Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1880 Vol. 3 N. 12

THE
pI Ctoic
mm
With which is incorporated THE MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL.
VOL. III.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 20TH, 1881.
No. 12
THE HALO.
venience whatsoever; but in some diseased conditions it swells to such a
" "jl /TEPHISTO," our Cincinnati correspondent, asks, in his last letter: state, and hangs so low, that it causes violent and protracted fits of cough-
i\J_ "What is there about the celebrated bandmaster (Theodore ing. When this comes to pass, the snipping off of the little offending body
Thomas) that throws such a mantle of charity over all he does?" We shall is absolutely necessary, and is always followed by magical relief. The
try to answer the question. A great reputation is worth a great deal in the ough produced by the tickling of an elongated uvula is frequently mistaken
•world, and especially in a country where an established trade-mark sells for consumptive, and many a time has the removal of it entirely abolished
well without regard to the quality of the goods. Friends of Mr. Thomas this symptom in persons who imagined themselves far gone in consumption.
surrounded him with a halo, and this halo inspires critics with an awe so On either side and just behind the uvula are two bodies known as the tonsils.
powerful that he is pronounced infallible. Writers who do not feel sure of In some diseased conditions the tonsils attain a great size, seriously impeding
the subject they are treating, who are limping around in the field of music the acts of swallowing, breathing, and hearing; the voice also becomes
without knowing whether the steps they are taking lead them to terra firmd reatly modified. All these symptoms disappear as if by magic on the
or into an abyss, are careful, and prefer rather to find everything beautiful removal of a portion of these bodies. It is the popular belief that the cut-
than to analyze and show their own ignorance; others are partisans, and ting of the tonsils is a very grave operation, and attended with a great deal
consequently have no sound judgment. There may be some men who could of danger. This is entirely a fallacy, and the patient need not have the
speak the truth, but for various reasons they refrain from doing so. This is slightest fear of evil result if the proper instrument (which consists of a
the answer to " Mephisto's " question. We do not wish to be misunder- knife playing in a ring in which the tonsil is included) is used with a suffi-
stood; we have the greatest admiration for Mr. Thomas and all the good he ient degree of skill.
has done since, years ago, he took the baton in his hand; but we cannot
Let us now turn our attention to the internal structure of the larynx,
declare him faultless; he makes his mistakes, as everybody else does, and and examine closely the image which appears on the reflecting surface of
we do not see any reason why he should not be told so. The halo which the little mouth mirror when it is in position just under the soft palate.
enshrouds him should be disregarded, and the truth ought to be said, even
Tins picture, which is an exact fac simile
if Mr. Thomas' sensitive feelings are hurt. If the dogma of infalli-
of the laryngeal organ during life, presents
bility takes root in musical affairs, we had better stop writing criticisms,
six points of importance, namely:
beoause they cannot amount to anything.
1. Vocal cords.
2. Ventricular bands or false vocal cords.
In Vienna, Hans Bichter conducts the Philharmonic Concerts. Richter
3. The arytenoid cartilages, the bones to
is a great musician and a conductor of sterling qualities. Nevertheless, one
which the vocal cords are intimately attached
of the most respected and influential critics recently found fault with him
behind.
after a performance, and said that he was void of temperament. This may
4. The epiglottis.
The glottis is the
or may not be; at least it is an individual opinion, and the critic has a right
opening between the two vocal cords.
Tig. 6. The Laryugpal Image.
to say so. The Viennese musicians wanted to assassinate the critic; they
5. The cushion of the epiglottis.
abused him in private and public; but the anger has subsided, and the
The vocal cords are two in number, of a pearly white in the female, with
critic's opinion on Mr. Hans Richter's merits remain unchanged. Now, we
must not forget that Mr. Speidel, the critic in question, never intended to a yellowish dust in the male. They are composed of very strong, thin tissue,
detract even a iota from the great conductor's merits, but only made use of and run directly across the larynx, or voice-box. When approximated, an
his rights to put the deficiencies opposite the excellencies. He is not act which is always necessary to talking, or singing, these bodies form a
awed by the halo; he does not believe in the infallibility of conductors, sort of partition or floor dividing the laryngeal organ into two unequal por-
tions. The vocal cords are attached to the walls of the voice-box in three
singers, and composers.
It seems to be the fashion now to rebuke adverse criticism. During places: in front, immediately behind the prominence known as "Adam's
the London fall season an opera by Tito Mattei was produced—" Maria di Apple " ; behind, to the two bones mentioned above and, on either side, to
Gand." It appears that this work met with a sad fate, and nobody could the tissues lining the vocal tube. This can be seen by referring to the
understand why the management produced it; and the London critics spoke picture, leaves the inner edge of each cord free from any attachment what-
in decided terms of disapprobation about the work. This manner of treating
When the cords are brought together, or approximated, they must pre-
his opera evidently displeased the composer, and he wrote letters to the
press, in which he defended himself. Of course the defence was so weak that sent a certain amount of stability in order to properly perform the import-
the composer made a fool of himself. He said something about having ant duties assigned them. It frequently happens that these bodies when
written the opera years ago, in a style then generally en vogue, and more brought together present a flabby or relaxed appearance. These conditions
nonsense of this kind, which cannot be of any interest to the public, which are generally the result of undue exertion of the voice. Again, when the
is expected to pay now, and does not care to hear antediluvian operas. But vocal cords are approximated, one or both bodies may be found to be
the funniest thing is that, inspired by the great deed of the composer, Signor enlarged or thickened. This latter condition is the direct result of laryn-
Cimino, the librettist of the opera, who was also found fault with by the geal inflammation, and is also destructive to the voice, more especially the
critics, rushes into print and tells the world how unjustly the critics have singing voice. The vocal cords are largest in the male, and smallest in the
dealt with him, although his letter begins: " I do not pretend to discuss the female. There aje, however, some rare exceptions to this rule. I have in
several instances met with females whose vocal cords were evidently larger
justice of the criticisms passed upon the libretto of ' Maria di Gand.'"
those of some males, and vice verm. One case in particular, I recall
It is the same story all over. They want to be infallible; they have not than
the present writing, that of a professional vocalist, who, several years ago,
faults; they are sacrosancti, and to attack them is a criinen Icesce mqjeslatis ; at
consequently, high treason.
The halo surrounds them and must be attained considerable notoriety by styling herself •' the female tenor."
The venticular bands, or " faise vocal cords," are two loose bodies
respected. Unfortunately we are sinners, and have no reverence; and that
" Mephisto" is of our opinion is not to be wondered at. What is the halo located immediately above the true vocal cords, one on either side. In order
to distinguish between the true and false cords, it is only necessary for the
to the ruler of the infernal regions ?
examiner to bear in mind four points ; first, the former present a red color
which offers a remarkable contrast to the pearly whiteness of the true corda ;
second, they are located higher up in the larynx ; third, they are much
THE THROAT IN ITS RELATIONS TO SINGING.
thicker, and, fourth, during the acts of speaking or singing, very little
A SERIES OF POPULAR PAPERS BY WHITFIELD WARD, A.M., M.D., PHYSICIAN motion is observable in them. This latter point is the most valuable of all,
for as we have already seen, the vocal cords during these acts are brought
TO THE M E T K O P O L I T A N THROAT HOSPITAL.
into close proximity to each other. The venticular bands are called " false
vocal cords," because it is thought that they have something to do with
vocalization, although the function of these little organs has never been satis-
factorily demonstrated. I am inclined, as a direct result of much experiment-
IV.
ing, to believe that they were partially intended as accessory vocal cords to,
WHAT W E SEE WITH THE LARYNGOSCOPE.
in some manner, take tho place of the true cords, when the latter bodies
HE organs displayed through the agency of the laryngoscope may be have become disabled through disease. I have several times observed, that
when the vocal cords were diseased, and thus rendered incapable of prop-
arranged in two classes, namely:
erly performing their functions, one or both venticular bands acted for
Those contained in the mouth.
them, and in a measure performed their duty.
Those contained in the larynx.
Between the two sets of vocal cords, the true and the false, there is, on
In order to reveal the several different bodies found in the buccal cavity,
it is simply necessary to depress the tongue with some flat instrument, and either side, a hollow cavity known as the ventricle of the larynx. This cav-
throw the brilliant light issuing from the illuminator, by means of the head ity contains a little pouch, which is known as the sac of the larynx. This
mirror or reflector, into the open mouth of the object of examination. No sac is filled with a mucilaginous fluid which finds exit through some sixty or
mouth mirror is necessary, because the parts are directly in the line of seventy minute openings located on the surface of the pouch. The func-
tion of this fluid is to keep the vocal cords in a moistened condition. When-
vision.
The mouth is nearly an oval-shaped cavity, bounded in front by the ever the cords require any moisture, a little muscle which runs over the sur-
lips, latterly by the cheeks, above by the hard palate and teeth of the upper face of the sac, presses on it and thereby causes a little of the mucilaginous
jaw, behind by the soft palate and back of the throat. The palate forms the substance to ooze out of its mouths, and drop on the cords. This fluid per-
roof of the mouth; it consists of two portions—the hard palate in front and forms the same duty here that the tears do with reference to the eye. If,
the soft palate behind. Hanging from the middle and lowest edge of the from some cause or other, the flow of tears should cease, the surface of the
soft palate is a small conical-shaped body known as the uvula. When the eye would become very dry and glazed, and sight would be seriously
.mouth is in a perfectly healthy state, this little hanging body gives no incon- affected; and again, if the little sac which supplies moisture to the cords
T
4
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
January 20th, 1881.
should give out and no more ot the mucilaginous fluid be deposited on their
surfao, the voice would be husky and greatly impaired.
The arytenoid cartilages appear in the image (see Fig. 6) as two round
AT HOME.
and prominent lumps at the lower portion of the picture. They are of pecu-
liar importance on account of their giving attachment to the vocal cords
The Nyack Philharmonic Society gave a concert on the evening of Jan.
posteriority. If one point be kept well in mind, the location of these bones 7th., at the Opera House in that town, at which Mrs. Florence Kice-Knox,
will be exceedingly easy. The point referred to is this—that they are drawn contralto ; Miss Florence Copleston, piano ; Mrs. G. W. Mann, soprano,
together or separated during acts of talking or singing. Why do they thus and Mr. William F. Wilcoxson, violoncello, appeared.
move? Simply because the two vocal cords being firmly attached to them,
It is announced that Mr. Rudolph Bial has received advices from Mme.
it is absolutely necessary for them to follow the movements of the cords;
and, in fact, it is only by the revolution of the arytenoid cartilages that the Adelina Patti to the effect that she will visit the United States next fall. In
a letter from her manager, M. Pollini, Mr. Bial—who was also her manager
vocal cords are at all able to move.
in Berlin during a successful season of opera—has been requested to super-
The epiglottis is a leaf-shaped body surmounting the larynx. It forms, intend
of the preliminary arrangements. M. Pollini will visit America
from its peculiar position (a right-angle one with reference to the mouth of during all
the summer.
the larynx), the most prominent portion of the laryngeal image, and is there-
fore generally the first organ in connection with the larynx which meets the
On Saturday afternoon, January 8th, the young pianist, Mr. Albert D.
eye of the beginner. The function of the epiglottis, or, as it has been aptly Hubbard, gave his second Piano Recital at Chickering Hall, and proved him-
styled, the sentinel of the larynx, is to stand guard over the mouth of the self a clever performer on this instrument. The programme was devoted to
air tube, and prevent the entrance of food or other deleterious substance. modern composers, and comprised Mendelssohn, Henselt, Chopin, Liszt,
During the act of breathing this valuable organ stands upright, forming a Brahms, Schumann, and Saint-Saens. Miss Estelle Hubbard sang composi-
right angle with the tongue; during the act of swallowing it is carried back- tions by Rubinstein and Gounod.
wards and downwards, so as to completely close up the mouth of the wind-
It is asserted by the best authority imaginable that Mr. Franz Rumme
pipe, thus preventing the possibility of the entrance of any substance in
it. Occasionally, however, when an effort at inspiration is made while the is going to give six Piano Recitals, and has mapped out programmes which
mouth contains food or other substances, they will be sucked into the breath- are intended to make a stir among musicians. Beethoven's op. 106 and 111
ing apparatus. Nature has beautifully provided against the retention of are said to be the mere play things in the collection of piano works which
these particles, for the upper part of the air tube is so sensitive that the Mr. Rummel has selected for (what he calls) his last season in America.
moment any substance enters it a violent fit of coughing ensues, and is kept Rummel is reliable and will keep his promises.
up until the offending body is removed. Sometimes, however, the substance
Boston has a zither club with a membership of twenty. The combina-
gets so far down, or so firmly wedged in the larynx, that an operation is tion of so many instruments is reported to be very pleasing. It may be
necessary for its removal. The operation employed before the invention of very pleasing, but nevertheless we are willing to renounce the pleasure.
the laryngoscope consisted in making an opening in the front part of the
Mr. Charles S. Elliott, organist of St. James' Church, New London,
windpipe, just below "Adam's apple," and extracting the substance through
this artificial hole; now, however, by the aid of the laryngoscope, the exact Conn., gave an organ recital in the First Christ Church of that city on
position of the substance can be determined upon with great nicety and pre- Jan. 13, at 8 p. m. He performed works by Bach, Mendelssohn, Guilmaut,
cision, and may be grasped and removed by a perfectly harmless instrument, Gounod, Handel, and Lemmens.
which can only be introduced by the aid of the mirrors.
The Providence Symphony Society gave their first concert at Infantry
Foreign bodies of the most diverse kinds occasionally enter the windppei Hall on Wednesday, Jan. 5, with the assistance of Mme. Constance Howard,
and imperil or more or less speedily destroy life. Among the substances pianist, Mr. Jules Jordan, tenor, and a large orchestra under the direction
that have been most frequently found in this tube may be enumerated por- of Mr. Bonner.
tions of food, plum and cherry stones, peas, beans of various kinds, acorns,
The New London Mozart Club gave a delightful chamber music concert
nutshells, melon and pumpkin seeds, ears of grass, grains of corn, portions on Dec. 30. The prominent features on the programmes were: Trio No. 1,
of bone, teeth, artificial and natural, buttons, button-moulds, pieces of money, op. 1, by Beethoven, performed by Messrs. Chappell, M. and Henry Stein-
musket balls, shot and pebbles. A great many other substances, animal, ert, and Sonate No. 6. by Weber, for piano and violin (Alfred Chappell and
vegetable and mineral, have been found in rare and exceptional instances ; Henry Steinert).
for example, puff-darts, worms, leeches, claws of crabs, &c. As a rule the
A rumor comes from Madison, Wis., that Bjornstern Bjornsen, the
body is drawn in from the mouth by a strong, sudden, ill-timed or unguarded
inspiratory act. Sometimes it may simply fall through the mouth into the famous Norwegian poet, who is now on his first visit to America, will wed
windpipe, as when a person is throwing up and catching a coin in the mouth. Mrs. Ole Bull, widow of the famous violinist. Mrs. Bull is a daughter of
The accident most frequently happens to persons engaged in talking and Mr. Thorn, a wealthy lumber man of Madison. She is young and beautiful,
laughing while their mouths are filled with some substance or other. Pre- and is slightly gifted in music and art. Ole Bull and Bjornsen were fast
paratory to the act of speaking or laughing a deep inspiration is necessary, friends. Mrs. Bull returned to America on the same steamer with Bjornsen
During this the epiglottis, the guardsman of the windpipe, is raised. Now, a few months ago, and is now at her home in Madison.
if the mind is engaged by interesting conversation or the attention is sud-
Standard String Quartette gave their second concert this season at
denly attracted, the vigilance of the muscles guarding the opening or mouth Steck The
Hall, on Tuesday evening, January 11th. The programme consisted
of the air tube may not be excited, and any object contained in the mouth of Quartette
A major, op. 41, No. 3, by Schumann, Sonata for piano and
may be drawn by the current of inspired air into the windpipe. Sometimes violin in F minor,
10, by Bargiel, and Quartette, No. 19, G major, by
a blow or unexpected slap on the back or a sudden desire to sneeze at once Mozart. The pianist op.
of the evening was Mr. Henry Lauterbach.
diverts the attention and causes any substance that may chance to be in the
mouth to be sucked into the breathing apparatus.
Mr. Sally Liebling, formerly teacher at Eichberg's Conservatory of
The glottis, or opening between the vocal cords, is a prerequisite to ordi- Music, in Boston, and this season in New York, has madeixp his mind to go to
nary acts of vocalization. This opening is always present between the Europe in May, with a view of settling in one of the capitals there.
vocal bodies when in a normal condition of health. When the cords are
Mr. P. S. Gilmore says, that his band, which will open a series of con-
widely separated the glottis is, of course, of large dimensions ; but when on certs on Sunday next, at Koster k Bial's Concert Hall, will be one of the
the contrary, the vocal cords are approximated or brought together, this finest he ever conducted. Let us see whether we can agree with our noble
opening is exceedingly small, presenting itself as a narrow interval or slit, friend upon this point.
throughout the whole length of the vocal bodies. The function of the glottsi
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the College of Music, Cin-
is to allow of a passage for the escape of air. The glottis will be more fully cinnati,
January 10th, there was no movement looking towards dissatisfac-
discussed hereafter in connection with the mechanical action of the vocal tion with on the
management, as had been rumored. The contract of the Direc-
organs.
tors and President with Col. Mapleson for the opera festival to be given in
The cushion of the epiglottis is, as is shown in the picture of the laryn- February was approved. The Treasurer's report shows an increase this year
geal image, a small puffy swelling, or prominence, located at the lower border in the receipts for tuition amounting to $4,000.
of the epiglottis. It has little significance and therefoie needs no farther
Signor Brignoli is the leading attraction of the next Saalfield concert,
mention.
Monday evening, January 24. The concert will be largely made up of selec-
tions from Sullivan's best efforts in the ballad line, among other selections
THE NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC SOCIETY.
Signor Brignoli singing his famous " Once Again."
r
I ^HE third concert of the Philharmonic Society, given last Saturday night,
The Mendelsshon Oratorio Society, of Wilkesbarre, Penn., gave a fine
J_ Jan. 15th, was quite a contrast to the foregoing ones this season, the performance of Handel's masterpiece "The Messiah," on the evening of
works performed consisting of none of the ultra-modern school, but were Wednesday, Dec. 29th, 1880, under the direction of Prof. D. J. J. Mason,
not the less interesting. We must make one exception and that is the of the Wilkesbarre Musical Institute. The soloists on the occasion were
" Andante " of the Mozart " Symphony," in G minor, which is decidedly Miss T. L. James, of Wilkesbarre, soprano; Mrs. Geo. W. Delano, of this
ennuyant. This symphony was on the whole well rendered, but we "believe city, contralto ; Fred. W. Jameson, also of this city, tenor ; Maro L. Bart-
a little more breadth in the menuetto and a good deal more grace in the lett, also of this city, baritone, all of whom sang their several solos in a
trio would have been more satisfactory. The singing of Mr. Henschel was delightful manner and were fairly entitled to the warm applause which they
truly artistic and more than that need not be said. We have again to urge received. It is but just to say that the choruses which were sung by the
a little dissatisfaction with the conception of Mr. Thomas, and that in the members of the society were all admirably rendered, more especially the
Schumann "Symphony," where, in the second movement, we could find but " Hallelujah Chorus " which took the house by storm.
little poetry as HE gave it.
Mile. Ostava Torriani has left the Strakosch-Hess English opera troupe.
The Entr'acte from Cherubini's "Medea," is a grand work and was Reason,
as yet, unknown.
grandly given.
William H. Oakley, an old and well-known Methodist singer and com-
With the few exception mentioned above we can frankly pronounce the
poser of Methodist Ch/urch music, died suddenly of heart disease on Friday
concert a delightful one.
S. V. S.
morning, Jan. 7th. He was born in this city, and at an early age joined the
BELIABLE.—The "Trovatore," published in Milan, must have trust- Methodist Church as a singer. He was one of the organizers of the Alleghan-
worthy and reliable correspondents in the different cities of the world. ian singers, and traveled with that party all over the United States. He was
The representative of the paper in this city writes: "Mme. Monte&ini, chorister of the old Mulberry Street (now St. Paul's) Methodist Episcopal
although to a certain degree a prey of emotion, natural at a debut, made her- Church about 40 years ago, and later of other Methodist churches.
self felt and appreciated as an artist of merits ; she knows all the resources
Miss Julia Thomas, the popular elocutionist, is giving a series of poetry
of the stage and had her great moments." And the poor Italians have to and ballad recitals at Chickering Hall, the first of which took place on Fri-
read that, and very likely cannot understand how, nevertheless, Mme. day afternoon, January 14th. She was assisted by Mrs. Florence Rice-Knox,
Montesini left America. Mme. Montesini, during her stay in this country, contralto; Mr. Albert L. King, tenor; Mr. C. E. Hasselbrink, violin, and
had one single great moment, the moment of her departure.
Mr. Chas. E. Pratt, accompanist.
MUSICAL NOTES.

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