Scan 6
Musical Courier 1905-08-23: Vol 51 Iss 1326, 1905
53 lines. Read by computer on 23 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1HOTEL CECIL, LONDON,
2LONDON, August 9, 1905.
4SUNDAY music in London has been steadily growing in popularity for a long time, and this autumn is to see a big development. There will be four series of Sunday afternoon concerts running simultaneously. Last year there were two, and previously there had only been one—the Sunday Concert Society at Queen's Hall.
6This autumn will see both the London Symphony Orchestra and the Queen's Hall Orchestra playing at Queen's Hall, on alternate Sundays, for the above mentioned society. Also both orchestras will play on alternate Sundays at the Albert Hall. In addition to these concerts, another series is to be given at the Coronet Theatre, Notting Hill Gate, W. (also in the afternoon), by a new society, "The Sunday Orchestral Society," which has just been founded by Alfred Lang, the secretary of the Concert Goers' Club. A start is to be made in October with a preliminary series of six concerts, and the conductor is to be Howard Jones, a young native musician, who is a professor at the Royal Academy. He is a remarkably clever pianist, but as a conductor is quite unknown in London. Finally, the orchestral concerts of the Sunday Concert Club, which were conducted so successfully by Señor Arbos last year, are to be continued.
8In addition to these concerts we must not omit, in speaking of Sunday music, to make mention of the National Sunday League, which gives concerts on the Sabbath eve at various places in London. Most of these are of the "popular" type, with a brass band (always a good one) and plenty of ballad singing. Usually, however, they try and provide a first class orchestral concert now and again, and last year they engaged the London Symphony Orchestra, and the Queen's Hall Orchestra on several occasions.
10Two items of choral news: The Royal Choral Society are going to give a performance of Brahms' "Requiem" (which is unfortunately so seldom heard in London) in January next. The bass soloist is to be Francis Harford, whom Joachim selected to sing in the memorial performance of the work which was given at Brahms' death. Mr. Harford is one of the finest artists among English singers.
12The London Choral Society have secured the first London performance of Part III of "The Apostles." This is in accordance with the wishes of the composer, who, not long ago, made a little speech to the society at a rehearsal, and thanked them for the work they are doing in making his works known in London.
14They are busy just now in Piccadilly taking away the very last fragment of St. James' Hall. For weeks past musical Londoners who passed the spot stopped to look up at the arched roof and walls of the historic hall being torn away. We have only one good concert hall in London now, and that is in the hands of a firm who are busy pushing their own pianos and songs.
16I am told, on rather good authority, that they only let the hall to the Queen's Hall Orchestra for this Promenade season on the condition that they (the firm) provided half of the singers. If this rumor is true, it accounts for some of the names on the list of artists who are to appear.
18It is rather bad, though, for London, when matters stand thus. The sooner we get a concert hall that is not tied in any way, the better. Some months ago Mr. Ascherberg, the well known music publisher, told me he intended to build a new concert hall in London. It was to be about the size of St. James' and to be ready in December. He also told me that he would not tie it in any way to his own firm. But I have heard no more about it.
20It used to be said that Mr. Carnegie was going to build a temple of art, mainly for Henry Wood. I wish he would. It would only cost as much as two libraries or ten church organs.
22The mention of concert halls reminds me that I omitted the names of one or two artists who deserved special praise on account of their performances this season. Charles Clark is one of them. He is a singer in whom artistic gifts and a magnificent voice are united, and critics are unanimous in praising him. Mr. Clark is a baritone Caruso, and he ought to have made a lot of money on the operatic stage. Covent Garden made him an offer last year, but he told me that it was not good enough. He gave two recitals this season, and made a great hit at social functions. American singers, indeed, have been much to the fore. Mrs. Rollie Borden-Low is another artist who received a warm welcome—and rightly so—from both press and public.
24Then I recollect Herbert Witherspoon, a bass of most excellent quality and artistic finish. Yet another American, Betty Booker (who hails from Virginia) gave a recital in May. Like other American sopranos, she has an exceedingly brilliant upper register, and an uncommon degree of musical perception.
26The publishers are feeling rather despondent over the musical piracy bill. After an uphill fight they got the Government to bring in a bill a month ago, and it passed its first reading. Now the defeat of the Government and the paralyzing of business by an idiotic Opposition have almost killed its chances. It may go through with a bunch of others at the last moment, but it is more likely to be left out in the cold.
28That extraordinary man, Mr. Caldwell, M. P., has issued another pamphlet on the subject of piracy, in which, by a lot of absurd statements, he tries to prove that music is too dear. When a man talks of the price of "music" being one shilling and fourpence per copy he is obviously not worth listening to. That is the sort of thing Mr. Caldwell says.
30At the Crystal Palace, once the centre of musical life here, there is to be something of a revival during the next season, and some good orchestral concerts are to be given. Landon Ronald will bring the London Symphony Orchestra to Sydenham, and conduct one or two concerts.
32Also the new musical director, Walter Hedgcock (the successor of Sir August Manns), will give two concerts with the same orchestra, and some with the Palace amateur orchestra and choir. Mr. Hedgcock is a remarkably able conductor, and next to Henry J. Wood I like his conducting as well as any other native musician. The way he has trained the amateur orchestra (attached to Crystal Palace) to a state of efficiency is really remarkable.
34I hear that the Duke of Bedford is again seriously thinking of pulling down Covent Garden Theatre and using the site to enlarge the market grounds next door to the theatre. The £8,000 ($40,000) a year rent which the syndicate pay is not, it is considered, equivalent to the value the land would acquire as market ground.
36The market traffic is extremely congested, and enlargement is certainly needed. The theatre, too, is most inconveniently placed for vehicular traffic, and for many reasons one would be glad to see a new opera house in London.
38But to purchase a site suitable for a fine building in a central part of London would require an enormous capital, and the syndicate naturally shrinks from facing anything of the kind.
40The "island" site in the Strand has often been suggested, but it would cost a million or more, and other eligible sites are equally dear.
42Still, a move will probably have to be made one day.
44Numbers of subscribers for the autumn opera season have already sent in their names, and the success of the venture seems certain. Giordano's "Siberia" will probably be mounted, as well as "André Chenier," and the composer will be over here. Puccini will come to London, too. The opening performance will take place on October 5.
46The little municipal music that London has, the L. C. C. bands in the parks and open spaces, has been most successful this year.
48Carl Armbruster, a talented musician, who formed one of the Bayreuth disciples who sat at Wagner's feet in the master's last days, has been striving hard after artistic results. This year, for the first time, he engaged a complete orchestra, small, but comprising strings, wood and brass. All the other bands are wood and brass.
50The programs have been excellent, and each year music of a higher class has been performed.
52Mr. Armbruster is doing his best for British composers,
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