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Musical Courier 1903-07-08: Vol 47 Iss 1215, 1903
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1IOWA MUSIC TEACHERS.
3OTTUMWA, Ia., June 27, 1903.
5THE Society of Music Teachers of Iowa has just closed its meetings for the year of 1903. The attendance has been the largest in its history, there being about 200 teachers present.
7Like the societies of other States the reduced railroad fare depends upon the attendance of at least 100 members. Heretofore this society has always "lost out" on this point, and it was a great source of gratification to the president, Henri Ruifrok, of Des Moines, and Secretary Charles H. Bohn, Mt. Pleasant, and the officers generally that this point was carried this year. It will ensure a still larger attendance in the future.
9The following is a list of officers and members of the various committees:
11President, Henri Ruifrok, Des Moines.
12Vice president, Miss Jeannette A. Brown, Ottumwa.
13Secretary and treasurer, Charles H. Bohn, Mt. Pleasant.
14Program Committee—Voice, Wm. H. Pontius, Dubuque; piano, Chas. Grade, Muscatine; violin and other instruments, Arthur Heft, Des Moines; organ and lectures, Henry W. Matlack, Grinnell.
15Executive Committee—Jean P. Duffield, chairman; Mrs. Frances E. Clark, W. H. T. Foster, E. J. Sampson and W. F. Schwenkler.
17The programs were all of exceptional interest and gave substantial evidence of the growth of music in this State and in the West.
19Especial mention should be made of the playing of Jean P. Duffield and Miss Jeannette Brown. Both are artists of splendid ability.
21The Ottumwa Chorus, under their director, Mrs. Frances E. Clark, gave a commendable account of themselves in the excerpts from "Elijah," a work they had presented the week before in their annual concert.
23The concert was followed by a reception at the home of Miss Jeannette Brown. This plan was a thoughtful one, as it permitted visitors and members to become more generally acquainted.
25The question box of the morning session developed much interest, and brought forth discussions on methods of practice and teaching that was of great benefit to all.
27The pupils' program has been growing in interest and merit for the past several years, and the good work presented is indicative of the able instruction to be found in the Middle West.
29At the close of the pupils' concert a picnic supper was tendered to the members by the musical people of Ottumwa. The occasion proved to be an auspicious one. Genuine interest was aroused in the Iowa composers' concert.
31The program was too lengthy, but the audience remained until the end.
33The piano compositions of Henri Ruifrok and Frank Nagle, both of Des Moines, were artistically played, and gave evidence of ability and originality.
35The songs of William H. Pontius, of Dubuque, were especially pleasing. They are original in melody and in their harmonic structure, and also possess the quality of being singable. Miss Hortense Pontius, daughter of the composer, sang the songs, accompanying herself. She at once established herself as a great favorite. Her voice is a rich and sympathetic mezzo, and although but eighteen she sings like a matured artist, and she played her accompaniments with rare skill and varied effectiveness. Combine beauty, simplicity, youth, voice and temperament, with an ambition to work and excel, and you have an artist in embryo.
37Dr. Arthur Heft and Frank, Nagle, of Des Moines, played a piano and violin Sonata, op. 1, by F. S. Convers. The work is a genuinely artistic one, and deserves to be known wherever good music is practiced. Dr. Heft is a capable instructor, and an intelligent and skillful artist.
39Geo. A. Gibbs, of Farley, sang two of Hawley's songs with a deep, resonant basso voice. His tones are free, vibrant and quite musical.
41The papers and discussion which followed were of great interest to all present. An effort is to be made in the direction of State legislation that the work of teaching music in the public schools may be placed on a more systematic basis.
43There was a very large audience present at the concert Thursday afternoon; but some disappointment was felt by the members of the society, as the program was not up to the usual standard. The promised selections from "Elijah" were omitted altogether because of the absence of many members of the Ottumwa Society. The vocal solos of Mrs. De Graff and Mr. Lagen and the organ playing of Miss Scheiwe, Mr. Matlock and Mr. Ezerman deserve special mention.
45Behold a program of inordinate length Thursday evening. It was quite beyond physical, mental and religious endurance. Seventeen double, triple and quadruple numbers, including arias stretched out in the old Italian operatic style, with cadences ad libitum and ad infinitum, cavatinas, sonatas, &c., was enough to try the patience of even a fanatic disciple of the Wagnerian school who expects to sit through a so called musical drama for four, five or six hours and tacitly enjoy it. This program, however, presented many of the best artists of the week, and consequently held the audience until near the close. Marc Lagen's brilliant lyric tenor voice was heard to splendid advantage, and Mrs. Jane Farnham Geist sang the Gounod aria in exquisite style, displaying a well cultivated soprano voice.
47Miss De La, of Perry, and Miss Lillian Mueller, of Dubuque, both distinguished themselves in their piano numbers.
49Marion Green, the great basso cantante, and whose reputation as an artist and singer of exceptional merit is not confined to Iowa, sang three opera excerpts in his usual brilliant and finished style. He deserves his popularity.
51Mr. Manger, the Dubuque violinist, displayed his wonderful technical skill in "Zigeunerweisen," by Sarasate. Mr. Manger is a great artist. Mr. Ezerman, because of the lateness of the hour, played only the first number of his group, but in playing it he displayed his fine ability and good musicianship.
53Mrs. Myron Smith, of Creston, was one of the favorites of the evening, and her singing of Verdi's "O Don Fatale" was an artistic success. Her voice is a fine contralto, which she uses intelligently. Iowa is proud of such talent.
55Miss Grace Campbell, of Des Moines, and Miss Clara Krieg, of Burlington, were recalled at the conclusion of their piano numbers.
57Miss Hortense Pontius sang two beautiful numbers, with violin and 'cello obligato parts, with dramatic effectiveness. Her perfect repose, unostentatious manner and beautiful voice won for her a lasting place in the hearts of all present. Miss Pontius is a genuine artist.
59The concluding numbers were a trio for piano, violin and 'cello, by Gade, played by Miss Verna Stahl, H. G. Cox and Wendell Heighton, of Des Moines, and two movements of a piano and violin sonata, in D minor, op. 108, by Brahms, played by Mr. Cox and Jean P. Duffield, of Ottumwa.
61Mr. Cox is a well known violinist of Des Moines, and his work was creditable.
63Mr. Heighton is accredited as being the leading 'cellist of his State. He has technic, a good tone and plays musicianly.
65Mr. Duffield, the pianist, is a well equipped artist, and his playing won high favor.
67Mrs. Gregg opened the afternoon program, Friday, with a group of well chosen numbers, and interpreted them well. In fact there was not an inferior piano number on the program, and Miss Garton, of Des Moines; Miss Fields, of Shenandoah; Miss Maurer, of Wilton; Miss Denhoe, Miss White, of Centreville, and Miss Lothian, of Sioux City, all did very acceptable playing.
69Marc Lagen, the soloist of the afternoon, again distinguished himself by his dramatic conception of Mendelssohn's "The Sorrows of Death."
71Mrs. D. J. Norton, of Washington, chose four of the Schumann song classics for her group. She had a clear conception of them, but the delay in finding the accompanist put the audience into an unhappy mood, which lessened the effect of Mrs. Norton's presentation.
73Burlington boasts of one of the largest and best organized musical clubs in the West, and Mrs. Wells, the efficient president, made a choice of four of the strongest players in her club for the ensemble number which opened the Friday evening program.
75Miss Katherine Berry sang a "Der Freischutz" aria in lieu of the one announced for her. She sang in good style.
77Miss Werthmueller, of Burlington, is a pianist of excellent ability, and gave her number with good effect.
79Grant Hadley, a popular teacher and baritone of Des Moines, gave his group with good tone, barring the tendency to force a little, and broad style. His enunciation was clear and concise, and attack good but somewhat overdone.
81Miss Frey, of Keokuk, is a pianist of more than ordinary ability, and played her group so well as to win a recall. Mr. Colton, of Indianola, is a new member of the society. His violin number was as fully appreciated as it was well played.
83Miss Hicks played a pleasing theme and variation in excellent style. Miss Hicks is one of the best accompanists in the State.
85Mrs. Funk, a well known vocal teacher of Burlington, gave a group of well chosen numbers.
87Chas. Grade, one of the best artists in the society, assisted by one of his pupils, gave Chopin's Rondo for two pianos, op. 73.
89Mrs. Hamilton, of Sioux City, pianist and teacher, played effectively a Rondo by Weber, and Chopin's Polonaise, op. 53.
91Florence Hyde Hull, of Oskaloosa, sang Gounod's "Lend Me Your Aid" with dramatic effect. Her voice is a pure soprano. Miss Lillian Hughes, a pupil of Guilmant, accompanied.
93Miss Bessie Parker, a pianist of much more than ordinary ability and technical skill, gave her three numbers with brilliancy. For some unknown reason the program was lengthened unnecessarily by the addition of several unannounced numbers. Mrs. Watson sung one of the extra numbers, and Miss Nellie Brewster another, doing an imitation of a vaudeville turn that was quite unexpected by the dignitaries present.
95The election of officers occurred on Friday morning. William H. Pontius, of Dubuque, was unanimously chosen as president for the ensuing year. Mr. Pontius is popular in his State. A Chicago journal, the Chronicle, June 29, commenting on the choice for president, states that "Mr. Pontius is a leading vocal teacher, conductor and composer of his State and of the West. He is a man of strong personality, and is possessed of great executive ability. It is assured that the society will be stimulated to even greater effort under his guidance." The other officers are as follows: Chas. Grade, Muscatine, vice president; Charles H. Bohn, Mt. Pleasant, secretary; program committee, Henri Ruifrok, Des Moines, piano; Grant Hadley, Des Moines, voice; Arthur Heft, Des Moines, violin; H. W. Matlack, Grinnell, organ.
97MADAME ALICE ESTY In America, Season 1903-4. OPERA, ORATORIO, CONCERT.
99SHANNA CUMMING Western Tour Begins October 15. Recitals, Concerts, Oratorio. Other Dates Booking. 1424 Pacific Street, BROOKLYN, N. Y. *Phone: 908A Bedford. HENRY WOLFSONE, Manager.
101JUST PUBLISHED —BY— G. SCHIRMER, New York. OPERATIC ANTHOLOGY, CELEBRATED ARIAS SELECTED FROM OPERAS BY OLD AND MODERN COMPOSERS. Edited by MAX SPICKER. Vol. 1, Soprano. (CONTAINING 48 ARIAS.) PAPER, NET. $1.50. CLOTH, NET, $2.50. Vol. 2 Alto, Vol. 4 Baritone, Will soon follow. Vol. 3 Tenor, Vol. 5 Bass,
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