Music Trade Review

8
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
of Pandora," presented by Miss Blanche Roosevelt. Poem, plot, and music
assimilated about as weil as Bob Ingersoll and Talmage, or Corbin and
Chatham street. It was dull, I cannot say how dull. It was too dull to
joke about. It has cast a gloom over the community. Tennyson might
have taught Longfellow the lesson that the theatre is not a successful field
for poets.
L. C. E.
BALTIMORE.
FORMATION OF THE ORATORIO SOCIETY.—THE LIEDERKRANZ SOCIETY.—THE WED-
NESDAY CLUB'S TEAVESTY OF "ELIJAH."—TROUBLE ABOUT THE PEABODY
CONCERTS.—MAPLESON AT HIS OLD TRICKS.—TRADE MATTERS.
BALTIMORE, Jan. 17. 1881.
January 20th, 1 8 8 1 .
wards, and the press finds something that interests them more. There hav-
been in our daily papers favorable notices of organ, piano, and chambere
music recitals, which no critic ever dreamt of attending, and as our conserva-
tories have fared so wonderfully well in that regard, the suspicion lies near,
that the accounts are cooked in the home office.
We have an organist in our city who makes himself simply a laughing-
stock whenever he attempts to play the piano. Still he has never been told
so. Organists are too much in the habit of assuming that piano teaching is
just good enough to fill in and make a living, which their ability as organists
does not furnish them. Taking it then for granted that no musician can
ever hope to make anything by giving concerts, it would be but fair to sup-
pose that the public would be willing to pay them for their services when
wanted. Far from it. Whenever a few fashionables have nothing to do they
get up a " charity " affair. There is no lack of Mrs. Jelly by's in Chicago.
The newspapers are importuned for free notices, some hall proprietor
weakens and donates the hall, and finally the musicians are expected to
furnish the entertainment. Nor is this asked as a favor, but the fair com-
mittee usually feel that they are conferring a privilege, and stand aghast when
a professional artist " can't see it," and refuses to aid them in their attempt
to gain a short-lived notoriety by ostensibly working for sweet charity's
sake. There is no reason why a musician should not be paid for his ser-
vices, and any attempt to beat him out of his just due is simply contemptible.
When he gives a concert he loses money, and when he is engaged he gets no
f I ^HE most important musical event which has taken place in our com-
JL munity since my last letter was the successful formation of the Ora-
torio Society. There has been a sad deficiency in this respect and much
credit is therefore due to the efforts of those gentlemen who have effected
the organization, prominent among whom was Mr. Otto Sutro, the Steinway
agent here.
The first rehearsal took place at the hall of the Young Men's Christian
Association, and between 250 and 300 active members presented themselves
about equally divided among the various voices, male and female. This was,
of course, a source of much congratulation, as a chorus was thus created
which will enable us to hear great musical works, which before this could
not be properly rendered here. The selection of Prof. Fritz Fincke as money, now " when is he to eat oysters ? "
There is so much humbug, that one hardly knows where to commence
director, was eminently judicious, as he is one of our most competent musi-
cians. The first rehearsal, Jan. 13th, was very satisfactory, the " Messiah " in exposing it. We have schools here that advertise free advantages to cover
the lack of real advantages. A few files of old newspapers are magnified
being selected as the oratorio for the first public occasion.
The Liederkranz Society, Jan. 3rd, produced Hoffman's " Melusine " into a reading room, and a long list of teachers graces the faculty. But I
and the " Normanzug " for maennerchor, by Max Bruch. The director, should not wonder, if a good many of them might just as well follow the
Prof. Mittler, was conscientious, but failed to instil the composition with example which Mr. John K. Paine set last year, when he requested the with-
its necessary poetic tendency. The '' Melusine " is characterized by rich modu- drawal of his name from the faculty of a Boston conservatory, giving as his
lations and tone color, but in order to produce the sentiment of the poem reason, that he had received no pupil from the school for a long time. The
properly, one must rely as much upon a thorough conception of the com- free advantages are usually found to be the most expensive investment.
position in all its phases, as upon the effect of the instrumentations. A
Mr. Geo. B. Carpenter is dead. The scramble for the management of
mere mechanically correct direction may be in order with some of Bach's Central Music Hall, of which he was the founder, commenced in unseemly
works, but cannot suffice in works of the new German school of which Hoff- haste before he had been buried. The hall will be managed by his former
man is a disciple.
assistant, Mr. Milward Adams, who is perfectly competent to do the work.
The " Elijah "as partly performed by the Wednesday Club Chorus was Carpenter's sudden death leaves a void which will not easily be filled.
nothing more nor less than a travesty. Prof. Fincke cannot be blamed as There is to be a concert to-morrow eve at the hall for the purpose of endow-
he is not responsible for the absence of material.
ing a memorial window to his memory. An orchestra is to perform under
The Peabody Symphony Concerts are about to take place, although full the leadership of Messrs. Liesegang, Balatka, Eosenbecker, and Pratt. As if
particulars are not yet accessible to your correspondent. As I understand it, any one of these gentlemen was not enough to lead them, wherever they
the music committee is not willing to properly pay the players. This may wanted to go. Or, is it to be a sort of competition prize drill ? Whoever
prevent the concert from taking place. The "Germania Maennerchor" is originated this colossal idea ought to be made to play the big drilm in the
rehearsing 'The Elijah" to be produced under the direction of Prof. orchestra. The Apollo and the Beethoven societies are to sing, and Mile.
Hammer.
Bernhardt is to read. The latter annoucement was sufficient to call 300 people
Oscar M. Newell is announced to give two piano recitals for the benefit into line before the box-office opened, and at this writing not a single seat is
of the grand army fund, These concerts will take place on January 25th to be had.
and 27th.
Miss Arabella Root came out in a very personal and vindictive letter a
Quite a sensation was caused by the sudden disappearance of Burrows, few weeks ago accusing Miss Mantez, the violinist, of divers wrong-doings,
leader of Ford's Opera House orchestra. The reason of his disappearance such as breach of contract. Miss M. claims on her part, that Miss Root was
is attributed to many motives, from among which the fact stands plainly out remiss in payments, and furnished her accompanists, who acted as the
that his disappearance was not so much due to his own wishes as to those of young lady did, who was asked if it bothered her to play in sharps, " Oh
the persons with whom he came in contact, or, rather, with whom he was no, she said, I just scratch them out and do without them." Miss Mantez is
not anxious to come in contact any longer, W. W. Furst now has charge of traveling with the Litta troupe, which also includes Miss Nellie Bangs, the
the Ford Opera House orchestra.
pianist, and Mr. Harry Cleveland, who it seems, has sung himself into the
The coming week will mark the arrival of Col. Mapleson with his opera heart of the gifted cantatrice, for report speaks of their engagement.
company. The well-worn operas "Somnambula," "Don Juan," "Lucia,"
The Rive-King concerts attracted musical audiences. Mme. King
and "Trovatore," were announced, and the press did not receive the played very finely; her rendering of the " Scherzo," in Saint-Saens G minor
repertoire with much good will. In fact, a great deal of discontent was concerto, was especially noticeable for extreme finish and delicacy. Mr.
manifested, and the pressure was so great that " Mefistofele " was substituted Broderick showed marked improvement; Mr. Richter was a disappoint-
for " Trovatore." Advance sales to date over $11,000. The first perform- ment. I think it was hardly worth while to travel from St. Petersburg to
ance to take place Jan. 20th.
Chicago to play the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto, as he did. But why
Trade is not as active as could be wished. This is due to a great extent should other artists learn new pieces, or extend their repertoire when a Wil-
to the terrible weather we have had during the past few weeks.
helmj can scrape together a fortune with a half-dozen pieces. The fact
KLASSICK KUSS.
that Mr. Richter belonged to the Imperial Orchestra in the Russian Capital
simply indicates that he could not get a place elsewhere. Good-bye Richter.
CHICAGO.
The church choirs awoke from the lethargy into which they had been
OUR CORRESPONDENT SCALPS THE CHICAGOANS FOR THEIR APATHY IN MUSICAL thrown during the past year by the too liberal use of Buck & Millard's
MATTERS.—MUSICAL HUMBUG. GEO. B. CARPENTER.—ARABELLA ROOT ON church music, when Christmas approached. At Grace Church a new " Te
THE WAR PATH. RIVE-KING CONCERT.—CHURCH MUSIC.—NOTES OF NEWS.
Deum," by Fred. Root, was performed, and at the Jesuit Church a Mass for
ARTIST'S TESTIMONIALS.—MR. LIEBLING'S CONCERT.
chorus, organ and orchestra, by the efficient leader Mr. Frank Rohner.
The Apollo Club gave their usual Christmas performance of the " Mes-
CHICAGO, January 14th, 1881.
NCE upon a time a beggar called on a rich man with a pitiful story and siah." Mr. Hill, from Cincinnati, was an utter failure. The othe solos
received fifty cents. The donor happened to go to lunch a short time were taken by Misses Norton and Crauch and Dr Barnes of our city.
Mr. Wm. Lewis scored a great success with Rosenbecker's orchestra by
afterwards, and was surprised to find the beggar there eating oysters.
Thinking it rather strange, he reproached him for his seeming extravagance, his rendering of Vieuxtemp's " Fantaisie Appassionata," and played a Duo by
whereupon the beggar answered him thus : " When I have no money I can- David as encore. The Duo is quite a curiosity, being played on one instru-
not eat oysters, and when I have money you say I must not eat them, now ment.
when am I to eat oysters ?" The above little story illustrates exactly the posi- Mr. Eddy gave an interesting Organ Recital January 8th. The pro-'
tion of our public as regards the musician?. When an artist announces gramme included Liszt's Prelude and Fugue on Bach, Bitter's Sonata, op. II,
concert, he is looked upon by the rest of the profession as a man who has a Foccatta by Hesse, and a transcription of his own of Leschetitzky's
money and is willing to spend it freely. Of course the musicians expect anc Impromptu "Le doux Reve." The following Saturday he gave a chamber
get deadhead tickets, also the employes of all the piano and music stores. music recital with Messrs. Lewis and Eichheim. Haydn's Trio in E flat, and
He is in danger of losing his pupils, unless he subsidizes them, and their Bargiel's Trio, op. 37, were given. Vocal solos by Mr. Coffin.
The Amateur Musical Club met January 5th. Everybody played, sang
" sisters, cousins, and aunts " liberally. In fact his first business is to send
out by mail about 300 or 400 complimentaries, before the sale begins. The and looked well, and everything was perfectly delightful as usual.
Miss Ingersoll presented a fine programme January 13th. Trios by
sale is a myth and is announced on the programmes only for form's sake.
Everybody is in the joke, and knows better than to buy tickets. The con- Brahms and Rheinberger were played.
The fourth Chamber Concert of Mr. Liesegang's included Cherubini's
cert is finally given, and is bound to be a financial failure. The liberality of
our so-called musical circles is simply a sham. Our very richest people are Quartette No. 3, and Loendsens, op. I. Vocal solos by Miss Ettie Butler.
The Chicago Concert Company are having fine success and numerous
simply too stingy to pay for a good concert. I do not believe it possible, that
any local artist can make his expenses here in a concert. But let him respect- engagements.
Mr. Heimendahl continues to be in great demand for concerts.
fully (of course) invite people gratis, and he will have a good house. We
Miss Adele Geiser, who is one of our most promising young pianistes,
have several splendid organizations here, which are continually giving the
choicest chamber-music programmes, but none are self-supporting. People
who do not think of counting the cost when anything else is concerned,
become suddenly alive to the fact that the dollar really consists of one hun-
dred cents. The indifference to good music is simply disgraceful. I have Prophet " Liszt.
been told that there are, cities where cencerts are attended by musicians,
Mr. Liebling's Concert brought the Hummel Septette, op. 74, and Ruben-
representatives of the press. It is not so here. The musicians do not stein's Octet, op. 9. Vocal solos by Mrs. Levett, who very kindly filled Mr.
attend, because they are afraid that they will have to give an opinion after- Knorr's place at the last moment on occount of his illness.
O