Books › Musical Courier 1928-12-13: Vol 97 Iss 24, 1928 › scan 25
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Musical Courier 1928-12-13: Vol 97 Iss 24, 1928
130 lines. Read by computer on 29 September 2026. Printed page 26. See the scan on archive.org.
1Music and the Movies
3The Viking
4Strangely enough, The Viking, which sails the seas on the Embassy's screen, is what might be called a noiseless picture, but what it lacks in conversation it makes up in color, literally and figuratively. There is a bold stroke in the narrative, if not in the direction, and though the story itself holds the spectator's interest, the browns, greens, and reds which it flaunts, for it is a techni-color film, become monotonous and even unreal. A green cloaked and red bearded Leif Ericsson discovered a land before our very eyes, and we learned a few personal things about him which the histories never tell, and which Emil Ludwig has probably failed to come across with yet—that Leif the Brave was in love. So The Viking is a love epic, as the advertisers would have it.
6About the poorest specimen of Movietone was exhibited in Lowell Sherman's short film, Phipps. It was long enough, and Vincent Lopez was pretty terrible. Cliff Edwards did his usual little stunt amusingly, and that little stunt was a relief after forty-five minutes or so of lumbering comedy, and the scratchiest bit of mechanical talking heard in a long time.
8Mark Strand
9The feature picture at the Strand Theatre this week is Lilac Time, a war drama similar to Wings, which had a long run on Broadway for several years, with Colleen Moore and Gary Cooper. The action takes place in France, beginning with the year 1918 during the world war, and the dramatic climaxes are effective. Colleen Moore does excellent work and is at her best in this picture. The picture as a whole is certainly worth seeing. The balance of the program consists of an orchestral selection conducted by Alois Reiser; the Fox Movietone news with its many various points of interest, and the Warner Brothers' Vitaphone presentation introducing Vincent Rose and Jackie Taylor and their Hollywood Montmartre Orchestra.
11Roxy's
12The End of St. Petersburg, the Russian picture which created so much comment during its showing on Broadway, is at the Roxy this week for the first time at popular prices. It is a great picture, with many telling moments. The great crowds seem impressed, not alone with the picture, but also with the surrounding bill that Mr. Rothafel has provided. As the film is Russian in nature, it was to be expected that the feature stage offering would also be so. Called Yar De Moscow, it represents a Russian inn, and Hans Wiener, a remarkable dancer, does a skillful interpretation of Debussy's Golliwog, which brings down the house. He returns after a tour of the world. Gladys Rice, Douglas Stanbury and Harold Van Duzee combine their pleasing vocalism in this presentation and lend a note of artistry, while the dancing and drollery honors go to Nina Sergeyeva, Gregory Dnestroff and Theodore Stepanoff, with the ballet and chorus doing their effective bit. There is also another dancing number, Romance of the Cards, with Patricia Bowman, George Kiddon and Leo Pernikoff, and the thirty-two Roxeyettes are some "Seagong Steppers."
14Popular Beatrice Belkin sings the Caro Nome from Rigoletto with beautiful tone and easy technic, and scores with the audience. The third and fourth movements from Tchaikowsky's fourth symphony are played by the orchestra and mightily well.
16Brooklyn Paramount
17The Brooklyn Paramount, an imposing edifice seating 4,500, opened its doors to the public for the first time on November 24. The new theater, situated in the heart of Brooklyn's business, shopping and theatrical district, follows the same general lines of its Times Square predecessor. It equals, if indeed it does not surpass, the New York Paramount in size, in the lavishness and opulence of its furnishings, and in its unusual and rather bewildering lighting effects.
19The initial program, fortunately lacking in ceremony, presented Borough President James J. Byrne in a talking film, welcoming the Paramount to Brooklyn, and on the stage a John Murray Anderson revue, presided over by Chicago's gift to Publix Service, Paul Ash. The revue, which to judge by its reception, had a tremendous popular appeal, featured of course Mr. Ash and his orchestra together with the violinist, David Rubinoff; George Dewey Washington, a dusky baritone singer of sentimental ballads, and a remarkable team of equilibrists. The other stage features were Maria Gambarelli in an attractive dance novelty, The Porcelain Clock, and Plymouth Rock, a seasonal offering with the orchestra of twenty-eight under the direction of Josef Koestner, and a vocal ensemble. Henry Murtough, who is to continue as chief organist, presented A Trip Thru the Organ.
21Perhaps the best of the screen offerings was the short Paramount talking film featuring the irrepressible Eddie Cantor, assisted by Bobbe Arnst. The feature film, Manhattan Cocktail, was an adequate presentation of a weak and improbable theme which fortunately afforded Nancy Carroll the opportunity of displaying an appealing personality and an agreeable voice.
23Music on the Air
24ON TURNING THE DIAL
25DECEMBER 3 TO 9.—The General Motors hour presented two very interesting figures, Rosa Ponselle and Eugene Goossens. This was the occasion when Mrs. Edgar Stillman Kelley, president of the National Federation of Music Clubs, announced to the world at large that the Federation had chosen Ponselle as the first artist to grace its new Decade Calendar. Ten years ago it was that Ponselle, glorious dramatic soprano, made her debut in La Forza del Destino opposite Caruso, and from then on she has been steadily rising to the ranks of our greatest living artists. Most appropriately she included the Pace Pace mio Dio on this program, singing it with all the artistry for which the name of Ponselle has come to be known. Mr. Goossens appeared in the role of conductor of the orchestra, a feat he accomplishes regularly with the Rochester Symphony.
27On Wednesday we heard a beautiful portion of Lohengrin, the second act, wherein the feindish Ortrud attempts her dark arts. Oliszewska interpreted this part magnificently and Marion Claire did some fine work as the heroine. One could not but note that the orchestra of the Chicago Civic Opera Company is an excellent body of musicians; the men brought out sonorous sounds from their instruments which form an excellent background for the singers. Thursday offered Allan Jones, tenor, in the Sonora hour, in company with Adele Vasa and a small orchestra. These programs are assuming more of a classical nature as they progress, which is to our taste. Later we also had the pleasure of hearing a very lovely soprano in the person of Pauline Lawn. This young lady has a wealth of color and warmth in her vocal instrument which no radio mechanism could fail to reproduce accurately. We remember Miss Lawn in her younger days and are pleased to see her succeeding. Mr. Damrosch gave the second of his orchestral concerts on Saturday, at which time he was assisted by Barrere in the Bach Badiere. The program was, of course, noticeable for its interesting content and the delightful manner in which Mr. Damrosch presented it. We have seen actual proof that these concerts are of great instructive value to the layman.
29Margherita Tirindelli
31Ralph Leopold and Lohengrin
32At the second of Mrs. Edwin Franko Goldman's Music Dramalogues, on the Life and Works of Richard Wagner, given December 5, at Aeolian Hall, much appreciation was manifested in the playing of Ralph Leopold. In addition to the motives and short excerpts from Lohengrin, Mr. Leopold also played the prelude to Act I, Elsa's Dream, Prayer for Victory; Finale to Act I, Elsa's Song from the Balcony, Procession to the Cathedral, Love Song, Lohengrin's Narrative and the Finale.
34Hart House Quartet's Fourth Toronto Date
35The Hart House Quartet has just returned to Toronto, where it will make its fourth appearance this season, playing the Brahms C minor quartet, Hugo Wolf's Italian Serenade, and the Schubert Quintet with two cellos. During the past week they appeared with great success in Cleveland, Buffalo, Syracuse and East Aurora.
37Artist-Pupils of Wynne Pyle Busy
38Isabelle Shiebler played for the Music Study Club of Newark, N. J. on December 12, and is booked for a second concert in Newark in February. Elizabeth Oppenheim has been engaged for a recital at the Wanamaker Auditorium, New York, in January.
40Stuart Gracey to Broadcast
41Stuart Gracey will broadcast over a large hook-up on Monday, December 17, which will include territory covering Toronto, Montreal and London, Canada.
43Marjorie Meyer Weds
44Dr. and Mrs. Willy Meyer have announced the marriage of their daughter, Marjorie Fanny, to Franz Georg Flemming on December 3, in New York City.
46New Hageman Studios
47Richard Hageman announces that he has opened his new studios on Park Avenue.
49Music Teachers' National Association to Convene in Cleveland, December 27
50The fiftieth meeting of the Music Teachers' National Association will take place at the Hotel Cleveland in Cleveland, beginning December 27 and lasting for three days. The affair will be attended by a distinguished aggregation of musical educators from all over the country. The program will probably present the most detailed, most scholarly and most accurate survey of music in the last half century presented at any time or place in this country. Singing, composition, piano, organ, chamber music, conservatories and universities, as well as the broad general subject of scholarship, are all considered from the point of view of fifty years' development. The program in detail follows:
52Introduction—General Musical and Cultural Conditions in 1876. Edward L. Dickinson
54VOICE—
55Solo Singing:
561. Changing methods of voice-training in fifty years, and the most eminent singing teachers in America since 1876. D. A. Clippenger
572. The most notable American singers since 1876. Leon R. Maxwell
59Song Composition:
601. Changing types of song, 1876-1926, and the most significant American song composers of fifty years. William Treat Upton
612. The Popular Songs from 1876 to date. Sigmund Spaeth
63THURSDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 27
65VOICE—
661. Choir development since 1876, and the pre-eminent choir masters. Charles N. Boyd
672. The larger Choral groups and pre-eminent choral leaders since 1876. Dean Peter C. Lutkin
683. American composers of choir and choral music since 1876. Edward Shippen Barnes
70PIANO—
711. Piano teachers since 1876 and changing piano pedagogy in fifty years. Ernest R. Kroeger
722. American pianists, famous or typical. Doran K. Antrim
733. How has the piano as an instrument developed since 1876 (with some figures). Harry L. Mason
744. A half century of American piano composition (illustrated). A. Walter Kramer
76THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27
77General meeting for discussion of two important questions:
781. Shall the N. T. A. change its name to the Music Educators National Association?
792. How can this national body better cooperate with the various state music teachers organizations? Can direct affiliation be achieved? The report of the Committee on Affiliation will be made at this time.
81FRIDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 28
82ORGAN—
831. Structural changes in the organ in fifty years and the growth in manufacture and use of the organ since 1876. E. M. Skinner
842. Organ performance fifty years ago and now, and the great American organists. James H. Rogers
853. American composition for the organ since 1876. Palmer Christian
87VIOLIN—
88Native compositions for violin since 1876. Arthur Shepherd.
90CHAMBER MUSIC—
91The development of chamber music in fifty years and chamber music composition in America. Burnet C. Tuthill
93FRIDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 28
94Concert at the Cleveland Orchestra by Nikolai Sokoloff, conductor
96FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 28
97ANNUAL BANQUET.
98SATURDAY MORNING, DECEMBER 29
991. The growth of our orchestras since 1876. Eric Delamater
1002. American orchestral composition in fifty years. Howard Hanson
102OPERA—
103Fifty years of opera in America. Frank Patterson
105SCHOOL MUSIC—
1061. Music in our public schools in 1876 and since. Osbourne McConathy
1072. A sketch of the introduction and development of instrumental music in public schools. Joseph Maddy
1083. The recent introduction of theoretical study in our public schools. Arthur Heacox
110SATURDAY AFTERNOON, DECEMBER 29
111MUSIC SCHOOLS AND CONSERVATORIES—
112The growth and changing status of schools of music since 1876.
114COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES—
115The status of music in our higher institutions of learning in 1876 and since. Hamilton C. MacDougall
117SCHOLARSHIP—
1181. American scholarship in music since 1876. Dr. Otto Kinkeldey
1192. Tribute to an American scholar, the late Oscar G. Sonneck.
121The officers of the association are: president, William Arms Fisher; vice-president, Earl V. Moore; editor, Karl W. Gehrken; secretary, Donald M. Swarthout; treasurer, Waldo S. Pratt; assistant treasurer, Oscar W. Demmler.
123HOTEL GREAT NORTHERN
124118 WEST 57th STREET NEW YORK CITY
125The Leading Hotel on "Music Row"
126Situated a few doors below Carnegie Hall and Studios opposite Steinway Building and Chickering Hall, this hotel is strategically located for those interested artistically and commercially in music.
127Room with private bath (for one) $3.50-4.00-4.50-5.00
128(for two) $4.50-5.00-5.50-6.00
129Parlor, bedroom and bath $6.00-7.00-8.00-9.00
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