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56 PAGES
With which is incorporated THE KEYNOTE.
V O L . X X I X . N o . 10. Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street. New York, September 2,1899. S INGL $ E°CO P PIES
AMERICA'S MUSICAL PROGRESS.
QPEAKING of America's musical prog-
^
ress during- the last ten years, Prof.
Orem, of Philadelphia, says it is largely
due to the establishment of schools of
music and conservatories of recognized
standing, the organization of symphony
orchestras in various large centers, notably
the Boston and Chicago orchestras, and
the largely increased number of operatic
performances everywhere. "In the study
of the piano, most widely cultivated of all
instruments, a decided revolution has taken
place," says Mr. Orem. "Except in the
most extreme rural districts, the day of
the performer of the 'Silvery Waves' class
of composition is past. Owing to improved
and common sense methods of instruction,
proficiency on this and other instruments
may be acquired in a much shorter time
than formerly. The largely increased
number of capable amateurs demonstrates
this.
"There are now as accomplished per-
formers, teachers and theorists in America
as may be found anywhere, and the day of
the ill-equipped, behind the times and fre-
quently boorish foreign musical executant,
or rather 'executioner,' is passing away. I
wish to emphasize the foregoing statement.
One can find as fine pianists, teachers and
theorists in America to-day as in Europe.
"There are several causes still operating
to retard a healthy musical growth. The
apparent devotion of a large section of the
populace to music of the 'rag-time' order,
and to the mawkish sentimentality of songs
of the 'Break the News to Mother' variety
must be seriously reckoned with.
"The average quick-witted American
child is in a highly receptive condition for
all things, both good and evil, and the mu-
sical 'tommyrot' heard in the majority of
our Sunday schools may be largely held re-
sponsible for much of this vitiated taste
noticeable in a considerable section of our
population.
' 'A great deal is heard nowadays of the
American composer and the increasingly
good work being accomplished by the many
able representatives of this class demanding
recognition not only at home, but abroad.
May we not hope, and with good reason
expect, that America may soon demon-
strate her pre-eminence in music, the
youngest and most intimate of all the arts,
as she has already in so many other artis-
tic, mechanical and commercial interests?'"
*
A MONG the many artists now before the
** public there is none who has a greater
hold upon the masses than Caroline Gard-
ner Clarke, the most brilliant of sopranos.
Few, if any, singers have had such a re-
markable career, and her successes in con-
cert, oratorio and recitals would take col-
umns to describe. Miss Clarke is an artist
of rare capabilities. With a magnificent
physique, a voice of wide range and excep-
tional sweetness, with no taint of that hor-
rible vibrato, she sings with a breadth of
tone, expression and enthusiasm that carry
CAROLINE GARDNER CLARKE.
its previous concours that, through a yearly
award of prizes for the best works, Ameri-
can composers will be encouraged and
stimulated to higher efforts and the cause
of music greatly advanced. Hence it an-
nounces that for the sixth annual concours
the subjects and prizes shall be as follows :
For the best symphony, $300; for the best
overture, $200; for piano or violin concer-
to, $200.
Manuscripts must be sent between Sept.
21st and Jan. 15th, 1900, the public award
of prizes being made about April 15th,
1 goo. Composers and authors are at liberty
to use their own name or a nom de plume.
*
QAINT-SAENS has written an aphorism
^
which ought to fall like a bombshell
among the concert pianists who—with some
notable exceptions, like Paderewski, Joseffy
and MacDowell—are more and more sacri-
ficing everything that makes music inter-
esting to mere exhibitions of digital celer-
ity, in which, after all, the mechanical
pianos can beat them beyond comparison.
"The craze for too-rapid tempo," says
Saint-Saens, "so widespread in our day,
destroys musical form and tends to degrade
music to a confused and uninteresting
noise; nothing is left but speed, and that
is not enough."
with them a charm that makes her one of T H E publication of Meyerbeer's posthum-
* ous works, which, according to the
the most popular singers of the day. Dur-
ing the coming season Miss Clarke will be composer's will, were to be given to the
heard in all the principal cities in a reper- public thirty years after his death, should
have been carried out in 1894, but the
tory varied in the extreme.
readiness of Meyerbeer's son-in-law, Baron
*
'"THE Maine Musical Festival will be- Karpp, to publish the manuscripts has
*• gin in Portland on October 2d, the again been neutralized by the opposition
closing concert in that city taking place on of the other daughter, the wife of the
October 4th, and on the 5th the Ban- painter, Richter, so that we shall have to
gor festival commences. This change has wait until this lady sees fit to give a formal
been made because of the other and con- consent to the step. The manuscripts con-
flicting engagements of Mme. Sembrich. tain, among other works, a complete opera
The following artists are expected to ap- never yet performed, a number of smaller
pear: Mme. Marcella Sembrich, Mme. compositions, and several important letters
Charlotte Maconda, Mrs. Eva Gardiner of Heine.
Coleman, Miss Carrie Bridewell, Miss
Bertha Cushing; Frank V. F. Pollock and j\|O better proof of the great hold which
William C. Weeden, tenors; Julian Walker * ^ Joseffy has on the American musical
and Gwylim Miles, bassos; Hans Kronold, public is needed than the rapidity with
which the different dates for his tour have
'cellist, and Richard Burmeister, pianist.
been closed. At the time of writing his
*
T H E National Conservatory of Music of entire season is practically filled. During
* America, of which Emil Paur is director, his tournee Joseffy is certain to receive the
is thoroughly convinced by the success of reception which is due so eminent an artist.