Books › Musical Courier 1909-06-02: Vol 58 Iss 22, 1909 › scan 39
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Musical Courier 1909-06-02: Vol 58 Iss 22, 1909
78 lines. Read by computer on 25 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 40. See the scan on archive.org.
1PHILADELPHIA, Pa., May 31, 1909.
3The second musical festival devoted to the works of Philadelphia composers was held at Holy Trinity Memorial Chapel, Thursday evening, May 27. Some twelve composers were represented on the program, and most of these men were present in person. That an entire church service of so varied and excellent a character could be given from the creations of our local musicians is a thing to be proud of. These festivals of "Philadelphia Music" must continue, and their fame must be more widely spread, as they do great good in two important directions. First, they act as a stimulus to our composers and give them the chance to have their works played to a representative audience of Philadelphia music lovers; and, secondly, they prove and emphasize to our citizens the important fact that there is a large measure of talent and musical worth always existing in our city, and this last lesson needs to be repeated again and again—to be hammered into the heads of thousands who can only see good where the "made in France" label is still attached to the wares they buy. The list of works performed Thursday evening is a worthy one indeed, as may be seen from the following table:
5Hymn, Laudate Dominum,…………………….Herbert J. Tily one of two readings
6Hymn, Laudate Dominum,………………..Herbert J. Tily one of two readings
7Organist of St. John's Church, Lower Merion, Pa.; Director of the Strawbridge-Clother Chorus. one of two readings
8Organist of St. John's Church, Lower Merion, Pa.; Director of the Strawbridge-Clothier Chorus. one of two readings
9Organ prelude, Academic March………………Phillip Goepf one of two readings
10Organ prelude, Academic March,………………Phillip Goepf one of two readings
11Organist, Church of the New Jerusalem; author of Symphonies and Their Meaning; writer of program notes for Philadelphia Orchestra.
12Psalter………………………………………Rev. Julius G. Bierck one of two readings
13Psalter,………………..Rev. Julius G. Bierck one of two readings
14Organist, Church of the Saviour, and Dean of Pennsylvania Chapter, American Guild of Organists.
15Benedic, Anima Mea………………………..David D. Wood, Mus. Doc. one of two readings
16Benedic, Anima Mea,………………David D. Wood, Mus. Doc. one of two readings
17Organist, St. Stephen's Church.
18Anthem, Tenor solo, Behold, I Show You a Mystery, Frederick Maxson one of two readings
19Anthem, Tenor solo, Behold, I Show You a Mystery,………………Frederick Maxson one of two readings
20Organist, First Baptist Church.
21Organ……………………………………….William Stansfield, Mus. Bac. one of two readings
22Allegro Vivace……………………………William Stansfield, Mus. Bac. one of two readings
23Organ— one of two readings
24Minuet,………………William Stansfield, Mus. Bac. one of two readings
25Allegro Vivace,………………William Stansfield, Mus. Bac. one of two readings
26Organist, St. James' Church.
27Offertorium, The Morning Stars Sang Together, Geo. A. A. West, F.R.C.O. one of two readings
28Offertorium, The Morning Stars Sang Together,………………Geo. A. A. West, F.R.C.O. one of two readings
29Organist, St. Luke's Church, Germantown.
31Presentation………………..S. Wesley Sears, A.R.C.O., A.A.G.O. one of two readings
32Presentation,………………S. Wesley Sears, A.R.C.O., A.A.G.O. one of two readings
33Organist, Saint Clement's Church.
34Cantata, The Conversion……..Harry Alex. Matthews, A.A.G.O. one of two readings
35Cantata, The Conversion,………………Harry Alex. Matthews, A.A.G.O. one of two readings
36Organist, St. Paul's Church, Ogontz.
37Hymn………………………………………Ernest Felix Potter one of two readings
38Hymn,………………Ernest Felix Potter one of two readings
39Organist, First M. E. Church, Germantown.
40Recessional……………………………David Edgar Crozier one of two readings
41Recessional,………………David Edgar Crozier one of two readings
42Organist, Calvary Presbyterian Church.
44An interesting address on "The Power of Music" was made by the Rev. R. Marshall Harrison, D. D. Hearty thanks are due to Henry S. Fry, the organist of Holy Trinity Chapel, who bore the greater part of the work in planning, arranging and carrying the festival to a successful conclusion.
46The commencement exercises of the Combs Conservatory of Music took place Tuesday evening, May 25, at Musical Fund Hall. Those who were fortunate enough to arrive on time not only had the pleasure of seeing their friends graduate, but heard a splendid concert as well. As the hall was filled to its utmost capacity at 8:15, the pleasure of those who arrived late, as well as their muttered blessings on the full house, had best be left unrecorded. An ambitious program—well, really a daring program—had been arranged, and was splendidly carried through, although such numbers as Mendelssohn's "Ruy Blas" overture, and extracts from Meyerbeer's "Dinorah," and Gounod's "Queen of Sheba," would seem to be unplayable by a pupils' orchestra. This orchestra, however, seems to be in a class by itself, and so these numbers, as well as the accompaniments to the Grieg piano concerto, the Beethoven piano concerto, op. 37; the tricky vocal numbers, "Shadow Dance Aria," and cavatina, "More Regal in His Low Estate," were performed with a sureness and expression that were astonishing. A first hearing was given to a new orchestral composition by Gilbert Reynolds Combs—"Legende." This "Legende," as may be suggested by the name, is not built on any sharply outlined plan, but relies for its attractiveness on a poetic atmosphere of mystery and longing. The treatment of the brasses is most interesting and effective, the four horn parts having some very effective passages. The address to the graduates was made by Dr. Hugh A. Clarke, who is at the head of the department of theory of the conservatory, as well as at the University of Pennsylvania. Diplomas and certificates were awarded to the following:
48Piano Department—Diploma—Carrie L. Dorward, Elhora A. Frantz, Frances A. Ettinger, Elizabeth B. Lachman. Teachers' Certificate—Vinnie L. Clegg, Mary M. Collins, Jane Cross, Nellie G. Leddon, Mary E. Peterson, Elsie S. Riggins, Warren E. Stanger.
49Vocal—Diploma—Lucy Hearn Broadstreet, Marian L. Heiser.
50Theory—Diploma—Elsie S. Riggins.
51Violin—Teacher's Certificate—Clarence M. Cox.
52Supervisors' Certificates, Public School Music.—William Anderson, Ella G. Coder, Marian Edwards.
54The Sunday evening series of organ recitals that S. Wesley Sears has been giving at St. Clement's Church have come to a conclusion. It is sincerely hoped that Mr. Sears will arrange for another series of recitals in the autumn, as they have proved most helpful to many hundreds who heard them. Those who heard the last Wagner recital, with the wonderful playing of the "Valkyries' Ride" and the "Fire Music" finale of the same opera, have something to remember during the long silent months of summer.
56Sunday evening, May 30, Ralph Kinder also gave his concluding recital of the season. On the program were: "Tannhäuser" overture, Wagner; "Hosanna," Wachs; "Madrigale," Simonetti; "Caprice Orientale," Lemare.
58A concert, which, had it been less good, would have been a surfeit of violin music, was given by the Hahn School of Music at Witherspoon Hall, Saturday, May 22. The Hahn School appears to have more advanced pupils in violin than any similar institution. Therefore, an almost bewildering array of violin concertos, fantasias, rhapsodies and variations were played—all showing immense difficulties, which this coming generation of musicians have already mastered. But it must not be supposed that the violin solos were the only part of the program. The string orchestra of the school played a Volkman "Serenade," an Auber overture and a waltz and "Elegie" by Tchaikowsky. Then there were several piano solos, as well as the Mozart op. 15, piano concerto, and the Beethoven op. 15, piano concerto. In the violin work Helen Ware's playing of the Paganini-Wilhelmj concerto was the most striking. Other works worthy of mention was a movement of the Tchaikowsky concerto, played by Anna Sinitzky; the "Faust" fantaisie of Sarasate, played by Madeleine McGuigan; the dashing "Hungarian Variations" of Ernst, played by George Brodman, and Hubay's "Hejre Kati," played by Benjamin Klevan. Other violinists were Herbert Schmidt, Meyer Casman, William Horenstein, Edwin Hill, Gertrude Baum, John Carter, William MacDonald, and F. Hall Johnson. Excellent work was also done by Bessie Leonard, contralto, and Betty Patterson, Elizabeth Apotheker and Estelle Mayer, pianists. one of two readings
59A concert, which, had it been less good, would have been a surfeit of violin music, was given by the Hahn School of Music at Witherspoon Hall, Saturday, May 22. The Hahn School appears to have more advanced pupils in violin than any similar institution. Therefore, an almost bewildering array of violin concertos, fantasias, rhapsodies and variations were played—all showing immense difficulties, which this coming generation of musicians have already mastered. But it must not be supposed that the violin solos were the only part of the program. The string orchestra of the school played a Volkmann "Serenade," an Auber overture and a waltz and "Elegie" by Tchaikowsky. Then there were several piano solos, as well as the Mozart op. 15, piano concerto, and the Beethoven op. 15, piano concerto. In the violin work Helen Ware's playing of the Paganini-Wilhelmj concerto was the most striking. Other works worthy of mention was a movement of the Tchaikowsky concerto, played by Anna Sinitzky; the "Faust" fantaisie of Sarasate, played by Madeleine McGuigan; the dashing "Hungarian Variations" of Ernst, played by George Brodman, and Hubay's "Hejre Kati," played by Benjamin Klevan. Other violinists were Herbert Schmidt, Meyer Casman, William Horenstein, Edwin Hill, Gertrude Baum, John Carter, William MacDonald, and F. Hall Johnson. Excellent work was also done by Bessie Leonard, contralto, and Betty Patterson, Elizabeth Apotheker and Estelle Mayer, pianists. one of two readings
61"The Daughter of Jairus," a cantata by Stainer, will be sung Tuesday evening at Grace Church, Mt. Airy, and at St. Luke's Church, Germantown, Thursday evening. The combined choirs of the two churches will take part at the two performances, making a chorus of seventy voices. George Alex. West will preside at the organ at St. Luke's Church, and Harry Banks at the organ of Grace Church.
63Pupils of Mrs. Phillips Jenkins' School of Singing were heard in an elaborate program at the Broad Street Theater Friday evening, May 28. While the various solos were of all descriptions, including some old English songs, songs by Brahms, Parker, Lalo, Lehmann, Noel and Woodman, operatic selections prevailed. Considering Mrs. Phillips-Jenkins' success in operatic training (a number of her pupils singing with Hammerstein's Philadelphia Opera Company) this was to be expected, and, after all, be it concert or opera, what can take the place of the great solos from Gounod's and Rossini's and Verdi's and Wagner's operas? Those writers, as well as Saint-Saëns, Massenet, Flotow, Puccini, Thomas and Offenbach, were all represented on Friday's program. Those taking part were Edith V. Rice, John Little, Jr., Hettie Myers, Marion Bigler, Neida Humphrey, Barbara Schaefer, Elizabeth Anderson, Louise P. Heims, Mrs. A. Rappert Levy, May Crosson, Irma Woods, Anna Pietrovito, Jean A. Conrad, Madeleine H. Hood, Helen Patterson, Reba Bruce, Helen Greerhaigh, and Deborah Millwitski.
65An enjoyable concert was given at Musical Fund Hall Saturday evening, May 29, by members of the graduating class of the Hyperion School of Music, assisted by Edward Shippen van Leer, the well known tenor, and Lucius Cole, violinist, of the Hahn String Quartet and the Philadelphia Orchestra. Diplomas were awarded to the following graduates by Dr. Jesse Michener: Joline Beggs, Ethel E. Burkhart, Mildred S. Moore, Lillian Colby, Lillus Cox and Edith P. Parker.
67Cecil Fanning's Southern Tour.
69Some idea of the success of this, Cecil Fanning's second Southern tour will be gleaned from the fact that without an exception all of the Southern cities where he appeared on this tour, have secured him for a return engagement next season. The following is taken from the Nashville Tennessean:
71Cecil Fanning, pronounced by many prominent critics the foremost American singer of today, gave a song recital Wednesday evening in Vanderbilt Chapel which delighted a large audience of music lovers.
73Mr. Fanning gave a varied and beautiful program, and H. B. Turpin's piano accompaniments were characterized by rare interpretative skill. His brief introductory talks were very illuminating. Mr. Fanning's artistry seems well-nigh perfect, a superb plaint voice being coupled with a most sensitive intelligence. Delicate gradations of poetic meaning are mirrored faithfully in the singer's interpretations, and a glowing dramatic temperament gives power and originality.
75A star number on the program was the tragic Scotch ballad, "Edward" (Loewe), with its dramatic dialogue between the mother and son, the two parts being sustained with wonderful fidelity and success. A perfect contrast to this superb display of vocal volume and dramatic power was the charming old Irish "Minstrel Boy" and the exquisite "Wahin," with its hauntingly lovely refrain, whose repetition was called for by the audience.
77Rudolf von Prochazka's "Symphonic Songs for Orchestra" had its première at Reichenberg (Bohemia) not long ago and made a hit with the public and the press.
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