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Musical Courier 1926-05-20: Vol 92 Iss 20, 1926
65 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1WASHINGTON, D. C.
3WASHINGTON, D. C.—On April 20 the first real attempt to represent Washington by a symphony orchestra was made by a group of interested music lovers and musicians. Poli's Theater was well filled by an audience gathered in the hope that from the first concert there might spring a permanent organization. The difficulties besetting the group were many. There were no men in any number who could boast symphonic training. There was a lack of co-operation on all sides. The usual financial items were to be considered. The result was much in doubt. The program was chosen by the director, Kurt Hetzel, with a view of proving only that there were possibilities in the city for an orchestra. It included Liszt's Les Preludes, the fifth symphony of Tschaikowsky, and the Tannhäuser overture. That the offerings were delivered to the satisfaction of both the audience and the local critics is proven by the applause and the commending reviews. Two things must be considered. Mr. Hetzel, who came here from Germany with past experience in Strassburg, Mannheim and Munich, has been away from an orchestra for four years. The men under him at this time had only five rehearsals. With these to remember the performance was astounding. The organization as a whole showed remarkably fine balance. The tone quality was fresh and there was a response to the director's will quite unlooked for in such a short acquaintance. There was no lagging, on the contrary the verve and dash were surprising. Mr. Hetzel deserves unlimited praise for his work. He is easily the master of his position. It is a pleasure to watch him and to listen to his delineations. He does not make himself the showpoint but gives everything to the men before him. Washington is fortunate in possessing him. Credit and thanks are due to Mrs. Walter D. Wilcox, who secured all the guarantors for the performance. Richard Bonelli was a fine drawing card, offering the aria from the Masked Ball and several songs by Weingartner, Saint-Saëns and Rossini. He was in excellent voice and was compelled to respond to continued applause. Frank Bibb lent all of his fine art in the accompanying of Mr. Bonelli.
5T. F. G.
7Music, Youth and Opportunity
9The National Federation of Settlements has just published a new, revised and enlarged edition of Music, Youth and Opportunity, a survey of settlement and community music schools, by Janet D. Schenck, director of the Neighborhood Music School of New York. This interesting and valuable book well deserved reissue. There is a foreword by Harold Bauer heartily commending the musical work done in settlement and community schools, and setting forth its value to the community in general. The book tells everything that anyone could possibly wish to know about the organization and administration of these schools. There is a section devoted to Suggestions on Curriculum, and a long list of tables analyzing the various arrangements of the work. Mrs. Schenck is the authority of authorities on the subject, as the book clearly demonstrates.
11Summer School at Dramamount
13During July and August, T. Carl Whitmer and Helen C. Whitmer will conduct a summer school of music and painting at Dramamount, situated at LaGrangeville, Dutchess County, N. Y. Mr. Whitmer has written the words and composed the music of Six Musical Mysteries, entitled The Creation, The Covenant, The Nativity, The Temptation, Mary Magdalene and The Passion, which he states are conceived primarily as art works, embodying the spirit of the Spirit. During the summer it is planned to present Mary Magdalene and also a pageant by Priscilla Flowers at Dramamount. On April 27 Mr. Whitmer gave a lecture recital on Ultra Modern Music at Skidmore College.
15"Mr. Gunster's voice is one of fine and sympathetic quality, with innate refinement."—Buffalo Express.
17Frederick Gunster
18TENOR
19Forwarding Address: c/o Musical Courier, 437 Fifth Avenue, New York
21MAESTRO
22ISIDORE BRAGGIOTTI
23The Florentine Vocal Authority
24WILL HOLD MASTER-CLASSES FOR THE MONTHS OF
25JUNE JULY and AUGUST
26IN LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
27Fundamentals of Singing. Complete Training for Concert and Opera. Specialty, Head Resonances.
28Exclusive Management: MERLE ARMITAGE, Los Angeles Grand Opera Assoc., 424 Auditorium Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif.
29For information apply to above address or to: AIMÉE SPURR, Assistant Teacher, 78 Upland Road, Brookline, Mass.
30Tel. Regent 7477
32Baltimore, Md.
34BALTIMORE, MD.—Except for some smaller local concerts and student recitals, Baltimore's musical year has come to an end. One of the outstanding features of the season came to hand in the last concert of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, which was a Baltimore concert in every way. Only compositions by Baltimore composers were played; those represented being Gustave Strube, director of the orchestra; Franz Bornschein, Theodore Hemberger and Louis Cheslock, the last named a member of the Baltimore Orchestra. Mr. Bornschein, who is a well known violin teacher and composer, directed his composition which was for female voices and orchestra. The soloist for the occasion was Hilda Hopkins Burke, who won the honor at a contest several months ago at which Rosa Raisa, Charles Hackett and Henry Weber, all of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, were the judges. Mrs. Burke showed herself possessed of an excellent voice.
36The last concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra was up to the usual high standard, with Sacha Jacobsen as soloist. Director Stokowski, who was away at the previous concert, was accorded a hearty return welcome.
38Much interest is shown in the appointment of George Castelle to the faculty of the Peabody Institute. Mr. Castelle has made a name here for himself as a vocal instructor which for several years has been outstanding. He is a distinct acquisition to the Peabody. Mrs. Burke, the soloist of the last Baltimore concert, is a Castelle pupil and received her entire training under him. Mr. Castelle is also cantor of the Madison Avenue Temple.
40The closing meeting of the Baltimore Music Club was partly taken up with the election of officers for the year. Mrs. Harry Primrose was named president. This active organization, conducted by women, had a successful season and has become a factor in the musical life of the city. E. D.
42Louisa Hopkins a Busy Teacher
44Louisa Hopkins, an exponent of Breithaupt, is an exceedingly busy pedagogue. In commenting on her work recently she stated that she gives instruction in piano playing and also is much occupied with her classes in music language. This course includes practical work in playing by ear, harmonizing at sight, memorizing and composing. "It is designed," said Miss Hopkins, "for pupils with limited time who must make each five minutes of work count for something definite. The piano pupils of both Miss Leonard (with whom Miss Hopkins is associated in a school of piano playing) and myself are supposed to take this work as supplementary to their instrumental work, and I am teaching it besides to teachers and children and musical adults who want to understand music better and enjoy concerts more. I have this work in the Main Line School of Music, and a number of pupils there, even the children, write out their little compositions and take the greatest interest in doing so, and compose charming things."
46One of Miss Hopkins' pupil, Anne Puchard, sixteen years old, will play the first movement of the Grieg concerto with the Main Line Orchestra, under Adolph Vogel, at the final concert of the season on May 16. She has studied with Miss Hopkins since she was three and one-half years old, and has never had a lesson with anyone else. She goes abroad with Miss Leonard and Miss Hopkins on July 3. Miss Leonard's pupil, Christine Haskell, also will be a member of the party. They are to meet Breithaupt at St. Anton am Arlberg, in the Tyrol, and study with him there.
48Miss Leonard and Miss Hopkins recently bought a house in West Philadelphia, where they will establish a musical center. They will, however, continue their teaching at their down town studio in Philadelphia, at Chestnut Hill, and at the Main Line School of Music in Ardmore. These pedagogues are fortunate in having as their assistant, Rosalie Murray, one of Miss Leonard's pupils.
50Dunning System Notes
52The regular meeting of the Dunning Club of Portland, Ore., was held at the studio of Kate Dell Marden on May 6. The class lesson was taught by Lillian Stickle and plans for the Dunning convention were discussed.
54Mrs. Marden had charge of the program for the Monday Musical Club at The Dalles, Oregon, on April 19. Cavelle Abbott, a six-year old pupil of Mrs. Marden's, gave the entire program, illustrating the Dunning System, and she played a group of piano solos in an artistic manner. Mrs. Carlson Williams is president of the club, which has a membership of sixty.
56Lillian Stickle, of the Kate Dell Marden School of Music, presented a group of her pupils in a piano recital and demonstration of the Dunning System April 13 at the Russellville School. This is the first school in Portland to have piano classes in connection with school work and it is proving very successful. Miss Stickle has charge of the music in the Russellville school.
58Organ-Orchestra Concert in Chicago
60Kimball Hall, Chicago, on April 20, saw the second annual organ and orchestra concert under the auspices of the National Association of Organists, Illinois Chapter, when works by Eric Delamarter, Felix Bordowski and Leo Sowerby were performed by Rollo Maitland, Walter Zimmerman and Edward Eigenschek. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra was under Eric Delamarter's baton, and the size of the audience, its evident interest in everything played, and subsequent press notices, all showed the fine success of the affair. The Daily News especially mentioned Maitland (who played from memory) as "master of the big instrument." The Daily Journal devoted nearly a column to the concert, analyzing the works performed rather than the players. The Tribune spoke of the modernization of that ancient church instrument, the organ, and the Herald-Examiner said that Maitland played the solo in virtuoso style.
62Volpe Going to Florida
64Arnold Volpe, conductor, has just signed a contract with Bertha Foster, director of the new conservatory that is being organized in Miami, Fla., as a part of the Miami University, to take charge of the violin department of the conservatory, and to organize and conduct a symphony orchestra in Miami. Mr. Volpe will take up his new duties in October.
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