Music Trade Review

Issue: 1902 Vol. 34 N. 5

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
V O L X X X I V N o . 5 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteentn Street, New York, Feb. 1,1902.
MUSICIANS AND THE PRINCE.
I N the fact that only one musician, Dr. Wil-
liam Mason, has been appointed by Ma-
yor Low to the Committee of Eighty which
is to greet Prince Henry of Prussia, J. Fran-
cis Cooke, member of the Advisory Board,
Department of Music, of the Brooklyn In-
stitute of Arts and Sciences, sees a slight
upon his art.
Mr. Cooke has addressed a letter of pro-
test to Mr. Low, in the course of which he
says that it seems strange that the one art
of all others by which Americans are most
closely connected, both sentimentally and
commercially, with Germany, should be repre-
sented by but one of its followers. Native
born musicians, he says, in great numbers
spend years in studying in Germany, and the
works of some are better known in the
fatherland than in their own country.
"The time is ripe," Mr. Cooke concludes,
"for the public to realize its neglect in fail-
ing to properly appreciate the true value of
American musicianship. If American mu-
sicians desire to advance, the cause of music
in their native land they must couple aggress-
iveness with their industry."
skipped and jumped about the pier like chaps
of his age who are not encumbered with
fame. After his appearance in Carnegie
Hall, Florizel will make a four months' tour
of the country, under the management of
Major Pond, and return to Europe to play
in London, in June. He has engagements
for the next year on the continent.
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WILL HIS POPULARITY BE AFFECTED?
DADEREWSKI occupies a big place in
the public eye these days. Since we
last heard him he has sprung into promin-
FLORIZEL—"THE NEW PAGANIN1."
TF Florizel, the ten-year-old violinist, who
* will make his debut at Carnegie Hall
on the evening of Feb. 4th, comes up to the
expectations of those who have been reading
about his triumphs abroad, he is destined
to cause a sensation. European critics have
termed him a marvel—a veritable wizard—•
the new Paganini, who not only plays that
master's twenty-four caprices by heart, but
also includes Li his repertoire, the music of
Vieuxtemps, Bach, Wieniawski, Mendels-
sohn and Mozart with the utmost ease.
Florizel was born near Chicago, and
studied under Max Bendix. When Florizel
was three years old, Mrs. Gage, wife of the
ex-secretary of the treasury, discovered him
and has looked after his education ever
since. In the summer of 1899 he went to
Europe and entered the conservatory of mu-
sic in Geneva, Switzerland. Henri Mar-
teau, at the head of the violin department,
was his master. After two years' study un-
der Marteau, Florizel gave his first concert
in Geneva, which drew from the local critics
very high praise. Florizel was acclaimed
not merely a prodigy, but a master of the
violin.
Florizel, who arrived from Europe last
week, is a healthy, lusty youngster. He ran,
FLORIZEL.
ta.oo PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES, io CENTS
art the only relief from a great bereavement
of many years before. Indeed, if he had
gone to the barber and sacrificed his abund-
ant and distinctive head of hair, the act
would hardly have caused more surprise
to managers with an eye to the main chance
or to the general public."
There is a curious difference between the
musical women and musical men, who de-
pend for their success, to a large extent, on
the personal affection of the public. There
is an operatic tradition according to which a
woman singer of first importance is always
called "madame." This may be the result
of a sense of the greater dignity of that than
the other title. Or it may come from the
belief that all prima donnas ought to have
husbands to fight their fights with the man-
agement. So that, however unnecessary such
a person may be in the case of an ordinary
actress, it is quite different in the tuneful
branch of the profession.
One hears very little of the wives of men
musicians. As in the case of popular actors,
their family status is kept in the background,
probably for prudential reasons. The musi-
cal matinee girl is a sentimentalist. It is
only necessary to watch her ridiculous acts
of adoration in the case of a Paderewski or
a Kubelik to see that there is much that is
personal in it. The interesting appearance of
the idol counts for a great deal. Thirty
pounds more in the way of weight would
sensibly diminish the fitness of the candi-
date for hero worship. It is no wonder,
therefore, that the question whether or not
the artist is a bachelor, is important from the
point of view of certain enthusiasts.
ence as an operatic composer, whch, in ad-
dition to his remarkable genius as a pianist,
brings him into a new sphere of critical an-
A STIMULUS TO WORK.
alysis.
The usual large retinue that attends Pad- JV/l USIC and song, have specially been use-
ful stimuli to work, partly to overcome
erewski is different at this time in one par- *
ticular from its usual make-up, in that the natural laziness or inertia, partly to effect
pianist on this occasion is accompanied by his unison in the actions of several workers; for
wife. The Sun that shines for all, writing instance, the regularity of the action of many
in a somewhat humorous vein, says: "It will peoples is explicable as a result of the rhyth-
be interesting to see whether or not the em- mical songs by which their work is accom-
phasizing of domesticity will affect the great panied. This applies with equal force to
man's popularity with his feminine admirers. war; hence it is not surprising to find highly
Of course he has been married for a num- developed choral dances in those peoples in-
ber of years. But care seems to have been whose life war is a customary occurrence.
taken to avoid laying stress on the fact as The need of stimulation is never so great
far as his professional work was concerned. as when a man has to risk his life in an open
When he entered the holy bonds for the sec- battle, and with this end in view the mili-
ond time, it caused considerable disappoint- tary singers of some tribes are able to work
ment in certain circles, for it brought to an themselves and their audience up to a pitch
end the interesting legend that the musician of frenzy which is almost equal to that pro-
was a heart-broken man, who found in his duced bv the dances.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
TRKDE
THE
:' What is the poor reader to think? Well one of the best-informed of living musi-
for him if he does not care and thinks to cians and his talent of imparting is quite
please himself, but alas! if he pins his faith as remarkable as what he knows. It has
upon the opinion of the baseball reporter; been suggested that Mr. Goodrich establish
a class of analysis and historical talk upon
there are too many curves.
* * * ' * * * * *
the programs of the Boston Symphony, the
I learn with pleasure that the San Fran- New York Philharmonic and the Kneisel
cisco Symphony Society is pulling itself into Quartet. He would open a new and valu-
form again. This time under direction of able light to many who think they are de-
Paul Steindorff, with Giulio Minetti as con- riving full enjoyment from these delightful
cert master. There is no reason why San concerts when, indeed, they are in all truth
Francisco should not have a symphony or- sealed books.
chestra of admirable attainments, for it has
Mr. Goodrich has paid a touching tribute
the musicians and also the people to support to the memory of the late Frederic Archer.
\ 1 7 H A T is criticism? What is opinion? the enterprise. Minetti is a violinist who In his home, Archer's picture is surround-
What is authority? Whatever these could take that same chair in the New York ed with a mourning band of black ribbon and
qualities may be, some of us accept them in Philharmonic and discharge the duties with a knot of crape. None knows better than
one way and some in another. The New eclat, for he is an exquisite violinist with a Mr. Goodrich the immensity of Archer's tal-
York Herald, for instance, makes the claim clear, incisive delivery, a very poetic, intel- ents, and all who regret the passing of a
that it does not believe in musical criticism, ligent and musical interpretation, and he is great light must regret this man's death.
and since the death of Albert Steinberg, it a man of breadth as also of culture.
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What Steindorff is as symphony conduc-
has engaged no critic. "The matter must
While we resent the attitude of the pub-
be treated in a purely reportorial manner," tor will remain to be proven. But his rep- lic to the artist, we can not fail to see that
says this very august and worthy paper. utation in opera is well-known and estab- more often than not the public is treated
"We write for the people and do not believe lished. San Francisco lost a great deal when with utter disdain by the artist whose lim-
that they care for musical criticism, they Fritz Scheel elected to make Philadelphia itless conceit and selfishness cause him to
want news and they shall have it." The his home. What Scheel's ability is has been forget that he belongs to that class of human
Herald takes a stand in which, indeed, proven by his remarkable success since his beings that is held in restraint by certain
there may be a certain amount of reason and hand has been at the helm of the Philadel- social conventionalities. In all business-life,
for that stand, it is not open to criticism. A phia Orchestra, although those who knew in all social circles there are unwritten (or
paper like an individual, is at liberty to its his work on the Pacific coast did not need perhaps in a book of etiquette we may find
opinions, the only question that arises is— the Eastern stamp of approval. Few cities them written) laws which make people en-
how far a paper or an individual may ex- can offer better material than San Francisco, durable if not enjoyable to each other. Like
press an opinion. The Herald, however, for the larger part of the orchestra players or dislike plays no part, it is simply a matter
claims to do one thing and in truth does are men of experience and ability. If I re- of courtesy or social requirements that keep
another, for while stating that it has no crit- member correctly, the most serious trouble people in friendly relations. But the artist
ic, that the work is assigned to a regular was the antipathy to playing "second fiddle,'' has wiped that out of his equipment and
reporter, it permits that reporter to offer his and it is a great pity that each chair cannot he meets the world with the understanding
opinion as to the merits or demerits of an be labelled "concert master," for of course that he is to do exactly as he pleases; no
they are all concert past-masters, and here's one else matters in the least; for all short-
artist.
comings his art is more than excuse enough,
Nothing more impossible or impertinent good luck to them.
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and it is the public's fault that he dares do
can be conceived than this course, for if the
Another man of great importance who has so. A few years ago when one of the
concerts are assigned to reporters, all that
they have the privilege of discussing are come east from San Francisco is Dr. H. J. world's very greatest artists visited San
points like the following: time, place, size Stewart, who received the call to assume Francisco, the Musician's Club or the Bo-
of audience, sex of artist, nature of art, ap- the organ at Trinity in Boston, to replace hemian Club, I forget which—or perhaps
plause accorded artist, appearance of artist, Horatio W. Parker who is now residing in it was both, gave an elaborate dinner in his
Europe. Dr. Stewart has made an enormous honor. Dinner-time came, guests came,
gowning of artist or of audience, decorations
success of his work, and in occupying one
of hall, how many recalls—if any—and noth-
. Did he send regrets? Not
of the most important positions in America, but no
ing else. If the work is done by a reporter,
a
line.
He
simply
considered himself beyond
he has given a very pointed demonstration
it is not within his province to say whether that we need not look to Europe for musi- the need of this. Moreover he is a superb
it was good or bad, for he probably does not cal salvation and culture; it may even come and cultured gentleman. No one who
know what constitutes good and what con- out of the much abused "wild and woolly." knows him can say otherwise.
stitutes bad.
One of the most glaring instances of dis-.
By the way, Dr. Stewart is one of three great
Criticism at best is a dangerous piece of organists to establish an organ school in courtesy on the part of an artist to the pub-
business; that which satisfies one man who Boston. The enterprise is meeting with lic, to a conductor, and to a confrere was
knows and understands, does not satisfy an- great enthusiasm.
seen at Carnegie Hall last week when Sliv-
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other who knows and understands. Again,
Speaking of organ-schools, nothing more inski offered a most unpardonable insult to
sometimes critics unite in praise of one thing fascinating can be conceived than the man- the audience, to Victor Herbert and orches-
and in condemnation of another, where on- ner in which A. J. Goodrich is conducting tra, and to Mine. Julie Rive-King. Because
lookers stand aghast at the verdict; for, con- the class on harmony, analysis and interpre- of his garrulous nature some disturbance
trary to all reason or reasons, there is no tation at Wm. C. Carl's organ school at the arose between himself and the house whose
possibility of accepting their statements as Old First, in this city. Mr. Goodrich is piano he was playing. Mine. Rive-King was
facts.
"MIGHTY
Is destined to be
SUNG WITH
Fthpihrrt
Npwfn'i:
IMMENSE SUCCESS
THE
CINCINNATI
LAK'
Mnst
A ROSE"
Pontllat
BY LILLIAN NORDICA
JOHN
CHURCH
Sona
T w o Kc s cach 40 cts
7 '
*
AT ALL HER ENGAGEMENTS
CO.
CHICAGO

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