Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1903 Vol. 36 N. 14

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE.
7
MUSIC TRRDE
manager. The story is told of how, just be-
fore her death, she had been engaged to sing
for a fee of twenty guineas at a concert given
in London by an Italian professor of music.
The concert was not a success, and the poor
musician called to. ask if the singer would
accept a moiety of her fee, which, however,
she declined to do. The Italian then began
to dole out the money very slowly; and when
he had counted twenty sovereigns, looked up,
as if to inquire whether that would not be
enough. "No, another sovereign," said Mali-
bran ; "my terms are twenty guineas." He
FANNIE^BLOOMFIELD-ZEISLER'S TOUR.
put down the other sovereign, muttering to
himself, with a sigh, "My poor wife and
A FTER the interrupted tour of Fannie
children!"
*"* Bloomfield-Zeisler, the great pianist, it
Malibran took up the money, and then, say- is delightful to know that she will return to
ing with much earnestness, "I insisted on us for the promised recitals. Her tour be-
having my full terms that the sum might be gan in Davenport and she will arrive in this
the larger for your acceptance," put the gold city, playing Brooklyn first April 29, after
into the hand of the astonished professor which she will give a recital in New York
May 2. Mrs. Zeisler will also play in Bos-
and hurried out of the room.
Mme. Patti began modestly enough. In ton. This will be her first appearance with
1859, when she made her debut in New us since her European successes, although
York, Mr. Strakosch held her contract for this fact can give her no additional interest
five years, paying her $400 per month for as she commands respect from everybody
the first year, $600 for the second, $800 for in America, where she is accorded the stand-
the third, and $1,000 per month for the ing that her great art deserves.
fourth and fifth years. When she went to
THE "MESSIAH" IN KANSAS.
London, a practically untried girl of eigh-
IVJ EXT week at Lindsborg, Kan., will oc-
teen, Mr. Gye engaged her for five years at
*• cur the annual performance of Handel's
a salary of $750 a month for the first year,
"Messiah," which has been given in that
$1,000 for the second, $1,250 for the third,
little city of the plains every year for almost
$1,450 for the fourth and $2,000 for the
a quarter of a century on the week preceding
fifth, the lady to sing twice a week. Until
Easter. There will be a chorus of almost
her marriage to the Marquis de Caux, she
five hundred voices and an orchestra of six-
never received from Covent Garden more
ty pieces in an auditorium which has been
than $600 per night, and Mr. Strakosch de-
built especially for the annual concert.
clared that Grisi and Mario, when at the
Scarcely is one concert finished before
height of their fame, never got more than
preparations
for that of the following year
$250 per night. Now Mme. Patti can com-
begin.
Every
one in that little city of 2,000
mand $4,000 per concert in London; she
inhabitants
is
interested
in the affair. The
received $5,000 a night for singing at the
whole
ambition
of
the
children
is to become
Cincinnati opera festival; and for a solitary
large
enough
to
sing
in
"The
Messiah";
performance at Buenos Ayres she was re-
none
are
too
old
to
take
their
places
in the
warded with a sum of $11,000! No won-
chorus,
while
to
sing
one
of
the
leading
der that in the minds of most artistes Para-
dise is situated in the neighborhood of Craig- solos is the acme of honor and fame to which
there is more aspiration in Lindsborg than
y-nos!
to become Governor of Kansas.
MUSIC IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
of the features of the annual report
of Dr. Maxwell, City Superintendent
of Schools, was on the teaching of music,
and the Superintendent, in appending the an-
nual report of Frank Damrosch, Director of
Music, said that his eminence as a teacher
of music and as a conductor lent unusual
authority to his suggestions.
Dr. Damrosch says that the present sea-
son is one of unusual activity, and so occu-
pies his time that he is unable to properly
discuss special current features of his branch
of education, but prefers to refer to his an-
nual report as covering substantially all the
important needs, conditions and demerits of
it.
The director called attention to the fact
that until February, 1902, there were only
seventeen special teachers of music to direct
and instruct more than 6,000 class teachers.
Since then the assignment to his corps of
nine additional teachers has enabled him to
cover the city systematically and with marked
beneficial results.
Dr. Damrosch says that his efforts have
been directed chiefly to secure a good qual-
ity of tone through a proper use of the voice,
to elevate the taste by the selection of good
music for class and assembly room singing,
and to teach all the children to sing at sight.
Good progress has been made in these direc-
tions, especially in the tone quality. Of the
textbooks he says that they are not all of
the best quality, and that the list should be
thoroughly revised. He recommends that
principals be requested not to order any text-
books or music charts without the written
approval of the Director of Music, so that
unsuitable material may be kept out of the
schools.
The report asserts that there are many
tone-deaf teachers in the schools. Dr. Dam-
rosch adds on this subject:
The best solution of the difficulty would be
the appointment, in each department, of a
departmental music teacher who, in addition
to taking charge of the music at assembly
and the work in music of the highest grades,
could assist teachers who are physically dis-
qualified from giving a music lesson.
THE LADIES QUARTET FIRST CONCERT.
On the cultivation of musical taste Dr.
THAT PARSIFAL DISCUSSION.
T N the beautiful music room of Mrs. D. B.
HE announcement that Director Conried Damrosch says:
Van Emburgh the first concert was given
intends to produce "Parsifal" at f he The music at assembly exercises is im-
by the newly-formed organization of young
but too often the lack of musical
Metropolitan Opera House, New York, has proving,
culture on the part of the principal or of the
ladies with Olive Mead as first violin and
attracted much interest in musical circles teacher at the piano is apparent in the poor
dominating influence. That Miss Mead is
in Germany, many people believing that quality of the selections, or the harsh sing-
admirably qualified to assume this respon-
Wagner's wish to confine performances of ing of the pupils, or incorrect playing of
sibility was demonstrated most forcibly on
the pianist. In order to correct such condi-
Monday afternoon, when the first program '"Parsifal" to Bayreuth ought to be respected. tions, where they exist, it should be under-
Nevertheless Count von Possart, the In- stood that those who are in charge of the
was presented. Her assistants are Misses
tendant
of the Royal Theatre at Munich, music should consult with the special teacher
Bertha Bucklin, Anna Otten and Lillian Lit-
has
already
announced that he intends to and with the Director of Music, and follow
tlehales, all of whom play with remarkable
produce
"Parsifal"
after the copyright ex- their directions to the best of their ability.
musical qualities and 'full understanding.
Such co-operation has already in many
pires.
schools produced the most gratifying results.
In every point necessary for a first-class
It appears that Frau Cosima Wagner has It would be an excellent thing if the teach-
presentation of the best music the young
1 protested by cable against Mr. Conried's
ers in charge of the assembly music could
ladies showed ample equipment, and there
move and declares that the presentation of have frequent opportunities to hear good mu-
is no reason why the enterprise should not
this music drama would not only be irrev- sic. They need inspiration in order to be
be extremely successful. Before the first
able, in turn, to inspire their pupils. It was
concert the quartet enjoyed a critical review erent, but also illegal. She says further that with this end in view that I requested Mr.
of Franz Kneisel, of whom Miss Mead is she will take necessary steps to have the per- Andrew Carnegie to invite these teachers to
a performance of Mendelssohn's "Elijah,"
a favorite pupil. The series of three con- formance prevented bv the courts.
and I feel that this rendition reacted to the
certs will be enough to prove that the young
Manager Duss has engaged Mme. Louise benefit of the singing in our schools.
ladies must be taken seriously. The second Homer and Mr. Scotti for his fall concert
The report makes a suggestion that the
concert occurred at the home of Mrs. Rich- tour. These artists, with Mme. Nordica
best
musical artists of the city be invited
ard Watson Gilder, and the last occurs to- and Edouard de Reszke, will form a strong
to
give
recitals in the schools. The influ-
quartet.
morrow at Mrs. Henry Villard's.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRKDE
ence of such inspiration, in Dr. Damrosch's
opinion, would be most refining and stimu-
lating.
"Another subject," he adds, "which has a
direct influence upon our work is the char-
acter of the speaking voice of the teachers.
This is often very loud, harsh, and of poor
quality, and, as children are apt to imitate
unconsciously, it produces a similar quality
of tone in the pupils' speaking and singing
voice. Principals should give much more
attention to this matter, as it is of the utmost
importance."
PATH'S FIRST APPEARANCE.
CURIOSITIES OF SOUND.
O OUND of all kinds becomes musical if
^
the vibrations of the air are uniform
and rapid enough. It is said that the puffs
of an engine would make a tremendous or-
gan peal of music if they could be made 10
attain the rapidity of fifty or sixty a second.
Everything in nature has its keynote, as
it were, and attuned to one particular musi-
cal sound. This fact can be very easily ver-
ified in every-day life. Stand near an open
piano and speak in an ordinary tone; while
speaking you will suddenly hear a string
•within reverberate to your voice. The tick
ANOTHER STAR IN THE VIOLIN WORLD.
of a watch, the sound of every human voice,
JV/l ISS MARIE HALL, the young Eng-
the bark of a dog, the mew of a cat, the noise
* * * lish violinist, whose appearances in
of a wagon, the roll of thunder, the fall of
NEW YORK TEACHERS' PLANS.
London are now attracting considerable at-
rain, the running of water; in fact every-
tention, has had a remarkable career. Com- TP H E fifteenth annual convention of the thing about us can easily be placed by an at-
* New York State Music Teachers' Asso- tentive ear on its proper musical note—one
paratively a few years ago she was playing
in the streets of Newcastle, Eng., for enough ciation will be held in Troy,N.Y.June 22,23, of the sounds of the scale. This is a most
of money to buy bread. Efforts were made 24 and 25, and will bring together a large interesting experiment and easily verified.
by her father, a poor harper, to send her to number of men and women prominent in this
It is said that the ear can distinguish eleven
London so that she might enter for the Wese- line of work. Committees directed by octaves of sound, but as a rule those made
ley scholarship. She won it, but as there Thomas Impett, of Troy, are actively at by quick, short vibration are most easily con-
was no money to enable her to stay in Lon- work planning for the entertainment of the veyed. For instance, the whir of a locust
don she had to relinquish it, and went back delegations, members and friends who will makes more distinct impression than the
to street fiddling. The family later moved assemble on the occasion.
sighing of the wind through the trees. A
The program committee, headed by Louis whirlwind in its approach is noiseless; it
to Bristol, and while playing in the street
one night Canon Fellowes heard her, and Arthur Russell, of New York-, are busy is only when it strikes some obstacle that the
was so struck with the girl's ability that he laying out places on the program for es- volume of sound becomes terrific to us. Then
sent her to Birmingham, where she studied sayists, pianists, violinists, organists, de- we receive the secondary shorter waves from
for three years. She later w T as sent to Kreu- baters, vocalists and the other participants, the destruction of this obstacle.
ser and then to Sevcik in Prague, who is many of whom will be musicians of inter-
Tyndall says all friction is rhythmic.
most enthusiastic over her genius. She has national reputation.
Flames are notoriously sensitive to sound.
undoubtedly captured London, and this
They will bend and flicker, and even respond
BRUCKNER'S NINTH SYMPHONY.
means that she will be heard at no distant "T 1 H E posthumous ninth symphony of An- with a leap of quivering light to a high,
date in this country. Besides her music she
*
ton Bruckner, the Viennese composer shrill sound. This is another interesting
has only one great interest—her little broth- whose name is much better known than his experiment. If we use a glass tube with a
er, a child of nine. "You should hear him music in this country, was performed for small jet of gas, by lowering or raising it to
play," she .cries. "I can do nothing in com- the first time recently in Vienna, seven years certain points we can cause it to shriek out
parison." And she hopes to do for her broth- after the composer's death. It is unfinished, shrilly or to answer sympathetically to its
er what others have done for her.
consisting only of three movements. It ap- own keynote when sung or spoken by the
pears to have made a profound impression, voice.
PLAYING BY MEMORY.
and was played by the Concertverein Or-
WILL GIVE AIDA IN CONCERT FORM.
H E R E seem to be two sides, after all, to chestra under the direction of Ferdinand
the question of playing by memory. Lowe, who was a pupil and intimate friend '"THE thirteenth annual May festival of
the Connecticut Music Teachers' As-
Dr. Hanchett says in the, Philadelphia Mu- of Bruckner's. Bruckner is said to have had
sician for March: "No one doubts that pu- no intention of emulating Beethoven in his sociation will be held in New Haven on
pils should memorize their music, and a ninth symphony, and was much irritated over May 4, 5 and 6 Verdi's grand opera "Aida"
piece can hardly be said to be perfectly the characteristic remark of Hans von Bil- in concert form will be given by the Gounod
learned till it is memorized. But studying low : "If Bruckner writes a ninth, it will Society under Mr. Agramonte's direction.
a piece and playing it for a teacher is one be in D minor, too, and will have a final Several men from the New York Symphony
thing, and the work of a public artist is quite choral movement." He replied: "I can't Society will assist and the following well-
another. An accomplished musician mak- help it that the chief theme came to me in known soloists will make up the cast: Mrs.
ing a tour with two or three programs in D minor. I would iike now to knock it out Marie Zimmerman, Miss Gertrude May
readiness and not having any other business if I had not grown to love it so, and if D Stein, Dr. Ion Jackson, Dr. Carl Dufft, Perry
on hand, may naturally be expected to have minor were not my favorite key." The last Averill, Edwin Lockhart.
his music thoroughly memorized, and if he movement is the one that is lacking, but
The Paris Opera is said to have in prep-
places notes on the desk before him it is not Bruckner is said to have had no intention aration a new opera, "Fils de l'Etoile," text
by any means proof that the music is not of writing it with a chorus.
by Catulle Mendes, music by Camille Er-
memorized. Few, even those accustomed to
langer. The action takes place in Jerusalem
ALICE NEILSON IN ITALY.
the work, realize how great is the nervous
A LICE NEILSON, of light opera fame, at the time of the destruction of the Temple.
strain of public playing. While many a pian-
>
ETTA EDWARDS, Vocal Instruction, Steinen Hall
is the subject of many favorable no- 1 IV/IRS.
ist may waste little by relying upon his un- ^*
'* Boston, Mass.
aided memory, many others thus drain their tices in Rigoletto and II Mattino of Naples.
resources to no purpose except to conform Speaking of her appearance as Violetta in
"La Traviata," at the Teatro Bellini in that
to a fashion."
city, Miss Neilson—who figures variously
Miss Lucille Wasself, a pretty young wo- as "Alis Milsen" and "Aliss Nielsen"—is
man of Harlem, who went to Paris two years called the idol of the public, and in "La Tra-
ago to study music under Mme. Delilia, viata" is considered to be "semplicemente
AU oar Instruments contain the fait iron frame and
Calve's instructor, has made a hit in the grande e deliziosa." She seems undoubtedly
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention la the history
Parisian musical world, and it is not at all to have made a deep impression on the Nea- of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
unlikely that she may appear at the Metro- politan public, if these organs of Neapolitan or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tono of our io«
•truments, and therefor* challenge the world that
opinion are to be trusted.
politan Opera House next season.
%ill excel any otbefc
I T is not generally known, but it is never-
theless a fact, that the first public appear-
ance of Adelina Patti occurred when she was
thirteen years old at an entertainment on June
19,1858, for the benefit of the Catholic Church
in Mt. Vernon, N. Y.. Mt. Vernon then
was a sparsely settled suburban village, while
it is now a city. The Patti family lived in
the environs and attended the district school
in Mt. Vernon more than a half mile dis-
tant from their home. Many of Patti's for-
mer classmates are still living in or near
New York, and often speak with enthusiasm
of the clever "little Italian girl" who was the
pet of Prof. Agassiz, the musical instructor.

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