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
VOL. V.
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 20TH, 1882.
No. 14.
I have been, as you may readily see by the
above paragraph, to hear Oscar Wilde, and am
just a trifle lah-de-dah at present.
—OP A—
I always did like to pretend to be bric-a-brack-
MUSICAL JOURNALIST.
ish, and poetical, and literary; and the claims I
used to bring forward that I was a graduate of
BY JACOB C. F I
Oxford University, in England, afforded great
amusement,
I know, to such of my acquaintances
JACOB
C.
FR
D.
THIS SERIES OP ARTICLES HAS BEEN SECURED E X -
in
America
as
were college men themselves, and
To
Charles
Avery
Welles,
Editor
and
Proprietor
of
PRESSLY AND EXCLUSIVELY FOR T H E MU-
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVTEW, 864 were able to tell a college man when they
SICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW,
heard him converse. Of course, I could impose
Broadway.
AT IMMENSE EXPENSE.
P. S.—I have the honor to hand you herewith upon a few men who had only had a common-
school education. The smattering of knowledge
Introductory and General Remarks-—How We Se- the first installment of my "Confessions."
which I had picked up by skimming through a
cured These Articles.
few standard works filled them with amazement,
About two months ago, the musical community was THE ONLY TBUE CONFESSIONS OF A MUSICAL especially as 1 rattled it off with great effect and
JOURNALIST.
filled with amazement by reports which predicted the
in my most theatrical manner.
return to the scene of his former exploits of a man who
But with my poetic and {esthetic affectations,
No. I.
had better reasons to stay away from the musical pro- IT is a curious fact, that as I begin my confes- how terribly galling it was to me to come in con-
fession and the music trades than any man on the sions for THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW, tact with the rank and file of those who supported
face of the earth.
another man, also calling himself a "Musical my old musical and music trade paper, you may,
As this man's connection with musical matters had Journalist," having the initials of his name like perhaps, imagine. A dozen persons have heard
given rise to great scandals, it was confidently expected, mine, having also, like me, been mixed up in cer- me time and again curse the ordinary common
when he announced thai he would publicly "confess" tain questionable transactions, and having been herd, that I Avas obliged to "work" continually for
his misdeeds, that tremendous revelations, inculpating obliged, like me, to leave town in a hurried man- filthy lucre, when I was trying to make a great
both himself and well-known parties, would be made. ner, should, like me, be striving, in the very scene strike, so that I could endeavor to curry favor
The public were disappointed, however; for not of his former operations, to attract attention to with what I was pleased to call a more "high-
only did he not "confess" his misdeeds, but he in- himself, by pretending that he will expose his toned" class of people.
dulged in suchamess of balderdash about himself and baseness to public view, thus endeavoring to
Of course, I see the folly of my scheme now, for
the purity of his designs, that people refused to read it traffic upon his own ill-fame.
the people in such a class as I aimed to attain to
after the first number or two.
I suppose this i8 what certain persons mean by are sophisticated, and my face and my manner
As Thackeray might say: Instead of being treated his great "ability."
would have completely given me away to them.
to Fr
d scored and grilled and devilled, they were I know little of this man beyond what I read in
By the way, let me describe to you how I used
served with a slice of cold Fr
d and currant jelly, your paper; yet I understand that, not only is he to turn this very disposition of mine to pose as a
not by any means an appetizing repast.
not admitting his own trickery and deception, but "cultured," imaginative man—soaring far away
The idea, though, was not a bad one, and THE MU- that he is laying the burden of all his individual beyond sordid cares—to account in connection
SICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW, always alive to wrong-doing upon other people's shoulders.
with my old paper.
the value of good ideas, resolved that the public should
But let this pass. I only mention it in order to It is a trifling incident compared with others,
have what it craved, and so engaged another indi- set forth more distinctly the fact that, in my con- but it is good.
vidual, who has also given the music trades and fessions, I shall tell nothing but the truth; but it There were several parties, some musicians and
others good cause to remember him, to relate his ex- will be the whole truth, the naked truth, so far as some members of the music trades, with whom I
periences.
I know it; and if, at times, it happens to involve delighted to work my "conversation racquet."
The following correspondence will explain iteelf: other parties besides myself, that is their misfor-
(You will observe that I am high-toned in my
spelling—when I don't forget it—as in everything
From THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW to tune, not my fault.
The musicians and the music trades know me, else. I never spell "racquet" plainly racket—it
JACOB C. FR -D.
of course, but they know little or nothing of me is too common. I always write "cheque" instead
OFFICE OF THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND
outside of my connection with them. They cared of check, as you unrefined Americans do. It is so
TRADE REVIEW, 864 Broadway.
NEW YORK CITY, February 1, 1882.
to know nothing of me. I did their dirty work much more effective, too. Suppose I write to a
SIR : Having just heard that you had returned for many of them—a great deal of dirty work, and man and say, "I have drawn upon you for $750,
to New York city, from which place you decamped the dirtiest kind of dirty work—which was what loan, and inclose my check for that amount dated
two weeks in advance," do you think that an ordi-
about two years ago, leaving an odorous reputa- they wanted of me.
tion behind you, I desire to say, that if you will That is why I have a strong hold upon some of nary business man would honor a draft which is
furnish this paper with a series of articles giving a them to this day—even some of those whom I so unbusinesslike and improper? But if I put on
a little pretense of style and dignity, and if I
full and accurate account of your career and your cheated and played the traitor with.
misdeeds, omittiug nothing, and excusing nothing, You see / am actually confessing, and do not know my man, are you aware, my very good Mr.
hesitate to apply opprobrious but just epithets to Editor, that the mere writing of the word "cheque"
you will be adequately remunerated.
instead of check, will greatly help to pull that
myself.
CHARLES AVERY WELLES,
They think, poor, unsophisticated souls, that $750 with astonishing ease and celerity? Of
Editor and Proprietor.
my operations have been limited to the field course, the game is played out now, but in the
To Jacob C. Fr
d.
in which they move, and some of the easy- old days I used to work it beautifully.)
From JACOB C. FR -D to THE MUSICAL CRITIC going ones have ascribed such of my disas- I see, by looking over my manuscript, that I am
trous adventures as have come to their narrow off the track, so I will return to the "conversation
AND TRADE REVIEW.
understandings, to a good-natured recklessness racquet."
NEW YORK CITY, February 2, 1882.
SIR: Your favor of the 1st inst. came to hand on my part, to an impressionable disposition I used to work it in this way: I would call on
this morning. I admit that at first it threw me which led me, like a gay and thoughtless little some young and very self-important man, and we
into a state of great perplexity. I need the remu- humming-bird, te sip from the ehalice of every would converse somewhat as follows:
neration, but am afraid that if I confess only a hun- flower of dissipation and enjoyment, until, by Myself—How do you do, my dear fellow? I
dredth part of what is on my mind, I shall be chance, I tasted a poisonous exudation which stole have just run in to see you for a few minutes.
obliged to leave for parts unknown at the earliest away my brains and left me at the mercy of great, Not on business, I assure you; I want to get rid of
designing men, and too, too utterly, all but, women. business, of the sordid cares and vexations of life;
opportunity.
THE ONLY TRUE CONFESSIONS
Still, I suppose I can write out certain install-
ments of my confession, and then, if the town be-
comes too hot for me, I can turn the rest over to
you, to be divided up as you think best, and I can
then gather up my skirts and make my way out of
this city with as much celerity as I have displayed
before, both here and in other countries.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
February 20th, 1882. -
206
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
i want to converse with a bright and gifted mind; You must excuse me now, as I am going to take E. Aline Osgood, Miss Emily Winant, Herr Can-
one like yours, in fact. You are progressive. a champagne bath in my new marble bath tub. (I didus, Mr. Theodore J. Toedt, Mr. Myron W.
Mr. Georg Henschel. Other engage-
"You are a man of Mind (with a capital M). You un- have managed to obtain a little credit again, you Whitney,
ments are pending.
derstand the yearnings of a graduate of Oxford Un- see, and the common, ordinary, sordid traders Among the principal works which will be pre-
iversity for the beautiful, the noble, the elevating. who built the bath tub and who supply me with sented at the festival, are the "Missa Solemn*," of
Man of Mind—Y-e-es; of course I do.
the champagne have agreed to wait six months for Beethoven; the "Jubilate" and "Israel in Egypt,"
Handel; Bach's "A Stronghold Sure," and the
Myself—It is hard to come continually in con- their money. I think it is possible they may wait of
"Fall of Troy," by Berlioz. The closing scenes of
tact with men in this profession who have no ideas longer; but that is their lookout, not mine.)
"Gotterdiimmerung"—the finale of the Wagnerian
beyond dollars and cents. (Here I would drop After my bath, clad in my satin robe de chambre, Trilogy—will also be performed, with Mme. Ma-
my eyelids, and throw a soft, insinuating expres- embroidered with seed pearls, I shall recline upon terna as Brunnhilde.
At the afternoon performances, of which de-
sion into my eyes. I was nothing if not theatrical. my velvet couch, strewn with hot-house roses tailed
announcements will be given, the selections
It was very effective.) I am going to make a great and daisies (I gave my note for twelve months for will be such as to offer the greatest variety of in-
man of you in the piano business some day. (If the couch), and there, soothed into a voluptuous teresting music of the highest character, inter-
he was an artist, I would promise to advance him slumber by the twelve Oriental houris whom 1 have preted by the orchestra and the solo artists.
The direction of the Music Festival is confident
on the stage.) But we won't talk about that now. engaged solely to sing sweet lullabys to me, and
that if the most ample pecuniary guarantee, the
That would be coming down to business, and I sprinkle me with exquisite perfumes, showered most abundant musical resources of every kind,
yearn only to interchange intellectual ideas with from the tips of their rosy fingers, I will rest my- controlled with consummate skill, the utmost har-
you at present. (At this point the Man of Mind self and prepare for the next installment of my mony of purpose, and constant and generous co-
can produce a result worthy of the aim
would begin to swell visibly.) Let us talk of Confessions, in which I may tell how a musical pa- operation
of the enterprise and of the country, that result
intellect, of the development of ideas. (He per can be conducted so that it will have all the will be achieved.
would never by any chance get in a word; I always appearance of enormous success when there is
GEORGE WILLIAM CURTIS, President.
monopolized the conversation.) With your ge- very little bottom to it.
JACOB C. FR——r>.
a & » .
\ Vice President,
nius and your brains, my dear fellow, you ought
DANIEL LORD, Jr., Secretary.
to be a leader of men, a great lawyer, a great
THE MAY MUSICAL FESTIVAL.
JOSEPH W. DREXEL, Ti-easurer.
politician, a great diplomatist. (Here the tafly
J. W. ALEXANDER.
HENRY N. WHITNEY.
TT^OLLOWING
is
the
preliminary
announcement
SETH LOW.
would have coated him pretty thickly.) And now I JT of the directors of the Musical Festival to be W. W. ASTOR.
FREDERICK D. BLAKE.
JOSEPH LYMAN.
must tear myself away from you. Your bright held in this city next May:
R. BUNKER.
EDWARD L. OWEN.
The first festival of the New York Music Festival WILLIAM
conversation has rested my jaded brain—and, by
FREDERICK CROMWELL.
C. A. PEABODY, Jr.
the by, I was saying that I could advance your Association, under the direction of Mr. Theodore JOHN D. ELWELL.
L. C. RODRIGUES.
Thomas, will be given at the armory of the Seventh B. T. FROTHINGHAM.
interests, and put you in the way of becoming Regiment
SAMUEL S. SANFORD.
of New York, beginning on the evening Dr. A. G. GERSTER.
HENRY SELIGMAN.
something more than a mere machine. I will of Tuesday, May 2,1882, and continue through the
ISAAC HENDERSON, Jr.
HERBERT SEYMOUR.
write something for my paper that will accomplish week.
J. OTIS HOYT.
CHARLES F. TRETBAR.
this end, and if you will let me have your cheque for There will be four evening and three afternoon RICHARD IRVIN, Jr.
CORNELIUS VANDERBILT.
performances,
which,
by
the
character
and
variety
one hundred dollars now—really, you know, only of the works selected, the power and training of LOUIS C. LEWIS.
WILLIAM A. WHITE.
Dr. FREDERICK ZINSSEB.
filthy lucre, that I do not value at all, and I know the chorus, the force and fullness of the orchestra, DANIEL A. LINDLHY.
that you value it no more than I do, or I would the renown of the solo artists, and the masterly
BRIGNOLI ON VACCINATION.
not mention it—at some time not far distant skill of the conductor, will offer at once a compre-
hensive
illustration
of
the
finest
musical
works
of
E
chanced
to meet the tenor whom our fore-
we will conclude this delightful conversation. the best masters and schools, and the completest
delighted to hear, and who still be-
(Cheque instantly forthcoming, and I would demonstration of the present extraordinary devel- longs to fathers
concert companies, in the office of the
depart well satisfied with the result of fifteen opement of musical art both in America and Eu- Everett House one day last week. He seemed to
rope.
be in a pleasant mood and was more talkative than
minutes' labor.)
The inception of a great musical movement of usual, if that were possible.
I can assure you, my dear sir, that when I be- this
character, wholly in the interest of art, and
"I don't believe in vaccination,"he said. "You
gin to take the public fully into my confidence with a view to a permanent musical fund for simi- get vaccinated and walk out that door to the street,
and impart some of the secrets which now weigh lar purposes, has been associated with the names and fall down and break your leg. You see, you
heavily on my mind, you will hear of such a stir of a large number of the most eminent citizens of see?"
this community as an earnest of the universal sym- We did not for one moment intend to follow his
in the musical world that you will think the day pathy
to which it appeals, and those gentlemen injunction. We did not break our leg, but we
of judgment has come for some people.
have most readily given it the sanction of their ap- continued to listen.
I will tell your readers the absolutely true inside proval.
"No vaccination for me," added the tenor.
An ample guarantee fund has been subscribed, "No, sir. I am a fatalist, a real fatalist. I think
history of my attempts to make trouble between
has provided for all preliminary expense, a man should take care of his system. I do not
piano makers, which I dignified with the title of which
and placed the enterprise upon the most satisfac- smoke any more, and I do not drink such drinks as
the "Piano War," and I will also relate how 1 tory financial foundation. The most gratifying irritate my throat. I am a fatalist."
came to have two diametrically opposite criticisms and sincere interest in the success of the festival We did not comprehend at the time being what
written about the pianist Joseffy, when he first has been manifested by the musical organizations fatalism had to do with bad wine, and up to the
of other cities, many of which will lend their effi- hour of going to press we are still absorbed in
came to this country.
cient aid to make that success triumphant. The hunting for the connection.
In the meantime, if you will permit me to in- preparations for the festival have been long in ac- "Why," said Brignoli, "look at Miss Kellogg—
dulge for an instant in your paper in a little of tive progress, under the general charge of an ad- all swollen from vaccination, and pain all over her.
visory council, aided by Mr. Thomas, and the ar- None for me! None for me!" And he sauntered off
my old time swagger and bluster, I will say for rangements
are all now far advanced toward com- toward his room to prepare for a rehearsal of that
the benefit of the many persons from whom I bor- pletion.
new and luscious aria, "M'Appari."
rowed money, or with whom I ran up heavy bills The most notable event of the preparations is
just before I lighted out of town, and who are con- the organization of two great choruses; that of the Joseph Herzberg, for twelve years a violinist in
orchestra of Wallack's Theatre, died suddenly
stantly bringing up such really insignificant mat- New York Chorus Society, under the presidency the
of the Hon. Carl Schurz, assisted by many emi- on February 12, in the hallway at Third avenue
ters in connection with what I call my "good nent citizens, and that of the Philharmonic Society and Fifty-fifth street. He was entering the build-
name!!!" that / advise them to betake themselves to of Brooklyn. Mr. Thomas is the musical director ing to attend a meeting of a Jewish benevolent
their prayers, as I intend to read their funeral serv- of these societies, and the results of his personal society. He was temporarily in the orchestra of
effort toward perfecting the choruses by constant the Bijou Theatre while "The Snake Charmer"
ices right quickly.
and effective rehearsals, have been already attested was running, and then had a paralytic stroke, that
Doesn't that sound well?
especially affected his right arm. It is supposed
by their public performances.
Has something of the old-time ring in it,
At the festival these choruses will be assisted by that he died of paralysis. He was married, but
societies from otIler cities, including the Handel was separated from his wife, who had brought a
hasn't it?
suit for divorce in November last. The case was
By the way, I can give you a full list of those and Haydn Society of Boston, theCecilian of Phil- before Judge Donohue for alimony and counsel
adelphia, the Oratorio Society of Baltimore, and
indebtednesses, if you wish to publish them; at the Worcester Festival Association of Worcester, fees pending the suit
least, I'll give you all I can remember. One small making altogether a force of 3,200 admirably dis- Madame Adelina Patti is to appear in Italian
head ought not to be expected to carry everything, ciplined voices.
opera at the Germania Theatre, formerly Wallack's.
The orchestra will be composed of 300 musicians, She will give a subscription of seven nights, com-
you know.
selected from among the best performers in New mencing on the 23d inst., when she will sing in
I may also state that I am consulting my lawyer York, Cincinnati, Chicago, Philadelphia, and Bos- "Traviata." She will sing in "II Trovatore,"
about a libel suit, which I wish to bring—on ton. The great organ will be constructed by Mr. "Faust," "Lucia," "II Barbiere," and possibly
paper—against an outrageously impertinent New Hilborne L. Roosevelt for the Festival Association. "La Sonnambula" and "Dinorah," on Monday
Mr. Dudley Buck will be the organist.
Tuesday evenings of the following four weeks.
York editor, who has had the effrontery to inti- The list of artists includes Mnie. Amalia Ma- and
Seats will be from four to eight dollars each, ac-
mate that / am a FRAUD.
terna, the greatest interpreter of Wagner, the cording to location. The subscription price for the
I, A FRAUD!!!— I—why all the world, and espe- original heroine in the performance of the Trilogy season will be fifty dollars. Since she left this city
cially Mr. Joseph Hale, who surely will never for- at Bayreuth, and whom Wagner has selected to Patti has given two concerts in Brooklyn, four in
the leading part in his new work, "Parsi- Boston, two in Philadelphia, three in Chicago, three
get the kind services I did him, will tell you that create
fal;" Miss Annie Louise Cary, who will make her in New Orleans, two in St. Louis, and one each in
I AM ONE OF NATURE'S NOBLEMEN!!!!!
last appearance in public at the festival; Mrs. Indianapolis and Cincinnati.
W

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