Scan 40
Musical Courier 1903-02-04: Vol 46 Iss 1193, 1903
58 lines. Read by computer on 22 September 2026. Printed page 41. See the scan on archive.org.
1Obituary.
3Robert Planquette.
5Robert Jean Planquette, the composer of "The Chimes of Normandy," "Paul Jones" and other light and comic operas, died in Paris January 28, on the same day that Augusta Holmès passed away.
7A cable says that after the burial of Planquette some mystery arose as to the cause of his death, and his relatives have asked that the body be exhumed. Planquette in his line was a real composer and not a feeble imitator and copyist, like some of his colleagues here and abroad. His music was charming and as popular in Germany and England as in France. Born in Paris, July 31, 1850, Planquette studied at the Paris Conservatory. Duprato was his teacher in composition. He wrote first a number of songs that were sung with success at café concerts. His first operetta in one act, "Paille d'Avoine," was presented in 1874 and was received with favor, but the name of the composer became famous after the production of "Les Cloches de Corneville" ("Chimes of Normandy") in 1877. The opera enjoyed a run of over 400 nights at the Folies-Dramatiques, in Paris. Long runs also followed in Germany, England, and the United States. Farine and Reece, of London, made the adaptation for the English stage. "Le Chevalier Gaston," an operetta in one act, was sung for the first time in 1879, and "Les Voltigeurs" in 1880. Two operettas were presented in 1887, "Surcouf," in Paris, and "The Old Guard," in London. "Paul Jones" was another work written especially for London. It was heard for the first time in 1889. "Le Talisman" was brought out in 1892; "Panurge" in 1895, and the spectacular opera, "Mam'zell Quat' Sous," in 1897.
9Augusta Holmès.
11Augusta Holmès, one of the few women who have been seriously considered as composers, died in Paris Wednesday of last week in her fifty-sixth year. One of the modern dictionaries says she was born in Paris, December 16, 1847, of Irish parents. Other authorities contradict this by quoting the year 1850 and Ireland as the date and place of her birth. The parents of Miss Holmès were cultivated Irish people. The father was a man of literary bent and the mother a painter of some note. Early in youth Augusta, whose full baptismal name was Augusta Mary Anne, showed decided talent for music. She took piano lessons in the usual way, but as her gifts were very unusual she was encouraged in making music her profession. After she had made her début as a pianist she studied composition with several masters, the greatest being César Franck. Miss Holmès wrote symphonies, symphonic poems, music for the church, chamber music, a cantata, an opera and over 100 songs. In America she is best known through her songs, a number of these being beautiful and many very charming. Some of Miss Holmès' music showed real creative power. Unfortunately her opera, "La Montagne Noire," first produced in Paris in 1895, was not favorably received. She wrote other operas, but the records are silent about the performances.
13The first composition by Miss Holmès, a psalm, "In Exitu," was performed in 1873. A year later her symphony, "Hero and Leander," was played in public. Her other symphonies are entitled "Lutece," "Les Argonautes," "Lutin" and "Hymn à la Paix," and the symphonic poems include "Irlande," "Patrie," "Roland," "Pologne" and "Au Pays bleu." Her allegorical cantata, "La Vision de la Reine," has been sung in France many times.
15She was born on Beethoven's birthday (December 16) and she died (January 28) on the birthday of Hérold and born in 1837, in Bavaria, and, after pursuing his musical studies in that country and France, came to the United States in 1854, locating in Cincinnati, where for a number of years and until its destruction by fire he conducted the orchestra at Pike's Opera House. While in Cincinnati he married, in 1862, Clara Mayer, who was a member of the choir of the late Rabbi Lillienthal's congregation, of which Mr. Hahn was the leader. About thirty years ago Mr. and Mrs. Hahn removed to Philadelphia, and there Mr. Hahn made for himself a notable reputation as an orchestra leader and teacher of the violin. The work in which he took the greatest interest, however, was the teaching of music to the inmates of the Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind, in which he engaged shortly after coming to Philadelphia. In this institution he organized an orchestra of about fifty performers, many of whom became musicians of exceptional proficiency. Mr. Hahn is survived by his widow, two sons, Frederick E. and Theodore J. Hahn, and his daughter, Mrs. H. H. Levy, of Richmond.
17Meyer Lutz.
19Meyer Lutz, an operatic composer and for many years music director of the Gaiety Theatre, in London, died February 1.
21The Brooklyn Arion Concert.
23THE Brooklyn Arion gave a "lieder abend" Sunday night at the clubhouse on Arion place, near Broadway, Brooklyn. Conductor Claassen directed the society in "Waldhafen," by Schultz; "Ave Maria," by Nessler; Mozart's Cradle Song, arranged for chorus by Mr. Claassen; "Das deutsche Lied," Fassbender (prize song of the Saengerfest of 1900); "Ach, weisst du es noch," by Fique; "Das alte Mütterchen," by Spicker, and "Frühling am Rhein," by Breu. The Ladies' Chorus assisted the club in the performance of a new composition, "Der Blumen Rache," by Meyer-Olbersleben. The singing was inspiring and, as usual, the associate members and their families greatly enjoyed the music. A small orchestra accompanied in the larger works. Solos were played by Hans Kronold, cellist, and Charles Molé, flutist. Florestan Domascheditz was at the piano.
25The grand public concert by the Brooklyn Arion, under the auspices of the Brooklyn Institute, will be given at the Academy of Music Thursday evening, March 26.
27Gerard-Thiers' Lecture.
29ALBERT GERARD-THIERS gave his lecture, "The Technic of Musical Expression," before a large and intensely interested audience at his Carnegie Hall studios last Friday afternoon. This lecture is valuable not only to the teacher and student artist, but also to those who love music for itself and desire a complete understanding of the laws of interpretation. Mr. Thiers illustrates his lecture with a series of songs, which he sings most artistically.
31New York "Evening Post."—Theodor Björksten, one of our great apostles of Bach, knows how to make an attractive program. * * * Mr. Björksten has a voice of genuine tenor quality, with not a baritonal ingredient. * * * He was at his best in "Ah, fuyez," from Massenet's "Manon," which he sang dramatically, and in Schubert's Serenade ("Leiselehen"), which evoked such a storm of applause that it had to be repeated. Several of the other numbers received applause enough to justify an encore.
33CONCERTS, ORATORIO, SONG RECITALS.
35THEODOR BJÖRKSTEN,
37Phenomenal Triumphs Everywhere!
39KOCIAN
41BOHEMIAN VIOLIN VIRTUOSO.
43During February and early March touring principal cities of the South and California.
45DIRECTION RUDOLPH ARONSON, 1123 Broadway, NEW YORK. WEBER PIANO USED.
47New York "Tribune."—In Mendelssohn Hall last night Theodor Björksten gave a recital, in which he showed that he is splendidly equipped intellectually and emotionally as a singer of songs. * * * The songs in his program which had real heart in them were sung with fine and truthful expression, and one of them, Bungert's "Sandträger," which marked the climax of the evening, sent a thrill through the audience, so dramatically was it conceived and uttered.
49INSTRUCTION IN SINGING. 2 West 39th Street, New York. Management HENRY WOLFSOHN.
51Soloist Worcester Festival, Etc. Tenor. Address Kimball Hall or Bureau of Fine Arts, Chicaco, or N. Vert, 9 E. 17th St., New York.
53HAMLIN
55"THE SCIENCE OF THE ART OF SINGING." Revised, Enlarged and Combined Second Edition of "VOCAL ART," By ANNA LANKOW (890 PARK AVENUE). Price, $3.50. On sale at BREITKOPF & HÄRTEL, 11 East 16th St., New York, and all Music Stores. Mme. Lankow has returned from Europe and resumed her work.
57RUBY SHOTWELL PIPER Dramatic Soprano. LOUDON G. CHARLTON, MANAGER, Carnegie Hall, NEW YORK.
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