Scan 14
Musical Courier 1899-11-29: Vol 39 Iss 1028, 1899
89 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 15. See the scan on archive.org.
1Music in St. Paul.
2ST. PAUL OFFICE THE MUSICAL COURIER,
3THE PORTLAND, November 28, 1899.
5"THE musical value of a town depends upon its choral work." The Schubert Club, believing that true culture grows from within, and that a choral organization furnishes one of the best opportunities for advancing such growth, established last year a large mixed chorus, which did admirable work.
7The Schubert Club, urged thereto by prominent citizens and by its strong desire to place St. Paul on an artistic level with other cities of its size, proposes to give annually a series of five concerts, the proceeds of which shall be made a sinking fund to provide the best assisting talent to be obtained in the world with the funds available.
9The organization will be known as the Schubert Club Choral Association, with a membership of 150 active members during the season. The need of more and better en- will be a new feature this year, where singers unable to secure admission at once may attend rehearsals, and by the absence of an active member at rehearsals, may be at once placed to fill the vacancy and remain as active member during the season. The need of more and better en- semble music in St. Paul has ever been felt by our most cultured citizens, and it is to meet this end that the present series has been arranged, and five grand concerts will be given this season, as follows: one of two readings
10The organization will be known as the Schubert Club Choral Association, with a membership of 150 active members during the season. The need of more and better ensembles will be a new feature this year, where singers unable to secure admission at once may attend rehearsals, and by the absence of an active member at rehearsals, may be at once placed to fill the vacancy and remain as active member during the season. The need of more and better ensemble music in St. Paul has ever been felt by our most cultured citizens, and it is to meet this end that the present series has been arranged, and five grand concerts will be given this season, as follows: one of two readings
12On December 5, Miss Katharine Richards Gordon, soprano; George Hamlin, tenor; Danz Orchestra, thirty-five men; the Schubert Club mixed chorus, and Emil Ober-Hoffer as musical director.
14In January, one grand evening concert by Theodore Thomas' Chicago Orchestra. On February 8, the young American violinist, Miss Leonora Jackson, with Mrs. D. F. DeWolf, soprano; the Schubert Club and Mr. Ober-Hoffer.
16On March 15 Rafael Joseffy, the pianist, in recital.
18April, a grand choral and orchestral concert, with some great singer as the star. It is proposed to make this event a fitting climax for this splendid series.
20The choral work planned for these concerts are "Hiawatha's Wedding Feast," by Coleridge Taylor; "Samson and Delilah," by Saint-Saëns; "The Sun Worshippers," by Goring Thomas, and Verdi's "Stabat Mater."
22The officers of the Schubert Club have worked in the city's musical interests for years entirely without compensation and at a heavy sacrifice of money and efforts, and they feel justified in expecting from the citizens of St. Paul a generous support.
24De Pachmann interested and held an audience spell-bound in his piano recital on the 14th inst. at the People's Church. Few of the Western audiences had heard this character of the keyboard, and much interest was felt in his program, which was one adapted to his own special sphere. Weber, Schumann and Chopin were played in his own incomparable style and applause was profuse.
26Claud Madden has a beautiful new song out, "Hiawatha," which is being popularized and sung by many of the local and visiting artists. This is only one of the many of Mr. Madden's efforts, several works being in the press.
28The Cathedral choir gave an excellent reading of Moderati's Musical Vespers on Sunday evening, November 19, with a choir of forty voices, under the direction of J. S. Gehan. Mrs. S. V. Harris, Miss Pottgieser, E. J. McCaffery were the soloists, with Miss Sans Souci at the organ.
30Henry Wolfsohn, the New York impresario, visited the Twin Cities during the De Pachmann tour.
32Alexandre Petschnikoff comes to us in the fifth of the artists' series, to be the star attraction of the series.
34GERTRUDE SANS SOUCI.
36Mr. Saar's Composition Recital.
38MR. LOUIS SAAR gave a composition recital at the New York College of Music last Saturday evening. A distinguished musical gathering was present and greatly enjoyed the following too short program:
40Quartet in G major.
41Allegro grazioso. Thema con Variazione.
42Messrs. Boegner, Knecht, Schaeffer and Boucher.
44Songs—
45Sehnsucht, op. 19, No. 3.
46Sommernacht, op. 24, No. 2.
47Liebesquell, op. 24, No. 5.
48Miss Edna Stern.
50Piano solos—
51Ballade, op. 21, No. 1.
52Kleine Romanze, op. 31, No. 2.
53Rhapsodie, op. 23, No. 5.
54The Composer.
56Songs, with violin obligato—
57Lilian.
58Hark, Hark, Pretty Lark.
59Miss Martha Hofacker.
60Violin obligato, Eugene Borgner.
62Quartets, op. 8, for mixed voices, with piano accompaniment—
63Mainacht.
64Seufzer.
65Minnelied.
66Misses Hofacker and Stern, Messrs. Veron and McKeon.
68Mr. Saar's talent is unmistakable. He has something to say and the technical ability to express his ideas. Trained in the severest and most objective school of Germany he is nevertheless lyric in his tendencies and a master of delicate poesy in his songs. A surprise, too, was his string quartet, for it is an effort strong in its lyricism, admirably constructed as to counterpoint—Ca va sans dire—and more in the Haydn-Mozart than Brahms vein. Because of his evident leaning toward the Vienna master, Mr. Saar has been accused of being a too ardent Brahmsianer. He does admire Brahms and writes music that in formal cast recalls Brahms rather than Chopin. The piano solo revealed this. The Rhapsodie is the most spontaneous, though naught can be said against the fresh, pretty melody of the romanzes. And Mr. Saar plays his piano most musically, with by no means the regulation composer's "touch" and plenty of fire and freedom of mechanism.
70His songs are all charming. "Sehnsucht" and "Liebesquell" and "Hark, Pretty Lark" are worthy to be signed by European names of high reputation. "Lilian" is in a more popular vein, and neither as introspective or as poetic as the others. The quartets, several in a Brahms mood, are prize-crowned. "Mainacht" has the perfume and sweet mystery of early spring. The interpretations were all good, though Miss Hofacker was evidently nervous. Miss Edna Stern has a beautiful, rich contralto well trained, and a singer born. Miss Hofacker has a genuinely fresh, strong, young soprano, a soprano of brilliant color. Both these ladies are pupils of Mme. Anna Lankow, and show the careful, artistic hand of their teacher. Both the quartets, string and vocal, went very well. Mr. Saar enjoyed a distinct personal triumph, as he certainly deserved to.
72Emma Thursby's Return from Europe.
74SENSATIONAL reports having been published about the serious illness of Miss Emma Thursby, the distinguished American prima donna, THE MUSICAL COURIER sent one of its reporters to her residence on Thursday last, and he found her well and happy in her apartments, Gramercy Park. Miss Thursby returned from Europe something over two weeks ago, going to Boston first to pay a visit to friends there. She has in no sense lost her voice, as the published stories had it, and is to-day in as fine voice as she has been for ten years.
76Last winter Miss Thursby had an attack of the grip, which did not leave any lasting effects, and this summer in Paris she sang for Madame Marchesi, receiving from that distinguished source the most enthusiastic praise for the splendid quality and preservation of her voice. Madame Marchesi expressed herself as disappointed that Miss Thursby did not still give the world the benefit of her fine abilities as an artist.
78The fact that Miss Thursby is receiving her pupils for instruction in vocal art is sufficient evidence that she is not ill and that she has not partially or otherwise lost her voice. She begs to make this announcement through THE MUSICAL COURIER.
80The Woman's String Orchestra.
82This successful organization, under Carl Lachmund's leadership, is certain to have a busy season. The bookings already made guarantee this. Next Wednesday the orchestra will appear in Waterbury, Conn. Soon thereafter dates will be filled in various Pennsylvania and New York towns. Early in the spring a tour will be made through the South. The Woman's String Orchestra, the personnel of which is somewhat different from what it was last season, was never so strong as it is at present. In it are some highly skillful instrumentalists, who are excellent in ensemble work and also admirable as soloists. One of these, who has just returned from Europe with an enhanced reputation, is Leontine Gaertner, the young violoncello virtuosa. Director Lachmund has set before him a high standard and requires the members of the orchestra to keep themselves up to it. His severe discipline has accomplished good results.
84Touching the work of Mr. Lachmund, Camilla Urso, the violinist, writes: "I spent two hours in perfect enjoyment. The concert was a great success. * * * Excellent shading and time, skillful technic, perfect intonation and graceful style."
86The New York Evening Post says: "They play well."
88A new illustrated souvenir prospectus has just been issued and will be mailed to managers or directors of clubs upon application. J. Sumner Burroughs will hereafter act as manager and representative, and all communications should be addressed to him at No. 132 West Eighty-fifth street, New York city.
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