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Scan 74
The violinist, 1903
25 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
A town on its own line is one of the directory's headings. That is where the town on a maker's page comes from.
1PACIFIC COAST NEWS LETTER
3Theo. Schmidt
4CORRESPONDENT
5SAN FRANCISCO
7So large and important a musical center as San Francisco ought surely to be represented in THE VIOLINIST. Because we occupy a position on the map isolated from the larger musical centers of music, does not mean, in our case, that appreciation, taste and ability are not to be found in this point of the extreme West. Indeed, if some statistician were to count up the number of noted singers, composers and violinists who call California their birthplace, it would be found that this western land has produced more great musical talent than any other similar area in the Union—not even taking into consideration our vastly smaller population.
9San Francisco has brought forth America's two greatest violinists, and they are Leopold Lichtenberg and Michael Banner. Some thirty years ago when Wieniawski was in San Francisco, the youthful Lichtenberg was brought to him. The lad's wonderful talent made such an impression on the great violinist that when he returned to Europe Lichtenberg went with him, to live with him in his house and be under his almost daily instruction. Did you ever hear of the meeting of Lichtenberg and Ysaye in Wieniawski's house? As told by Ysaye it is inimitable. Lichtenberg's career could have been every bit as brilliant as Ysaye's had he continued to follow the soloist's life; but ambition, or what-not, failed, and today he is contented to pass his time in the uneventful life of a violin teacher in New York.
11Michael Banner was born in Sacramento, about 90 miles from San Francisco. When Wilhelmj visited San Francisco, he, as Wieniawski had done previously, made a find and this find was Michael Banner, who through his discoverer's advice and aid was enabled to go to Cincinnati and later to Paris, for study.
13San Francisco has a legion of students of the violin, every one an enthusiast. There is also a small army of teachers and professional performers. The ranks of this army have lately been added to by the return of former San Francisco artists and new importations. The latter have been Herr Otto Spahmer, a pupil of Wilhelmj in London and a soloist of high rank; Harding M. Kennedy, who returns fresh from triumphs abroad, and Natorp Blumenfeld of Baltimore, a pupil of Rose, Vienna and Marsick, Paris. Herr Spahmer was soloist with the Ernst F# minor concerto at a recent Scheel Symphony concert and played magnificently. The same concerto was played here last winter by Kocian, and while comparisons are not always grateful, in this instance they are decidedly interesting. Kocian's performance was polished, clean, graceful: but it was superficial and one waited in vain for a climax. It was a recital of the notes of the composition—a clear, lucid expression of the concerto's mechanical side, without a hint of warmth, depth or the somber feeling that caused this master work of Ernst to be called the "Concerto Pathetique." But Spahmer felt his music. His style is big and bold, as befits a disciple of Wilhelmj. He strives after an increasingly larger tone, though at the expense of quality and cleanness. Hence, his playing is often rough and the tone forced. But his technic was easily able to conquer difficulties of lightning arpeggii, octaves and double stops, and his thoroughly musical nature proved that Ernst is something more than a vehicle for empty technical display. one of two readings
14San Francisco has a legion of students of the violin, every one an enthusiast. There is also a small army of teachers and professional performers. The ranks of this army have lately been added to by the return of former San Francisco artists and new importations. The latter have been Herr Otto Spahmer, a pupil of Wilhelmj in London and a soloist of high rank; Harding M. Kennedy, who returns fresh from triumphs abroad, and Natorp Blumenfeld of Baltimore, a pupil of Rose, Vienna and Marsick, Paris. Herr Spahmer was soloist with the Ernst F# minor concerto at a recent Scheel Symphony concert and played magnificently. The same concerto was played here last winter by Kocian, and while comparisons are not always grateful, in this instance they are decidedly interesting. Kocian's performance was polished, clean, graceful: but it was superficial and one waited in vain for a climax. It was a recital of the notes of the composition—a clear, lucid expression of the concerto's mechanical side, without a hint of warmth, depth or the somber feeling that caused this master work of Ernst to be called the "Concerto Pathetique." But Spahmer felt his music. His style is big and bold, as befits a disciple of Wilhelmj. He strives after an increasingly larger tone, though at the expense of quality and cleanness. Hence, his playing is often rough and the tone forced. But his technic was easily able to conquer difficulties of lightning arpeggios, octaves and double stops, and his thoroughly musical nature proved that Ernst is something more than a vehicle for empty technical display. one of two readings
16Harding M. Kennedy comes to San Francisco with warm letters of commendation from his European masters, who were Halir of Berlin and Geloso of Paris. They unite in praising his tone, technic and musicianship. He has combined in his style the best points of both German and the new French schools, and it is predicted that as a teacher he will particularly make himself felt. He will be soloist at the next concert of the Art Association of the University of California at Berkeley.
18Mr. Blumenfeld will make his debut in the concerts of the pianiste, Miss Augusta Cottlow.
20Mr. Aug. Hinrichs and pupils gave an enjoyable recital in September, when Master Sacreson displayed much promising talent.
22Miss E. Bonnie Rockhold, a well-known violinist of Riverside, Southern California, has come to San Francisco for a year's study with Harding M. Kennedy. Miss Rockhold, who is a sister of the singer Mdlle. Norma Rocca, intends to complete her studies in Europe.
24San Francisco can justly be proud of young Kathleen Parlow, a promising violinist just entering her teens. She gave a concert in the Y.M.C.A. hall in September and astonished everybody. Already she is a well-nigh finished artist. No higher praise can he given her technic than to affirm that
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