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Musical Courier 1911-03-22: Vol 62 Iss 12, 1911
45 lines. Read by computer on 26 September 2026. Printed page 9. See the scan on archive.org.
1Symphony Orchestra, under Landon Ronald, in Queen's Hall, May 1. Mr. Dunn, who is now on the Continent, will give a recital in Leipsic April 3.
3After a lapse of nine years, London is once more to have its musical festival. It is certainly one of the anomalies of English musical life, that while our creative activities and general interest in the art have quickened and developed in a phenomenal degree; that while the great festival schemes hold their ground in the provinces, and the Association of Competition Festivals has spread its influence far and wide over the country, the metropolis should still remain without any periodical event which corresponds to the leading Continental festivals, or the great musical meetings held in our provincial and cathedral cities. It was to supply this deficiency that Robert Newman organized the first London Musical Festival in May, 1899. It was memorable for the opportunity it afforded to Londoners of hearing the combined bands of Paris and London in a friendly rivalry, which taught us that though our own material was intrinsically unsurpassed, it fell somewhat short of the ideal polish and precision which can only be acquired by a permanent organization. The star of the veteran Lamoureux was then not far from its setting, while that of Sir Henry J. Wood was rising rapidly above the horizon. The festivals so successfully inaugurated were continued in the spring of each year until 1902, and together with the Promenade and Symphony Concerts they achieved a great educational work, and inculcated a widespread love of orchestral music. The revival of the London Musical Festival in the Coronation year of His Majesty King George V, when many foreigners, as well as visitors from all parts of the United Kingdom, and the colonies, will be flocking to London, the items being supplied by native composers. Modern music is predominant; while, at the same time, the inclusion of two of Bach's vocal masterpieces will appeal to those whose musical affections are as much rooted in the past as in the present. It remains for the public to prove that the revival of the London Musical Festival is not only a welcome, but a necessary step, and that there is no truth in the statement, so often heard outside the metropolis, that Londoners are far less keen in their appreciation and support of great musical ventures than are the amateurs of the large provincial cities.
5Bertram Shapleigh, the American composer, will conduct his four symphonic sketches, entitled "Gur Amir," with the Brighton Municipal Orchestra at Brighton, March 15. The London Choral Society has a new composition by Mr. Shapleigh in rehearsal, which will be heard in the early autumn. This work is entitled "The Fir Tree and the Brook," the poem by Helen Hunt Jackson, and it is set for an eight part chorus, a capella. Mr. Shapleigh's tone poem, "Mirage," was recently played with great success in Los Angeles, Cal.
7The New Quartet, composed of Albert E. Sammons, first violin; Thomas W. Petre, second violin; H. Waldo Warner, viola, and C. Warwick Evans, cellist, gave the first of a series of concerts in Bechstein Hall, March 7, playing the Glazounow quartet, op. 70, in D; the Brahms quartet, op. 67, B flat, and a concertstück, in one movement, by the English composer, George Dyson. This new ensemble of English players bids fair to take a very prominent place in London's regular chamber music concerts. Individually, their talent is of a high order, and their concerted work is distinguished by great finish and balance of tone. The interpretations of the above mentioned works were artistic and satisfactory in every way. The future of this quartet will be watched with interest.
9As an interpreter of German lieder Theodore Byard stands pre-eminent among English singers. On his program in Bechstein Hall, March 9, he brought forward songs by Schubert, Schumann, Strauss and Erich J. Wolff, besides some French and old English songs. Mr. Byard possesses all the requisite qualifications for the interpretation of the German art song. Many interpreters of the genre give but a rough hewn idea of German idealism as expressed in the Lied. They conceive each and every song as pure folksong and give a peasant's reading even of the most transcendent conceptions. Not so with Mr. Byard. He brings to his work a thorough musicianship, the divining sense of a poet, and a clear straightforward delivery that impress through its sheer simplicity. English though he is, he imparts the pure Teutonic atmosphere to all his German numbers and a sincerity that has its own charm. In such numbers as Schubert's "Nachtstück," "Die Sterne" and "An die Leyer," all their romance and poetic charm is at once made manifest. And in Schumann's "Aufträge" and in the contrasting Strauss "Zueignung" the singer was equally effective. Of pure baritone quality, his voice is at all times excellently controlled and is particularly sympathetic in the higher register. Mr. Byard will give a second recital March 23, for which he has arranged a miscellaneous program of much interest. Samuel Liddle accompanied the singer with much taste.
11Julius Casper, the young violinist who became so well known in German musical circles after his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, under Dr. Kunwald, when he played concertos by Bach, Beethoven and Brahms, is now in London arranging for some recitals and orchestral concerts. Mr. Casper has greatly broadened in his art this last two years and his London appearances are looked forward to with much interest by his many friends.
13EVELYN KAESMANN.
15THEODOR BYARD.
17MUSIC IN MEMPHIS.
18MEMPHIS, Tenn., March 11, 1911.
19The past two weeks have been eventful in the Memphis musical world and the coming week will continue full of interesting attractions.
21The Beethoven Club established a record of three important concerts in eight days, with Yolando Mero, the Hungarian pianist, in recital, February 25. Federation Day, a notable event in club life, was celebrated with a program of public school music and Marie Stapleton-Murray, assisted by Katherine Seay Falls, in a delightful concert on March 4. Mrs. Murray is a dramatic soprano of rare ability; she has a lovely voice of wide range and a charming personality.
23Next in the line of important attractions will be the week of French grand opera, and probably every musician in the city who can possibly do so will attend at least one of the operas, to be presented by the New Orleans French Opera Company in the Lyceum Theatre; under the management of Jules Layelles.
25Monday night, March 13, will be Beethoven Club night at the opera, when "Manon" is to be given. The other operas to be presented during the week are "Faust," "Carmen," "Les Huguenots," "Thais," "Rigoletto" and "Lakmé."
27The regular meeting of the Amateur Music Club is being held this afternoon in the club rooms. For the past few weeks the club has been studying the operas, making a specialty of the ones included in the list to be presented at the Lyceum next week. An interesting musical program is being presented this afternoon and prizes will be awarded for the greatest progress in the opera study class. This prize is, each month, a silver spoon for the month in which it is given.
29The Sherwood Club, with Louise Faxon, is holding its regular monthly meeting today. The musical history department of the club, which is composed of more advanced musicians, is studying the operas and, like other clubs in the city are doing, is giving special attention to the operas to be presented by the French Opera Company.
31The feature of the meeting of the Mozart Club was the reading of the story of the opera, "Lakmé," by Miss Faxon. The Sherwood Club members have studied French, German and Italian operas during the winter.
33A delightfully interesting program was presented this afternoon at the meeting of the Mozart Club, held in the Woman's Building. This little club is a chapter of the Beethoven Juniors and is under the leadership of Leone McCallum. The afternoon's program included numbers by Julia Macon, Dollu Dimple Rucks, Naomi Waller and Martha Fleming. At the close of the program refreshments were served by Elizabeth Hill and Elizabeth Browning.
35Complimentary to Mrs. Marie Stapleton-Murray, who appeared in concert Saturday evening, March 4, Mr. and Mrs. Herman Kellar entertained with an informal reception in their studios following the concert. The studios were artistically decorated with daffodils and other spring blossoms. The guests, to the number of fifty, were received by Mr. and Mrs. Kellar, Mrs. Katherine Seay Falls, Mrs. Stapleton and Mrs. Murray.
37The Renaissance Music Club held a meeting this week at the home of Mrs. Wetter on Beale avenue. An interesting and instructive paper was read by Mrs. R. B. Snowden on "The Development of Musical Instruments." Delightful vocal and instrumental selections from Schumann, Jensen, Sternberg, Rotoli, Gluck, Mozart and Raechle were presented by Mrs. Howard Brown, Mrs. Albert Biggs, Mrs. Iverson Graves, Mrs. N. C. Perkins, Vera Watson, Mrs. S. T. Carnes and Banks Jordan.
39The Schumann Club meeting, which was to have been held last Saturday, was postponed until Saturday, March 18, when an elaborate program will be given under the direction of Annie Dickson. The meeting will take the form of a students' recital, only a few of the older members appearing.
41N. N. O.
43Clarence Whitehill to Give Recital Thursday.
44Clarence Whitehill's song recital will take place in Mendelssohn Hall on Thursday afternoon, March 23. Mr. Whitehill's program consists of three lieder by Schubert, two by Beethoven, three by Brahms, two ballads by Loewe, one air by Bizet, two songs by Tschaikowsky, two lieder each by Wolf, Rubinstein and Richard Strauss, and songs in English by Cadman, Schindler and Kernochan. The complete program was previously published in THE MUSICAL COURIER.
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