnawing at everyone's vitals, and so there was a stampede.
7The afternoon session saw the first big crowd at the Congregational Church, where an organ recital was given by Mr. William Kaffenberger, of Buffalo, assisted by Mr. Herbert Witherspoon, basso. Mr. Kaffenberger did the unique thing to play all his organ numbers from memory. The Bach A minor Prelude and Fugue was a mighty performance, Rauchenecker's Andante, a lovely composition, and the Batiste St. Cecilia Offertoire in F minor, a brilliant and effective close. Mr. Witherspoon sang Mendelssohn's O God Have Mercy well; he can sing better. He is at all times, however, a model of repose and sympathetic stage presence.
9The First Presbyterian Church choir sang next Buck's Festival Te Deum in E flat. Miss Clementine Sheldon is the director of the chorus; a capable choir of twenty voices. In this Mr. O. J. Fowler sang a baritone solo, which was much enjoyed. He has a fine, manly organ of much range and sympathy. St. Paul's Church Quartet, of Albany, consisting of Mrs. Howard J. Rogers, soprano; Miss Ella J. Graham, contralto; Mr. Ellsworth Carr, tenor; Mr. Edwin B. Parkhurst, bass, all under the direction of Mr. Geo. Edgar Oliver, the organist, appeared. Except that they sang rather operatic anthem music, and that the tenor's voice does not in the slightest blend with the others, their ensemble was excellent.
11Miss Maud Morgan, the well-known harpist, next read a paper on The Use of the Harp in Worship Music, which was listened to with marked attention. Her paper was much enjoyed, and was followed by a practical application in the beautiful quartet by Oberthür for solo voices, harp and organ, the tenor solo sung by Thies.
13Dr. Gerrit Smith then appeared and received nothing short of an ovation, for by this time everyone had grown to know that whether he played, sang or spoke, or did nothing at all, he was sure to be interesting. On this occasion he played the Guilmant allegro, dedicated to himself, and which he never would play except for that fact, the pretty Lemare pastorale (the blind English composer)-and last, and certainly best of all, Homer N. Bartlett's splendid toccata in E. This last is an organ work; there is no end to the work part of it, and it attains a climax quite intense.
15Gaul's List the Cherubic Host, from his Holy City, followed, sung by the Cecilian Ladies' Quartet, of Binghamton, a well balanced lot of good voices, the soprano solo by Mrs. Rogers, the baritone solo by Mr. Witherspoon, and organ and harp added.
17This was again music worth coming miles to hear, for it flowed beautifully and was really noteworthy.
19Mr. Wilkins, of Rochester-Buffalo, has a habit of turning up missing, and so a short synopsis of his paper on Schools of Organ Music, was read by Mr. Salter. Saint Pauls' Church quartet of Albany again sang, more or less well, generally more, and then the quartet and chorus of the First Presbyterian Church. Miss Morgan, and Mr. Salter all united in a right worthy reading of O For a Song, &c., by Gounod, Miss Sheldon singing very sweetly. Mr. Edwin R. Weeks also sang a short solo in a musical ringing tenor voice, and the chorus ably supported the whole. These organ-quartet-solo-harp ensemble numbers were sui generis, and caught the popular ear, as well as interested the music folk greatly. one of two readings
20Mr. Wilkins, of Rochester-Buffalo, has a habit of turning up missing, and so a short synopsis of his paper on Schools of Organ Music, was read by Mr. Salter. Saint Pauls' Church quartet of Albany again sang, more or less well, generally more, and then the quartet and chorus of the First Presbyterian Church. Miss Morgan, and Mr. Salter all united in a right worthy reading of O For a Song, &c., by Gounod, Miss Sheldon singing very sweetly. Mr. Edwin R. Weeks also sang a short solo in a musical ringing tenor voice, and the chorusably supported the whole. These organ-quartet-solo-harp ensemble numbers were sui generis, and caught the popular ear, as well as interested the music folk greatly. one of two readings
22The afternoon closed by a harp solo by Miss Morgan, an Aptommas excerpt.
24The first evening concert opened well, the large opera house being full, evening dress prevailing. First Profs. N. Irving Hyatt and Adolf Frey played a suite by the former for two pianos, a dignified work, in which the prelude was most interesting and which closed with a counterpoint against the theme Hail Columbia.
26Mr. George P. Lull, of Olean, next sang Kreutzer's Forest Song, with excellent tone volume, reaching low E flat. He has a somewhat ponderous voice and an extremely awkward stage presence.
28Mr. Jonás played his morning-crowded-out solos, as follows:
30Barcarolle…………………………………………..A. Rubinstein
31Gavotte et Musette………………………………….Eugen d'Albert
32Toccata……………………………………………..Charles Dennée
33Impromptu…………………………………………..Charles Dennée
34Caprice……………………………………………..M. Moszkowski
35Etude, op 34………………………………………….M. Moszkowski one of two readings
36Etude, op 34……………………………………….M. Moszkowski one of two readings
38This was all well planned, well calculated and well executed. Jonás is a player of ripening individuality. He has temperamental fire, a dainty touch full of nice nuance. From the beginning he has the audience with him, and by the time he is done every heart beats in truest admiration of the d'Albert-like young Spaniard who looks German, but plays French. He attained a fine climax in the Moszkowski study, which seemed as though written for him, made to order almost, so well does its fluent, cross hand style, suit him. Mr. Thiers then did the best singing in his career here, in songs by Bohm, Duprato and Sawyer, notably in the last two, For a Dream's Sake and Hey Dolly. In these he sang with fine control and vocal enthusiasm, and received much applause.
40A new violinist was Mr. George Szag, who played the Mendelssohn andante (violin concerto) and some Saraste Gypsy Airs and with excellent expression and technic, his wife accompanying him.
42In Miss Clementine Sheldon Binghamton possesses a soprano of whom we may all say, "Hats off!" Of a charmingly girlish appearance, with a clear, high soprano voice under fine control, she is without question the best singer in these parts. She sang Ardit's Bolero with gusto and every desirable point of style. The evening closed with a group of piano pieces played by Mr. Jonás, of which his own mazurka is charming (op. 6). His last number was the Liszt Rhapsodie No. 12, to which he gave a peculiarly fascinating interpretation, not mighty or authoritative, but full of rhythmic and technical surprises. It was entirely unconventional; hence all the more surprising and interesting.
44The concert was followed by the regular reception in the parlors of the First Presbyterian Church, under the auspices of the Y. W. C. A., planned and successfully carried out by Miss Belle A. Mason. This was a graceful affair; everybody was there, the floral decorations were lavish; the women were also decorated, all in war paint, as it were—the mayor, George E. Green, his distinguished-looking wife, C. W. Landon, Dr. Gerrit Smith, Rev. Dr. G. Parsons Nichols and Mrs. Nichols, N. J. Hall and Mrs. Hall. Miss Benson, Sumner Salter, F. W. Riesberg, Mrs. Harvard J. Rogers, J. P. E. Clark and Mrs. Clark, John Schoonmaker, Miss Belle A. Mason, Frank Beman and Mrs. Beman, Mrs. D. H. Carver, Mrs. Harlow, Mrs. Edminster, Mrs. Matthews and Mrs. Ostrander.
46Refreshments were served in an adjoining room, separated from the main room by ribbons. Those who served the refreshments were: Miss Alice McCoy, Mrs. Thayer, Miss Ora Edgcomb, Miss Eda Edgcomb, Mrs. Ladue, Miss Cora Mathis and Miss Augusta Kappel.
48On the second day the morning concert opened with a piano duet, the famous William Tell overture, arranged by Gottschalk. It was played by Miss Lena Babcock and Adrian P. Babcock, of Norwich. The composition was brilliantly given from memory, and was vigorously applauded. Mr. Babcock then played a group of pieces by modern composers, the Rubinstein impromptu displaying grace and facility of execution; the Love Dream, by Liszt, much depth of expression, and Godard's Espagnole, his brilliancy and excellent technic. No pianist has pleased his hearers more at the present convention than Mr. Babcock.
50He was enthusiastically encored, and there is no reason why this talented young pianist should not attain eminent distinction in his art. He is a son of Dr. Linn Babcock, of Norwich, N. Y., himself a pupil of Richter, Moscheles and others of the Leipsic period of 1855-60, and who was the pioneer American pianist of these parts, a successful business man, prominent politician and a superb pianist.
52Miss Margaret Wilson, of Elmira, a pupil of Edward R. Myer, now of Buffalo, a young contralto, next sang Graben-Hoffman's My Peace Is Gone very tastefully. She is a credit to her schooling and one of the best voices heard at this meeting. The simpletonic words of the song—some idiot's mal-translation!—however, nearly ruin the musical enjoyment. Sing such things in the original German! Miss Cora E. Luer, pianist, and also a Myer pupil, played with good touch and expression Schumann's Warum. Likewise the C minor study of Chopin. Miss Luer knows how to look pretty, as well as play pretty; that is a comfort to the looker!
54Mr. George P. Lull, of Olean, again sang, this time a Drinking Song, with altogether fine effect and excellent taste.
56The following is quoted from a local paper:
57"Next in order came the public school music session, at which the following papers were read: Music as a Part of Every Child's Education, David M. Kelsey, of Saratoga, the chairman pro tem; How to Preserve the Artistic in the Midst of the Drudgery of Work, Frederick A. Lyman, of Syracuse; The Voice in Singing and Speaking, Miss Emilie Christina Curtis, of New York.
58"Mrs. S. N. Love, who has just resigned as the city schools' musical instructor, read an interesting paper, The History of Public School Music in Binghamton. The work was illustrated by excellent singing by the third, sixth and eighth grades.
59"Miss Effie Stewart, of New York, rendered several selections: Sevous Sariez, Frederic Binet; Viele Chanson, Chaminade; Le Tribut de Zamora, Gounod; Chanson d'Aseame, Saint-Saëns; Fleur du Vailon, Marguerite and Eloa aux Enfers, Gounod. Miss Stewart, who happened to be visiting friends in the city, obligingly consented to appear to fill Dr. Griggs' place. She was originally a Cleveland, Ohio, girl, and as a singer has achieved a gratifying success. She was accompanied by Miss Kate Stella Burr, formerly of this city, and now organist of Grace M. E. Church, New York. one of two readings
60"Miss Effie Stewart, of New York, rendered several selections: Sevoux Sariez, Frederic Binet; Viele Chanson, Chaminade; Le Tribut de Zamora, Gounod; Chanson d'Aseame, Saint-Saëns; Fleur du Vailon, Marguerite and Eloa aux Enfers, Gounod. Miss Stewart, who happened to be visiting friends in the city, obligingly consented to appear to fill Dr. Griggs' place. She was originally a Cleveland, Ohio, girl, and as a singer has achieved a gratifying success. She was accompanied by Miss Kate Stella Burr, formerly of this city, and now organist of Grace M. E. Church, New York. one of two readings
61"Miss Mabel Wagnalls, of New York, played with fine touch and expression Invitation to the Dance, Weber-La- zare; Bourée, Gavot and Etude in F major, by Jaroslav de Zielinski, of Buffalo.
62"Mr. George Szag, accompanied by Miss Meyer-Szag, also helped fill a vacant space in the program. He played Musin's mazurka in a masterly way, and is an enjoyable player."
63Then came the organ recital at St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church, given by Mr. William Edward Mulligan, Mr. William C. Carl, Mr. Francis O'Connor (Binghamton) and assisted by Miss Kathrin Hilke, Mrs. Bloodgood and
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