Music Trade Review

Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 14

mm
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
VOL. XLN. No. 1 4 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, April 7, 1906.
SYMPHONIES IN A GREEK THEATRE.
Great Success of the Symphony Concerts at the
University of California.
Symphony concerts under the open sky, though
at midwinter; and given in a Greek theatre by
a university orchestra of seventy professional
musicians, before audiences of four or five thou-
sand people—such is the new thing in the world
which the University of California has created.
Last September Dr. J. Fred. Wolle, creator of
the great Bach Festivals at Bethlehem, Pa., was
called to Berkeley by the University of Califor-
nia to fill its newly established chair of music.
Professor Wolle at once organized a university
chorus.of thpee hundred student singers, and set
to work on a year's preparation for a fit rendi-
tion of Handel's "Messiah." He organized a stu-
dent orchestra, and he offered courses in har-
mony and composition to which regular students
of the university flocked by the score. All these
things had been brought to pass before in more
than one American university, but the next un-
dertaking upon which the University of Califor-
nia entered represented an absolutely new de-
parture in academic life. This was the estab-
lishment of a great university orchestra of pro-
fessional musicians, to be conducted by the pro-
fessor of music, and to provide for the commun-
ity a fit rendition of music of the noblest sort.
For many years past San Francisco has had a
series of symphony concerts every season, with
varying degrees of artistic and popular success.
Always the undertaking has been a difficult strug-
gle, and never before has there seemed any pros-
pect of permanency.
As Dr. Wolle's concert-meister, the university
appointed Giulio Minetti, who had served Fritz
Scheel and the conductors of other seasons in
San Francisco in a similar capacity. Into its
orchestra the University gathered together abso-
lutely the best professional musicians in San
Francisco, including a large number of men who
are themselves directors of orchestras, and the
best soloists and players of chamber music in
San Francisco. Among the number are many
who have played with the chief American sym-
phony orchestras.
For the opening concert of the series, at the
Creek Theatre, Feb. 15, more people came from
San Francisco to Berkeley than had ever lis-
tened to a symphony concert in San Francisco.
For the second symphony concert, on March 1,
three times as many people gathered in the
Greek Theatre as had ever heard a symphony
concert in California.
There is an inexpressible delight in hearing
thp master-works of orchestral music under such
surroundings as those in whicn the University
Orchestra plays. In the rising tiers of the vast
Greek Theatre are assembled thousands upon
thousands of eager listeners. The orchestra is
ranged upon the immense stage of the Greek
Theatre, and for a background is a stately Doric-
columned temple front, overhead the blue sky
of California midwinter, and all about a great
forest of eucalyptus and cypress trees, with a
glimpse between the branches of the green
Berkeley hills, rising steeply behind the theatre.
There is nothing to intrude on the entrancing
music, no sound but murmurs now and again
from the high treetops, or the call of a bird as it
wings its way above the theatre.
This first series of symphonies at the Univer-
sity of California will consist of but six con-
certs. While the musicians devote but a share
of their time to the service of the Symphony Or-
chestra, and for the most part they play nightly
in San Francisco orchestras, yet there is the
greatest artistic promise in the work of the
organization.
MORIZ ROSENTHAX.
After an absence of eight years the great Aus-
trian pianist, Moriz Rosenthal will tour America
this coming fall. There is every reason to be-
lieve that he will attract the largest audiences
everywhere, this having been the rule through-
out Rosenthal's recent tourings through Europe,
invariably every ticket for his concerts being
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
TO HAVE GERICKE'S PLACE.
Gustav Mahler of Vienna May Conduct Boston
Symphony Orchestra.
According to advices received here early this
week from Vienna, Gustav Mahler, now conduc-
tor of the Imperial Opera House, that city, will
probably be the next conductor of the Boston
Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Mahler will not be at
liberty, however, to come here until a year from
next October. It has been announced that the
orchestra's plans will not be divulged until after
the farewell concert of Wilhelm Gericke on
April 26.
It is probable that Fritz Steinbach, in spite of
his denials, will come for this interregnum. The
possibility that Mr. Gericke may still be engaged
for another year is by no means excluded from
consideration. If Col. Higginson will accept
his terms Mr. Gericke will be able to remain.
The decision of Felix Weingartner not to re-
turn to the New York Symphony Orchestra next
winter is closely connected with Gustav Mah-
ler's call to Boston. Mr. Weingartner will, in
accordance with present plans, be called to
Munich to succeed Felix Mottl at the Prinz Re-
gent Theatre there. Mr. Mottl is expected to be
the successor of Mahler in Vienna.
MacDOWELL'S WORKS IN GERMANY.
MOItIZ ItOSKXTHAL.
sold days in advance. As a sensational player
this great artist has no equal among the vast
army of renowned pianists. But not only does
he amaze masses by his almost (to quote Hugo
Wolf) "diabolical technique," but also by his
remarkable intellectuality, finished phrasing and
wonderfully sympathetic touch.
Rosenthal's tour will begin in New York in the
first part of November and extend over the en-
tire continent. The demand for dates by man-
agers and organizations throughout the country
is such that from present indications Rosenthal
will play no less than one hundred and twenty
concerts on his forthcoming tour, many of the
larger cities and more important engagements
even at this early period being contracted for.
Rosenthal at the present time is in Abazzia,
on the Adriatic Sea, preparing for his American
tour and devoting his time in working up a
number of novelties for his programmes, which
promise to be of the highest order, attractive
and interesting.
"Never before have so many tickets been sold
to Americans." Such is the news from Bayreuth
regarding next summer's Wagner Festival.
Edward MacDowell is hailed by Bruno Weigl
in the Woehenschrift fur Kunst und Musik, of
Vienna, as a pioneer American with whom
European concert-givers will soon have to make
their reckoning. His early works, written in
Germany, gave rise, he says, to great hopes,
which are fulfilled in his mature compositions,
the climax being reached in the last two sonatas
(the "Norse" and the "Celtic"), "which have a
just claim to being placed among compositions
of the first rank." All is here expression, char-
acterization, and an expert can recognize at a
glance the inspired cast of genius, the impulses
of a great soul ("den genialen Wurf genialer
Ideen, die Schlenderkraft einer grossen Seele").
Herr Weigl places MacDowell's short pianoforte
pieces even above Grieg's.
THE MEANING OF REAL MUSIC.
What is real music? For ninety people out
of a hundred it is a mystery, a dithyramb of din,
a sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal, and
strings, superadding the voice of (he domestic
beast whose true inwardness they are.
For nine out of the remaining ten real music
provides a species of intellectual gratification.
They have studied the stuff somewhat and have
an understanding, more or less adequate, of its
technical significance, and thus they find its per-
formance interesting. They are thrilled with the
violins fingering tenths and the trombones
mounting to E in alt.
But the hundredth man gets a genuine emo-
tional effect from real music, although the
chances seem to be that he is mad.
Ysaye, the violinist, will visit this country
again next year.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE: MUSIC TRADE
PADEREWSKI JiERE NEXT YEAR.
May Tour South America, Too—Rosenthal Will
Also Return.
Charles A. Ellis, the manager, is to bring
Ignace Paderewski to this country for a concert
tour next season. Mr. Paderewski has not played
in public since his breakdown here a year ago
next month. He has been resting at his Lome
in Switzerland and devoting himsslf to composi-
tion.
Mr. Paderewski has nearly completed a sym-
phony which will be played next season by the
Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is not yet de-
cided when the pianist will come to this country.
He expects to play in the summer months i.i
South America. It is possible that Mr. Pader-
ewski may play in Cuba and Mexico on his way
to this country. In case he decides not to go to
South America the pianist will open his season
in the East in December.
Mme. Melba is also to return to this country
next year under the management of Mr. Ellis.
She has appeared in public comparatively few
times since her engagement at the Metropolitan
KLOSE'S
CELEBRATED METHOD
FOR
THE
CLARINET
For Albert and Boehm Systems
(J We have issued an Edition
De Luxe of this great work,
which is undoubtly the most
complete Clarinet Method ever
written. This edition is print-
ed from beautifully engraved
plates; bad turnings so far as
possible have been avoided,,
and the many errors contained
in the original and many other
editions obliterated.
(J Two finely illustrated dia-
grams with scales of fingering
have been inserted in both the
complete and abridged edi-
tions, and in addition to the
complete course of study, in
the complete form, there have
been added a series of
Recreative Melodies
and under the head of
Military Band Studies
extracts from the Solo Bb Clar-
inet parts of celebrated stand-
ard overtures, consisting of
the most important passages
from each.
PRICE, Complete, Heavy Paper
"
"
Boards
-
"
Abridged, Paper
-
- $3.00
- 3.50
- 1.50
INSIST UPON HAVING THE D1TSON EDITION
Oliver Ditson Company
BOSTON, MASS.
C. H. Ditson & Co., N. Y.
J. E. Ditson & Co.,Phila.
REVIEW
was cut short by illness. She will appear in
concert with the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Mr. Ellis came from Boston to zee Mr. Hammer-
stein before that impresario sailed for Europe,
and Mme. Melba is to make a certain number ot
appearances in Hammerstein's opera house.
With Rosenthal, the great rival of Ignace Pad-
erewski, also here next year, the musical season
is destined to be unusually active.
tour under the management of Henry Wolfsohn.
Of late years Petschnikoff has confined his tour
to Germany, Austria and Russia, in which coun-
tries he is known as the "Poet of the Violin."
HAMMERSTEINJiETS MELBA.
The Prima Donna Signs a Contract to Sing in
New York.
Oscar Hammerstein fired another big gun in
the war he has declared on the Metropolitan
Opera House when in a cablegram from Paris
Chairman of Copyright Committee Chats In-
he announced Tuesday that Mme. Nellie Melba
terestingly of the Recent Conference in
had agreed to return to America next season
Washington, D. C , and the Prospective
and to be at his Manhattan Opera House only.
Copyright Bill.
The contract for her engagement was signed
When passing through New York Thursday in Paris Monday, but its terms were not made
week en route to Boston George W. Furniss, known.
When he determined to rival the Metropolitan
chairman of the copyright committee of the
Music Publishers' Association of the United Mr. Hammerstein set his heart on having for
States, and a delegate from that organization to his first season at the Manhattan, de Reszke and
the copyright conference held in Washington, Mme. Melba. M. de Reszke agreed to come two
I). C, March 13, 14 and 15, said to The Review: months ago, but Mine. Melba declined to enter
"I have just returned from a consultation with into negotiation by letter or cable, and Mr. Ham-
the Department of Justice at Washington. A merstein got no satisfaction until he himself saw
letter received from the department this morning her in Paris.
It is said by representatives of Mr. Hammer-
states (as you see) that the lawyers attending
stein in New York that there was lively com-
the' conference would get together next (this)
week and frame up a copyright bill, in which the petition between him and a representative of
recommendations of the music publishers would the director of the Metropolitan. Mme. Melba's
likely be completely covered. This reminds me terms had been such that the Metropolitan man-
of what Bronson Howard, the famous playwright, agement for several seasons had not felt inclined
remarked when the misdemeanor clause was fav- to meet them, but it is said that with the knowl-
orably decided upon. He said: ' ' M r . Furniss, if edge that Mr. Hammerstein was in the field a
the misdemeanor provision is incorporated in the large offer was made to her. Mr. Hammerstein
went it one better.
new law you will have made history.'
Mme. Melba has not sung in New York for
"Regarding the copyright notice on publica-
tions oT any kind," continued Mr. Furniss, "in five years. When she went away after her last
Europe it is omitted because the supposition is operatic engagement she is said to have declared
that the composition—be it musical or dramatic, that she would not be heard in America again.
Since Mr. Hammerstein entered the grand
or what not in a literary way—was owned by
some ore, was the property of somebody. As it opera field he has made several important en-
stands, the printing of the copyright date is gagements. Next to Melba, Bonci, the tenor, is
apt to mislead the public, who always want his greatest capture. He also has secured Lean-
something new; and, therefore, when the date dro Campanari as conductor. He is now nego-
appears—and this might be ten or twenty years tiating with several prominent singers and a
back—they would take the publication—especial- dozen of lesser importance. The chorus and mu-
1\ music—as old and consequently pass it up. sicians will be recruited here. The opera house
The notice, as contemplated, was not to inform is nearing completion and will be finished in
the public, as it were, but to warn pirates in em- time for the opening in November.
byro or in "full practice.
TSCHAIKOVSKY^AS A PROPHET
"There is no doubt the new bill will be intro-
duced in both the Serate and the House this Made a Correct Diagnosis of Disease Now
Prevalent in the Musical World More Than
session, and a speedy passage follow, unless some-
a Quarter of a Century Ago.
thing unforeseen, not now anticipated, should
happen. The music publishers may well feel
More than a quarter of a century ago Tschai-
proud of the important part they played in the
kovsky made a correct diagnosis of the disease
various conferences, even if I, as a delegate,
which has now become epidemic among German
should say so. But it must be remembered there
and French composers. "All the German com-
were others besides myself present who were a
posers of the present day," he remarked in 1879,
credit to the association and the trade, whose
"write laboriously, with pretensions to depth of
interests were intelligently and successfully
thought, and strive to atone for their extraordi-
looked after."
nary poverty of invention by exaggerated color-
ing." Speaking of a work by Lalo, he said:
COPYRIGHT MEASURE TO GO OVER.
"The concerto is full of queer, wild harmonies.
In a modest violin concerto such spicy condi-
(Special to The Ueview.)
ments are out of place; but, apart from that, I
Washington, D. C, April 2, 1906.
must say they have a kind of crude character,
Members of the House Committee on Patents because they are not the outcome of the essen-
arc said to be of the opinion that the proposed tial musical idea, but are forced upon it, like
copyright code, which has been considered at a schoolboy's bravado put on for the teacher's
length by a special conference in which many benefit. * * * Do not imagine, my friend,
interests were represented, will not be hi shape that it is the pedantic harmony master who
for congressional action at the present session speaks thus. I myself am partial to dissonant,
of Congress.
combinations, when they have a motive, and are
rightly used. But there are limits which must
HEGEDUS, THE VIOLINIST, COMING HERE. not be overstepped. Now, to enter into technical
A cable from London, April 2, says that details, let me say that no breach of the laws
Hegedus, the famous Hungarian violinist, has of harmony, no matter whether it is harsh or
been engaged by Rudolph Aronson to give fifty not, really sounds well unless it has been made
under the influence of the melodic origin. In
concerts in America beginning in November.
other words, a dissonance should only be re-
solved harmonically, or melodically. If neither
ALEXANDER PETSCHNIKOFF COMING.
of these courses is adopted, we merely get
abominations
a la Moussourgsky." Were Tschai-
Alexander Petschnikoff, the famous Russian
violinist, the memories of whose last tour here, kovsky living to-day, says Mr. Finck, he would
about eight years ago, we still fondly cherish, have added, ''or a la Richard Strauss, VJncent
is to return again to the XTnited States for a. d'lndy, etc."
0. W. FURNISS ON COPYRIGHT.

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