Books › Musical Courier 1927-06-16: Vol 94 Iss 24, 1927 › scan 35
Scan 35
Musical Courier 1927-06-16: Vol 94 Iss 24, 1927
29 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 36. See the scan on archive.org.
1ACROSS THE COUNTRY
3Augusta, Me.—The State Federation of Music Clubs held its fourth annual convention at Penney Memorial Baptist Church. From the original two clubs, which formed the Federation, the organization has grown to include twenty senior clubs with a membership of 1350, and thirteen junior clubs with a membership of 312. Four of these junior clubs were organized this year. Perhaps the one of most interest is the William R. Chapman Club of Bangor, which was named in honor of Professor Chapman, director-in-chief of the Maine Music Festival for thirty years. This club has seventy-five members, musicians from the public and parochial schools and all capable of orchestral work. Geoffrey O'Hara, composer and lecturer, was a guest of the convention throughout the sessions. On the first afternoon he lectured on "How Music Is Made," and on the second morning on "Taking the 'J' out of Jazz." Luncheon at the Augusta House on the first day was a very brilliant affair, with Mr. O'Hara, Mrs. Ralph O. Brewster, wife of Governor Brewster of Maine, and Mr. Grady of the National Broadcasting Company of New York, as special guests. The toastmistress was Mrs. R. H. Bodwell of Augusta, secretary of the entertaining Cecilia Club. Toasts were given by Mr. O'Hara, who urged raising a community consciousness in music; Julia Noyes of Portland, state president; Mrs. S. Merritt Farnum of Lewiston, state treasurer, and Henrietta Rice of Portland. The Cecilia Club Trio rendered music throughout the luncheon. Following the afternoon session, Mrs. Brewster received the Federation at the executive mansion. She was assisted in receiving by Miss Noyes and Caroline Fenno Chase, president of the hostess club. The guests were introduced by Major Roy E. Decker of the adjutant general's staff. Among the musical selections of the day were a group of soprano solos by Bertha M. Gould, of the MacDowell Club of Portland, featuring Lilacs and At Night by Rachmaninoff, with Louise H. Armstrong, as accompanist; a contralto aria Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix from Samson et Dalila by Bertha King Fender, son, with Zilphaeta Butterfield accompanist, and an ensemble from the Cecilia Club of two numbers Solveig's Song by Grieg and Indian Cradle Song by Matthews. Elizabeth G. Brown was the leader and Lucy E. Bowditch was at the piano. In the evening thirteen senior clubs were represented upon the concert program. The outstanding numbers were the violoncello interpretation of the Andante from Concertstück by Heberlein, played by Sue Winchell Burnett of Brunswick with Susan Coffin at the organ; the soprano aria, Mi chiamano Mimi from La Boheme, by Mary Southam Ingraham of Augusta, with Leo K. Andrews, organist, and a group of Indian songs in costume by Marion Wentworth Theis of Westbrook. Marion Kelley accentuated the accompaniment with tom-tom and Indian rattle, and Miss Coffin was the pianist.
5Ruth Staples of Lewiston, a pupil of Hugo Kortschak of New York, gave a fine rendition of the air from Concerto Op. 28 by Goldmark. Her accompanist was Gladys White of Auburn, organist. The Woman's Choral Society of Portland, about sixty voices under the direction of Rupert Neily, with Howard Clark at the piano, was inspired. This remarkable organization sang A Grace Before Singing by Harris, Du Bist Die Ruh by Schubert, Danny Boy, Old Irish, and Chere Nuit by Bachet, with a soprano obligato by Jane Whibley. There was an overwhelming demand for an encore, which was graciously given. one of two readings
6Ruth Staples of Lewiston, a pupil of Hugo Kortschak of New York, gave a fine rendition of the air from Concerto Op. 28 by Goldmark. Her accompanist was Gladys White of Auburn, organist. The Woman's Choral Society of Portland, about sixty voices under the direction of Rupert Neily, with Howard Clark at the piano, was inspired. This remarkable organization sang A Grace Before Singing by Harris, Du Bist Die Ruh by Schubert, Danny Boy, Old Irish, and Chere Nuit by Bachelet, with a soprano obligato by Jane Whibley. There was an overwhelming demand for an encore, which was graciously given. one of two readings
8At the Junior convention on the second day, the banner club was the Bangor William R. Chapman, which received the National Federation pin for the largest number of delegates present. The work of these clubs and their concert were the most interesting of the entire convention. They showed remarkable musicianship in every selection. Special speakers were Mrs. George Hall of Providence, R. I., district president of junior clubs, and Julia E. Williams of Merchantsville, N. J. The junior luncheon, held in the parish vestry, was attended by the special guests and by Mr. O'Hara. Mary H. Haytord of Bangor, state junior club chairman, was the toastmistress. In his after dinner talk, Mr. O'Hara pointed out that English literature was bristling with drama from which plenty of material for opera might be taken. In fact, foreign composers had taken this material, made it into foreign operas, brought them over here and had sung them to us in foreign languages. When it came time for the juniors to report on club work, Lawrence Mann, the young president of the Bangor William R. Chapman Club, spoke. One small girl, Dorothy Brown of Portland, president of the Girls' Junior Beethoven Club of Portland, was so tiny that she had to stand on a chair to be seen. This enterprising club has members from six to twelve years of age. Five members appear on the programs at each club meeting and all must have their selections memorized. These features of memorizing work were common to all the clubs. The Rockland Harmony Club sponsored a picture production of the Music Master and cleared $68.00. It also held an open meeting, when it cleared $25.00. The Young Ladies' Chorus of Westbrook is devoted entirely to singing anthems, oratorios and cantatas. When all club reports were in, a small boy arose with the statement that he had been overlooked. This was the president of the Valerian Club, newly organized by the boys of two Portland clubs who withdrew "because there were too many girls." There was more truth than figure of speech in the little fellow's announcement that the club was devoted to the study of the great composers and "magicians," for what are musicians if not magicians? For the juniors Cora Presson Partridge of Augusta sang Mr. O'Hara's Fair Daffodils and Little Bare Feet, with the composer at the piano.
10One Portland boy, Melville Stein, was the only soloist. His was a piano number, Sibelius' Romance, in which he showed great instinct for phrasing, color and rhythm. The only vocalist was Gabrielle Thuotte of Portland, who sang Dell' Acqua's Villanelle, so well calculated to show the greatest coloratura capabilities of the student. Her voice is a high, clear soprano, beautifully placed for her age, and she sang with great ease. The youngest pianist was little Cornelia Derry of Portland, who played the well known Valse in E flat major by Durand. Her small hands mastered the intricacies of this number with much cleverness. The finest pianist of the program was Florence Towle, also of Portland, who played Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, with a really professional finish. The performance by the nineteen members (boys and girls) of the William R. Chapman Club Orchestra was reserved for the last. Under direction of their leader, Linwood Bowen, sixteen; they played very pleasurably. The orchestra was well balanced and included six first violins; three second; one cello, clarinet, flute, two cornets, trombones, French horns, bassoons, and a pianist. The selections were the overture from the Caliph of Bagdad and Boyd's March by Halvorsen. Officers of the Maine Federation are: president, Julia E. Noyes, Portland; first vice president, Mrs. Guy P. Gannett, Cape Elizabeth; second vice president, Elizabeth M. Litchfield, Lewiston; third vice president, Mrs. C. W. Towers, Houlton; recording secretary, Mrs. Ernest Theis, Westbrook; corresponding secretary, Mrs. S. S. Thompson, Portland; treasurer, Mrs. S. Merritt Farnum, Lewiston; auditor, Clinton W. Graffam, Portland; directors—Mrs. E. W. Loane, Presque Isle; Mrs. E. F. Berry, Rockland; Mrs. C. T. Burnett, Brunswick, and June L. Bright, Bangor. one of two readings
11One Portland boy, Melville Stein, was the only soloist. His was a piano number, Sibelius' Romance, in which he showed great instinct for phrasing, color and rhythm. The only vocalist was Gabrielle Thuotte of Portland, who sang Dell' Acqua's Villanelle, so well calculated to show the greatest coloratura capabilities of the student. Her voice is a high, clear soprano, beautifully placed for her age, and she sang with great ease. The youngest pianist was little Cornelia Derry of Portland, who played the well known Valse in E flat major by Durand. Her small hands mastered the intricacies of this number with much cleverness. The finest pianist of the program was Florence Towle, also of Portland, who played Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody No. 11, with a really professional finish. The performance by the nineteen members (boys and girls) of the William R. Chapman Club Orchestra was reserved for the last. Under direction of their leader, Linwood Bowen, sixteen; they played very pleasurably. The orchestra was well balanced and included six first violins; three second; one cello, clarinet, flute, two cornets, trombones, French horns, bassoons, and a pianist. The selections were the overture from the Caliph of Bagdad and Boyard's March by Halvorsen. Officers of the Maine Federation are: president, Julia E. Noyes, Portland; first vice president, Mrs. Guy P. Gannett, Cape Elizabeth; second vice president, Elizabeth M. Litchfield, Lewiston; third vice president, Mrs. C. W. Towers, Houlton; recording secretary, Mrs. Ernest Theis, Westbrook; corresponding secretary, Mrs. S. S. Thompson, Portland; treasurer, Mrs. S. Merritt Farnum, Lewiston; auditor, Clinton W. Graffam, Portland; directors—Mrs. E. W. Loane, Presque Isle; Mrs. E. F. Berry, Rockland; Mrs. C. T. Burnett, Brunswick, and June L. Bright, Bangor. one of two readings
13L. N. F.
14Buffalo, N. Y. (See letter on another page.)
15Cleveland, Ohio. (See letter on another page.)
16Harrisburg, Pa. (See letter on another page.)
17Los Angeles, Cal. (See Music on the Pacific Slope.)
18Miami, Fla.—The final concert of the season given by the University Orchestra, Arnold Volpe, conductor, was heard in the University of Miami Auditorium. The soloists were Hannah Spiro Asher, pianist, and Margarethe Morris, Estelle C. Cromer, Donna Watson and Ted Kennedy, violinists. A warmth of enthusiasm greeted the players and, as at the first concert, there was a capacity house. Mr. Volpe came to Miami this season as head of the violin department of the Miami Conservatory of Music, Bertha Foster, director, which is now the music unit of the University of Miami. Mr. Volpe is a well known conductor, having led the Volpe Symphony Orchestra, and having been the founder and for two seasons conductor of the Lewisohn Stadium concerts. He was instrumental in establishing the Young Men's Symphony Orchestra in New York. Mr. Volpe will conduct the Miami Symphony Orchestra again next season.
19A. F. W.
20Minneapolis, Minn. (See letter on another page.)
21Norwich, N. Y.—Charles Floyd, tenor and director of the Congregational Choir Church, gave Buck's Christ the Victor at Easter, assisted by Johnson's Orchestra, Lucy Brooks, organist, and Mrs. L. D. Gifford, pianist. The various soloists, ensemble combinations, etc., were heard to fine advantage, redounding credit on all concerned. Mr. Floyd is well known in the metropolis, which he left for our city only last December. Director of music in two choirs of Norwich, and another in Oxford, he has a large class of pupils, and has just moved into his own house on Piano street.
22S.
23Pittsburgh, Pa. (See letter on another page.)
24Portland, Me.—The last three concerts given here under the auspices of the municipal music commission have been disappointing in the size of the audiences. The first was by Ethel Leginska and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra. The musicians were heartily received in all instances, and this new Boston Orchestra was most interesting. It was colorful, and well worth hearing. Miss Leginska affects daring contrasts with spirited success. As a conductor she is poetry of motion—a most graceful figure, whose magnetism focuses attention. That her technic as a pianist is of the best, she demonstrated by displaying with the orchestra the Hungarian Fantasia by Liszt. She directed while playing, seemingly with the greatest ease. The second concert was that of Roland Hayes, who made his second appearance at Portland. The last concert was the debut of the Portland Municipal Orchestra, under the direction of municipal organist, Cronham. Marie Tiffany, of the Metropolitan Opera, assisting artist, was a delight to hear. The orchestra, which has had eight weeks of intensive preparation, gave a fine performance of an interesting and rather difficult program. Among its numbers were In the Village, from the Caucasian Sketches, by Ippolitov-Ivanov; two movements from Haydn's Symphony No. 11, and Sunday Morning, Under the Linden and Sunday Evening, from Massenet's Atsasian Scenes. L. N. F.
25Portsmouth, N. H.—The Friends of Music Society of the Portsmouth School of Music, assisted by the local orchestra of 376 players, G. Bertrand Whitman, conductor, gave a pretentious program at Academy Hall as the closing feature of National Music Week. The assisting artists were Norman Leavitt, vocal soloist; Dora Sanborn, pianist; Oliver Dowd, violinist; John Parlin, cornetist; and there were selections by the Academy Piano Trio and the Community Vocal Quartet. The program featured such American composers as Hadley, Skilton, MacDowell, Westell Gordon, Herbert, Cadman, Nevin, Ball, Whithorne, Cooke, Deppen, Bond, Sousa, and John Stafford Smith.
26N.
27Providence, R. I.—Francis Paul Velucci gave a piano-forte recital in the ball-room of the Providence Plantations Club and was cordially received by a highly appreciative audience. Mr. Velucci, artist-pupil of Mme. Avis Bliven-Charbonnel, confirmed the good impression that he had previously made by reason of his smooth and fluent technic, genuine musical feeling and taste as an interpreter. His opening number was the Bach Gavotte in E major, followed by Beethoven's sonata op. 26. For his third number he played Schumann's Fantasiestucke and also included in his program a group of three Chopin etudes and a modern composition, Barcarola, by Casella. He brought his program to a close with the brilliant arrangement of a valse from the opera Faust by Liszt. One can only commend the excellent manner in which Mr. Velucci interpreted all of his numbers. Beauty of tone, a keen sense of rhythm and a ready response to the poetic element marked his playing throughout.
28The Chamade Club, of which Mrs. George B. Lomas is president, observed President's Day with a tea and musicale in the ball-room of the Providence Plantations Club. Lucy Marsh, accompanied by George Pickering, rendered
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.