Scan 24
Musical Courier 1901-04-24: Vol 42 Iss 1100, 1901
106 lines. Read by computer on 21 September 2026. Printed page 25. See the scan on archive.org.
1he had. It would have forever stifled these burning enigmas.
3Is it any wonder, then, that Brünnhilde's rage led her to make statements she saw were misconstrued by the others? And remember that she referred to the particular night when Gunther waited beneath the burning mountain, while Hagen kept watch and ward at Gibichung Hall. This point is emphasized in the text. So we are forced to the conclusion that Brünnhilde knew, Hagen knew, and that this ill assorted pair allowed the foolish Gibichungs to labor under a delusion, dupes of a half truth.
5Is there no meaning in the bitter alacrity with which Brünnhilde meets Hagen half way in the scheme for vengeance and Siegfried's death? And then the uncalled for statement that the sheathed sword hung upon the inner wall that night? Her deceit was only partial, a nice little white lie, though its effects were absolutely deadly.
7However, this is but a minor psychological obstruction in the mighty main currents of the epical work. One is tempted to add—and a sentimental one. It does not either way affect the strength or validity of Wagner's noble portrait. She is a goddess become woman in the story; but from the beginning she is more woman than goddess, and that constitutes her unfailing charm and power.
9These dry statistics demonstrate the impossibility of making every event, every motive, shipshape in the vast territory of the Ring. As it is, the system is magnificently coherent and cohesive, all things considered; the few lacunae are but testimony to the humanity of Richard Wagner.
11I observe that Henry T. Finck is rearing on his hind legs about the Wagner casts for next season. There was a time, say, ten years ago, when I could not have sympathized with him. It was the orchestra then, the wonderful polyphonic sea that flows at the singers' feet. But now I know that Wagner wrote for the voice, wrote words to be sung, that if these words be stupidly sung—as they are by most Germans—the music-dramas become meaningless. The first act of "Tristan and Isolde" is the most wonderful first act in the world. Every theme, every bar, every verbal phrase is a necessary unit in the closely woven score. Ternina and Jean de Reszke—yes! But the others—pouf!!
13If Wagner is not well sung, Wagner is mere sonorousness. He demands the greatest singers in the world. That is the reason—and this may strike you as a non seq.—I shall purposely miss the Ring at Bayreuth this summer. The names of the casts make depressing reading.
15Here is a list of great ones who died on their birthdays:
17Shakespeare, born April 23, 1564; died April 23, 1616.
19Sir Thomas Browne, author of "Religio Medici," born October 19, 1605; died October 19, 1682.
21Timothy Swan, composer, born July 23, 1758; died July 23, 1842.
23Maria Taglioni, dancer, born April 23, 1804; died April 23, 1884.
25John McLean Taylor, a nephew of Zachary Taylor, born November 21, 1828; died November 21, 1875.
27St. John of God, a famous Portuguese saint, born March 8, 1495; died March 8, 1550.
29John Sobieski, King of Poland, born June 17, 1629; died June 17, 1696. A great storm marked his entry into the world as well as his exit.
31Moses, according to the Talmud, was born on the seventh day of Adar, and died on the same day, 120 years later, "his age being exactly the same length of time which Noah preached to the antediluvians."
33Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, born August 23, 1785; died August 23, 1819, as his ship was entering the harbor of Port of Spain, Trinidad.
35To this list Raphael is added usually, because he was born on Good Friday, 1483, and died on Good Friday, 1520; as Good Friday depends on Easter, which is a movable feast, this citation is not accurate, inasmuch as the first date was March 28 and the second April 6.
37To this list of nine persons of all degrees of fame the name of Croizette must now be added.
39Ossip Gabrilowitsch gave his farewell recital in Carnegie Hall last Friday night. The audience was large, and it applauded the talented young man often and loudly. His program, while being well arranged, did not greatly interest me until Paderewski's Variations, op. 16, were reached. This set has great poetic charm, Slavic charm, and Gabrilowitsch, a Slav to his toe tips, played them with beauty of tone and sentiment. He took those very stiff Brahms-Händel Variations with the greatest nonchalance; his technical facility is enormous. I liked some of them very much—I wish some other less repelling title than "Variation" could have been devised for them; they are not variations in the conventional sense, but genuine creations, each one.
41Beethoven's E flat Sonata, op. 31, No. 3, with its interrogating motto, was given with absolute finish. The Scherzo was delightful. Of the Chopin group, the B major Nocturne, the earliest in that key, seemed the more sympathetically conceived, though the E minor posthumous Valse had its graceful side. Gabrilowitsch's own Caprice-Burlesque, op. 3, proved a brilliant piece, its middle section beginning in unisons, being Russian to the very earth. I purposely missed Rachmaninoff's arrangement for solo of a theme from Henselt's piano concerto. I am getting old and this sort of irreverence grates on my newly born ethical sense. I hear, however, that in this as in the tingle-tongle music of the Mendelssohn-Liszt wedding march that the Russian virtuoso played with great dash and power. He has been to me a most sympathetic artist and I am glad to learn that his American tour proved so very successful. Kha! Kha! come back to us Ossip, Malchik!
43The lights had to be turned down before an audience given to cheering would leave the hall. In addition to his regular program Gabrilowitsch played Rubinstein's Barcarolle in G minor, Chopin's C sharp minor Valse, one of the Chant Polonais, Schumann Nachtstück, Dvorák's Humoresque and Raff's Rigaudon. He had to repeat the E minor Valse of Chopin and his own Caprice. Altogether the farewell of Gabrilowitsch was a brilliant one.
45The Ralph Sommerville Thompson who composed the pretty music for "The King of Pomeru" is a brother of Vance Thompson. This little play was given last Saturday night in the Carnegie Lyceum by the Triangle Club of Princeton. The libretto and lyrics were written by R. P. Swofford. Both these men are Princeton students, class 1901.
47Buck-Babcock Musical Receptions.
49On Sunday afternoon Dudley Buck, Jr., and Mrs. Charlotte Babcock gave the last of their musical receptions for this season.
51These affairs have gained a just reputation for the high merit of the program offered, and Mr. Buck and Mrs. Babcock have gathered around them a coterie of people well known both musically and socially. Mrs. Babcock's charm as a hostess is well known, and Mr. Buck is fortunate in having her to receive with him. The studios are very attractive, and of goodly dimensions, but there has been such a constantly increasing attendance at each reception that now one has to be there in ample time in order to obtain a seat. The program for the fourteenth was as follows:
53Songs for tenor—
54Slumber Song (Masaniello)……………………………Auber
55Mag da Draussen Schnee sich thürmen…………………Allitsen
56Dudley Buck, Jr.
58Recitations with music—
59Lesson with the Fan.
60Billet Doux.
61Miss Augusta Glose, assisted at the piano by Adolf Glose.
63Violin selections—
64Romance …………………………………………………….Svensen
65Mazurka …………………………………………………….Wieniawski
66Miss Ruth Small.
68Songs for contralto—
69There Was an Ancient King……………………………Henschel
70Enchantment ……………………………………………..Massenet
71Miss Lilian Carlilsmith.
73Piano duet—
74Magic Fire Music………………………………………Wagner
75Ride of the Valkyries………………………………….Wagner
76(Arranged for four hands by Mr. Glose.)
77Miss Glose and Mr. Glose.
79Songs for tenor, Selections from the Eilland cycle……..Von Fielitz
80Dudley Buck, Jr.
82Recitation with music, Betsy Ross.
83Miss Glose.
85Songs for tenor—
86Recitative, Night Draweth Nigh Apace………………Dudley Buck
87Aria, Soft Sighs the Evening Wind…………………..Dudley Buck
88(MS, from an unpublished opera.)
89Dudley Buck, Jr.
91In the two songs of Mr. Buck's first number he made a fine contrast. "The Slumber Song" from "Masaniello" was a beautiful piece of cantabile singing, while the vigorous Allitsen song was as hearty and breezy as one could wish.
93Mr. Buck's second number was the Von Fielitz Cycle, given in response to numerous requests. He has made these songs peculiarly his own, and sings them with true dramatic feeling and rare finish. But it was in the last song of the afternoon that Mr. Buck really surprised his audience. He sang with a feeling, abandon and fire that were remarkable. Certainly he had an inspiration in his father's music, and well he might, for the aria was magnificent, thoroughly dramatic and full of melody. We would like to hear more of "Serapis."
95Miss Ruth Small, Mrs. Babcock's pretty sister, played her two violin selections with fine tone, careful intonation and real spirit.
97Miss Lilian Carlilsmith, the well-known contralto, gave her two songs in good style.
99In Miss Augusta Glose's recitations, with music, she proved herself a very talented young lady, being not only a clever member of Frohman's company, but also a pianist of ability. In the Wagner duets with her father we hear some almost perfect ensemble playing.
101The many friends of Mr. Buck and Mrs. Babcock will be glad to learn that these charming affairs will be continued next season.
103Steinberg Is Cremated.
105The remains of Albert Steinberg were cremated last Wednesday morning at Fresh Pond, L. I. There were no religious ceremonies, his old friend F. D. Bailey making a few remarks. Flowers were sent by Jean and Edouard de Reszké, Mrs. Louis Fleischmann, Mrs. William Grevel, Mrs. Frida Ashforth, Mrs. Benjamin Bleier, and Theodore Stein. Present were William Grevel, Benjamin Bleier, F. D. Bailey, C. W. Willimoot, Theodore Stein, Mrs. Friedberg, an aunt by marriage, and the representative of The Musical Courier. Of the vast army of singers, actors, instrumentalists and musicians generally, who courted the favors of the one time powerful Herald critic, not one appeared, not one made a sign. Thus runs the world away!
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