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MUSIC TRADE: REVIEW*
Si( Edward Elgar's Compositions Sung by the Oratorio Society—Emil Sauer to Visit America Next
Season—Edward Baxter Perry's Recital at Knabe Building—Miss Goodson Heard in Many
Recitals—Gabrilowitsch to Give Another Recital April 13th—Jan
Sickesz
the Dutch
Virtuoso and Harold Bauer to be Heard Next Season—A Concert Remembered by Sickesz—
De Pachmann's Tribute to Frank Chickering—Germaine Schnitzer Leaves for Home—
Carreno's Tour Promises to be a Triumphant One for the Everett Piano—Other Comments.
One of the important events in this musical
season, now so near the end of its activities, is
the visit of Sir Edward Elgar to this country.
Elgar was heard for the first time in New York
on Tuesday evening as director of the Oratorio
Society, by courtesy of Frank Damrosch, who
prepared his society for the production of Elgar's
"The Apostles," and invited the composer to con-
duct both this work and "The Kingdom," prac-
tically the sequel to the first. "The Apostles"
was given by the Oratorio Society last year, but
"The Kingdom" has its first hearing ahead. A
notable cast is enlisted for both works, including
Corinne Rider-Kelsey, Matja von Niessen-Stone,
Janet Spencer, George Hamlin, Claude Cunning-
ham, Frank Croxton and Edward Evans. Elgar
is the foremost composer of England, and his
name has become familiar to the concert-goers
of this country through the offices of the sym-
phony orchestras and the choral societies, and of
these Mr. Damrosch has certainly contributed
his share of energy.
Elgar's personality is of the serious nature
which is reflected in his music. It may be re-
membered that Elgar has been knighted, but he
was known as "Sir" Edward Elgar long before
this honor was conferred upon him. Even as a
boy he was not given to many words, and, asked
to give his name in school, he responded, with a
curt, "Edward Elgar." "Sir, if you please!"
thundered the outraged teacher, whose dignity
had suffered a keen wound. "Sir Edward Elgar,"
he replied, and Sir Edward Elgar he remained.
Tuesday evening "The Kingdom" will be given
at Carnegie Hall.
have their eyesight to consider the blind as com-
petent to do anything. The public, he said, con-
sider the man without eyes as "outside the pale,"
as "in the world but not of the world."
"It isn't that we cannot do the work of others,
but that others will not admit that we can do it,"
said Mr. Perry. "There are dozens of good, self-
respecting ways for the blind to make a living. I
wouldn't advise a blind person to study astron-
omy. It is proper to recognize one's limitations,
but it is unnecessary to exaggerate these. I tell
you to stick and you will win."
Mr. Perry's words of cheer seemed to bring
a new light into many a despondent face. His
words of encouragement brought forth profuse
applause.
The recital was arranged by the Matilda
Ziegler Magazine for the Blind for its readers.
The programmes were printed in the raised type
and in the point alphabet used by the blind, so
that the audience could readily follow Mr. Perry.
There were two selections by Mr. Perry himself,
entitled "Aeolienne", and "Ballade of the Last
Island."
Mr. Perry has played in nearly every section of
this country and in Europe. He was born in
Boston and much of his musical education was
obtained in Germany. For many years Mr. Perry
has used the Knabe piano, and has come to re-
gard it as his other self. It is certain that h:>
understands every possibility of the instrument.
9
of which country not only Sickesz is a native,
but his family were members of the nobility in
the early days. The Queen of Holland came to
recuperate in the Carpathian Alps, and although
88 years of age she was still a great lover of
music. On Jan. 9 a musical entertainment had
been especially arranged for herself and some
of the royal family and guests, and Sickesz was
the pianist of the occasion. At the last mo-
ment, however, it was found impossible for the
Queen to be present, but her daughter, the
Duchess of Cumberland, and her grand daughter,
the Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin,
accompanied by the royal party, entered their
box and the concert began. During the concert
a court attache' entered the royal box, and after
a few hurried whispered words the Duchess and
the Grand Duchess arose and left the box. The
pianist closed abruptly and left the instrument.
The Knabe piano was also heard at Mendels-
sohn Hall Wednesday night, when Simon Buch-
halter, a local pianist, gave an ambitious pro-
gramme. Mr. Buchhalter studied in Vienna and
Emil Sauer has written to friends that he is has gained much proficiency.
coming to America next season. This will be
There were piano recitals a plenty this week,
welcome news to many, for whom Sauer stood
as the acme of everything that was great and both in public and in private. Katherine Good-
noble in the art when he made the last tour in son played in several of the elegant homes of When he returned he made the audience under-
this country with the Knabe piano. His appre- New York, including that of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis stand that he desired no applause, and he seated
ciation of the Knabe piano was as- great as the Cass Ledyard, and Miss Goodson also made her himself at the piano and played the Funeral
people's appreciation of him, which is saying first public appearance yesterday afternoon with March from the Chopin Sonata which had been
much. It is also interesting to note that Busoni the Boston Symphony Quartette, too late for re- put on the programme at the Queen's request. It
will be Sauer's successor as director of the view in this issue. Miss Goodson has estab- was unnecessary to tell the audience what had
Master School in the Vienna Conservatory, where lished herself firmly in Boston, where she has occurred, and at the close of the number the au-
Sauer has taught for a number of years. Sauer earned no end of praises. It is not unlikely that dience filed out with bowed head.
has made his headquarters in Dresden recently. she will again visit America next season under
the auspices of the Mason & Hamlin Co., who
This brings to mind a somewhat similar oc-
The audience at Knabe Building Sunday after- have contributed so much to her success this currence in the career of De Pachmann, whose
noon probably enjoyed music more keenly than it year.
first tour in this country was made under the
would be possible for many of us to realize. The
auspices of Chickering & Sons. De Pachmann
artist was Edward Baxter Perry, the well-known
It is indeed a delight to announce another was absolutely devoted to Frank Chickering, and
pianist. His hearers were for the greater part recital by Gabrilowitsch. This will occur at after his death, which occurred while De Pach-
those deprived of sight. Indeed, this was a case Mendelssohn Hall, April 13, after which Gabrilo- mann was in the country, the pianist could not
of the "blind leading the blind," but in an en- witsch will begin to think of his trip home and be induced to go into the warerooms where he
tirely different acceptation than the quotation his next season in Europe. This delightful had been accustomed to see Mr. Chickering.
implies. It must be remembered in the first artist has scored the greatest possible triumphs After a few weeks it became absolutely necessary
place that Mr. Perry is not only a pianist, but this season and will await his return with no less for him to go there, and with the reverence of
one of exceptional equipment and standing, who impatience than will the public all over the one entering a church he seated himself at a
is recognized among the best and the greatest country await it.
piano and played the Chopin Funeral March in
artists of the country. This being the case his
such a manner as it is said by those who were
address to his audience was the more impressive,
Jan Sickesz, the Dutch virtuoso, who will tour present it had never been played before and prob-
and he himself demonstrated the truth of his America next winter, has just arrived in Paris, ably would never be played again.
statements to those who, like himself, were blind. where he has engagements to play with the mu-.
Therefore, the blind was leading the blind into a sical organizations. During his stay in the On the steamer leaving for France Thursday
light ahead, into a hope which was in no sense French capital he will be the guest of Harold Germaine Schnitzer left for her home, after a re-
related to the empty words selected for the pur- Bauer, for whose talent he has always expressed markably successful tour in this country, which
pose of consolation and encouragement. In ad- the most profound admiration. The interest was somewhat disturbed through the necessitated
dition to the splendid lecture recital which he seems reciprocal, since Bauer has expressed him- postponement. Miss Schnitzer was thereby pre-
gave Mr. Perry talked to his audience, indicating self in glowing terms about Sickesz and his at- vented from filling many orchestral engagements
the opportunities open to the blind who try to tainments. Both pianists will be in this country which would otherwise have been open to her,
help themselves instead of sitting all their days at the same time, and it is interesting to note but wherever she played she was accorded the
in rocking chairs.
that they will both play the Mason & Hamlin greatest appreciation and enthusiasm. In Bos-
ton Miss Schnitzer filled a great many engage-
Mr. Perry declared that the physical defect was piano.
ments, several public and many private, and on
merely an incident of life, and minimized it in
other ways. He said that the greatest difficulty
There is one concert which will stand out in Sunday night she contributed a large share of
that the blind must contend against in this the remembrance of Sickesz as long as he lives. the evening's entertainment at a musicale given
world is the natural reluctance of persons who It was the concert given in Gmunden, in Holland, for the benefit of the Hungarian Relief Society