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THE MUSIC TRHDE
THE "RING" CYCLES IN LONDON.
worship, and, on the other hand, by the
A
CCORDING
to Truth of London the
clergy that organists do not always keep suf-
**•
German
system
is again to be tried
ficiently in mind the religious point of view.
for
the
"Ring"
cycles
at
Covent Garden in
No one man has ever done so much to raise
April,
the
performances
commencing
at 5 in
the organists' profession from every point
the
afternoon
("Gotterdammerung"
at 4),
of view as the late Sir John Stainer.
while
a
break
is
to
be
made
at
about
6 for
HERBERT WITHERSPOON.
Dr. Richardson's address provided a lively
""THERE is to-day no career in America and prolonged discussion. Dr. Keightley, of an early dinner or late luncheon. "We are,
* quite so remarkable as that of Herbert Manchester, said that the semi-professional like good little people," says Truth, "to be
Witherspoon, who is rightfully coming into organist did a great deal of harm to the pro- packed home to bed before 11. Further-
what he deserves in the way of appreciation fession and brought down its fees. Dr. Cum- more, morning dress is to be the rule (for
from his own people. But it must not be mings said that Sir John Stainer had never the man in a swallow tail and a white tie at
forgotten that the work which Mr. Wither- been a choirmaster in St. Paul's Cathedral, 4 P.M. is likely to be mistaken for a waiter),
spoon has done before the audiences of near- where he made his reputation and attained the theatre will be darkened, the music is to
ly every important city in America has justi- his high position. In that Cathedral the be given without 'cuts/ (six and a half hours
fied his position of standing to-day at the voice trainer had been always a singer and of it; including intervals, will be the joy of
very head of his profession.
one of the choir; he never had been a:i or- the Wagnerites at the two Saturday repre-
Mr. Witherspoon sings with great intelli- ganist. The same thing obtained in WYt-l- sentations), the stall and grand tier boxes
will be cleared away and there will be no
gence, the most exquisite refinement, pol- minster until comparatively recently.
admission, after the music has begun, so that
J*
ished and musicianly style, to which he brings
VAN HOOSE IN OPERA.
as 'Das Rheingold' will be played in all
a voice of delicious quality and splendid tone
C
LLISON
VAN HOOSE, the well-known its heavenly lengths without break, the man
production. Mr. Witherspoon is the fore-
most baritone in oratorio, and in song he is •*—' tenor, is about to forsake the concert who comes a couple of minutes late will not
equally at home. It is always an attraction stage for the operatic. For several years he hear any part of the performance at all. This
when his name is upon a program, as he has received offers from the managers of plan, however, was tried some years ago,
never fails to make good what is expected some of the leading opera houses in Ger- and it broke down at the outset; so much so,
of him. He has had a very successful sea- many, all of which he has declined. The indeed, that the Covent Garden management,
son and has been heard with nearly every management of the Stadt Theater in Bre- in order to prevent further disputes, cleared
large organization in America. His book- men has made him an offer, and he has ac- away the stall doors altogether. There will
ings already run into next season, and there cepted. He will leave New York for Europe be no Baireuth this year, so that the faith-
is little doubt that he will be heard every in April, going direct to Paris, where he will ful are expected to turn up at Covent Garden
where that a great artist is appreciated. A study repertoire with Koenig of the Paris in force. As to ordinary folks, they may find
handsome portrait of Mr. Witherspoon ap- Grand Opera, until it is time for him to it convenient to recollect that the second act
make his debut, which will be in September. commences as a rule at about 7.45; and with
pears on our cover nage.
Mr. Higgins of Covent Garden made him three hours of Wagner's melodies ahead the
J*
an
offer last summer to sing there this spring, dose will suffice for most men."
CHURCH ORGANISTS DISCUSSED.
but
he refused; he repeated the offer for the
/ ^ HURCH organists were the subject in
J*
>
season
of 1904, and it is now possible that
^-
discussion at the Dublin conference of
ITALIAN COMPOSERS BUSY.
British and Irish musicians lately: Dr. A. Mr. Van Hoose will accept it.
ITALIAN composers are displaying much
1
Medeley Richardson divided organists as a
ABOUT MASCAGNI.
activity these days. Leoncavallo and
class into the amateur, the semi-professional, TT has been decided by the Boston courts Puccini have new operas practically com-
and the genuine professional. The third was, *• that the suit brought by Mittenthal Bros, pleted. In November Leoncavallo's new
of course, the real article, but the second very against Mascagni must be tried in Italy, opera "Roland," ordered by the Emperor ot
often supplied a real want. An ideal organ- where' the contract was signed. This is a Germanv, will be heard at the Imperial Opera
ist should be a first-rate organ player, an effi- decided victory for Mascagni, who, by the House in Berlin. Puccini's opera, "Mme.
cient voice trainer, a good-all-round musi- way, has been received with great cordiality Butterfly" is now ready and efforts are being
cian, and an educated gentleman. It was by the people of the Pacific Coast. He is made to have Mme. Calve assume the prin-
generally complained that, though good or- still embittered over his treatment in New cipal role, but she has not as yet given her
gan players were plentiful, voice trainers York and other Eastern points.
consent. In the domain of oratorio Father
were very difficult to find. The explanation
We note that Signor Mascagni's appeal Hartmann is working at his "Last Supper,"
of this difficulty was not to be found in the against the royal decree removing him from while Don Perosi made his first appearance
introduction of boy choirs, which had been his post as director of the Pesaro Liceo has with the Sistine Chapel Choir recently. He
introduced with reckless haste, quite regard- been rejected.
has been working day and night to bring this
less of the inevitable penalty.
body
of singers to his idea of perfection, and
FAIRY CANTATA BY LIZA LEHMANN
It was possible to convert naturally bad
their
joint efforts were heard at the Grand
A NEW work by Liza Lehmann which has
voices into good ones by a proper system of
Mass
held in commemoration of the twenty-
just been heard in London is a fairy
training,, and he was of the opinion that the
fifth
anniversary
of the death of Pope Pius
cantata, entitled "Once Upon a Time," and
organist ought to be himself the choirmaster.
IX.
laid out for soli, chorus and orchestra. There
A 'little education was necessary in a pro-
j*
is also an important part for a "narrator,"
fessional organist, and he attached import-
WORKS
BY
MOZART
DISCOVERED.
who sometimes speaks through music, but
ance to the value of a university training
C
O
M
E
newly
discovered
works of Mozart
more often is used to complete the story by
with a degree in arts. The cathedral organ-
^
were
performed
by
the
Dresden Mozart
reciting such parts as do not call for the com-
ist had, unfortunately, no legal rights. The
poser's art. The fairy cantata is designed Verein recently for the first time in Germany.
organist, as chief musician, ought to have
One was the overture unearthed last year
for popularity and is likely to attain it.
control over all purely musical matters, such
in the library of the Paris Conservatoire.
as the selection of music, its preparation, and
VAN DER STUCKEN RESIGNS.
This work appears to be the second of Mo-
the appointment of members and discipline I AST week Mayer Fleischmann, who is zart's symphonies known to have been writ-
of the choir, in so far as it concerned the *~* president of the Board of Directors of ten in Paris, and hitherto supposed to be lost.
rendering of the services.
the Cincinnati College of Music, announced Another practically unknown composition
There was commonly a feeling of mis- that Frank van der Stiicken will sever his given at the same time was a duet in "Die
understanding between the clergy and organ- relation as director of that institution at the Zauberflote," in which Pamino and Papa-
ists. It might, perhaps, be traced to a no- close of the present academic year and will geno express their longing for Pamina and
tion commonly held, on the one hand, by devote his time to composition. Mr. van der Papagena. It was discovered in a manu-
organists that the clergy do not care suffi- Stiicken has been connected with the Cin- script score in the old Theater an der Wien
ciently for the artistic side of the church cinnati school since 1897.
in Vienna.
pany . is, of course, responsible for these
changes. The auditorium of the theatre is
also to be redecorated and changed to a cer-
tain extent. These changes have been in-
trusted to O. Codman.