Scan 9
Musical Courier 1926-09-23: Vol 93 Iss 13, 1926
31 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1"MUSIC FIGURES PROMINENTLY IN ARKANSAS," SAYS ALICE HENNIGER
3Because New York is the Mecca for all artists during some period of their career, it is given to those located in New York to hear personally of the many interesting things which are taking place in the various parts of the country. This was the opportunity afforded this interviewer when Alice C. Henniger came all the way from Little Rock, Ark., to spend a few days in the metropolis before resuming her teaching in her home town. The object of the visit was to refresh her mind with the vital musical things of New York, to gather a few new ideas, to place some pupils in the musical field and to obtain some help for a deserving few. This is a great deal to accomplish in a few days, but it can be done by a personality as big as Mrs. Henniger's.
5Sometimes one thinks that the term "big personality" implies a stiff formality and aloofness. Such an idea could not long exist after contact with Mrs. Henniger, for she has a bigness that envelops one, with a kindliness that unarms and a vitality that is invigorating. We were received in the suite of her hotel, with a cordiality that betokened that the bond which brought her and the writer together is a strong one—in Mrs. Henniger it is paramount, for she bubbles over with her interest in, and love of, music. With a simplicity that betokens sincerity the interviewer was allowed to hear of her occupations, past and present, and learned that she is a past president of the State Federation of Music Clubs and has for three years been president of the Coterie Club of Arkansas. Mrs. Henniger was born in Rochester, N. Y., but has been in Little Rock since she was sixteen, and was for many years contralto soloist of the Bema Israel Temple, of the First Methodist Church and at the Consistory of Little Rock. Today she holds one of the most prominent positions in Little Rock for she is closely associated with everything that means for progress. Not only that, but she is appearing in public for many local clubs, her sound musical knowledge and training having afforded her a foundation which time and labor could not undo. She is today a charter member of the Sulphur Springs New Ozark Chautauqua Coterie, has a studio of her own known as The Henniger School of Bel Canto in which Mrs. Henniger herself personally handles about seventy-five pupils, and takes an active part in the biennial festivals of the State Federation of Clubs. She has now formed a girl's Choral Club known as The Blue Birds, which meets every Monday evening, the purpose of which is the ensemble training needed for choral work, sight singing, ear training and study in the various ensemble combinations. Prior to this she was associated, in 1917, with the first City Festival of Little Rock and before becoming president of the Coterie Club was its chairman.
7All this just goes to prove the active interest that Mrs. Henniger has had in the local events of progress for many years, and that she is still untiring in her efforts. When asked what was the work which the Little Rock Coterie Musical Club was doing she stated with joy: "The Musical Coterie Club is now the largest club in the state and has at its disposal a scholarship loan fund. It is the only club in the state which has this to offer. This is for distribution among those musicians who can give proof of their merit and of their need of money, the only requisite of which is that they study in America. We feel that there are here in America countless fine musicians, perhaps the best in the world today, and as we are trying to build up in this country an appreciation and recognition of its own talent it is only fair that it should be developed here. That does not mean that a student must go to an American teacher—no—for I do believe that the foreign teacher is here to give to us the real fundamentals of art which we as a young country have not been able to develop, but they have come over here to make this country their home and to offer us the advantage of their heritage and to me it seems only fair that we should take advantage of this opportunity.
9"I, myself, teach the Italian Bel Canto, which to me is the only real method for developing the pure, sustained, free carrying tone which after all is the only way to secure vocal resonance. While developing this I of course develop simultaneously breath control, the control from the diaphragm, which assures sustained power, prevents any trembling in the production and is the foundation for that smooth flowing singing which is a comfort and relaxation to the listener. This is not just theory which I teach; I have mastered this fact, and have so developed my breath controlling muscles that I can easily demonstrate to my pupils exactly what I mean and they get a great deal from that. I also show every one of them just what I mean by 'sustained tone,' for I find that the process of mimicking is a great aid in understanding what the other person wants, and if we can hear ourselves produce a certain kind of tone we can soon find the road to solving its attainment. You can for yourself see that I truly teach all this, as you no doubt have heard Mary Lewis sing; she studied with me for several years before going East, and mastered my ideas perfectly. It takes a long time to perfect them I know, but they are the only sure means to beautiful singing."
11When asked as to musical conditions in Arkansas, Mrs. Henniger most enthusiastically replied that that part of the country was rapidly advancing in the art. "Arkansas has an association of teachers," she went on to say proudly, "which numbers about 1,200 or more; all these have passed the standard of graded music—that is, harmony, history, theory, and in whatever line their work is to be specialized. Our public schools have bands, orchestras, glee clubs and many interesting musical contests. There is also a great interest in community singing which I established while I was head of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs and which has taken hold and is being carried out in every part of the state. We have now also inaugurated the Junior Contests, through which the Coterie Club gives prizes and medals. It is the first club in Arkansas to give cash prizes to young professionals, and the purpose of this venture is a creative one, as we want it to be a stimulus to other clubs to take up such a worthy cause. Youth to me is the most interesting of phases; it is to it that we look for the future and it is to it also that we owe encouragement and opportunity for progress. I am indeed proud and happy that our
13FLORENCE FIELD
14VIOLINIST
15"A Star of the First Magnitude"
16Musical Courier (Paris).
18DAISY JEAN
19(at the right) with her sister Madelaine, and the latter's English husband, at Ostende, in front of the Kursaal. Madelaine Jean, a brilliant pupil of Cesar Thompson, achieved marked recognition for the quality of her violin playing. Daisy Jean will give a concert in her home city, Antwerp, before going to England, where she is booked for twelve concerts during October. She returns to the United States early in November, via the S. S. France.
21Coterie Club can set up a precedence to all the other clubs of our state.
23"The Club is also sponsoring a music course for which we advanced last season about eleven thousand dollars for artists. We had the best that there was to be had, and numbered Jeritza and Max Rosen, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, Gabriowitsch, Will Rogers and the De Reszke Singers, and Mary Lewis. This year we will have Rosa Ponselle, Marion Talley, Elsie Janis, a return for Will Rogers and the Singers, and Marguerite Henniger Warncke, my daughter, a contralto, in joint recital. My daughter has been an exception to the rule, for usually close family ties make it difficult to maintain a professional attitude between teacher and pupil, but Marguerite was so intent on her work that she left me after some years' study and immediately entered the list of advanced artists of Frank La Forge and, later, Oscar Saenger. one of two readings
24"The Club is also sponsoring a music course for which we advanced last season about eleven thousand dollars for artists. We had the best that there was to be had, and numbered Jeritza and Max Rosen, Paul Whiteman and his orchestra, Gabrilowitsch, Will Rogers and the De Reszke Singers, and Mary Lewis. This year we will have Rosa Ponselle, Marion Talley, Elsie Janis, a return for Will Rogers and the Singers, and Marguerite Henniger Warncke, my daughter, a contralto, in joint recital. My daughter has been an exception to the rule, for usually close family ties make it difficult to maintain a professional attitude between teacher and pupil, but Marguerite was so intent on her work that she left me after some years' study and immediately entered the list of advanced artists of Frank La Forge and, later, Oscar Saenger. one of two readings
26"Arkansas has had many talented artists. This year Henry Wells Sanderson of Little Rock was the National Federation state winner for piano, he also won the prize in the district contest, and is entering the contest for the 1927 national prize. Of course Mary Lewis is our real pride: when she returned this year to give her concert, everyone from the Governor down, was present. It was a gala event and was almost too much for Mary. When, after a few of the large floral offerings had been handed her she sat down at the piano to play Home Sweet Home, she completely broke down and could not finish. I assure you there were tears in many person's eyes. I am indeed proud to have had a hand in the making of her and I know that she will climb still greater heights, for besides her charming personality she has the stuff within her that makes for success."
28Very modestly then Mrs. Henniger showed us a beautiful autographed photograph of the "Pride of Arkansas" followed by a program of a recital which was given by two of her artist-pupils at the closing of her last season, assisted by some of her class. The program listed a varied selection of names of composers which gave evidence of the wide knowledge Mrs. Henniger has of the literature of song. She also told us most confidentially that on her way back home she was going to stop off at two important music schools of the East to try and get a scholarship for two very talented pupils whom she felt more than deserved them, for, after all, she said, "we can only do just so much out in Arkansas, and after that it is our duty to be interested in the passing on of these talents into fields that offer greater advantage."
30We were loath to leave the charming speaker but were graciously told that an appointment with William Thorner was next on the schedule.
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