December 5 th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
THE THROAT AND ITS AFFECTIONS. .
A SERIES OF POPULAR PAPERS BY WHITFIELD WARD, A.M., M.D., PHYSICIAN
TO THE METROPOLITAN THROAT HOSPITAL.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS BRANCH OF THE MEDICAL SCIENCES TO THE MUSICAL
PROFESSION.
the present series of articles I propose to submit to the profession at
such portions of this most beautiful subject as I shall deem will
I serve N large
not only to interest, but to instruct the members thereof. I shall,
whenever practicable, illustrate the ideas and theories advanced, with original
cases which have occurred in my practice from time to time, a course which,
according to my experience, has been always the most acceptable manner of
teaching this most interesting branch of science.
My chief object in compiling the following pages is to point out to
singers the way to avoid the manifold throat troubles which abound in this
the most changeable of all climates. During a single season scarcely a single
professional vocalist escapes without being troubled in a greater or less de-
gree with his vocal organs.
There are many reasons for this, the principal of which are :
1. Changeability of weather.
2. Utter disregard of the simplest laws of hygiene.
3. Impropef methods of singing.
4. Vocalization when the organs are in an improper condition.
5. The peculiar vicissitudes of a singer's life.
I shall not stop here to enlarge on the above heads, each one of which
could form the subject of a special paper; but with this slight peroration,
shall proceed directly to work. To the professional singer or speaker, the
proper appreciation of the various organs comprising the human musical
instrument is all important. How many are there, among the vast army of
vocalists, who have any idea of the appearances of the parts they so con-
stantly use ? How many of these individuals have the faintest conception
of the wonderful mechanism of this portion of the human organism ?
Scarcely one in a hundred. And yet the land is full of teachers who profess
to understand the training ef the voice.
Now this brings us to the query : How many vocal instructors know
anything about the construction and working of the laryngeal organs ? I
have, in my professional duties, been for several years brought in direct com-
munication with the majority of the prominent teachers of New York and its
immediate vicinity ; and during this period I have met with but a handful
of these personages who professed any knowledge of the subject at all.
Of the uninformed : one considered that such knowledge was altogether
unnecessary ; another that it would be harmful to the pupil to understand
the subject, as it might render him too careful of himself; a third that this
variety of learning was entirely within the province of the physician, and
without that of the vocal teacher, etc., etc.
Now I ask any unbiased mind, how under the sun is it possible for any
one to properly train a voice unless he has some idea of the workings of the
component parts of the instrument ? It is sheer nonsense to say that such
knowledge is superfluous.
It is not sufficient that the teacher shall know that sound is generated in
the windpipe by the peculiar action of these most wonderful of all bodies,
the vocal cords, aptly christened the human reeds ; and that certain tones are
produced by certain movements of the voice-box and the organs pertaining
thereto, etc. The true master should be able to examine the parts them-
selves with the apparatus invented for that especial purpose, the laryngo-
is in duty bound to disclose his find to his professional kinsman; and this
course is pursued in ninety-nine instances out of a hundred. But in the
musical profession, especially that branch devoted to the training of the
voice, the opposite course is pursued, and any point which the finder thinks
will be of any benefit to the profession at large is buried deep in the breast
of the discoverer for personal aggrandizement.
I do not wish to array myself against the professional teacher, but I can-
not help believing that the standing of the profession would be greatly ele-
vated if there were more of the practical, and less of the mysterious, about its
workings.
What I wish to forcibly impress upon the voice-trainer is simply this :
" That he is in duty bound to explore, from time to time, the vocal organs
of his pupils, not only to ascertain the physical condition of the parts, but
also to see that they are not suffering from any over-sight in training."
In the next paper I shall endeavor to graphically depict the instruments
used to explore the throat.
"NISIDA."—Mr. Augustin Daly has bought the right to "Nisida," the
latest opera of Gen^e, the composer of the " Eoyal Middy." It will be
brought out at his theatre early in January, and Mr. Daly will introduce
therein his newly arrived troupe of Nautch girls and Hindoo dancers and
jugglers. '' Nisida " had a brilliant success in Vienna on its production.
COPLESTON.—It is rejaorted that Miss Florence Copleston will give a
second series of Pianoforte Recitals this season.
LIEDERKRANZ.—The German Liederkranz gave the first concert of the
season at their hall on Sunday, Nov. 28th, with the assistance of Miss Emma
Puch, soprano, Mr. S. B. Mills, piano, and an orchestra.
ARION. —The Arion Society announces a vocal and instrumental concert,
to be given at Steinway Hall on December 10th, with the support of several
soloists an d an orchestra, under the direction of Dr. Damrosch.
CHAMBER MUSIC.—The Chamber Music Concerts, which for the last two
seasons were given at Standard Hall, will take place this winter at Steck's
Hall, a specially appropriate place for that purpose. The quartette consists
of Mr. Hermann Brandt, Mr. Max Schwarz, George Matzka, and Fred.
Bergner. The dates are fixed for Dec. 7, January 11, Feb. 15, March 15,
April 12, and April 26.
WAGNER.—Mr. Mapleson promises the first performance of " Lohengrin"
in a fortnight, the costumes and properties having been released by the
custom-house. Poor Wagner !
PROMENADE CONCERT.—Mr. P. S. Gilmore gave another promenade con-
cert at the armory of the Twenty-second Regiment on Saturday, November
27th. At the close of the concert the visitors were regaled with a hop.
HARMONIA.—The Society " Harmonia" (late Maimonides Coterie) have
made arrangements to give a series of entertainments, consisting of a concert
and ball, during the ensuing season, at Terrace Garden. Among the artists
who will participate are Frl. Mathilde Cottrelly, Frau Franziska Raberg,
Frl. Emma Kuster, Herr G. Adolfi, Herr Alvis Wohlmuth, Herr Carl Lanzer
(violinist), Herr E. Schlesinger (violoncellist), Mr. Henry Greiner, leader of
orchestra, and Saul Liebling, pianist. The first of the entertaiaments took
place on Sunday evening, Nov. 28.
THE D-
L.—A well known French gentleman of this city being asked
his opinion of Boito's " Mefistoi'ele," wittily replied, "Well, I do not know
what to think of it ; but, judging from the way the people like it, I think the
devil is fast becoming fashion able.—Boston Home Journal. The Frenchman
is right. Herein New York we have this winter Gounod's "Faust," and
Boito's " Mefistofele," at the Academy; "La Damnation de Faust," at
Steinway Hall; Liszt's "Faust," at the Philhai'inonic Concerts; Goethe's
Tragedy " Faust," at the Thalia theatre. We are indeed having a H—1 of a
persons
which, unless it be remedied, will not only nullify all teachings, but will, musical time here. Pity that Maurice Grau's French troupe is not in town
to produce Herve's " Petit Faust."
in the majority of cases, harm the organs if the training be persevered in.
To lay aside argumentation, it is essentially necessary that every teacher
of prominence should provide himself with the proper apparatus for explor-
SILESIAN FESTIVAL.—The next and Fifth Silesian Musical Festival will
ing the throat, and acquire a knowledge of the various methods of examina- take place on the 29th, 30th, and 31st May, 1881, in Breslau, where the
tion, in order that he may see that the vocal organs of the individual who second Festival was held in 1877. The principal works will be Handel's
presents himself for tuition are in the proper condition.
" Sampson," and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony. .Dr. Julius Schiiffer, the
By so doing the musician in nowise transgresses upon the domains of University Musical Director, will conduct the former, and Herr Ludwig
medicine. I do not mean to infer that it is necessary to become acquainted Deppe, of Berlin, the latter.
with the many diseases constantly found in the laryngeal organs ; but there
DEBUTANTES.—Madame Lemmens-Sherrington has decided that her two
are a few conditions which are quite frequently met with, and which it will
daughters shall make their debut in Paris in the month of January next.
take but a small amount of skill to detect.
I speak of such affections as enlargement of the tonsils, elongation of the
DEATH LIST.—The deaths are announced, at Guastalla, aged 76, of Pietro
palate, a congested condition of the throat, &c, &c. Each one of the above- Cornali; and at Lecco, of the basso, Luigi Pessina.
mentioned conditions, if present in any individual case, cannot but seriously
EXHIBITION.—A musical exhibition is to be held at Milan from May 1 to
impede vocalization, and render the normal action of the human musical in-
strument impossible. The mastering of the several steps necessary to the July 31 next.
proper manipulation of the laryngoscopic apparatus is not so difficult as one
PARIS OPERA.—The Paris Opera has begun the musical rehearsals of the
would naturally suppose upon first inspecting the instruments; three " Tribut de Zamora."
or four weeks of faithful practice under the guidance of a skilled
OPERA COMIQUE.—Tho Opera Comique will revive this winter "L'Au-
examiner being all that is necessary to put the conscientious worker upon
the right track. Of the several gentlemen of the musical profession whom I monier du Regiment," an operetta by M. Hector Salomon, which was form-
have had the pleasure to initiate into the mysteries of laryngoscopy, there is erly performed at the Theatre Lyrique.
not one but uses the instrument constantly in the pursuance of their voca-
EXPENSIVE.—It is proposed to play the whole of the " Niebelungen
tion.
Ring," at the Victora theatre, Berlin.
They one and all proclaim that the value of the laryngoscope in their
GADE.—A new suit by Gade, "A Summer-day in the Fields," in five
daily teachings is inestimable.
was produced with success at the Leipsic Gewandhaus concert of
It seems to me odd that, in the 20 years the above-mentioned instru- parts,
ment has been in vogue, the musical profession as a body have not univers- October 28.
ally adopted it, and recognized its invaluable aid. One would suppose that
VALUABLE PUBLICATION.—The publisher Trautwein, of Berlin, will pub-
mere curiosity to see the action of the larynx during vocalization would lish, January 21, the first volume of a General History of the Opera, from
stimulate almost any person connected with the training of this organ to the earliest times to the middle of the 18th century. The book will be pub-
explore the parts in a practical way, and seek out the truth of the matter. lished at $5 a volume.
One reason for the universal non-adoption of the laryngoscope is, that
THE DEMON,—Anton Rubinstein's new opera, " The Demon," has been
there is very little unanimity among the musical profession, each member
produced at the Stadttheatre at Hamburg amid immense enthusiasm.
thereof being at variance with his professional brother.
Generally speaking, the highest ambition of these personages is to com- Rubinstein himself conducted ; and at the conclusion of the opera the audi-
pletely envelop themselves in the mysteries of some original method which ence cheered and applauded for fully ten minutes.
they wish to retain sole possession of.
A PRINCELY COMPOSER.—"The Bride of the Tomb," an opera by the
In my own profession, whenever some discovery is made which is father of the Duke Eugene of Wurtemberg, is in rehearsal at Stuttgart.
destined in any way to further the science of medicine, the discoverer thereof