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THE: MUSIC TRADE
PEOPLE'S CONCERTS AT CARNEGIE.
Two of the Cooper Union Series of the People's
Symphony Concerts Will be Heard Next Sea-
son at Carnegie Hall.
In view of the congested conditions which have
prevailed at the concerts of the People's Sym-
phony Society, at Cooper Institute, last season, it
has been decided to give a series of six concerts
next season, two of them to be given at Carnegie
Hall. In order to restrict the sale of seats to
students and wage earners, cards of identifica-
tion will be issued by the society, such cards to
be distributed through the People's Institute, the
University Extension Society, the art schools,
colleges and large department stores. It is upon
presentation of such cards that the students of
European institutions of learning have the privi-
lege of reduced rates to operas and concerts, thus
bringing the element of culture and refinement
into their lives not directly provided by their
regular course of study.
The People's Symphony Concerts aim to estab-
lish similar conditions here by bringing good
music into the lives of students and wage earn-
ers at prices within their reach. That the "musi-
cal atmosphere" thus created is absolutely indis-
pensible to the fullest development of the musi-
cal student is amply proved by the thousands of
music students who annually flock to Europe in
quest of this so-called "musical atmosphere." To
carry on and expand this work the society stands
in need of a permanent fund of at least $100,000.
Nearly one-fifth of this amount has already been
obtained.
At the annual meeting of the People's Sym-
phony Society, held last week, the following offi-
cers were elected: J. Hampden Robb, president;
Miss Nora Godwin, first vice-president; Gustav
E. Kissel, second vice-president; John G. Car-
lisle, treasurer, and Herbert S. Carpenter, secre-
tary. The following trustees were elected to
serve three years: Charles D. Barney, Herbert S.
Carpenter, Nora Godwin, Edward Winslow, Rob-
ert C. Ogden, Mrs. Charles H. Ditson and S. Mal-
let-Prevost.
MISS NIELSEN IN GRAND OPERA.
Miss Alice Nielsen, who made such a success
in light opera in this country, particularly in
Victor Herbert's "Singing Girl," has won a great
vogue in Paris, where the critics are loud in her
praises. They pronounce her voice one of the
very best on the Continent, and express the con-
viction that she has few equals. Miss Nielsen
has signed a contract to sing this season at Co-
vent Garden, London. She will appear there in
two of Mozart's operas, which will be conducted
for the first time in London by Herr Richter.
Miss Nielsen will sing Zerlina in "Don Giovanni"
and Suzanna in "Nozze di Figaro."
CARLYLE AND MUSIC.
Doesn't Thomas Carlyle put it admirably when
he says: "It is only when the heart is rapt into
true passion of melody, and the very tones of
the man become musical by the greatness, depth
and music of his thoughts, that we can give him
the right to rhyme and sing—that we can call
him a poet. Pretenders to this there are many,
but, precisely as we love the true song and are
charmed by it as by something divine, so shall
we hate the false song and account it a mere
wooden noise, a thing hollow, insincere, alto-
gether offensive and superfluous?"
Carlyle did not care to hear even the greatest
singer unless she sang something worth while.
In'the "New Letters," recently issued, he tells us
about the impression made on him by Jenny
Lind in "Sonnambula"—"nonsense from begin-
ning to end." The opera and the audience filled
him with impatient scorn:
.And I suppose an audience of some three thou-
sand expensive-looking fools, male and female,
come to see this Swedish nightingale "hop the
twig" as I phrased it. Nothing could exceed my
ETTA EDWARDS, Vocal Instruction, Steinert Hall,
Mass.
M RS. Boston,
REVIEW
ennui. . . . Lind seemed to me a very true,
clear, genuine little creature, with avoice of ex-
traordinary extent and little richness of tone;
who sang, acted, etc., with consummate fidelity,
but had unfortunately nothing but mere non-
sense to sing or act. . . . "Depend upon it,"
said I to Fuz, "the Devil is busy here to-night,
wherever he may be idle!" Old Wellington had
come staggering in to attend the thing. Thack-
eray was there; D'Orsay, Lady Blessington—to
all of wnom (Wellington excepted) I had to be
presented and grin some kind of foolery—much
against the grain. It was one o'clock when we
got home; on the whole I do not desire to hear
Lind again; it would not bring me sixpence worth
of benefit, I think, to hear her sing six months
in that kind of material.
PLANS OF ARTISTS FOR NEXT SEASON.
Among the pianists to be in America next sea-
son are De Pachmann, Harold Bauer, Ernest
Schelling, Josef Hofmann, D'Albert, all of whom
have already been announced in The Review.
There will be some surprises, too, of which we
may not yet speak, and these will be of tremen-
dous dimensions. Richard Arnold, concert-mas-
ter of the New York Philharmonic, has gone to
Europe, probably in search of conductors. It is
also said that Georges Longy first oboe of the
Boston Symphony, is in Paris, during which time
he will be keeping his eyes open for a concert-
master of that noted organization, as it is said
that M. Arbos, who left for Europe, is not to re-
turn. There are several vacancies in the Bos-
ton Symphony.
STRAUSS TO HENRY WOLFSOHN.
Before sailing for Europe Dr. Richard Strauss
presented to Henry Wolfsohn a magnificent pho-
tograph with an autograph that for power of
expressing his feelings has not been surpassed by
his most highly colored symphonic poem. It is
herewith given with translation:
"Seinem ebenso liebenswiirdigen, arbeitsfreu-
digen wie umsichtigen Manager Herrn Henry
Wolfsohn zur freundlichen Erinnerung an unsere
ausgezeichnet arrangirte und glorreich durchge-
fiihrte Tournee Marz-April, 1904.
Aufrichtigst dankbar,
DR. RICHARD STRAUSS.
Translation.—To his amiable, untiring and sa-
gacious manager, Mr. Henry Wolfsohn, in kind
remembrance of our excellently arranged and
gloriously conducted tournee March-April, 1904.
Sincerely thankful,
POPE'S DECREE IMPRACTICABLE.
The Question of Music in the Choirs of the Catholic
Churches Proving an Annoying One—Reluc-
tance to Banish Women From Church Choirs.
At the recent meeting of the Archbishops of the
United States, at Washington, D. C, the question
of substituting Gregorian for the present style of
music used in the choirs of the Catholic Churches
came up for consideration, and after an informal
discussion it was decided that under present
circumstances it would be practically impossible
to enforce the decree of Pope Pius X. ordering a
restoration of the Gergorian chant in the services
of the church, the abolition of so-called operatic
music from its ritual and the banishment of
women from the choirs of the churches.
Cardinal Gibbons was instructed to write the
Vatican of the facts which led to this decision
and ask for advice and a modification which will
make it possible to carry out the decree. Until
such an answer is received nothing will be posi-
tively done in this country in the matter, al-
though in a great many parishes the Bishops
have deemed it best to make the change, thus in-
terpreting a request for a definite order.
MUSIC AT WORLD'S FAIR OPENING.
The St. Louis Exposition was formally opened
April 30, when the "Hymn of the West," words
by Edmund Clarence Stedman and music by
Professor John Knowles Paine, was sung for the
first time. For the opening ceremonies there
was also a march composed by Frank Van der
Stucken, conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony
Orchestra. Mr. Van der Stucken, who is an
American born, called the march "Louisiana"
and introduced themes from the "Marseillaise,"
"Hail Columbia," "Dixie" and the "Old Hun-
dreth." The fair was officially opened by Pres-
ident Roosevelt in Washington, who touched the
electric button which set everything in motion.
CAMPANARI IN CONCERT.
Henry Wolfsohn has signed a contract with
Campanari for next winter, when the latter will
head his own concert company for a long tour of
the United States. On Tuesday last Campanari
left for the West, where he is to make a tour
with the Theodore Thomas Orchestra, and will
wind up at Atlanta Music Festival on May 31.
In June Campanari will go to Milan.
THE SECRET IS OUT.
The secret of Richard Strauss is out, accord-
ing to the Evening Post. The glossary of mu-
DK. RICHARD STRAUSS.
sical terms used by him has been discovered.
Among its definitions are the following:
MME. SCHUMANN-HEINK'S GREAT TOUR.
Music: "A succession of more or less dis-
The tour of Mme. Schumann-Heink has been a cordant sounds; the more discordant the sound,
financial success beyond all expectation. Her the better the music." Melody: "An obsolete
trip in the West was a positive triumph. Before term." Discord: "See Music." Signature:
she will have concluded the season, which will "The number of flats or sharps placed at the
not be until some time in August, she will have beginning of a piece to indicate the only key not
had over eighty recitals. She has cleared over used in the piece." Counterpoint: "Two or
$00,000 up to the present time, which practically more themes forcibly made to go together
means only from January, for she came very whether they desire it or not. (Two barrel or-
gans playing different tunes in the same street
late.
are a good example of counterpoint.)"
BROOKLYN
ORATORIO SOCIETY
YORK.
IN NEW
The first production in America of Edward El-
gar's "King Olaf" occured April 29, when the
Brooklyn Oratorio Society, under its director,
Walter Henry Hall presented the work at Car-
negie Hall, in New York. There was a large audi-
ence that listened sympathetically to the very ex-
cellent performance, as Elgar has come to be one
to whom respectful ears are lent. The society
may rest upon its laurels after such a New York
debut, as Mr. Hall showed the fine material to
a very good advantage. The choruses were ex-
ceptionally well done, and the solos were in
charge of the very excellent singers, Shannah
Cumming, Theo. Van Yorx and Herbert Wither-
spoon, all of whom are extremely well qualified
to give unqualified delight. It was in all a me-
morable production.
OPERA IN BUENOS AYRES.
Although a large opera house already exists in
Buenos Ayres, the municipality has decided to
complete the huge opera building which was left
unfinished owing to the financial troubles which
overwhelmed Argentina in 1891. For this pur-
pose the town authorities are now borrowing the
large sum of $1,750,000 at a high rate of interest.
JOSEF HOFMANN IN RUSSIA.
Josef Hofmann has just informed Mr. Henry
Wolfsohn that he is going to donate the proceeds
of his ten concerts in Russia, the first of which
takes place next week, to the Red Cross Society
of that country.
Five new Italian operas had their first per-
formance in Germany last year; sixty-two others
had their premieres in Italy.