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Musical Courier 1903-06-24: Vol 46 Iss 1213, 1903
69 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 22. See the scan on archive.org.
1WILLY BURMESTER.
3THE Willy Burmester press notices, referred to in our Berlin correspondent's London letter this week, are as follows:
51903.
7The Times, June 1, 1903.
8When, some six years ago, Herr Willy Burmester came to England for the first time, he was regarded as a virtuoso of the violin whose chief claim to fame and to our suffrages was based upon his remarkable agility, especially in the music of Paganini. Now that he has returned for a fairly long series of recitals, the first of which took place Friday evening in St. James' Hall, he evidently aspires to be judged as an artist first, though he has by no means lost any of his technical dexterity. This latter gift, however, is now very common property, and Herr Burmester is undoubtedly justified in abandoning the old means which were confounded with the end and in striving for the only end worth seeking—the artistic. In the course of his series of concerts more opportunities will arise for judging him finally; but it may be said at once that, though there was plenty of sentiment, there was no sentimentality in his performance of the Mendelssohn Concerto, while the qualities of delicacy, lightness of touch and neatness of execution were fully displayed; and, we repeat, Herr Burmester has established his claim to be regarded now as an artist.
10The Daily Telegraph.
11A program of higher rank could not have been prepared than that of last night. Apart from Saint-Saens' "Rondo Capriccioso," it was made up entirely of works by the classical masters of Germany—Beethoven, Mendelssohn, Spohr, Bach and Mozart. Truly a constellation of burning and shining lights, in face of whose splendor no defect could hide itself. Mr. Burmester met all the demands upon him with consummate ease. For the rest the accomplished artist was impeccable, playing everything with absolute certainty, perfect taste and the measure of masterfulness which takes captive an audience and holds them in the bonds of admiration.
13The Daily News.
14It is evident he means to be judged as an artist, and an artist he is certainly now. It is said that his style is much more refined than it used to be; that his tone is pure and his technic brilliant and sure. His reading of the work was full of sentiment without being exaggerated.
16The Standard.
17Herr Burmester again demonstrated his powers as a violinist yesterday, when he presented a program of attractive proportions. He was admirable in Wieniawski's "Faust" Fantasia, and his finest performance was that of Bach's beautiful old Aria on the G string, which was played with a notable absence of the exaggerated sentiment too often associated with its rendering. Another piece was demanded as an encore for this, and the like tribute was accorded the violinist for his playing in Bach's Chaconne.
19Arionites Sail.
20MANY members of the New York Arion Society organized themselves into an excursion party, and last Saturday sailed on the steamship Pretoria for a lengthy summer tour in Europe. The excursionists were given an old fashioned German send-off, with brass bands, bouquets and songs.
221895.
24The Times.
25The player displayed a good deal more than the phenomenal virtuosity of his former performance. His phrasing throughout, but especially in the slow movement, was most artistic and refined, and in the Air of Bach a beautiful dignity was revealed. This number was encored and repeated.
27The Daily Telegraph.
28He charmed and astonished the audience, who in the midst of a brilliant display of technic were as delighted as though they understood how it was done or could measure the enormous difficulties so easily mastered. The Adagio of Spohr showed the higher qualities of Mr. Burmester's musicianship, and indicated that there is no eminence to which he may not legitimately aspire.
30The Daily News.
31In the broad and long drawn out movement of the Air of Bach Herr Burmester displayed a full, rich and powerful tone, a purity of intonation and a dignity of expression. The audience saw in the newcomer no mere virtuoso, but a thorough artist, capable both in the showy and the more classic schools.
33The Standard.
34Herr Burmester's first solo last night was Spohr's Seventh Concerto, which was a suitable test piece of a violinist's capacity. Spohr, perhaps more than any other of the great masters, knew how to write effectively for the leading bowed instrument, and Herr Burmester seemed to revel in the grateful melodic and florid passages in which this concerto abounds. His extraordinary manipulative abilities were displayed in Wieniawski's "Faust" Fantasia, the immediate succession of notes produced in the ordinary position, and the highest possible harmonic both in pure intonation, giving proof that another artist and virtuoso of the foremost rank is seeking the suffrages of London amateurs.
36The Sunday Times.
37Herr Burmester gave a violin recital and played with great refinement and artistic feeling. He was specially successful in Bach's Aria on the G string and in the old master's great Chaconne.
39The Sunday Times.
40Having dazzled us with his extraordinary brilliant technic, Herr Willy Burmester is now in a hurry to establish his claim to consideration of a higher kind than belongs to the first class virtuoso. I am most willing to accept his superb rendering of the Bach Air and the Spohr Adagio as proof positive that this artist is equally versatile.
42The Globe.
43Willy Burmester's reappearance is most welcome, for he is an exceptionally gifted violinist. On his former visit he devoted most of his attention to "show" pieces, which gave him an opportunity of displaying his fine technic. The program of his first recital last night, however, was drawn principally from the classics. Herr Burmester showed by his performances that he possesses as great claims to attention as an artist as in his capacity of a virtuoso.
45Pall Mall Gazette.
46Yesterday afternoon at St. James' Hall Herr Willy Burmester gave a concert, in which he proved that he belongs to quite the front rank of violinists today. His tune never wavers from the pitch; his accuracy is (under the most trying calls of technic) quite splendid; and he has behind all this an accomplishment, a sentiment and a musicianly feeling which make his work very attractive and very significant. In Bach's Chaconne for violin he was altogether splendid; his technic was as easy as the work was difficult, and from every point of view it is not to be denied that he realized the work of the old master with absolute perfection. In a Theme with Variations for violin alone (Paganini-Burmester) he was really most wonderful. His perfection of tone and his complete beauty of phrasing were memorial things, while his technic can only be regarded as a complete help to his artistic sentiment. To sum up the matter we recognize that Mr. Burmester is a violinist of an extremely fine temperament, technically accomplished to the last degree. He still remains, from the emotional point of view, extraordinary and separate in his art.
48The Sunday Special.
49On Thursday afternoon Willy Burmester gave a recital at St. James' Hall, in which he showed that he can challenge comparison with the most finished product of the Sevick forcing house, while his style is marked by a dignity and restraint of sentiment which give a peculiar significance to his work.
51A Musical Invalid.
52ALTHOUGH Mrs. Mary E. Ford for more than sixteen years furnished sunshine and inspired hope among the many inmates of the Home for Incurables at Fordham, in the Bronx, she now finds herself one of them, and can only move around in an invalid's chair.
53About sixteen years ago Mrs. Ford was taken to the home, suffering from rheumatism, which compelled her to give up her work as an organist and musician. After two years' treatment she was again enabled to take up her work, and gladly became the regular organist, and Sunday after Sunday her sympathetic playing touched the hearts of many of the aged inmates.
54After her recovery and during all these years Mrs. Ford never forgot her friends in the home, and frequently journeyed far to give her services to them. Mrs. Ford has a beautiful soprano voice, and on many occasions she sang for the afflicted.—Exchange.
56Julie Rive-King.
57ME. JULIE RIVE-KING has given recitals this month in Pennsylvania towns. At Smithport and Franklin she was greeted by large audiences. This gifted American pianist has other summer engagements. Some criticisms will follow next week.
59OCEAN GROVE.
61OCEAN GROVE, N. J., June 22, 1903.
63THE season at Ocean Grove will be officially opened next Saturday evening with a popular concert, to be followed by a reception in the great auditorium. All the hotels and boarding houses are ready for the summer guests, the unsightly shutters have been taken down from the pretty cottages; the snow white tents, which form a picturesque part of Ocean Grove, have raised their heads; the streets have been put in perfect order, the boats and skiffs are skimming over the placid waters of Wesley and Fletcher lakes, and the people are coming in by hundreds on every train. From all indications Ocean Grove is to have its most successful season of its history.
64Tali Esen Morgan, the musical director, has organized his Ocean Grove Festival Chorus for the season. Over 250 names were enrolled, and two solid hours were spent in singing Sullivan's "Prodigal Son" and Cowen's "Rose Maiden." The manner in which this chorus takes up new music is astonishing. Mr. Morgan works with the greatest energy, and not a moment is lost. The chorus seems to catch his enthusiasm, and they evidently enjoy hard work. The "Prodigal Son" will be given on Saturday evening, July 11, and the "Rose Maiden" one week later, July 18.
65The chorus never remains the same even for two weeks. Members leave for home, and new names are enrolled daily. The question naturally arises how can a chorus of moving membership learn and sing the great oratorios that are given here during the summer? Rehearsals are held daily, and persons are not permitted to sing in any work unless they have been in the chorus at least a week.
66The concert next Saturday evening will be a sort of a grand reunion of old friends, and most people go for a jolly good time. The concert proper will last only until 9 o'clock, and the second part is really a promenade concert, where people "walk and talk" while the orchestra is playing. The admission to this concert being only 15 cents, it is expected that fully 7,000 will be present.
67The orchestra will arrive here this week, and the first rehearsal is called for Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock. The full orchestra will number sixty, and will be composed of experienced orchestra players. Among the number will be Hans Kronold, the well known concert 'cellist; the Park Sisters, cornetists, are also engaged for all season. The Bradford Trio, violin, viola and flute, well known in concert work, are among the number. The harpist is Helen Marie Burr. There are many other excellent soloists in the orchestra. Daily rehearsals will be held from 10 to 12.30. The orchestra will play at the Monday evening receptions in the Auditorium, and at the Wednesday and Saturday evening concerts. On Sunday also they will be heard at both morning and evening service.
68Excepting Mr. Kronold, who will live with his family in a cottage, the men of the orchestra will live in finely furnished modern house tents on the banks of Fletcher Lake. They lived there last summer, and they would not think of changing into a house, for they have more
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