Music Trade Review

Issue: 1898 Vol. 27 N. 19

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW

"This, then, is the essential thing to re-
member—that Wagner never could com-
pose unless driven to do so by a poetical
idea peremptorily demanding the language
of music for its full and adequate expres-
sion ; and that, once this poetical and dra-
matic idea clearly and permanently in-
grafted in his mind, it ' included '—if I
may so say—the music, which came of it-
self whenever the author could find time
for the business of writing out the score."
*
OUBSTANTIAL evidence of the grow-
^
ing musical culture of this country is
the list of operas, classical concerts and
musical affairs generally, now being an-
nounced in all our important cities. For
variety, quantity and high quality they are
especially noteworthy. Meanwhile, New
York looks forward to a musical season
more brilliant with the highest music, in-
terpreted by an aggregation of famous
artists, than is expected in any of the cap-
itals of the old world.
It is a fact that the people of the United
States are now expending more money for
high-class musical entertainments than any
other people in the world. The expendi-
ture, moreover, is not a mere ostentation
of wealth. It is made for the purpose of
supplying a genuine public demand, and
is as lavish in proportion to their wealth in
the smaller cities as in the larger ones.
This in itself shows the giant strides made
by the United States in the matter of musi-
cal taste and culture.
his mind, although the persons themselves
have no suspicion of the intention of the
composer. Dr. Ruths made his first ac-
quaintance with the phenomenon in 1887
in an individual whom he calls A. He sat
with this person in a public place when a
large orchestra was performing. During
the overture to " Der Fleigende Hol-
lander," A. said, " I see before me, to right
and left, a broad expanse of water stretched
out, dark green,
a n d flowing in
waves." This im-
age regularly re-
curred whenever
the Leitmotif en-
tered which de-
notes the appear-
ance of the Dutch-
man. A. had never
seen W a g n e r ' s
opera, and had
never before heard
the overture. At
the same concert
was performed a
symphonic poem,
" Wallens t e i n ' s
Lager," of which
A. knew nothing.
He found the com-
position interest-
ing, arid said, '' I
see sturdy forms
of men moving to-
gether with bold
faces."
DECOUNTING some war experiences
* ^ recently James Creelman, the well
known newspaper man who was wounded
in the Santiago campaign says: " In every
battle that I go through I somehow get a
melody in my head and hum it to the end
of the action. I suppose it is the result of
nervous excitement. A man's nerves play
him some very curious tricks. All through
the battle and massacre of Port Arthur, in
the Japanese war, I hummed the air from
Mendelssohn's 'Springtime,' and during
the shell fire I found myself actually shriek-
ing it. When I started in the charge on
Fort Caney I began to hum ' Rock of Ages,'
and I could not get rid of the tune even
when I was lying among the dying of
Chaffee's brigade in the hospital camp. I
remember that when General Chaffee
leaned over me after I had been shot and
asked me how I was I could not answer
him until I had finished, in my mind, one
phrase of ' Rock of Ages.' "
#
f ILLIAN BLAUVELT, the popular
*—' American soprano, who achieved such
a great success in Munich, Oct. 26th, will
not appear in America until July, 1899.
*
very interesting discovery of a psycho-
logical nature has been accidentally
made by Dr. C. Ruths, of Darmstadt, and
confirmed in a scientific manner. This
discovery is that there are persons who,
when they listen to music, especially when
they listen to symphonic music, experience
the appearance of definite images, which
reproduce what the composer has had in
This was con-
firm ed s u b s e -
quently by inter-
views which Dr.
Ruths had with
several p a r t i e s
similarly affected.
*
A
r\R. RUTHS,
*- > on the basis of
h i s experiments
and researches, comes to the following
main result. " I n the creation, perform-
ance and hearing of musical composi-
tions not merely the sphere of hearing
is active, but there are continued trans-
ferences to or stimulation of other
psychical spheres. Among the stimulations
are such as from their special content are
not aroused by chance association or con-
scious calling up of images but are un-
conscious and spontaneous. The ideas,
thoughts, and feelings which have been
present in the mind of the creative or
executive musician maybe aroused directly
in the mind of the listener.
Dr. Ruths
concludes that there are certain elements
which are not specific, but are of the same
nature in the two spheres of the mind,
viz., of hearing and sight. These elements
would be, as it were, independent, passing,
however, from the one sphere to the other.
So might the various tones and tone-figures
arouse in the mind similar or the same
phenomena in the sphere of sight.
DE RESZKE and Mme. Calve
J EAN
haye decided not tP appear with the
Maurice Grau Opera Co. at Chicago. It
is claimed that during the last season they
were subjected to imjust criticism. We
would suggest the formation of a peace
commission to adjust this regrettable con-
dition of affairs.
A YOUNG American singer who has
•**• achieved a great success in London,
where she has appeared frequently in con-
MARGARET REIROLD.
cert and oratorio, is Miss Margaret Reibold.
Possessed of great charm, both in person
and in manner, her singing has a refine-
ment and an artistic finish that has been
commented on very favorably by the crit-
ics. Miss Reibold is a native of Ohio, and
her voice is a mezzo-soprano. She studied
in Berlin with Blume and with Randegger
in London. She will be heard in this
country during the present season.
*
T H E score of Mascagni's new " I r i s "
*• was played to a few critics and musi-
cians the other day in Rome, and the
accounts of its beauties contain the cus-
tomary note of enthusiasm. It will soon
be sung at the Costanzi Theatre.
*
A WORK by Auber, hitherto unknown,
**• is said to have been discovered re-
cently in Belgium. It was the composer's
first opera, and he wrote it for private per-
formance at the chateau of the Prince de
Chimay. His wife before her marriage
had been the somewhat notorious Therese
Cabarrus, and she made her husband's
home the resort of artists and singers,
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
She had a private theatre, and for this
Auber composed "Julie." The score of
this opera is still in the library at Chimay.
"Jean de Couvecin" is the name of the
opera which recently came to light. It
was written by Le Mercier, who selected
for his subject an old legend of the Chimay
family.
his villa at Abbrazio, near Trieste. There
he spends from eight to ten hours daily at
the piano, and the hardship of this is some-
what mitigated by the fact that he trans-
acts much of his business, receives his
friends and follows much of the ordinary
routine of life while seated at the piano
with his fingers on the keys.
*
T^HE prize of $750 offered by Paderewski M ANS KRONOLD, 'cellist, and Albert
• for the best symphonic work has been * * Gerard Thiers, the popular tenor, are
won by S. Stojowski. The competition to be congratulated on the success of the
was open to Poles only. Many works were opening concerts of a series of classical re-
submitted to the jury, over which Nikisch citals which they are giving at Christian
and Reinecke presided.
Science Hall, Eighty-second street, near
*
West End avenue. The programs of the
Jl/IORIZ ROSENTHAL, whose hand- different concerts have been admirably
* ' * some portrait appears on our cover conceived, and embraced the best compo-
page, is a native of Lemberg, in Roumania, sitions written for the 'cello and tenor
and displayed his taste for music when he voice. The wide reputation of these two
was only four years old. This had developed artists is always sufficient to attract a house
into the manifestation of very positive full of music lovers, and they have been
powers by the time he was nine years well in evidence at the Kronold-Thiers re-
old.
citals. Fred. Baumann, the accompanist,
At that age he walked from his home to has helped considerably towards the artis-
see Rafael Joseffy in Vienna. After he tic perfection of these musicales. The
had played Joseffy was willing to under- next recital occurs on Nov. 10th.
take his tuition. At the age of ten Rosen-
*
thai made his first appearance in public
IV/I AURICE GRAU and a big shipload
playing with Mikuli, who had been his first
*' * of grand opera stars arrived in this
teacher, Chopin's Rondo in C for two
city last Saturday by the Augusta Vic-
pianos. Joseffy ultimately became his only
toria. After a short stay they left for
teacher, and his wonderful genius for hard
Chicago, where Mr. Grau proposes to give
work showed itself during the years of his
a preliminary season.
work in Vienna. Unlike most musicians,
*
he took an interest in something else be- C R A N K R. GILLIS, whose recent song:
sides the instrument he was learning. He A " Why Should Loving Hearts be Sev-
devoted from six to seven hours every day ered," has already taken a prominent place
to that.
among standard compositions, has gained
But he was a student at the University an excellent record as a musician and song-
of Vienna as well, finding philosophy and writer during the past twelve years.
philology the most interesting subjects in
Mr. Gillis, who now holds a responsible
the curriculum. He heard the lectures of position at the Union Square warerooms
Zimmerman, Brentano and Hanslick and of J. & C. Fischer, is a Virginian. In
took the degree of Master of Arts with 1873, when in his eighth year, he had al-
honors. In 1882 he returned to the con- ready mastered many of the difficulties of
cert stage, appearing in Austria, Germany piano-playing, and from that time to the
and England. In 1888 he came here and present has continued to gain increasing
returned two years ago for the tour that credit for extemporaneous and other work,
was interrupted by illness. His greatest classical and popular.
gain since his first performances here
His first composition "Flying Clouds"
centers in the greater sympathy and re- was published in 1886. This was followed
finement of his playing.
by a number of waltzes, polkas, schot-
Rosenthal has not lost the broader in- tisches, marches, etc., all favorably received
terest that was characteristic of him as a by musical experts. In 1892 appeared the
youth. He is fond of literature and his "Rope Dance," of which 15,000 copies
marvelous memory is said to show itself
not only in his repertoire, but in the fact
Caeb, Eycbanae, iRentet), also
that he can repeat any poem of Heine, his
£ U on J£as£ payments
favorite, if the first line be spoken. He
has written on musical subjects with
credit to his literary taste and his knowl-
edge. He spends much of his time in
Vienna and Ischl, but is most at home in
were sold. This composition is still in
vogue. Then came the " Adrienne " two-
step, and the "Second Battalion March,"
dedicated to the corps of which Mr. Gillis
is a member. This latter has proved very
successful.
With such a record, the future of Mr.
Gillis in compositions of this class is full
of promise. His latest work is an extrav-
aganza which, according to competent
critics, bids fair to take rank among the
best of the decade.
+
T H E Woman's String Orchestra Society
* of New York, which is under the con-
ductorship of Carl V. Lachmund, will give
three concerts during the season at Men-
delssohn Hall. Eminent soloists will be in
evidence. The dates of the concerts are
Dec. 13, Feb. 7 and April u . Aside from
the standard classical works, interesting
novelties by eminent modern composers
will be presented. Ovide Musin will be
the soloist at the opening concert.
*
NTOTHING that Francis Wilson has pre.
* ^ sented in years has met with a more
cordial reception than " T h e little Cor-
poral," in which he has been appearing at
the Broadway. The performance is one to
which a man may bring his wife or sister
and not fear the necessity for apologizing
for the entertainment.
If it lacks in
coarseness and vulgar innuendoes, it is
prolific in fun, humor rollicking" songs, and
soul-stirring music. Mr. Wilson's com-
pany has been carefully drilled, and the
principals render their parts with spirit
and dash as well as artistic finish.
*
C N. LAFRACAIN, who for the past
*-^ • fifteen years has been trumpet player
in the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and
who was brought here by Emil Pauer to
play first trumpet in the Philharmonic and
New York Orchestras, was rejected last
week by the Musical Mutual Protective
Union. The examination consisted of the
playing of Meyerbeer's "Fackeltanz" in
C on the trumpet and cornet. A mem-
ber of the Union states that while his tone
was good the tempo was incorrect—and
there you are. Mr. Pauer is much con-
cerned over the rejection and intends to
ask for Lafracain's re-examination, other-
wise he will be obliged to get another man
Grand, Square and Upright
PIANOFORTES
. These instruments have been before the pub-
lic for fifty years, and upon their excellence
alone have attained an
Unpurchased Pre-Emlnence,
Which establishes them as U N E Q U A L E D
in Tone, Touch, Workmanship and
Durability.
, 3ST. "ST.
Every Piano Fully Warranted for Five Year*
All our Instruments contain the full iron frame and
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of our in«
struments, and therefore challenge th« yrorld that own
No. 19 East 14th Street,
NEW YORK.
WM. KNABE & CO.
WAREROOMS
18 5th Ave., near 20th St., New York
92 * 84 B- Baltimore gt,, Baltimore

Download Page 7: PDF File | Image

Download Page 8 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.