Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1882 Vol. 5 N. 14

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
February 20 th, 1882. T H E MUSICAL CRITIC AND T R A D E R E V I E W . - S u p p l e m e n t ,
rather clumsily gives us to understand that it bore >nd good fellowship ends in editorial gush and gout.
no fruits. This is incorrect, to say the least. It But he has not. His confessions are barren of those
bore live fruits, as Mr. John C. Freund's executors hings which he ought to have told. He appears
UNFINISHED CONFESSIONS OF A MUSICAL may learn by writing to California, or to Mr. Steele o know no more of the dark side of the profession
Mackaye. The whole of that romantic episode in han he knows of the hat and cap trade or the Del-
JOURNALIST.
Union Square is carefully omitted from the con- arte system, and therefore his confessions have
fessions. This is to be regretted, because it is a alien very flat, except to Mr. Mackaye and Wil-
INTERESTING READING FOR JOHN C. F R
D (Oxen)
eautiful and touching story, and ought to be em- am Humphreys and Mr. Steinway.—Dramatic
IN THE NEW YOKK " DRAMATIC TIMES "—A
balmed in Oxford literature, along with the idyl
FEW POINTS ON THE DELSARTE SYSTEM,
THE SOB-COTERIE, AND THE PIANO-
of Paul and Virginia. No one that lived at the
FOKTE
RACQUET.
;ime could have told the charming story of Ida
ohnson with the same pathos as Mr. John C.
S a rule, we do not give up a great deal of 'reund, Oxen, unless, perhaps, it was William
space to literary reviews. A dramatic and Humphreys or Ida Johnson herself. Why that in- ' I ^HERE is absolutely BO cessation in the num-
1. ber of musical performances at this truly mu-
musical paper should deal only with that form of tensely interesting feature of the Delsarte system sical centre.
literature which relates in some way to music and s left out we cannot understand. Mr. John C. One cannot hear everything that is being per-
the drama; and dramatic and musical literature, Freund's executors owe it to his memory to restore brmed here, because he cannot be in two or more
outside of plays and the essays that Mr. Theodore that one manly episode in his eventful career. jlaces at one and the same time. On some evenings
are half a dozen musical performances in pro-
Thomas occasionly writes for Scribner, is lament- Modesty may be a virtue in a living musical editor, there
gress, and generally each and every one is attended
ably scarce in this country. When, however, a but justice is certainly a merit in his posthumous y large audiences.
publication appears which attempts to deal with onfessions.
BOSTON SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA.
the professional events and people of our time, it
The sixteenth concert of the season by this or-
There are other serious omissions in this work.
challenges thoughtful review. Such may be said Not a word has been said about the sudden death ganization filled Music Hall in every nook and cor-
to be the case with the Memoirs of Mr. John C. of Mr. John C. Freund, Oxen. The brilliant char- er on February 11. The programme was varied
Freund, which have recently been put before the acter of that demise must linger yet in the mem- and highly interesting. It comprised the follow-
compositions:
public. Some little interest must have been felt ory of piano-makers. Not a reference is made to ing "Coriolanus
Overture," Beethoven; "Rhapsody
among the large class of piano manufacturers, the extraordinary descent of this wonderful man for contralto, male chorus, and orchestra" (soloist,
printers, paper makers, organ builders and others rom the pinnacle of {esthetic beauty in Union Miss Mary H. How), Brahms; "Unfinished Sym-
in this work, for no man, not excepting Greenville Square to the ditch of absolute wretchedness in phony" (B minor), Schubert; "Introduction to
3, Meistersinger," Wagner; "La Captive," con-
Murray, was so competent to clear up a number Kansas City. Not a single one of the brilliant Act
tralto, Berlioz, and two numbers from Leo Delibes,
of niysterieB which for several years had been the etters that he wrote from that city to Mr. Steele Sylvia ballet music.
theme of speculation in the cafes and clubs.
Mr. Georg Henschel, the conductor, has little
Mackaye has been preserved.
Mr. John 0. Freund's extraordinary ability was That is to say, has not been preserved in the notions of his own in regard to the disposition of
orchestra, and like all original characters who
attested by the best authority. The Messrs. Stein- confessions. This is a fatal omission. Mr. John the
have little notions of their own, he finds a great
way, the late Albert Weber, Mr. Tretbar, Wm. C. Freund, before he passed away, had it in his deal of opposition to what might aptly be called,
Humphreys, Steele Mackaye, and other eminent power to point a moral, as well as to adorn a tale. his scheme.
men spoke of his sharpness, his profundity, his He could have done a great deal of good had he The matter received some attention in THE MU-
CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW some time ago.
appetite, and his aesthetic taste with bated breath. hosen to explain to the thousands of innocent SICAL
Mr. Henschel, as we stated then, found some of
The record of the personal experiences of such a girls who bring their money and their talents to the most competent judges here opposed to his
man could not help attracting attention. It could the great city to equip themselves for the stage, method, and it appears that these judges adhere to
not help disposing of a great many ugly and malig- how many hidden dangers lurk in their path, how their ideas with the same resolution as Mr. Henschel
nant stories which had grown upon the memory many sharpers and swindlers, disguised in jour- manifests in his direction.
No better evidence could possibly have been de-
of the great and good Mr. John C. Freund, very nalistic propriety and buttressed with bric-a-brac, sired to pj-ove the mistake that Mr. Henschel is
much as fungi grows upon the grave of a genius. lead them on, step by step, and having first robbed making, in destroying the homogenity of instru-
Musical journalism in New York is in itself such them, ruin them, and fling them back penni- mental color with his process, than in Brahms'
a paralyzing mystery to the ordinary healthy man, less and friendless into the cold whirlpool of the Rhapsody," and especially in Wagner's "Meister-
singer" selections that were performed.
that Mr. John C. Freund's revelations were ex- metropolis. Mr. John C. Freund, Oxen, must The instruments are distributed all over the
pected to be as naive as the confessions of Rous- have known the pitiful story of one weak, white- stage, as it were. Every attempt to catch form or
seau, as fearless as Jo. Howard's letters to th« faced girl, who came out of a Western home, with figure in these highly developed instrumental
Philadelphia Times, and as interesting as the dying a few thousand dollars, to equip herself for the works, becomes a complete failure.
Brahms is obscure and hidden in his forms, yet
speech of a condemned culprit.
a musical student can detect the significance of
battle of life.
It is with much reluctance that we express our
the raphsody when the orchestra is arranged in the
great disappointment at "The Confessions." They Why did not Mr. John C. Freund, Oxen, tell it traditional mauner, when subject and counter-sub-
are cast from one set of instruments to another,
are in no sense satisfying in their revelations; and in his confessions? If there was a wrong done ject
and so on.
in their rhetoric far more characteristic of the emi- why did not this Oxford champion right it? He Accoi'ding to Mr. Henschel's method, the whole
nent Mr. Stephen Fiske, author of the "Passing could at least have exposed it. We have a right work became an olla podridn of figures.
Show," than of the profound Mr. John C. Freund, to demand of the man who makes ostentatious We cannot accuse Brahms, nor Henschel's lead-
Oxen, We had hoped, nay, we had confidently ex- confessions that he confess the things in which we ing, nor the performers, for this, but simply the
manner of distributing the instruments on the
pected, that before Mr. John C. Freund, Oxen, are interested. His great heart must have swollen stage.
had passed away he would have let us into the se- many a time when he heard that story. He must
The Wagner selection required about double the
cret of working the piano men. There is no ap- have known that the poor little womaa had no number of strings to countei'balance the brass.
In this composition the defects were equally if
parent reason why a really penitent man should defender; that when her money was all gone, her
not more forcibly demonstrated. Yet it is by this
not have told us how he manipulated Mr. William responsibility doubled, and that henceforth she time
entirely too late to hope for a remedy.
Steinway. There is something extremely shiftless must walk her solitary path in poverty and shame,
The
idea has become a permanent fact, the cli-
in leaving that to Mr. William Steinway. There carrying an extra load. But he kept his lips enteUe seems to be satisfied, and everybody is
sealed.
It
seems
to
us
that
this
is
a
false
sense
o
pleased, and Mr. Henschel alone hears the best part
is no reason why a man with so large a sense of
of every concert, and next season the same thing
humor as Mr. John C. Freund, Oxen, should delicacy. Mr. John C. Freund ought to have ex will
be repeated.
not have revelled in an explanation of how he posed the villain ruthlessly.
Miss Mary H. How, the vocalist, possesses a
flopped over to Mr. Hale and sold Mr. Steinway There is another point upon which this eminent firm, sympathetic contralto voice.
Her vocalization is not as finished as might be,
out. Fairness at least, it seems to us, should have man of the past might have shed a great deal of il
prompted him to give Mr. Steinway's and Mr. lumination. We refer to the demi-literary and mu and the phrasing of the Brahms solo passages was
not distinct and definite.
Tretbar's statements, and not leave them for some sical rings of the city. He might have given us a In the upper register, the intonation is not pure.
body else to give.
most sparkling account of that sub-coterie, whos< These defects can, however, be easily remedied,
It is excessively annoying to find that these chief gets up "The Passing Show" with one hand provided they are discovered in time, and if so,
is no question that Miss How will become a
things are all omitted from the confessions. They and persecutes Mr. Townsend Percy with the other there
welcome figure on the concert stage.
whose
Paphian
Venus
mingles
literature
and
late
would have had an incalculable moral value toth
The programme for February 18th was Beetho-
community, and other men from Oxford who should suppers loudly and largely, and whose Sir Oracle ven's Leonore Overture, No. 1; the same Rhapsody
attempt in the future to found musical papers here is the debris of what was once Oakey Hall. Mr. by Brahms, sung by Miss How again; Beethoven's
Symphony; Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto,
on the basis of piano and organ manufacture John C. Freund, Oxen, who kept these people in Eighth
by
Mr.
Alfred de Seve, and Massenet's Overture,
might have used the book as a chart, in which all hash at a time when confiding piano men were nu "Phedre."
merous,
ought
to
have
confessed
about
them.
the rocks would be carefully marked.
HARVARD SYMPHONY CONCERT.
Mr. John C. Freund's romantic connection with He should have let his penitential ray into th
The third concert of the Harvard Musical Asso-
the Delsarte system is carefully left untold.
orgies where actresses are baited with paragraph ciation took place at the Boston Museum on Feb-
CIRCUMAMBIENT LYING."
MUSIC IN BOSTON.
A
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
T H E MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.—Supplement.
February 20th, 1882.
in Turn Hall, February 20, in aid of the French known artists: Miss Fanny Kellogg, Mr. Herndon
Morsell. Mr. Edward Fabian, Mr. Alfred De Seve,
church.
and Mr. Calixa Lavallee.
BOSTON MUSICAL NOTES.
Martha D. Knight, pianist, played at
A young pianist about fifteen years of age in this Miss Upton,
February 15, and at the benefit of
city will make a great mark in a few years, if he West
Miss Davis in the Hawthorne rooms, Boston, Feb-
continues to improve as he has done in the past.
16.
His name is Milo Benedict. He performs the ruary
and as THB MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW
Mrs. Hattie Clark Gates, Miss Abby Clark, Miss
most
difficult
pieces
with
ease,
and
with
intelli-
mad* an extensive notice of it, it is unnecessary to gence and understanding.
Ella Chamberlain, Willis Clark, Walter Emerson,
go over the same ground again.
and J. P. Cobb were to concertize in Medfield
One
of
the
dailies
here
makes
the
following
Most of the critics here cannot digest the work. startling announcement: "Signor Brignoli has February 16.
Madame Schiller never did anything more to beeu visiting his Boston friends, and to-day re- Henry 0. Barnabee, Abby Clark, Howard M.
Walter Emerson, J. C. Bartlett, and Mrs.
her credit than when she studied that concerto turns
to rejoin the Kellogg concert company for Dow,
H. F. Knowles were to have appeared in a concert
and acquired its mastery.
another
extended
tour.
He
looks
ten
years
Wakefield on February 15.
The next concert takes place February 23. One
than when he was here last. He will re- at Mrs.
Dr. Stackpole, soprano, and Miss Alice
of the "Leonore" overtures will be played, also the younger
turn
to
Boston
after
the
conclusion
of
the
tour
of
vocal duo (serenade) from Berlioz's "Beatrice and the company, and contemplates giving a musicale, Steele, contralto, sang at the Unitarian Church,
Benedict," which was recently sung on two occa- at which he will present some new vocal compo- Portsmouth, on Sunday, February 12.
sions in New York.
The Weber Quartette sang in Dorchester the
sitions of his own."
17th of February.
The vocalists are Mrs. C. N. Allen and Miss Daisy
He
will
present
some
new
vocal
compositions
of
The Lotus Glee Club was to sing at Allston,
Brown, An interesting number will be a sym-
Where are the old ones?
February
11; Lawrence, February 18, and at Mu-
phony in MS. (first performance), by G. W. Chad- his It own.
is a sorrowful task to state that Miss Nellie sic Hall, Boston,
April 5.
wick, a young native composer of great talent.
Wood
("Pauline
Maurel")
was
buried
from
the
The rest of the programme consists of an inter- residence of her parents, 3 Acton street, on Satur- Miss Alta Pease will have a concert at Monu-
mezzo from Goetz's "Posthumous Symphony," a day, February 11 Music was given by the church ment Hall. Charlestown, in March.
duet from Mozart's "Le nozze diFigaro,"andRos- quartette of which she was a member before her Miss Ella Blake, contralto, was to sing at Nor-
sini's "William Tell" overture.
and North Easton this past week.
with the Abbott Company. Mrs. F. wood
Mrs. T. P. Lovell will sing at Dorchester Lower
Ugh! what a lengthy programme! Suppose the engagement
O.
Whitney
sang
"Angels
Ever
Bright
and
Fair."
audience becomes generous in applause, especially Miss Emma Abbott sent an elegant harp, and Mills on the 22d.
after the ladies get through singing? Suppose! there were numerous floral tributes.
Miss Fanny Rice was to play in Lowell, the
16th.
MISCELLANEOUS PERFORMANCES.
The date of the appearance of the Strakosch
Miss Marie F. Marchington was to sing at Dover,
At the Meiouaon, Tremomt Temple, February Italian Opera Troupe in Boston is not yet fixed; February 16.
13, Miss Lizzie E. Blood, pianiste, gave a concert, it will probably be after the close of the season in
Miss Gertrude Franklin will sing at Brockton,
with the assistance of Miss Fannie Kellogg, soprano; New York. Besides Etelka Gerster, Mr. Strakosch February 26.
Mr. Gustave Dannreuther, violinist; Mr. Wulf will present Mile. Leslino, Mile. Van Arnheim,
Miss Minnie Power, soprano, was to sing at
Miss Carriugton, Mile. Prassint, Mile. Ricci, Sig- Brockton,
Fries, violoncellist, and Mr. John Orth, pianist.
February 17.
nor
Giannini,
Signor
Lazarini,
Signor
Pergini,
The programme included Mozart's trio, op. 15,
Mr.
Habelman,
Signor
Ciapini,
Mr.
George
Sweet,
No. 1, a fantaisie by Max Bruch for two pianos,
It will give pleasure to the many friends of Mme.
Signor Mancini and Signor Cat bone in the princi
and a trio by Gade.
to know that she is convalescing, and
The associate members of the Cecilia Club heard pal roles. Miss Blanche Roosevelt may also come Rudersdorf
hopes are entertained that she will soon be restored
the Requiem of Berlioz at Music Hall, February with the company.
Mr Ernst Perabo, during his recent trip to Eu- to health.
12. Mr. Charles R. Adams, tenor; Mr. B. J. Lang,
rope, had the honor of playing in private before Rafael Joseffy, the pianist, is to make his first
director.
The associate members of the Arlington Club Mme. Moscheles, widow of the pianist and com- appearance in this city this season at Music Hall,
gave a concert on Tuesday evening, February 14, poser, Mr. August Manns, of the Crystal Palace, on Wednesday evening, March 15, and Saturday
London, and other persons of prominence in the afternoon, March 18.
in Tremont Temple.
Choruses were sting from Whiting's "Tale of the musical world. He also gave a concert August 10 The arrangements for the production of "Fi-
Vikings;" vocal march by Storch; Kremser's at the Hydropathic Establishment in Moffat, Scot- delio," by local talent, at Easter, are progressing
"Schultzenliedev;" Abt's "Water Nymphs." and land. He has, since his return to Boston, decided successfully.
the "Sailors Chorus" from Dudley Buck's "Golden to give two concerts, which will come off at noon
Legend." Mrs. C. N Allen sang Reinecke songs. (that being the hour when ladies are most at leis-
PRESS CLUB RECEPTION.
The Beethoven Club played Schumann's string ure). March 6 and 9, in the Meionanon. He will n P H E tenth annual reception of the New York
quartette, op. 41, No. 3, and Tschaikowsky's quar- introduce a new pianist at these concerts, Mile. ±. Press Club", held in its rooms in Nassau street,
Marie Heimlicher, from Basel, Switzerland, who
tette, op. 11.
has enjoyed the privilege of instruction from Ru- on February 14, was a very enjoyable affair. The
The programme of the Apollo Club at Music binstein,
rooms, which were handsomely decorated, were
a rarely accorded favor.
Hall, February 15, was to be as follows: Three
crowded by members and invited guests, and the
movements from Paine's "CEdipus" music, Schu- Miss Abby Noyes' annual concert takes place at proceedings lasted until a very early hour.
bert's "Song of the Spirits Over the Water," "The Music Hall April 5, and Miss Clara Smart will Colonel Merriman, the president of the club,
Monks of Bangor," by G. E. Whiting, and part sing at Music Hall April 6
Among those present were Collector
Mr. Wulf Fries, the violoncellist, has left the presided.
songs, including Kiicken's "Young Musicians."
Robertson and Colonel Roberts, who made short
A concert of Miss Fannie Louise Barnes was to Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Judge McAdam, Dr. Edward Schauer,
The press here seems to regret this very much, speeches.
have taken place at Horticultural Hall on February
the Turkish Consul; Justice Gedney. ex-Alderman
17, with soprano songs by Miss Barnes; other se- and musical people are pained because Mr. Fries Morris, ex-Alderman Cole, Justice Heckler, Assist-
lections contributed by Mr. W. J. Winch, tenor; was obliged to secede. Mr. Fries, besides being a ant District Attorney Brady, Josiah P. Fitch,
Messrs. B. J. Ling and J. C. D. Parker, pianists, cultured musician and a most excellent orchestral Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Hamlin,
violoncellist, is also a gentleman of refinement, and ex-Tuikish Consul Oscanyun.
and Sig. Leaudro Campanari, violinist.
The third of the series of chamber concerts an- and as such it was an impossibility on his part to Constantine Sternberg and Professor Louis
nounced by Messrs. Carlisle Petersilea, pianist, and endure treatment which was not consistent with Staab played piano solos; the Rockwood and
Leandro Campanari, violinist, were to have begun his sense of professional ethics.
Clipper Quartettes sang popular selections, and
at Wesleyan Hall on Thursday evening, February The Boston Ideal Opera Company (!)(?) will appear J. A. Ryley and W. J. Carlton, the Bunihorne and
16, withfollowing programme: Trio in D minor, at the Boston Theatre on February 29, beginning Grosvenor of the Standard Theatre, were repeat-
op. 22, for piano, violin, and 'cello, by John K. a series of ideal operas. It is not all of Boston edly encored.
Paine; violin solos, by Bach and Lalo; piano solos that is delighted at the return of these operas,
woke the echoes with his cornet, and
by Henselt and Rubinstein; and the quartette for although Bostonians cannot help being pleased G. Liberati
W.
Pinch
back and C. E.Johnson handled the
with
the
return
of
the
ladies
and
gentlemen
who
strings, in A minor, op. 41, No. 1, by Schumann.
banjo in capital style. Harry Livingstone mysti-
On Friday evening, lebruary 17, the Boston constitute the company. It is not known exactly fied the audience with very clever feats of leger-
Glee Club was to have given its second concert to how long the engagement will last.
demain, and George W. Kyle and John Marshall
its associate members at Union Hall.
gave several interesting recitations.
NEW ENGLAND MUSICAL NOTES.
"Samuel," Mr. Jerome Hopkins' dialogue ora-
The irrepressible "Jo" Howard delivered one of
torio, will be given at Tremont Temple, on the af- The third annual session of the Rockingham his characteristic speeches, which was witty and
ternoon of February 22 (Washington's birthday). County Musical Convention closed on February wise, on the text that journalism is the most hon-
The solo parts will betaken by MissEloiseBuford, 10, after a highly successful five days' session in orable and the best paid profession the world.
soprano; Miss A. C. Westervelt, soprano; Miss Music Hall, Portsmouth, N. H., under the con-
Lillian M. Garrette, contralto; Mr. J. A. Shepard, ductorship of S. B. Whitney, Mrs. Martha Dana
tenor; Mr. Arthur E Miller, baritone, and the Bos- Shepard, pianist. Rossini's oratorio, "Moses in AN UNRECORDED STORY ABOUT VON BULOW.
ton Orpheon Association will give the choruses. Egypt," was rendered at the finale, with Mrs. E.
HEN Hans Von Billow was in this country
Previous to the oratorio there will be heard: A Humphrey Allen, Mrs. F. H. Kuowles, George J.
was introduced to some musical gentle-
Little Nuptial March, Jerome Hopkins; song, Parker, George W. Want, Clarence Hay, and H. men at he
reception given in his honor by the
"Morn, Noon, Night," Jerome Hopkins, Mr. Shep- T. Remick sustaining the solo parts. Brilliant Athenian a Club
of Boston.
ard; prelude, fugue, and choral, Union hymn. Je- concerts were given Wednesday and Thursday
Mr. Napier Lothian introduced him to Ned
rome Hopkins; song, "O, That We Two Were May- evenings, in which Fredor Willimek, the zither Rice,
the composer of "Evangeline," remarking:
player; E. M. Heindl, solo flutist; Mrs. Ella
ing," Jerome Hopkins. Miss Buford.
"Mr. Von Biilow, this gentleman is the composer
Cleveland
Fenderson.
contralto;
D.
M.
Babcock,
The Yale College Glee Club announces a concert
of an opera and does not know a single note."
at Tremont Temple on Tuesday evening, the 21st basso, and other talent took part.
Von Biilow replied: "We have a composer like
inst. The club includes sixteen members of the Mrs. H. F. Knowles was engaged February 14 that in Europe; he also writes opera, but does
undergraduate classes of the college, and they will at Cambridge with the Cambridge Orchestral So- not knowone note; his name is—Verdi."
sing their own class songs, glees, and other selec- ciety. She was also engaged with the Barnabee
tions of a similar character. They have just returned Concert Company at Wakefield, February 15, and
with the New York Philharmonic Club at Provi- Miss Mathilda Schlatter, of Hoboken, -who has
from an extended Western tour.
been appointed soprano soloist in St. Paul's Church,
The Arion quartette, Messrs. M. W. Ahern, W. dence, February 17.
Busteed, J. Sulemin, W. Marmand, assisted by the A grand concert was given at Music Hall, Lynn, Broadway, is the youngest singer who ever held the
St. George Dramatic Club, give an entertainment on Sunday, February 12, by the following well- position.
ruary 9th. Mendelssohn's "Italian" Symphony, the
andante and adagio of Beethoven's "Prometheus,"
and Berlioz's overture, "Le Carneval Romain," were
played, all with splendid effect.
Madame Madaline Schiller played the Tschai-
kowsky (op. 44) Piano Concerto. As she played
at one of the New York Philharmonic Concerts,
W

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