Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1882 Vol. 5 N. 11

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
January 5th, 1882.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
153
The Yale College Glee Club is preparing a
a voice already diseased. There are certain affec-
comic opera, to be presented about the middle of
tions of the throat which, if they exist in a pupil
April for the benefit of the Yale Navy. The
under tuition, render it impossible for the master
libretto was written by D. H. Buell, of the Junior SOME EFFECTS OF BAD TEACHING ON THE to train the voice. The most common of these
Class, the author of "Medea," which was given
affections are:
VOCAL ORGANS.
last year' by the Sophomores. The music is the
1. Elongation of the uvula.
work of Prof. T. G. Shepard, organist of Trinity AN INTERESTING PAPER, BY AVHITFIELD WARD,
2. Enlargement of the tonsils.
Church. There has been one rehearsal; the music
3. Inflammation of the voice-box.
A. M., M. D., PHYSICIAN TO THE METROPOLI-
found favor with the chorus, and the work of
4. Nasal catarrh.
TAN THROAT HOSPITAL.
preparation will now go on vigorously. The Glee
When the uvula, or palate, as it is popularly
Club and other members of the college will take
called, is too long, in order to sound a note prop-
STRAIN
AND
RELAXATION
OF
VOCAL
CHORDS—CHKOXIC
the male parts; the others will be taken by local
erly, the vocal muscles—the bodies which solely
LARYNGITIS—PARALYSIS OF VOCAL CORDS —
singers of note. Miss Ingersoll, daughter of ex-
preside over the action of the vocal chords—are
INJURY
TO
MUSCLES
OF
THE
CHEST.
Gov. Ingersoll, an amateur actress of some note,
exerted a great deal more than they should be;
has been induced to assist, and Miss Phelps, Miss I j U Y methods of singing affect the vocal hence, too much effort is brought to bear on tho
Gaffney, and other New Haven young ladies will J_ organs, directly and indirectly; directly, by vocal cords, and, as a direct result, these bodies are
take leading parts. The opera is entitled "The producing
a diseased condition of the parts, stretched, and eventually strained. This fact is a
Penikese Summer School of Gastronomy." The and indirectly,
causing improper action in the self-evident one to the many singers who have had
scene is not local, but the libretto abounds in several different by
organs
that make up the human this operation poformed properly, for, whilst prior
local hits, and is of especial interest to a college musical instrument. For
upwards of ten years to the amputation of the uvula, every act of vocal-
audience. The plot is as follows: Upon the I have been brought in direct
communication ization was labored, requiring an extra effort in
Island of Penikese is a summer school of gas- with pupils from nearly every singing
teacher of the neighborhood of tho larynx, that singing
tronomy, kept by Dr. McBosh, whose hobby is any note in this and neighboring cities, and
I have which was performed subsequent to the operation
©at-meal. Miss Teacaddy is a teacher, and the thereby been enabled to make many valuable
was, comparatively speaking, effortless. I shall
Misses Milicent Melange and Annette Trent are observations regarding many of the so called not stop here to go into this subject, but will re-
young ladies of the school. A vessel touches at peculiar methods.
fer the reader to my paper on "The Action of the
the island during the summer session. Among As a result of my experimentation, I can con- Soft Palate and Uvula."*
the crew are Bigelow Bonanza, a student of Yale,
The effect of an enlarged pair of tonsils on the
state " that there are but a handful vocal
and Lee Ward, a young cadet. They fall in love scientiously
cords of singers is even more apparent than
of
masters
whose
teachings
are
not
followed
by
with the two young ladies mentioned. The Yale some one or another of the many throat difficul- that of an elongated uvula How can it be other-
student, while making love to one, finds that the ties with which the singers of the present day are wise, since in some cases these bodies almost com-
lady of his choice is in love with the cadet, while afflicted."
pletely fill up the back of the mouth, thus stand-
the latter discovers that he is in the same predica- This statement may seem exaggerated to many ing directly in the way of the outcoming tones.
ment. The island is upset, the quiet of the school non-observer; but if these individuals were com- Occupying the above position, these tumefied
is disturbed, and Dr. McBosh is at his wits' ends. a pelled,
must be forced apart, to a greater or less
day after day, month after month, and glands
At this point, Miss Teacaddy "gets in her great act," year after
degree, in order that the tone-waves may have an
year,
to
look
into
the
throats
of
singers,
the lovers are disguised, and the young ladies, de- many of them utterly ruined by bad teaching, exit from the body. It is the force expended in
ceived thereby, are won by their lovers. The plot
making a passage which strains the cords,
would have ample opportunity of changing thus
is completed by the marriage of Miss Teacaddy to they
since it requires for its performance the aid of the
their
opinions.
Generally
speaking,
with
the
ex-
the Doctor. The opera will probably be given at ceptions above noted, my estimation of the singing stronger and more powerful muscles of the neck.
Carl's Opera Hoiise. If it is as successful as teachers of our city is but poor indeed; and why? Of the
(
"Medea," a repetition in New York may follow.
HUNDREDS OF CASES
Simply because there is no standard by which the
professional master can be rated, since every per- in which I have performed the two operations
son, whether he or she is competent or not, is above alluded to, namely, the amputation of the
ABROAD.
Mr. Sullivan, the composer, has gone to Egypt suffered to attach professor to the name and start uvula and the extraction of the tonsils, I have yet
to see a single case in which other than benefit re-
for the winter for the benefit of his health, and out into a more or less successful career
will there complete the music for a new comic Begging tolerance for this slight digression, let sulted, notwithstanding all statements made to'the
opera which is to be produced simultaneously in us look, from a medical standpoint, into this sub- contrary by many teachers.
ject, and tabulate the principal affections likely to The manner in which that bane of the singer's
England and America.
be induced by improper tutelage of the voice. existence, nasal catarrh, produces a strain of the
A chimney on a private theatre in Matzleindorf Arranged in the order of their frequence we vocal chords, is somewhat similar to that of an en-
recently caught fire, and, owing to the stupidity have:
larged pair of tonsils, namely, by offering an obsta-
of the officials and the police, there came near 1. Strain of the vocal cords.
cle to the free exit of the tone-waves. Catarrh of
being a terrible loss of life.
the nose is a disease characterized by two prin-
2. Relaxation of the vocal cords.
cip'al symptoms: First, an accumulation of thick
Hentschel's opera, "Die schone Melusine," has 3. Chronic laryngitis.
and tenacious mucus in the nasal passages, and,
4. Paralysis of vocal cords.
been performed in Konigsberg.
second, a swelling of the membrane lining these
5. Injury to muscles of chest.
The Joachim Quartette recently gave a success-
tubes. Either one of these two manifestations
STRAIN OP VOCAL CORDS. •
ful concert at the Leipsic Gewandhaus.
will bring about the condition of the vocal bodies
This is the most frequent result of pernicious above alluded to, by stopping up the passages
Donizetti's "Duca d'Alba" will be given during singing. It can be developed gradually or pro-
and preventing to a greater or less degree the
the carnival season at the Teatro Apollo, Rome.
duced suddenly by some ill-timed act of vocaliza- passage of air through them. As we all know, the
tion.
When
a
bad
teacher
takes
in
hand
a
suscep-
It is proposed to perform Gounod's "Tribut de
nose is a prominent adjunct to vocalization, the
Zamora" this winter at the Teatro Reggio, Turin. tible pupil, he endeavors by every manner of potency of its canals being absolutely necessary to
means to develop the voice as rapidly as possible,
An International Exhibition of Musical Instru- hoping thereby to acquire renown among the per- singing, more especially the higher notes of the
register, as in their rendition the tone-wares go
ments will be held at Berlin in 1883.
sonal acquaintances of the singer, and thus in- entirely through the nasal organs. Now suppose
At a concert given by Sarasate, the Spanish vio- crease his revenue in the shape of new victims. the nose to be partially stopped by catarrh, or
linist was compelled to add five pieces to those He endeavors at each lesson ,to make hia pupil other causes. In order to force the tones through
set down in the programme, so that the concert sing higher and higher; his idea of progress being it, an extra effort is necessary, which, as in the
entirely gauged by the distance reached on the cases already cited, is the destroying agent on the
lasted an hour longer than was expected.
scale. Now the delicate little organs, the vocal voice.
A five-act opera, "Attala," by Fr. Schauer and A. cords, will not stand much of this kind of non-
Varadi, has been produced at the National Thea- sense; hence they rebel, and a species of conges- When the vocal cords are the seat of inflammatory-
tre, Pesth. At the last Philharmonic concert, in tion is excited which produces hoarseness on the action, every act of vocalization enhances the diffi-
the same city, Johannes Brahms played his new part of the singer. Now if, when this hoarseness culty, it being a fundamental principle of medi-
pinaforte concerto and conducted his "Akade- is produced, the teacher had a grain of common cine'"that in order that inflamed parts shall heal,
they must remain quiescent." As a swelling of the
inische Ouverture."
sense and would take the back track, not much diseased tissues is always a concomitant of inflam-
damage
would
be
inflicted
to
the
vocal
bodies;
"Tannhauser" and "Lohengrin" are, it is said, at
mation , the vocal cords are, therefore, when thus
the request of the Emperor of Russia, to be per- but I am sorry to say that the reverse is generally affected, considerably thickened, a condition
the
case,—the
pupil
is
made
to
persevere
and
the
formed in German in St. Petersburg next spring.
directly antagonistic to proper singing. In severe
cords are strained sometimes beyond the possi- cases, where the inflammation is greatly marked,
Verdi has finished his new opera, "Othello."
bility of repair. There is a golden rule, which, such hoarseness exists that it is impossible to per-
Wagner has given to Angelo Neumann the exclu- if always observed by the vocalist, would preclude form vocalatory acts, but in mild cases, especially
the possibility of injury being done to the vocal where the disease has been gradually developed
sive right of performance of "Parsifal."
cords, namely: " That all acts of vocalization which
The compositions of Carl Heyman are creating are productive of or fallowed by hoarseness, be it ever and is of a chronic nature, the hoarseness is not
marked except during exercise of the organs, or
a sensation among the pianists of Germany.
so slight, are improper, and certain to injure the vocal directly afterwards.
bands
if
persevered
in."
Anton Rubinstein will direct his new symphony
In the first instance, that is, when the hoarse-
(No. 51) at the Leipsic Gewandhau.s Concert on There is another thing which often results in ness is marked, improper singing cannot injure
January 12.
strain of the vocal chords, namely: The misunder- the parts, simply because the aftiioted person is
standing of the "voice" of the pupil,—that is to say, unable to sing; but in the mild form of laryngeal-
Mr. Maurice Strakosch has engaged Herr Si-hott, the endeavor to develop a soprano where only a
above referred to,vocalization is pro-
the renowned tenor heroico, for the weapon of 1882- mezzo-soprano exists, or the training 'of a tenor inflammation,
ductive of strain, because, the cords being thick-
83 for the sum of #37,500.
which should be treated as a baritone, etc.. etc. ened, a greater amount of forcJe is requisite to pro-
duce the vocal sounds. That many teachers suffer
The piano score of Wagner 1 * ^Parsifal" has been Just here comes in the wonderful agency of the
LARYNGOSCOPE,
their pupils to exercise their voices when their
arranged by Joseph RubinBtein, under the im-
mediate supervision of Wagner himself,
by means of which the peculiar differences in throats are thus inflamed, is a well-known fact, and
throats can be acourately mapped out and the range one that is illustrated to mo many times in the
Mme. Wilt has been singing with great suooess of a given voice be almost invarjablv ascertained- course of a week, How the teacher contrives ta
iu Norwegian cities. Her appearance at Christiania Another prime oause for the affection under
made a profound impression,
consideration is the; endeavoring of teachers to train f- Sea VOICE-TRAINING.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
January 5th, 1882.
154
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
get along with this class of scholars has always
been a great mystery to me, for it is simple common
sense that, in order that any apparatus shall per-
form its functions properly, it must be in perfect
order.
Just here I must stop and ask the teacher -why
he objects to his pupil receiving proper medical
treatment for
cite any number of cases to bear out his state-
ments. But, granting all this, who is to blame?
Certainly not the pupil, since he or she should
have been taught differently. Again, the argu-
BALTIMORE.
ment may be advanced that many of these cases
BALTIMORE, December 29.
of giving out of the voice may be the products
of inferior teachers. But this point is not r T^HE all-absorbing musical topic here is the
tenable, from the fact that many of the cases of JL approaching performance of Mendelssohn's
"PLAYED OTJT" THROATS
"St. Paul," which is to take place to-mor-
LARYNGEAL DIFFICULTIES.
I have met hare been under the direct tutel- row night, December 30,—public rehearsal to-
And again, why he so often cautions his scholar to which
of some of the so-called first masters of this night. The Fifth Regiment Armory has been
beware of throat specialists. Is it because that, age
Setting aside disease, there is no reason un- selected as the most suitable hall for the purpose.
being totally ignorant themselves with the struc- city.
heaven why the vocal organs, if properly man- The experiences of last May, when the "Messiah"
ture of the human musical instrument, they are der
should not last as long as any other portion was given, justified the gentlemen, who are taking
afraid their pupils will glean some information on aged,
of the human economy. The Supreme Being made the most active interest in the "Oratorio Society,"
the subject, and thus expose the teacher's ignor- them
the ordinary period of life. Age, of in their permanent selection of this hall for the
ance? I am afraid, after much thought upon the course, to last
have some deleterious effect, the future performances by the Society.
subject, that the above answer is, in the main, cor- same as it should
upon the limbs, etc., namely, a stiff-
Unless some public-spirited gentlemen will
rect. Does the teacher suppose that gentlemen ening and has weakness.
In support of this statement donate a large sum of money for the purpose of
of the medical profession, who have devoted the many cases may be cited,
notably those of Sims building a music hall, adapted in all respects for
best part of their lives in the study of any partic-
large chorus and orchestral performances, the
ular branch of the science of medicine, are incom- Reeves, Wachtel, Jenny Lind, etc., etc.
pstent to treat the diseases pertaining to that Taking into consideration the above facts, I am Oratorio Society will be obliged to take the arm-
branch? Regarding the ignorance existing among forced to the inference, either that a great deal of ory of the Fifth Regiment for the concerts they
the majority of voice-trainers concerning the struc- ignorance exists among many professional teach- will give.
ture of the vocal organs, I have had many remark- ers, or that they are possessed of an enormous Rehearsals, under Prof. Fritz Finke, have been
able examples. NoD long since a prominent Ital- amount of total depravity. Not one case of in- progressing very satisfactorily, notwithstanding
ian master, when asked in what direction do the jury to the vocal organs, nor a dozen, but hundreds, the talk of many chronic grumblers that infest
have brought about this conclusion in my own the town. The sale of tickets has been large
vocal cords run in the throat, made the
mind. Scarcely a day passes that some singer, enough to ensure a genuine financial success, and
STARTLING DISCLOSURE
with whom I am brought in direct contact, does as that is even of more importance, at present,
than an artistic success, we all feel happy. The
that they run upwards and downwards, —that is, in not open upon a
predominant idea is, to place the Oratorio Society
the same direction as the laryngeal tube itself.
LONG TIRADE
I should be pleased to hear the tones resulting against some special teacher for injuring or ruin- upon a safe and permanent financial basis, and then
from such a condition of affairs.
ing his voice. One gentleman with a special amount progress in the path of art.
Another prominent teacher of the same school of grievance wanted to publish his experiences in If we had philanthropic citizens here, who
vouchsafed the equally astonishing information, a pamphlet, and spread it broadcast for the edifi- would endow such an institution as the Oratorio
Society, all the unpleasant episodes connected
that the two vocal bodies were located at the base cation of the uninitiated.
of the tongue. A third expressed the idea that Where there is so much smoke there must indeed with money-making would, as a matter of course,
there was but one tube in the throat, and that both be a little fire, and, therefore, it behooves the truly be superfluous; but I am sorry to say, that among
food and air traversed the same canal. I might go good and conscientious teacher to expose, in the all the millionaires of this antiquated city by the
on, ad infinitum, giving illustrations such as the fullest manner, the class of quacks illustrated bay, none have sufficient appreciation of the artistic
above, if I chose. Such ignorance is thoroughly above, who, by their evil doings, bring disrepute to place a few ducats where they would do the
inadmissible in this enlightened age, and should upon the entire musical profession. As an illus- most good.
by no means be tolerated.
tration of strain of the vocal cords, I will narrate
INTERESTING TO PROF. HAMERIK.
I have already incidentally alluded to one prime the case of a lady now under my care. Miss The Peabody Conservatory of Music continues
cause of strain of the vocal cords, namely, the mis- B
consulted me about six weeks ago, com-
flourish in its peculiar quiet way. Prof.
judgment of the "voice" of the singer. I will plaining of inability to sing for any lengthened to
Hamerik continues to give his lectures,
now consider for a moment another factor in pro- period without the supervention of hoarseness, Asger
large audiences away and informing a
ducing the same result, namely, the endeavor to accompanied with pain in the neighborhood of the driving
small number of people about things which they
hold the voice-box still during acts of vocaliza- larynx. Upon making a laryngoscopic examina- can
read to better advantage in the old and dilapi-
tion.
tion of the vocal organs, I found the vocal cords dated musical encyclopedias of the Mercantile
The advocates of this peculiar "method" claim congested and thickened, and in a very flabby Library.
Last season, during the delivery of his
that by so doing, not only is the power of the condition, their natui'al state being very firm to
so-called, Prof. Hamerik, in speaking of
voice enhanced, but that its brilliancy is increased. the eye. Upon questioning my patient, I learned lectures,
him to Shakespeare, and com-
Whether this is so or not, I am unable bo state; but that during the three months prior to her visiting Handel, the likened
valuable yet transitory works of old
this I can assuredly say, that this "method," so- me, she had been under the tutelage of a lady pared
Handel to the immortal works and ideas of the
called, if persevered in for any length of time, who had misjudged her voice, and endeavored to great
William.
will, if it does not permanently injure the vocal develop a soprano from a mezzo-soprano!
This year our young Hamerik is talking wildly
cords, engender faulty habits of singing, which
Upon pushing my inquiry further, I ascertained on the "^Esthetics of Music." He seems to pos-
will take much time and labor on the part of a that besides the symptoms already mentioned, it
the facility and unction of resigning himielf
good teacher to correct. If the reader will glance required a great deal of effort and foi'ce to bring sess
the inevitable influences of fashion.
for a moment at my article captioned "How We out tones that were hitherto rendered very easily, to Sooner
or later (probably later), I will let you
Sing, "in the work already referred to, the why and showing positively that the vocal cords were much know something
the Peabody Concerts, and
the whereforo of the above statement will be weaker than normal. We may therefore infer that I have a mind to about
the system of instruc-
readily understood. In the paper alluded to, it the injury done to the vocal organs was the direct tion prevailing at investigate
institution and give your
will be found that the very movements which this effect of the teaching, taking into consideration readers an idea of that
what is going on there.
method seeks to control are absolutely essential to the pupil's statement, that, prior to the course of
correct singing.
GEISTINGEK'S
APPEARANCE.
lessons above alluded to, her singing was effortless,
In true singing, as the vocalist ascends the and productive of neither hoarseness nor pain.
The most important event in music here lately
scale the larynx gradually rises in the throat until 33y WEST '/AUD STKEET.
was the appearance of Maria Geistinger, th« ver-
the highest note in the register is reached, when
satile German actress and singer, She appeared
The
pupils
of
the
Salem
Academy,
Salem,
N.
C,
the voice-tube will have attained its greatest height,
at the Concordia Opera House, and gave a series
having been drawn up to a point nearly on a level recently gave a soiree musicale, and, under the di- of performances, such as we have read of in your
rection
of
Signor
D'Anna,
presented
the
following
with the chin. If now the vocalist descends the
reports about her. She is undoubtedly a most
Bcale, the larynx will lower itself until the lowest programme in a creditable manner: Part first— remarkable artist, and I am fully convinced that
note is arrived at, when it will regain its original 1. Paraphrase on Lorelei, for eight hands, Nesvadra, she is now of the opinion that Baltimore poases»e«
position. There is not the slightest doubt about Misses Patterson, Pace, E. Morehead and Rorer; a remarkable orchestra. During one of the per-
this statement. I have noticed it many times myself, 2. My true love has my heart—song, Blumenthal— formances Mme. Geistinger became really enraged,
and my views have been corroborated by many Miss Parker; 3. Convent Bells—piano solo, F. and, throwing her fan on tli6 stage, she gave
other experts in this branch of science. The Spindle?-—Miss Hunter; 4. Madre Pietosa Vergine up in utter despair.
question now arises, How will this method injure — Cavatina, La Forza del Destino, Verdi—Miss
AN UNWILLING CONFESSION.
Lineback; 5. Con voi ber—Strofe, Carmen, Bizet—
the delicate cords?
I am forced, although most reluctantly, to ad-
In order to hold the lai'ynx in one position during Sig. D'Anna; G. Duo for piano and organ—Faust,
vocalization, the large muscles external to the Ketterer and Durand—Miss Vest and Sig. D'Anna; mit that we are not able to furnish a reliable or-
organ are brought into action (bodies which ordi- 7. Yieni al Mar—Melodia, S. D'Anna—Mrs. H. E. chestra for any occasion of prominence. We
narily have notliing to do with singing), and these Fries. Part second—1. Sinfonia Eroica—first have undoubtedly some meritorious musicians
acting directly antagonistic to the internal laryn- movement—Allegro con Brio—Grand duo for two here. I may mention Mr. Geo. Schafer, a Leipsic
geal muscles (the only true vocal muscles), impose pianos, Beelhoven—MissPinkham and Sig.D'Anna; Conservatory student, a musician of ability, and a
altine in Babylonia—Cavatina, Semi- performer of much merit.
a much greater force on the vocal bodies than 2. Eccome
Rossini—Miss Lineback; 3. Momento Mii- Yet Mr. Schaefer cannot devote any of his at-
should under any circumstances be employed. It ramide,
solo, Moszkowski—Sig. D'Anna; 4. tention to orchestral performances. He would be
is this extra force which does the harm, and finally sicale—piano
When thou art near—song, RulHvan—Mrs. H. E. most happy to do so, I am sure, but the remuner-
results in a strain of the vocal cords. I must again Fries;
5. Trcs jolie—waltz for four hands, E. Wald- ation is so abominably small that he is obliged to
beg indulgence in putting another query to the teuffel—Miss
Pinkham and Sig. D'Anna; 6. Quis decline orchestral.engagements.
professional singing teacher, namely: Why is it est Homo—Stabat
Mater, Rossini—Mrs. H. E.
a splendid acquisition to an orchestra,
that so many good voices bi*eak down at so early Fries and Miss Lineback;
7. Norma—-Grand Fan- He a is thorough
musician and the best violinist
an age?
aisie et Variations, Thallerg— Miss Vest and Sig. being
in this city; and, in consequence, he cannot play
Scarcely a day passes but what I am consulted D'Anna.
for a figure which may be a pretty fair allowance
by persona of from twenty-five to thirty-five,
whose voices have all worn out. I knoAv that all The directors of the Brooklyn Arademy of Music for a drum stick.
the teachers will immediately jump at the conclu- have desired to connect that building with the Fire Yet, here's the rub. Musicians without any at-
sion, that the singers alluded to have abused their Department by telegraph. Fire escapes are also to tainments, or auch as have no other means to earn
a living than by utilizing their instruments, play
tliioiita, aud each individual master will, no doubt. be erected at the rear of the building.
STAFF CORRESPONDENCE

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