Scan 49
Musical Courier 1906-12-19: Vol 53 Iss 1395, 1906
58 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 40. See the scan on archive.org.
1MUSICAL EDUCATION.
3A Noble Man and Music Director.
4Albert S. Caswell, director of music in the New York high schools, Brooklyn elementary schools and training school, has many qualities to justify his position, his salary, and the place he holds in the esteem of music educators.
6The largest, because the highest, in these is this, that having run the gamut of test from pioneer days to the latest step in progress, he stands today intact in enthusiasm and in honor. This last does not refer to mere "honesty." It covers the whole network of straight lines leading from center to circumference of that known as "sound timber" in all thought relations.
8Knowing the multiplicity of natures, and the varying degrees of "sight" involved in this activity; teachers, special and grade, principals, assistants, committee people, authorities seen and unseen, the children, public opinion, judicious friends, and self seeking observers, we may realize something of the Red Sea through which he has passed, the miracles of tact and skill that he has wrought. When we learn of the incessant shifting changes that have been taking place, consequent upon unorganized conditions, the march of progress, the increase in population, and of the uncertified place held by music in the schools through it all, we may be able to judge of the limitless obstacles he has had to encounter, and the strength and endurance shown.
10But when over against that we put the far sight he has had of possibilities, the vivid vision over and beyond circumscribed horizon, the certain conviction as to accomplishment, his grief over popular but false beliefs and wish to correct them, his intense desire to see achievement, and his tremendous output of faith, hope and energy, we must doff our hats before the greatness of soul that has been able to preserve unto itself all the treasures with which it commenced. None but the elite among refined natures could have thus retained under such rigorous tests, into the heart of our selfish today, an intact honor as to principle, and enthusiasm as to the best emotions. This result in the light of our everyday experience is not only admirable, it is incredible.
12A peculiar feature of the attitude and quality of this director has been his power of holding his ground in matters of intrinsic principle or of musical advancement. Out of combat and conflict, whether of flint or of velvet opposition, he has not been in the habit of losing points, but rather gaining the next in the line of progress. Ever ready to yield a pet theory, he has ever stood unflinchingly to uphold the right. An ingenious inventiveness, born of gentle nobility, rather than the every day diplomacy, has been used to arrive at such ends. This has been united to a rare love for humanity, stronger even than that for cause, which has led him to desire the change of mind of the individual more than the accomplishment of cherished objects. To endure consequences and wait for growth, rather than the brushing aside of the person (in many cases the easier way), has been his policy. He has sought to bring people, if possible to their best selves, afterward using them as means to the big end in view. This has been a source of advantage in utilizing what might have otherwise been lost or turned into a counter stream working conscious or unconscious harm to the cause of musical education. Self interest, conceit, stupidity, ignorance, indifference, envy, selfishness, pettiness, sensitiveness, have been reduced to power for good, through this saving influence.
14No merely personal feeling has interfered with this effort toward conversion. Yielding up to others the credit that belonged to self, effacement of self to bring to a other self satisfied good humor, overlooking the false and petty ambition of the "me" and "my" and "mine" in people, accepting with philosophy disappointments and disillusions as to smallness where he looked for greatness and fidelity; guidance for the short sighted, instruction for the ignorant, cheer and hope for the weak hearted, all went into the structure, scarcely ever missing the mark.
16Another quality, which, under the circumstances, cannot be over valued, is that of an unquestioning loyalty to any measure, however little engaging his own sympathies, once it had gone into effect under rightful authority. Regardless of personal feeling, he has ever sustained, propagated, taught, caused respect for, and made efficient through his workers, all orders coming from headquarters. Such attitude in the eyes of people looking to their leader for the "pitch" of opinion, is invaluable, and this loyalty to existing authority in this country, especially in the public schools, particularly in regard to the music there, cannot be too highly praised.
18Forbearance under pressure of excitement is another valuable attribute. Possessing great readiness of speech, and a lively spirit, the musician has remarkable capacity for restraining expression of feeling or opinion, even correction, which leaps to the lips through earnestness, but may be unwise as to consequence. With a joke or story or silence he restrains himself at sight of time wasted unnecessarily, of efficiency or conceit standing in the way of accomplishment. He keeps every one in the best of humor and self appreciation, but returns later and achieves results by other and wiser routes.
20The absence of self interest alone, in the deformed and deforming tendencies of today, is something to wonder at and admire. All he asks is to be let do. He is modest, absolutely devoid of bombast or aggressiveness, ever ready and willing to learn from any source, and never asking the credit of results. Anything to promote the music cause, nothing to retard it.
22He is a good musician, trained to be a concert pianist, with gift, touch, sensibility, temperament, a love for the art accorded to few of its executive devotees, and a good singer as well. It was through vocal enjoyment that he first came to see the necessity, and establish means for the perfectionment of sight reading by people. He has passed much time in Europe, with a mind capable of absorbing from all good sources. The educational gift lifted him out of the merely executive, and gave him to the schools.
24A good pedagogue also, he can, at any time, under any conditions, in any grade, take hold of fifty or sixty young people, attract and interest them, make them laugh without losing discipline, hold them to a point, turn it over and over till possessed by all (not a few), and leave them all always wishing for more. He can give model lessons, teach teachers, play, accompany, transpose, illustrate, arrange, wake everybody up, and keep them all alive before him.
26He possesses a physical health that weather, distance, early or late, subway intricacies or trolley conductor inefficiencies are powerless before; is always on time, never complaining, and never in a hurry.
28A great aid to Director Caswell during his successful career in the schools has been the confidence, esteem, affection and sympathy which his qualities have won from the most advanced, most correct, most sane and logical, the élite of his environment. All this indeed he has had and continues to enjoy, in a high and unusual degree.
30Passing over the bridge made by his own pocketbook, at a time when the outlook was far from its present realization, the musician has passed through a musical experience given to few, rich in music growth, in educational development, in soul growth to himself, and in delightful social and musical intercourse. The recent congested population, with its foreign lacks, is the latest defiance to his resources. He adopts the situation, however, with the true spirit of the disciple of art. His love for the work has become to him a sort of religion, receiving the best of seven days in the week and a large part of every night. Surely testimonial of gratitude in a beautiful and difficult cause was never more fittingly bestowed than in his case. The name of Albert S. Caswell must go down to posterity as representing not only a staunch pioneer apostle of musical education in this country, but as one of the largest, cleanest and most honorable examples of public service of our modern time. Quite aside from music or musical education, such a character merits immortality in peoples' hearts. For when music and art have been absorbed into the one grand harmony, nature and character still remain. FANNIE EDGAR THOMAS.
32Becker Lecture-Musicales.
33Gustav L. Becker continued his course of lecture-musicales on Saturday afternoon, December 8, with a talk on Puccini's "Madam Butterfly," preceded and followed by a general musical program given by Mr. Becker's piano pupils, assisted by Perry Averill, baritone. In spite of the busy season, Mr. Becker's rooms at 1 West 104th street were filled with an attentive and often enthusiastic audience. Mr. Becker spoke of the recrudescence of Italian opera and the relation of Puccini as a composer to Wagner and Verdi, reviewed his earlier work, and devoted most of the time to a sympathetic review of "Madam Butterfly," showing how far Japanese and American "local color" entered, calling attention to musical passages of especial beauty, and, as usual in these talks, throwing into relief the ethical significance of the work.
35Mr. Averill sang with such success that he was forced to add a recall number, Schumann's "Widmung." The program follows:
36Bolero (Chopin), tarantelle (Döhler), Malvina Kerr; "Recueilment" (Fauré), Mr. Averill; two preludes (Chopin), rondo (Chopin), Ruth D. Wright; albumblatt and scherzo (Grieg), Elsa Tannert; group of Indian love lyrics (Woodforde-Finden), Mr. Averill; albumblatt (Karganoff), melody (Grützmacher), novelette (MacDowell), Anna E. Bose.
38Charming Piano Pieces.
39Frederic Emerson Farrar, of Nashville, Tenn., has published four delightful piano pieces under the title of "A Corner in Elizabeth's Garden." These compositions are a realization of an exquisite idea suggested to Mrs. Farrar by reading "Elizabeth and Her German Garden." The separate pieces are called "The Song of the Moonflower," "The Song of the Night Blooming Cereus," "The Song of the Jasmine," and "The Song of the Daffodil." Mr. Farrar has a graceful fancy and an easy flow of gentle melody, together with uncommon skill in the mechanics of composition. The result is that his music belongs to the kind which makes a popular appeal without sacrificing those finer qualities that piano writing of the highest class must possess in order to please the musician.
41The Minetti String Quartet of California.
42The Minetti String Quartet, with offices at 340 Twenty-third avenue, San Francisco, has been filling excellent engagements this season. The quartet played at the sixth chamber music concert in Hearst Hall, of the University of California, Friday afternoon, December 7. The program included the Haydn quartet, in D major; two movements from the Raff quartet, in D minor, and the Bach concerto, for two violins, with orchestral accompaniment arranged for piano by Hermann. At this concert, the quartet had the assistance of Madeleine Peck Taylor, pianist. The personnel of the quartet includes Giulio Minetti, first violin; Hans Koenig, second violin; André Verdier, viola, and Arthur Weiss, 'cello.
44Emma Showers Applauded by Hippodrome Audience.
45Emma Showers, the young pianist, who was a soloist at the concert in the Hippodrome, Sunday evening, December 9, with the Russian Symphony Orchestra, was heartily applauded by a large audience. Miss Showers played Liszt's twelfth rhapsody, and, as an encore, Vogrich's staccato caprice. Miss Showers captivated the musicians by her finished technic, her full, round, musical tone and individual grace. The young artist's success was instantaneous, and it would seem that the prophecy of a famous musician regarding her might come true. The celebrity declared that she would become one of America's greatest women pianists.
47Recent Events in Nashville.
48Nashville, Tenn., December 16, 1906.
49Among the recent musical events of importance have been the concert given by the Olive Mead Quartet and Kitty Cheatham Thompson, the charming singer, at the Vendome Theatre, and a song recital by Oscar Seagle, baritone, at the Reimann Auditorium.
50Among the pupils' recitals of interest was one given by the students of Emil Winkler, pianist, and Charles W. Starr, voice, at Ward's Seminary.
51Leon Frank and Vera Wood Munroe, singer, two advanced pupils of the Nashville Conservatory of Music, will appear in joint recital at Watkin's Hall, in January.
53Managers Want Finita de Soria.
54Finita de Soria was heartily applauded at the recent concert given by her teacher, Signor Vegara, at the Carnegie Lyceum. Several managers have offered her engagements to appear at once in opera, but she could not accept these offers without consulting her master. When Signor Vegara was interviewed upon the subject, he responded, smilingly, "Pas encore." He said that the señorita was too young and that her art was not sufficiently finished. When Señorita de Soria is ready, she will be taken to Paris and Milan by Mr. Vegara, and it is expected will make her debut in one of those cities, either as Zerlina in "Don Giovanni" or Amina in "La Sonnambula."
56Two New Plays.
57The American Academy of Dramatic Arts on Friday afternoon, December 21, will produce, in the Empire Theater, a new play entitled "Miss Urquhart's Choice," by Joyce Darrell, an English writer. A one act play by Frank E. Power, entitled "Her Big Story," will also be given.
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