Music Trade Review

THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
SHEET MUSIC. —Snoring.
1
DE VEEE.—Mile. De Vere, soprano, has been engaged at the Grand Opera
in Paris.
BOHEER.—Mme. Chatterton-Bohrer, the famous English harpist, is the
gnest of Mr. and Mrs. H. K. White, Jr., at Squantum.
STUB.—Professor Stub, the leader of the United States Hotel at Sara-
toga, had his annual benefit on the night of the 7th inst.
SCHARWENKA.—Xaver Scharvvenka and Gustav Hollander are giving a
series of concerts at the principal German watering places.
VAN ZANDT.—The Opera Comique, Paris, will begin the next season with
"Jean de Nivelle," and " Mignon," for the reappearance of Mile. Van
Zandt.
OFFENBACH.—The wife of M. Offenbach is an Englishwoman, the
daughter of a naturalized Englishman, who has lived many years in
France.
SIUKA.—Mme. Silika of Boston, gave her third evening of song at the
Congress Spring Park, Saratoga, on the evening of the 7th inst. Mr. Brown
and his band assisted.
SEMBRICH.—Madame Sembrich has signed an engagement for sixteen
performances at Madrid, during the months of September and October, after
which she goes to Russia.
IVANOFF.—The death is announced from Boulogne, of the celebrated
tenor, Ivanoff, who was Rubini's rival, and had a great reputation. Ivanoff
•was born in 1810, at Pultowa.
WRIGHTON.—Mr. W. T. Wrighton, the composer of " Her Bright Smile
Haunts Me Still," and other popular songs and ballads, died on July 13, at
Tunbridge Wells, in his 64th year.
MAOFAREEN.—Mr. Walter Macfarren has resigned the conductorship of
the orchestra and choral rehearsals at the Royal Academy of Music, and Mr.
W. Shakespeare has been appointed his successor.
LAUTEEBACH.—Herr Lauterbach, the great violinist, has obtained the
post of leader at the Royal Opera House, Vienna. Besides which he is ap-
pointed professor of the violin at the Conservatoire.
PATTI.—The six operas in which Madame Patti will appear at Monaco,
are: "Don Pasquale," "La Traviata," " Faust," "Lucia," Linda," and
"Rigolletto." Signor Tagliafico will be the stage manager.
OFFENBACH.—Who knows who wrote this:
" If Offenbach more pleases, than do the fugues of Bach,
We shall not have Bach often, but often Offenbach."
HELEN POTTER'S PLEIADES.—The Helen Potter Pleiades are reorganized
for the season. The company includes Miss Helen Potter, Miss Henrietta
Earnest, soprano ; the Eichberg Quartet of lady violinists, and Herr Dide-
rich, pianist.
CAMP.—The funeral of Nathan Camp, father of Henry Camp, Musical
Director of Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, took place August 7, from his son's
residence, No. 11 Poplar street. The remains were taken to Norwalk, Conn.,
for interment.
ANNIE LOUISE CARY.—Miss Annie Louise Cary has sent a dispatch to this
country to the effect that she has signed a contract with Mr. Mapleson for
next season, and will return in September, in time to sing at the Worcester
musical festival.
AEMTT-MAPLESON.—It is understood that her Majesty's Theatre, London,
will be opened for the autumn Italian opera season at reduced prices, at the
risk of Messrs. Armit, and Charles Mapleson, son-in-law, and son of the
Colonel respectively.
A DISHONEST EMPLOYEE.—For nine months past Joseph Andrie, aged 21,
of No. 531 Sixth avenue, has been in the employ of D'Oyley Carte, operatic
manager, at No. 1193 Broadway, and enjoyed the confidence of his employer.
Recently Mr. William White, Mr. Carte's agent, sent Andrie to the Bowery
National Bank to get a check for $300 cashed. As the young man did not
return within a reasonable time, Mr. White made inquiries, and found that
Andrie had been to the bank and had drawn the money. Acting-Sergeant
Wallace, of the Twenty-ninth Precinct, arrested Andrie last week. The young-
man confessed his guilt, and said he had spent the money in dissipation.
He was remanded to prison by Justice Murray to await examination.
ADOLPH FRANOSCH.—This well-known singer in German opera, died
suddenly on Wednesday, August 4, at No. 909 Sixth avenue, from disease of
the heart. The deceased singer was a native of Cologne, 52 years of age.
He was married, but had no children. After serving for a period in the Ger-
man army, he held a position in the Custom-house at Cologne. His fine
bass voice attracted the attention of an operatic manager, who had him
taught music and brought him out on the stage. He sang with success
throughout Germany and also in Russia. In 1870 he came to this city with
the Lichtmay troupe, and appeared for several seasons at the Stadt Theatre
in the Bowery. Afterward he acted as manager for a German opera troupe
in St. Louis, Cincinnati, Louisville, and St. Paul, and was quite successful.
In the winter of 1873-4 he sang with Wachtel at the Stadt Theatre. He
then appeared at the Germania under the direction of Mr. Neuendorf, and
was the original General Kautschukoff in "Fatinitza." Of late he had not
been employed, and became very much reduced in circumstances. He lived
with his wife in apartments at No. 308 East Fourteenth street, and Avas be-
friended by Mr. Altschul, a music-teacher, who had known him in Germany.
On Wednesday he called at Mr. Altschul's residence, and asked to be per-
mitted to remain there for the night. His request was granted. He>
appeared in his usual health when he retired for the night, but was found
dead in bed the next morning.
ARTHUR SULLIVAN'S MUSIC.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
SIR : I would like to ask you a few questions which I have never had satisfactorily
answered. Is not Sullivan a better composer of operas than any of the French opera-
bouffe writers ? And are not his orchestral parts more musicianly and his airs more tune-
ful than those of Offenbach, Lecocq, Halevy, etc. ? Also how do his ballads compare
with those of the living German song writers ?
I will consider your answer as final, knowing that T H E TRIBUNE'S judgment on altf
musical matters is surpassed by no paper in the United States.
Hoping that you will answer these questions as early as convenient, I remain, yours,,
truly,
C. B. L.
Brooklyn, July 18, 1880.
[The operas of Sullivan are distinguished by higher qualities than the French bouffe-
composers aim at. His melodies are equal to theirs in freshness and superior in grace,
refinement and musical charm. He has shown in his burlesque pieces a marked talent
for dramatic writing ; and his subjects are often treated with thoroughness and ingenuity.
Offenbach and Lecocq are mere triflers. Their music is gay, insipid, often vulgar, always,
devoid of that poetical character which a good composer will know how to impart even
to the most amusing strains ; and in the art of writing for the orchestra Sullivan very far
surpasses them. He is, in short, a musician of a better stamp altogether. Francois-
Halevy, the composer, is only known by serious works, " La Juive," etc. His nephew,
Ludlow Halevy, the dramatist, wrote, in conjunction with M. Meilhac, the words of a
great many of the pieces to which Offenbach and other boufie composers set the music.
Mr. Sullivan has written some excellent songs (rather than ballads) ; but in this style of
composition the best German masters, like Robert Franz and Franz Liszt, have no living,
rivals.—Ed. ]
The above is the opinion of the
ing Sullivan's music. As an offset
peared in our issue of March 20th.
editor's opinion, and, we believe, is
editor of the New York Tribune concern-
we reprint below an article which ap-
It differs somewhat from the Tribune
nearer the truth.—[ED. M. C. & T. R.}
IS DR. ARTHUR SULLIVAN ENTITLED TO RESPECT AS A COMPOSER?
This gentleman has proven himself at least wonderfully prolific ; but the question is r
have the children of his brain been acquisitions of sterling value to our musical libraries ?•
NEW OPERA.—Dr. S. Austen Pearce's new opera, " La Belle Americaine," If so, they must be the faultless expression of earnest, strong ideas, the outgrowth of a
will be, according to the composer, an attempt to put upon the stage Ameri- natural, warm, poetic imagination, and not reminders of this or that work which has in
manner acquired popularity, and is therefore, whether intrinsically good or bad,,
can gentle folks, and not the typical stage yankee, Western miner, and some
valuable property and, consequently, worthy of being counterfeited.
other caricatures of Americans.
Our readers must not immediately draw the inference that we are about to accuse Dr.
PATTI.—Mme. Adelina Patti is stated to have signed an engagement to Sullivan of deliberate piracy. He may, like the "doctor" who was recently tried for
come to America in April next. The contract is for eighteen months, and stealing sermons, be afflicted with a terribly retentive memory. One very peculiar cir-
her wages, with Nicolini thrown in, are to be $600,000. In England they cumstance in regard to the D. D.'s case was that, although he could and did repeat other
men's discourses almost verbatim, he claimed to have forgotten the source from which he
call it honorarium instead of wages.
had drawn his ammunition. This is a peculiar action of mind, but not over uncommon.
LOST HER VOICE.—Mr. Maploson says that Mme. Christine Nilsson, Some brains seem encased in invisible quotation marks, satisfied to echo if it will only pay,,
signed a contract with him to come to the United States next season, but and but slightly chagrined when the facts of the case are thoroughly ventilated.
Dr. Sullivan has acquired great routine through his much writing, which enables him
obtained a release from him on account of her husband's ill health, and her to dress
his most commonplace ideas in graceful attire, and impart to his works a natural,
contract holds over for the next year.
ease that recommends them to the popular ear. This jingJy flow is in a certain respect
meritorious
; but is insufficient to redeem poor, trivial musical thoughts from condemna-
JOSEFFY-WILHE:LMJ.—It is rumored that Joseffy and Wilhelmj will ap- tion at the hands
of all intelligent critics, or from ultimate oblivion. This gentleman has
pear in concerts together next season, with an orchestra under the direction devoted
more or less attention to each and all branches of musical composition, having
of Mr. Theodore Thomas. The sudden and unexpected return from Europe written at least one symphony, besides other orchestral pieces, two oratorios (" The Light
of Mr. Thomas, has, it is believed, something to do with the arrangements of the World" and the "Prodigal Son,") a cantata ("On Shore and Sea,") almost innu-
for this exceedingly strong combination.
merable songs for one or more voices, and about a half-dozen operettas. The last named
would be little credit to a man of less cultivation or natural ability, and are certainly a
A NEW TENOE.—A wonderful Spanish tenor will soon be heard from. disgrace to one who has shown artistic aspirations, and some acquaintance with the higher
His name is Azcaray. He was a carpenter, and was heard singing in the forms. It may be that Dr. Sullivan has concluded, after years of experience, that he is.
street. He was told that if he would give up his trade, he would be educated. not sufficiently richly endowed to efficiently serve art, and has accordingly determined to
So he dropped the hammer and chisel, and went to work studying, and he is make her serve him, though in so doing she must be disgraced, bedraggled. His orches-
tral works are evidently the result of painstaking labor. His form is neither broad nor
nearly ready to make his debut in Rome.
especially round, the ideas are neither original or strong, but there is an air of conscien-
THAYER.—Alexander W. Thayer, United States Consul at Trieste, is still tiousness about them, that makes them to a certain degree interesting. The Doctor's
at work on his great "Life of Beethoven," the third and last volume of which instrumentation, although evincing little invention, is smooth and shows conclusively that
at one time respected and studied certain masters, who, by the way, never debased,
will probably be finished in the course of a year. The work has so far ap- he
peared only in German. As soon as it is completed, Mr. Thayer will prepare themselves or their muses for pecuniary gain.
Dr. Sullivan's numerous songs are, with few exceptions, quite innocent things.
the English version, which is to be somewhat less full than the original.
Gounod seems to be his model in this field, but he has no vestige of the Frenchman's
of a light and graceful, rather than of a deep and earnest character, and,
GOUNOD.—The London Musical Times says: " Gounod is about to write genius, which is
becomes weak and insipid.
an oratorio, in three parts, entitled 'The Redemption.'" M. Gounod is when To diluted,
sum up the situation, Sullivan's larger works are not sufficiently strong to live ;
also the author of the libretto. It has been intimated by the composer that and his operettas
deserve strangulation—in them he deliberately panders to the most de-
he intends this to be his crowning effort. The oratorio "will be brought out praved musical taste.
We have failed to find one bold, original theme in all this Mus.
by the Birmingham Festival Committee in 1882, with the co-operation of Doc, Ox.'s writings ; but he can be convicted of but few cases of real plagiarism, for he
Messrs. Novell, Ewer & Co.
has usually appropriated the style rather than the substance.