Books › Musical Courier 1927-10-27: Vol 95 Iss 17, 1927 › scan 39
Scan 39
Musical Courier 1927-10-27: Vol 95 Iss 17, 1927
80 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 40. See the scan on archive.org.
1ACROSS THE COUNTRY
3Baltimore, Md. (See letter on another page.)
4Chicago, Ill. (See letter on another page.)
5Cincinnati, Ohio. (See letter on another page.)
6Greeley, Col.—Cadman's The Sunset Trail, an operatic cantata, was given recently by the Conservatory of Music, Colorado State Teachers College, in the College Gymnasium. The soloists were Tena Jorgensen, Wildflower; J. Allen Grubb, Redfeather; Rev. Samuel West, Chief, and E. E. Mohr, Grey Wolf. There was a large chorus conducted by J. DeForest Cline, director, and ably accompanied by Blanche B. Hughes and the college orchestra.
8Greencastle, Ind.—An interesting conference was held at DePauw University, Greencastle, on October 16-23, inclusive, when the various phases of music in worship were discussed. Bishop Edwin Holt Hughes, LL.D., of Chicago, Ill., delivered the Mendenhall lectures during the week. Other prominent speakers were: Dr. Karl P. Harrington, of Wesleyan University; Dr. Carl F. Price, president of the N. Y. Hymn Society; Dr. A. J. Bucher, Cincinnati, Ohio; Dr. Peter C. Lutkin, Evanston, Ill.; President Earl E. Harper, Evansville, Ind.; Dr. John Mann Walker, Evansville, Ind.; Dr. E. R. Bartlett, DePauw University; Professor Van Denman Thompson, DePauw University, and Dr. R. G. McCutchan, DePauw University.
10Newark, N. J.—The winner for Newark of the second of a series of elimination contests for young male and female singers in the auditorium of the Elliot Street School recently was Nicholas J. DeVone, baritone, a pupil of Mrs. Belle Fisch Silverman, of Newark. The audition was given under the auspices of the Newark Music Foundation, as part of the nationwide contest being conducted by the Atwater Kent Foundation. Mr. DeVone will represent Newark in the state contest to be held at Atlantic City on October 27. The winner for Essex County is John Martin. The finalists among the young men and women will each receive $5,000 in cash, a gold medal and a two-year scholarship.
12New London, Conn.—An interesting recital was given recently at the Connecticut College for Women by Herbert Dittler, violinist, with Mary Elise Dittler as accompanist. Numbers by Handel, Bruch, Dvorak-Kreisler, D'Ambrosio, Debussy-Hartmann and Kreisler were played.
14Pittsburgh, Pa. (See letter on another page.)
16San Marcos, Tex.—H. Grady Harlan has begun earnest rehearsing of the Men's Glee Club of the Southwest Texas Teachers' College, of which he is head of the voice department. Bookings are complete for a tour in January of the Rio Grande Valley. A second Texas tour will be made in the spring. This club last year won continued plaudits from critical audiences, and this year's program promises to eclipse those of the past, as Mr. Harlan is aspiring to bigger results in every way. Mr. Harlan selected the material for the club while in Chicago this past summer. He also did some intensive studying in Chicago studios.
18Seattle, Wash. (See Music on the Pacific Slope.)
20Spokane, Wash.—Sousa and his band gave an enjoyable concert to music lovers in the Auditorium in the Lewis & Clark High School, Spokane, Wash., September 26. The audience was large and very appreciative, and Sousa most kindly responded with numbers of encores. This aggregation of artists has a number of splendid soloists, among whom Miss Moody responded with three encores. Sousa leaves behind him many new friends, as well as a host of old ones, and he was so fortunate in having a hall where the acoustic property was such that his music could be heard in every part of it.
22A high school band of merit is that at the Lewis & Clark High School. It numbers a hundred members under the leadership of Charles Elkin. This band was reviewed by Prof. Sousa from the balcony of his hotel and he complimented them highly on their performance. J. D. W.
24West Point, N. Y.—The autumn series of organ recitals in the Cadet Chapel of the United States Military Academy is being given by the organist, Frederick C. Mayer, on the following Sunday afternoons: October 16, November 6 and December 4. These recitals are free to the public and occur just prior to guard mounting and dress parade. The Cadet Chapel organ has recently been enlarged to the extent of 1,300 pipes.
26Wichita, Kans.—The Friends University School of Music has an enrollment of 340 students. Of these, 196 are at the University proper and 126 at the new downtown studios, 209 N. Lawrence. Prof. Roy Campbell, director of the school, has selected the members for the Singing Quakers, the Friends Musical organization, by means of open tryouts and voice tests. The University orchestra, Duff E. Middleton, conductor, promises to have a fine season. A ukulele chorus, directed by Ruth T. Beals, assistant instructor in voice, is being organized for the first time this year. There will also be a girls' and men's vocal quartet. The Singing Quakers during the college year will make a number of local concert appearances and present concert programs in outlying towns.
28The Wichita Musical Club, Mrs. E. Higginson president, opened its season with a reception at Mrs. Higginson's home, on September 30. Several members of the Junior Club played piano solos. The club presented Anna Dyck, soprano, and Rita Zane Cetti, pianist, on October 4.
30Elementary school orchestras are being combined into larger groups this year by Myron L. Hull, director. Child musicians from three or four schools rehearse in one group each week. The new system became necessary, Mr. Hull says, from the constant propaganda from private music teachers, who urge their pupils to continue their music study and the reputation of the intermediate school and high school orchestras. The combined elementary school orchestras will give the children better training and background for their participation ultimately in the more advanced orchestral bodies.
32The High School girls' glee club this year has fifty-eight singers and the boys club forty-eight. Both are directed by Gratia Boyle. C. E. S.
34Elizabeth Kelso Patterson, Singer and Teacher
36Elizabeth Kelso Patterson, having directed a school of singing for fifteen years, is a well known figure in New York's musical life. Her activities may be divided into two periods, that of the singer and the teacher. She was a pupil of Mathilde Marchesi in Paris, where as a singer she met Gounod, Godard, Bemberg and Massenet with whom she coached and whose compositions she sang; Mme. Melba recommended her strongly.
38Her debut was made at the Salle Erard, and she was the first to introduce Ethelbert Nevin and his works to the French public.
40A very interesting and amusing anecdote occurred in regard to Marchesi's opinion that brains were as necessary to a singer as a voice. She often heard glorious voices at an audition, which received a curt dismissal; the madam would say: "She has nothing here, little Patterson (touching her forehead). She would do me no credit; I do not want her."
42Miss Patterson went from Paris to London, where her real career was made. She first had lessons with Sir Charles Santley, then a successful debut in oratorio—in Elijah, with Santley as baritone, and many years as his leading soprano; also successful appearances in Paris, and a Berlin recital at Bechstein Hall, with flattering notices. Mme. Marchesi always took lively interest and pride in her pupil's success, as shown by many letters and cards in Miss Patterson's possession.
44On her return to America Miss Patterson established herself in New York, where she has successfully taught the Marchesi method and written many articles about voice for musical papers. Blanche Marchesi strongly recommends her as the best possible teacher of her mother's method in America. Miss Patterson also had the honor and pleasure of trying out voices for the Jeritza scholarship.
46In her new studio she holds a monthly pupils' recital, and gives scholarships to talented and needy pupils. As a teacher she makes the pupils feel they are understood according to their needs. Her sympathy, gentleness and patience are some of the secrets of her great success as a teacher.
48Solon Alberti's Schedule Crowded
50Solon Alberti, New York coach, pianist and accompanist, has moved into a new studio on West Eighty-sixth street, where he and his assistant, Roy Underwood, will take care of the many artists under their guidance. Included among these artists are Robert Steele, baritone of the Chicago Civic Opera Company, and John Valentine, tenor, who will give New York recitals within the near future. An interesting class conducted by Mr. Alberti at his studio is that in ensemble repertory, which meets for two hours twice each week. Song, oratorio and operatic literature are studied, and work is done on entire scenes and ensembles from operas. No voice questions of any sort are discussed in the class; the work is on traditional and original interpretation.
52Mr. Alberti's fall program as accompanist is a crowded one. Last week he played three recitals for Giuseppe DeLuca, and during the first week in November he will play for Kathryn Meisle, Luella Melius, John Valentine, Robert Steele and Allen McQuhae.
54During the summer Mr. Alberti's activities also were numerous. He presented eight Atwater Kent Sunday night radio programs, and accompanied Kathryn Meisle, Allen McQuhae, Suzanne Keener and William Simmons in recital. Two weeks were spent with Jeanne Gordon in coaching her for her role in Werther, which she is to sing in Paris, in addition to going through some of her other operas with her. Mary Lewis worked with Mr. Alberti for two weeks following her return from Europe, prior to leaving for her engagements at Ravinia Park; and he coached Suzanne Keener during the summer for her winter programs.
56The New Schola Conductor
58Hugh Ross, the new conductor of the Schola Cantorum, dropped into the MUSICAL COURIER office the other day for a little talk. The MUSICAL COURIER was anxious to discover what manner of man the successor to Kurt Schindler might be and to get some data as to his antecedents and career. Mr. Ross, in reply to questions, very frankly stated that he had had no career until he came to Canada to take charge of the Winnipeg Choir three or four years ago. He said, to use his own expression, that he "came down" from Oxford after the war when everything in England was at a loose end and there were few positions to be found. He was advised by Sir Hugh Allen to seek his fortune in America, and came out to Canada, where he made his now recognized success with the Winnipeg Choir, which, as will be recalled, made some appearances here in America under his directorship. one of two readings
59Hugh Ross, the new conductor of the Schola Cantorum, dropped into the Musical Courier office the other day for a little talk. The Musical Courier was anxious to discover what manner of man the successor to Kurt Schindler might be and to get some data as to his antecedents and career. Mr. Ross, in reply to questions, very frankly stated that he had had no career until he came to Canada to take charge of the Winnipeg Choir three or four years ago. He said, to use his own expression, that he "came down" from Oxford after the war when everything in England was at a loose end and there were few positions to be found. He was advised by Sir Hugh Allen to seek his fortune in America, and came out to Canada, where he made his now recognized success with the Winnipeg Choir, which, as will be recalled, made some appearances here in America under his directorship. one of two readings
61Mr. Ross says that he was recommended to our New York music lovers by various artists who appeared in Winnipeg while he was there. These recommendations led to his appointment with the Schola Cantorum. The Schola this year will have its usual quota of nearly two hundred voices and will give two concerts here, at one of which Mr. Ross says a number of new, or at least unfamiliar, Czech choral works are to be given.
63Mr. Ross is a tall, slim, upstanding young man, very English in manner, and evidently serious and intent upon his work. Everyone will wish him and the Schola success.
65Homer Mowe Moves
67Homer Mowe, teacher of singing, has opened a new studio on West Seventy-Second Street, in surroundings which offer greater scope to his various activities. Classes in sight-reading, ear-training and harmony are under the direction of Max Persin, whose original and thorough method of instruction along these lines has made him well known among musicians.
69Last season Mr. Mowe gave several lecture-recitals on modern voice training, and these proved so successful that he will devote more time this season to this phase of his work. Pupils' recitals, which have been such a valuable and enjoyable feature of the past seasons, will find an even better setting in the new location.
71American Opera Company in New Quarters
73After combing Manhattan for suitable quarters for the newly formed American Opera Company, the committee of New Yorkers who have underwritten the organization has succeeded in sequestering their songsters on the top floor of the Park Central Hotel. Vladimir Rosing, executive director of the company, signed the lease for the entire twenty-eighth floor.
75The American Opera Company will make its New York debut at the Gallo Theater, January 9, when it will begin a subscription season of seven weeks with a repertory of eight operas—all to be given in revised English texts with complete new productions. Only American singers are employed. The season will probably be extended five weeks thereafter. The company is then booked to appear in Boston and Chicago.
77Gray-Lhevinne Is Success at Zanesville, Ohio
79On October 6, Estelle Gray-Lhevinne was heard in Zanesville, O., scoring a spontaneous success. Sigmund Levor wrote in the Times Recorder: "2,000 were enthralled by the music" (here the critic miscalculated by over 1,000, for it is estimated that close to 3,000 heard her). "Mme. Gray-Lhevinne's speaking voice is as beautiful as the music she evokes from her violin, and she gives her little descriptions with great charm. Those who came under the spell of her bow heard one of the world's leading violinists. Her brilliant technic, her subtlety, her delicate phrasing and the majesty of her heavy chords all conducted to make her recital an outstanding event."
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