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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Incorporates C. J. Whitney Co. Mark Hambourg and the Knabe. manner that won the audience at the start.
[Special to The Review.]
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 6, 1899.
The C. J. Whitney Co. has filed articles
of incorporation, and will continue the
manufacture and sale of all kinds of musi-
cal instruments, the publication, buying
and selling of music and musical literature,
in this city upon a capital stock of $20,000,
of which $12,000 has been paid in. Of the
1,200 shares, Clark J. Whitney, of Detroit,
and Percy H. Mugford, of Windsor, own
500 each, and John Sale of Windsor, 200.
The Strike at Schubert's.
Work is being carried on at the Schu-
bert factory, strike troubles notwithstand-
ing. The strikers, it is said, have been
forbidden by the Union to solicit or ac-
cept work in other factories until a settle-
ment has been reached with Mr. Duffy.
Mr. Duffy informed The Review on
Wednesday that the strikers have not sent
any delegation to him since the one men-
tioned in the last issue of The Review.
He said they were now waiting, apparently,
for a communication from him, "but," he
added, " I don't believe there is anything
more for me to say to them. I have noth-
ing more to communicate."
Mark Hambourg, the young Russian
pianist who made his formal debut in this
city at the first matinee concert of the
Boston Symphony Orchestra on Wednes-
day and again on Thursday evening,
achieved a success that has few parallels
outside of the palmy days of Paderewski.
To iise a good old theatrical saw "the
house rose at him."
It is needless to go into, any detailed
criticism of this clever artist's playing. It
is well covered in the following excerpts
which we select from the many flattering
estimates of this artist's ability which
have appeared in the local papers. They
can be taken as a faithful reflection of the
Big Fire in Toronto.
[Special to The Review.]
Toronto, Ont., Nov. 8, 1899.
Through the total destruction by fire of
the drying kilns and wood working estab-
lishment of the Ontario Power and Flats
Co., A. A. Barthelmes & Co., manufac-
turers of piano actions, keys, etc., as well
as several other concerns, suffer a consid-
erable loss of material, the value of which
is partly covered by insurance. The
Barthelmes Co. had a large stock of valua-
ble lumber in the kilns when the fire broke
out.
opinions of all who enjoyed the playing of
this genius.
THE WORLD, NOV. 9:—It is no exaggera-
tion to dub this young Siegfried of the
[piano a genius. He has had a teacher—
Leschetitsky—who has found him an apt
pupil in the acquirement of a superlative
technique, but his claims to present mas-
tery of his art and to future eminence are
based upon his natural gifts.
He has the sacred fire. He possesses
New York Day at Exposition. musical sensibility in the highest degree.
What he feels he expresses broadly, vigor-
William P. Wilson, Director-General of ously—at times a bit brutally—in the ex-
the National Export Exposition now being uberance of his enjoyment of new-born
held in Philadelphia, has asked the Mer- virility.
His tone is big, impressive—a veritable
chants' Association of New York to arrange proclamation
of power. Of his technique
for and take charge of a delegation of busi- it will suffice for the present to say that it
ness men to visit Philadelphia Monday, is equal to any task that pianoforte music
Nov. 13, that day having been set apart as may set for it.
Saint-Saens' fourth concerto (C minor)—
New York Day.
concise, solid, brilliant composition—
The Merchants' Association has accepted a served
to make the public acquainted with
the invitation, and some seventy-five busi- this new pianist. He played it with superb
ness men of this city, representing a num- dash and with a positive degree of author-
ber of different interests, have already con- ity, and roused the audience to genuine
enthusiasm. It is safe to predict that he
sented to go.
will create a furore.
Arrangements are being made with the
THE PRESS, NOV. 9:—Mark Hambourg,
Pennsylvania R. R. Co. for special cars to the young Russian pianist, played for the
to be attached to one of the fast morning first time yesterday afternoon in Carnegie
trains to Philadelphia, to return late that Hall. The Boston Symphony Orchestra
afternoon, or early in the evening, so that assisted. Young as he is, Hambourg
himself to be an artist of the high-
only one day will be taken from business. showed
est attainments. He has great power, yet
If the party is large enough a special train an exceeding delicacy of touch.
will be arranged for. The tracks of that
Hambourg chose Saint-Saens's concerto
in C minor, and played it with such spirit
road go direct to the Fair grounds.
Full information concerning all details that the big audience of music lovers called
him out five times. It seems safe to say
can be obtained from Mr. H. D. Lock- that not since Paderewski first astonished
wood, at the rooms of The Merchants' As- and delighted the American public has such
sociation, who has charge of the arrange- a master of the popular instrument visited
this country. Hambourg has an unaffected
ments.
i
THE TIMES, NOV. 9:—Mr. Hambourg is
worthy of all the applause he received and
a little more. He is a pianist of uncom-
mon power and influence. He has enor-
mous technic, and he uses it as the means
for the revelation of a splendid musical
temperament. His tone is immense, and
the strength of his fingers, wrists and fore-
arms will be the envy of many less gifted
players. His runs, arpeggios, and rapid
passages of chords yesterday were played
with a clean-cut precision and a brilliant
speed which were simply dazzling. His
dynamic range proved to be large, though
he did not indulge much in melting pianis-
simos.
He played the well-worn C minor con-
certo of Saint-Saens in a manner which
made it sound like a new work. He gal-
vanized its dead measures into a seeming
life, and that is no small task, for it is an
empty work, if ever there was one. But
Mr. Hambourg is a most interesting pian-
ist, and he made that concerto interesting
through the sheer force of his masterly
performance. It was not a composition to
reveal in the player the possession of the
highest qualities of the interpreter's art,
but it must be said that Mr. Hambourg
played the music in a musicianly manner,
with fine rhythm and with many delicate
nuances. Mr. Hambourg is welcome. He
will be heard, whenever he plays, with the
stimulation which comes from a strong mu-
sical personality, and he may, perhaps,
hereafter show us that he can play other
more noble compositions than that heard
yesterday in an equally satisfying manner.
Of Mark Hambourg's appearance at the
evening concert on Thursday it may be
said that he more than confirmed the esti-
mate formed of his abilities at the matinee
performance. He is unquestionably an
artist that dominates by his wonderful
gifts and one readily forgives the public
for going into spasms of enthusiasm over
such a personality. Indeed Mark Ham-
bourg has exceeded all anticipations and
he is bound to create a sensation on his
tour.
At both concerts he used a magnificent
new scale Knabe concert grand, the tonal
colors of which he displayed in a most de-
lightful manner. It was equal to all the
demands made upon it, whether in the
fortissimo passages or the most delicate
and expressive nuances. The first appear-
ance of Mark Hambourg was no less a
triumph for the Knabe concert grand than
for the artist himself.
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Mark Hambourg, is the subject of con-
siderable notice in the daily papers. One
and all are charmed with Mr. Hambourg.
He is said to be approachable, quite com-
municative, and at all times willing to talk
about himself without appearing in the
least egotistical.
Although but twenty
years of age he looks considerably older.
He is short and square-shouldered, with a
pale intellectual face and huge forehead,
and a mass of dark-brown hair brushed
back in careless fashion. His hands are
rather small and delicately slender, but in
his forearms and shoulders there are mus-
cles that are as hard as hickory sticks. He
speaks English fluently and has expressed
himself in the most flattering terms anent
the Knabe piano, which he is playing ex-
clusively in concert and recital this season.