Scan 15
Musical Courier 1898-05-18: Vol 36 Iss 950, 1898
106 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 16. See the scan on archive.org.
1139 Kearny Street,
2SAN FRANCISCO, Cal., May 10, 1898.
4"ME, too," says San Francisco, and "me, too," with a vengeance, and this refers to the fact that the patriotic music has struck here and struck hard. At the recent symphony concert, as encore to the "Kaiser March" of Wagner the orchestra gave the "Star Spangled Banner." I had fully made up my mind not to give notice to these outbursts, because they have no bearing upon music or upon my relations to San Francisco, and the enthusiasm evoked is not for music, but I cannot help saying that I never heard the old tune played in such a manner before, for of course I never heard it by a fine orchestra of fifty men and a leader like Scheel, and I refer to it only as a work of art, which it is.
6May I be pardoned for telling that I heard the concert discussed afterward, and as the last number on the program was the Weber "Jubal" overture the cause of the conversation may be easily understood. "Wasn't it great for the orchestra to interpolate 'America' to end up with?" It was almost impossible to make them understand that there was no interpolation and that "America" did not belong to us at all except by adoption. Do you mean to say that if we had had war with England we would have been using the same music as they would? That's what it looks like, and so a national melody that actually belongs to us is something to be valued.
8The other numbers given were the "Harold" symphony of Berlioz and Tschaikowsky's serenade for strings. The orchestra was in fine condition and gave an interesting reading of the Berlioz work. The viola soli were in the hands of Bernat Jaulus, and he played them in a manner thoroughly intelligent and artistic, notwithstanding the fact that he is a violinist and not a viola player.
10The strings of this orchestra are so extremely good that the delightful music of Tschaikowsky was superbly given.
12This was the last concert of the regular course, and it is very satisfactory to state that the house was sold out and only standing room available. It is earnestly to be hoped that the next season will open as auspiciously as this one has closed.
14May 15 will be a notable date, as it will be the greatest event of the symphony season in San Francisco, when a testimonial concert will be given Scheel in appreciation of the truly great work he is doing here.
16Scheel is a great favorite, and his work is of vast importance in the development of music in this section of the country.
18From the present outlook there will be a permanent orchestra in San Francisco within a very short time. This is on foot now, and the importance of this move is beyond conception, for under the conditions existing for soloists, as mentioned hereafter, and the distance from the influences of an outer musical world, San Francisco of necessity must suffer. Give to Fritz Scheel an orchestra composed of musicians upon whom he can depend when he wants them, and the entire musical future of San Francisco will be settled beyond question. At present the personnel of the orchestra is far superior to what one would expect, for, so to speak, there are few men in it who are not thoroughly good musicians, but one is leader of this orchestra and the other is due somewhere else, so that the condition is a disagreeable one.
20A permanent orchestra would also give a chance to the local artist, and especially the composer, of whom I will talk in my next.
22* * *
24During the engagement of Pilar Morin at the Baldwin a number of local compositions will be presented, and a number of local artists will be heard during the orchestral part of the entertainment. This will be regarded as a blessing to those interested in the San Francisco artist, for he has a peculiar position in the musical world. He must be a thorough artist or he cannot command any position in this critical city. Then he can only command the position of teacher, for the concert-givers are so very much afraid of causing jealousy that they dare not assert themselves by engaging one and then another until the number of really fine pianists and violinists have had the opportunity of furnishing music to this public.
26Now, if visiting artists have kept these people out of their rights, one might yet find the excuse that strangers are always more attractive to audiences, to whom it is usually the artist and not his art which is the attraction, but when at the outside there are not more than five or six visiting artists in a whole year, and it means that the people hear no pianists, no violinists, &c., it becomes serious.
28The lack of hearing piano music is a serious loss to students and to music people in general. The proof of this is revealed in the interpretations which are heard from young pianists who have left the guidance of their teachers, and who from the point of technic are finished and from the point of interpretation have not begun. There would be no argument if San Francisco did not have the concert pianists and violinists; but it has, and some of them are magnificent. So the treatment of these people is unjust, and the audiences, which contain many young pianists and violinists, are wronged as much as the artists themselves, for these young musicians can scarcely be expected to have any individuality. From what should individuality be born? Mr. A.'s pupils all play with Mr. A.'s interpretation; Mr. B.'s likewise, &c. They never hear anyone else, so how can they be anything but the narrowest of the narrow?
30However, things will change within the next two or three years.
32* * *
341901 will be a great year for San Francisco. The World's Fair, which will be held at this time, will have a vast influence upon music here. As Manager S. H. Friedlander tells me, the music festival will be the greatest that work can make it. He has given the musical condition great thought and will begin study of the possibilities and the situations at once. It will behoove some local chorus to study with earnestness and determination upon such works as the great oratorios, for it is the intention to bring on the greatest singers from Europe and America for this purpose.
36Now arises another point of which I can only talk, because I have been told, on dit, that they begin things well here, but do not persevere long enough to accomplish much serious work. There are good leaders here, good singers here, and now, with this in view, there is a great, grand object to work for. So come ahead, San Francisco, and let these solo artists go back and say that art has its home on the Pacific as well as on the Atlantic and across the pond.
38As the music hall project is too large to be discussed now, it will have to wait over also; but this, too, involves more than just the music hall; there is an American opera scheme floating around it.
40* * *
42There were some notably good affairs this week. First, a pupil recital of Pierre Douillet. Douillet is comparatively a new man in San Francisco, and it is to be hoped that the community will realize what a clever musician he is. It is well for San Francisco that such men locate here, for he can only be a benefit to those who avail themselves of his knowledge. Douillet is also a pianist of fine attainments. The following program was well given:
44Fantaisie, C minor………………………………………Mozart-Grieg
45Miss Corinne Goldsmith.
46Valse from Faust………………………………………Liszt
47Miss Nannie Cameron.
48Concerto in A minor………………………………….Schumann
49Miss Mabel Bishop.
50Andante and Polonaise in E flat…………………….Chopin
51Miss Edith Treanor.
52Concerto in G minor………………………………….Mendelssohn
53Miss Josephine Franks.
54Accompaniments on the second piano played by Pierre Douillet.
56* * *
58Mr. and Mrs. Willis E. Bacheller gave a delightful musical in their home. The program was given by the pupils of Mr. Bacheller, who has an enviable name as teacher, and whose pupils easily corroborated this statement. It is understood that Mr. Bacheller will leave for the East shortly.
60That Mr. Bacheller's repertory is progressive will be seen from the following program:
62Midsummer Lullaby………………………………….MacDowell
63The Robin Sings in the Apple Tree…………………MacDowell
64Fairy Lullaby…………………………………………Beach
65Spring Song……………………………………………..Lassen
66Miss Dreyfuss.
67Here's a Health to Thee, Roberts…………………Bullard
68Mr. Smith.
69Cradle Song…………………………………………….Grieg
70Spring Song……………………………………………..Grieg
71Autumn Song……………………………………………Grieg
72Miss Morse.
73Sunshine Song…………………………………………Grieg
74The Danza……………………………………………….Chadwick
75Miss Bristol.
76Where'er You Walk…………………………………..Händel one of two readings
77Where'er You Walk……………………………………Händel one of two readings
78Mr. Monges.
79When Spring Comes Laughing………………………..Foote
80The Magic Song………………………………………..Helmund
81Miss Cousins.
82In Waves Without Number……………………………Chadwick
83Was I Not Thine?……………………………………Chadwick
84Mr. Smith.
85Arioso, Now Joan Ardently………………………….Bemberg
86Miss Morse.
88* * *
90A young man who is working hard and earnestly is Peter C. Allen. He is teacher of violin and composition.
92MRS. MARTHA – DORLON – LOWE,
93Voice Culture,
94CONTRALTO-CONCERTS, ORATORIO.
95Studio, 539 Fulton St., Brooklyn.
96New York address, MUSICAL COURIER.
98J. FRED WOLLE,
99ORGANIST.
100Address: THE WOLFSON MUSICAL BUREAU, 131 East 17th St., New York.
102George Hamlin,
103TENOR.
104Address FREDERICK J. WESSELS, Western Representative
105Auditorium Tower, CHICAGO.
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