Scan 36
Musical Courier 1898-05-25: Vol 36 Iss 951, 1898
86 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 37. See the scan on archive.org.
1THE MUSICAL COURIER.
3Josef Hofmann Departs.
4Josef Hofmann, the pianist, leaves for Bremen on the steamer Barbarossa to-morrow.
6The American Roof Garden.
7Anticipating the wishes of its patrons the Castle Square Company, at the American Theatre, will open next week a roof garden, fitted up with tasteful floral decorations and provided with every comfortable opportunity for enjoying at the same time an ice and a song. Monday next, the opening night, there are promised special solo artists. The opera next week will be "The Black Hussar."
9Parson Price Musicale.
10The pupils of Mr. Price gave an excellent program at the studio musicale last Friday morning, proving in nearly every number the conscientious care bestowed upon them by the teacher. Those who took part were J. H. Childs, Miss Florence Stockwell, Mrs. Annie L. Schultz, Miss Marguerite Parry, Miss Christina Hanselman, Miss Marie Cahier, Miss Susie Griggs, W. G. Pearce and Dr. B. J. Sands. A noticeable song was a romance by Mr. Price, entitled "The Name." The program included several difficult oratorio selections and a reading from Shakespeare by Miss Rosalie Hayward.
12Beresford in the High Priest's Part in "Samson and Delilah."
13The success of this popular artist in the high and exacting baritone role at the Burlington Festival adds another to the long list of triumphs he has scored the past season.
15Of Mr. Beresford's interpretation of the part of the High Priest too much cannot be said. It was thoroughly characteristic of this finished artist, whose work in oratorio and concert is recognized to-day as equalled by few and excelled by none. His broad interpretation of his part, his spirited recitative and his artistic phrasing and dramatic fervor added greatly to the splendid performance. His singing is superb, and he will always be a great favorite here.—Burlington Free Press.
17Dr. Hanchett.
18Dr. Henry G. Hanchett has been engaged to give two Beethoven readings at the Chautauqua Assembly on Friday and Saturday, August 19 and 20. The sonatas chosen are op. 31, No. 3, in E flat, and op. 53, in C, which will illustrate talks upon the unity of sonata structure, upon the form and its varieties and upon kindred topics. The recitals will not be limited to the sonatas named, but will include other selections calculated to throw side lights upon the points developed.
20These readings will follow closely upon Dr. Hanchett's extended course of recitals and readings at the Southern Chautauqua held in Monteagle, Tenn., where he is director of the musical department, and where in connection with Dr. John C. Griggs, of the Metropolitan College of Music, of this city, he has announced a summer music course of very broad scope.
22Dr. Hanchett's analytical recital before the New York State Music Teachers' Association in Binghamton, June 30, will attempt to make clear the reasons for the various distinctive names applied to parts of such a composition as a sonata, and aid students to recognize by the ear what they are hearing at a concert or recital. The talk will be abundantly illustrated, the program including the "Waldstein" sonata, by Beethoven, op. 53, in C. Dr. Hanchett has twenty-three concert dates to fill previous to August 21 next.
24New York State Section Meeting.
25The meeting at Hardman Hall on Thursday evening was well attended and much interest manifested. Addresses were made by President Sumner Salter and J. Remington Fairlamb.
27Artists who contributed to the very excellent musical program were Miss Katherine Ruth Heymann, Albert Lockwood, piano; Albertus Shelley, violin; Mrs. Antonia H. Sawyer, contralto; Miss Laura Bellini and Miss Emma Seymour Wing, sopranos, and Melvin McLaury, basso cantante, who sang several of Mr. Fairlamb's songs. Miss Marie Donaven, Miss Edith Miller, Roland Paul and George Fleming gave "In a Persian Garden," Mr. Kitchen accompanying, and acceptable refreshments were then served.
29As the time for the Binghamton meeting approaches (June 28, 29, 30) interest increases. The program committee, J. de Zielinski, chairman, has nearly completed its labors. A round trip rate of one and one-third fare has been secured from all railroads, and there is every prospect for a fine meeting.
31Two dollars is the membership fee, $1 for renewals. Send to F. W. Riesberg, secretary-treasurer, 9 West Sixty-fifth street; Sumner Salter, president, Carnegie Hall.
33Hadden-Alexander in the West.
34Mrs. Alexander's presence as soloist at the Nebraska festival at Lincoln led to a demand that she be heard in an entire piano recital. This was arranged with the following program:
36Sonata Tragica ……………………………………… MacDowell
37Scenes from Norwegian Folk Life, op. 19 …………. Grieg
38Barcarolle, G major ……………………………………… Rubinstein
39Rigaudon …………………………………………….. Raff
40Carnival, op. 9 ……………………………………… Schumann one of two readings
41Carnival, op. 9 …………………………………………….. Schumann one of two readings
42Etude, op. 10, No. 12 (Revolutionary) …………. Chopin
43Etude, op. 25, No. 1 (Æolian Harp) …………….. Chopin
44Rustic Wedding Procession ……………………….. Templeton Strong
45Dance of the Sylphs ……………………………………… Howard Brockway
46(From Sylvan Suite for Orchestra.)
47Scotch Poem …………………………………………….. MacDowell
48Idyl ……………………………………………………. MacDowell
49Faust Waltz …………………………………………….. Gounod-Liszt
51Appended are a few press notices concerning this affair:
52The piano recital given last evening at the First Congregational Church by Mrs. Hadden-Alexander, of New York, was an event in the musical history of Lincoln.
53Since hearing Mrs. Alexander play in the May festival the music lovers of the city have anticipated with pleasure the promised recital. She is a broad and brilliant player, combining almost masculine strength with the delicacy and tenderness of a woman. She has been most gracious and generous with her music while in Lincoln, playing when asked to do so for her admirers, thus showing the greatness of a true artist.—Post.
55Mrs. Hadden-Alexander, whose piano playing met with such marked favor at the artists' concert of the May festival, gave a recital by request at the Congregational Church last evening. The audience was composed mainly of musicians, who listened with intense interest to the difficult program prepared by this gifted woman, and who received each number with enthusiastic applause.
57Mrs. Alexander is a pianist of brilliant technic and of excellent tone coloring. Her conceptions are broad and satisfying. The program was mainly composed of scenes from life and poems, for Mrs. Alexander uses her piano as a means of conveying thought, and very clearly and beautifully did the tone tell its story.
59The most difficult selection of the program, "Sonata Tragica," by MacDowell, and one of the most difficult of American compositions, was given in a manner that created the greatest enthusiasm.
61Mrs. Alexander has proved herself an artist, and will always be welcomed and enjoyed in Lincoln.—Evening Call.
63The devotees of the piano were much gratified over an opportunity given them to hear in the First Congregational Church last night a complete recital by Mrs. Hadden-Alexander. This gifted woman was heard here for the first time during the May festival. The favorable impression gained of her work then has been strengthened since by some informal playing, but it was not until last night that full opportunity was given her to show her power in an extended program. The verdict passed upon her work was emphatic and unanimous. An audience of about 150 people, nearly all ladies, became interested from the beginning and remained warmly enthusiastic through the long and arduous program.
65Mrs. Alexander is a broad, romantic player. She is a painter who uses her colors in masses and does not care to work out the minute details. This does not mean that she slights the delicate passages, for she plays them daintily and with a beautiful liquid tone. It means that the dominant tone of her playing is brilliant and virile; that she excels when she has a story to tell, and succeeds best when this story is a romance full of fire and life. The influence of her master, MacDowell, who believes music to be a language, is plainly shown in this feature of her playing.
67Mrs. Alexander is endowed with remarkable mental equipment. Her presentation of the "Sonata Tragica" was the feature of the recital. This great work, perhaps the greatest piano composition by an American composer, was given a broad and adequate reading. All of the numbers were prefaced by explanations that helped the only partially educated musicians to a more complete understanding of these beauties. Mrs. Alexander talks charmingly and plays as if she thoroughly enjoys it. Altogether it was a very enjoyable evening.—State Journal.
69Because of her success at the May festival the knowing ones concluded to hear Mrs. Stella Hadden-Alexander in separate piano recital. Through the kind and energetic offices of Rev. and Mrs. John Doane they had their desire fulfilled beyond their expectations at the First Congregational Church last evening. It is difficult to write about a piano recital for the general public, for when you wish to speak favorably of every number on the program it is not long before the supply of laudatory adjectives runs low. Mrs. Alexander is an excellent program maker, an accomplishment in which many executants are conspicuously lacking. To efface oneself as much as possible—to be free of mannerisms that serve to call attention to the player is one requisite of success. Another is to let the mechanism of the instrument be in evidence as little as possible. A third and most important one to me is how near an instrumental or vocal performer can bring the beauty of a composition to my limited comprehension. In all three of these points Mrs. Alexander was eminently satisfactory, thus sustaining interest for the average listener to the last.
71American composers—notably the truly great MacDowell—were brought forward in a manner never attempted here before, if my memory serves me right. This was a recognition of present taste in music. Each decade has its own preferred forms of expression. Which is not saying that old masterpieces are not always in order. Just now, however, American composers are strictly in it. In the last movement of the "Sonata Tragica" the theme and the player were in perfect accord.
73Mrs. Alexander followed the now prevalent custom of explaining the text before expounding it on the piano. On such occasions she should pitch her voice so as to be more distinctly heard. Mr. Doane announced a second recital free of pecuniary obligations at Plymouth Congregational Church next Tuesday evening. Mrs. Alexander was the recipient of many sincere congratulations.—Evening News.
75Georg Liebling.
76The musical papers of London have been unanimous in their praise of Georg Liebling's playing, as will be seen from the following:
77He proved himself a sound executant, remarkable for artistic fervor.—Musical Times.
79We have never heard anyone surpass his rendering of light, soft passages, his pearly, delicate touch, and at the same time full, clear tone, reminding us most of De Pachmann at his best.—Musical Record.
81He has an exquisite touch and the lights and shadows are well defined, and yet so softened.—Musical News.
83Excellent execution and fine poetical taste were shown in Schumann.—Musical Standard.
85This great pianist gave a masterly interpretation of a program which must have pleased every musician present, as well as delighted those amateurs who are fond of the best music when so beautifully played.—London Musical Courier.
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