Music Trade Review

October 5th, 1880.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
INDIVIDUALITIES.
11
from 'Dinorah.' Would it be asking too much to demand of the fair artist a complete
representation of the entire opera, after her wonderful execution of the principal aria ? "
Before appearing in Padua, Signora Nininger sang at Warsaw, in 1877,
where she performed Bertha in the "Prophete." They said :
"La Paolina (Berta) gave evidence of the most precious artistic culture and gifts. All
through her part she was incessantly honored with frequent recalls."
HOWE'S PHILADELPHIA LETTER.
Music
TEACHERS
AND MUSIC
TEACHING—THE
CONSERVATORY
BUSINESS—THE
MUSICAL SEASON—CHURCH CHOIR CHANGES.
PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30.
Music TEACHING.
T H E teaching of music demands far more attention than it has ever received. If music
is a power for good in this life, like all other powers which tend to advance and elevate
humanity, it should be taken care of by competent authorities and given all the advantages
of wise advice and judicious government. At this season of the year in all our cities there
is an army of music teachers busily engaged in distributing their cards. By what author-
ity do many of these people teach music ? Imagine an unlimited number of medical prac-
titioners issuing their prospectuses in regard to the healing art, yet holding no diplomas to
prove their rights to practice it. I favor the framing of a law which shall demand every
teacher of music to pass an examination and secure a certificate of ability. If we require
this for those who essay to take care of these perishing bodies, have we no right to demand
as much for the enlightenment of the mind, whose future has no limit?
But just as I fairly begin to grow warm on this theme I am reminded that essay
writing and letter writing are different matters. I only wanted to observe what scarcely
needs being written down, since every observer knows its truth, that there are plenty of
music teachers who have mistaken their calling. Any of your correspondents might fill a
column on the subject. I have known instances where a pupil began to teach before her
own first quarter's lessons were finished. The other day a young lady, speaking to her
pupils, discoursed in this wise : "Remember, a flat lowers a note one halftone, and a
sharp highers a note one half tone." How pleasant and cheap it must be thus to study
music and the languages at the same time and terms.
CRITICAL ACUMEN.
The instances of crude teaching and shallow information about music are so numerous
that those who do not study it properly never suspect their existence. And here is where
the wrong enters most conspicuously, and it covers a much larger ground than might be
supposed. There is a young man here for example, just elected to the post of musical
editor of a leading daily. He has also just discovered the meaning of syncopation. A
critic needs at least some general knowledge. The same paper, and it is otherwise a very
good one, used to have a musical editor some years ago, on whom his fellow journalists
loved to play practical jokes. One night he arrived very late, when a performance of
"Maritana " was nearly done. Hastening around the lobby in search for points he en-
countered a press representative who slyly informed him that Madame Vanzandt's render-
ing of " The Fair Land of Poland " had been the hit of the evening. Soon after he met
another critic who was in the secret, and there obtained a variation on the same theme.
Next morning the young gentleman's article appeared, giving, in all the glowing colors of
youthful enthusiasm, his imaginative transcript of the prima donna's success as having
sung in " Maritana " a tenor aria from the " Bohemian Girl," amid theplaudits of the
house. That critic resigned soon afterwards.
MARIE PAULINE NININGEB.
SOMETHING ABOUT CONSERVATORIES.
young American lady, who was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania,
The conservatory business has done harm to the regular rank and file of teachers.
_L gives her first concert in this city, since her recent return from abroad, When well managed, however, the conservatory system is a decided blessing. It makes
on October 14, at Chickering Hall, with Mr. Gotthold Carlberg's orchestra the study of music more prevalent in early childhood, by cheapening rates of tuition.
of picked performers, and a fine array of leading soloists.
T H E PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY.
Miss Nininger, in early childhood, displayed a precocious amount of
Mr. Richard Zeckwpr's institution here, " T h e Philadelphia Academy," has done
musical taste and talent, and, her parents having settled in Montgomery,
service to musical education. It was started more than IO years ago by Mr. F.
Alabama, she attracted, while a pupil at Hamner Hall, the attention of solid
Himmelsbach, a piano teacher. That gentleman, on returning to Leipsic, sold the school
Ettore Barili, the well-known teacher, brother of the renowned Antonio to
Zeckwer, one of the professors who had been engaged in it from the beginning. It
Barili, and half-brother of Adelina and Oarlotta Patti. Barili at once recog- has Mr.
constantly increased in favor from the start, and at present has a very large attendance*
nized in Miss Nininger a promising pupil, and advised her to make an while the list of professors covers many of the best known musical men in the city. Mr.
earnest study of music. She studied for two years with this master, and D. D. Wood, the greatest organist in this country, is one of these. Mr. Rudolph Hennig,
then removed to New York, where she acquired the friendship of Signor the. finest violoncellist I know of, is another. Mr. R. Graner, formerly first violin with
Luciano Albites and his distinguished wife, Madame Marietta Gazzaniga. Theodore Thomas, a versatile artist, and deeply read in theory, is another. Mr. Emil
Under their auspices she appeared at the New York Academy of Music in Gastel, who seems to have filled the place of Aug. Kreissmann as a lieder singer, at least
" H Trovatore." The critics of the day highly praised her performance of in this vicinity, teaches vocal music in the Academy. Mr. Zeckwer himself, a young
musician, but of ripe culture, and with a special aptitude for business affairs, is one of the
Leonora, and predicted for her a brilliant career.
But Miss Nininger was not content to pause here. Urged by her teachers both on organ and piano.
friends, many of them prominent leaders in society, she decided to study in
SCHOOL OF VOCAL A R T .
Europe, and in 1873, accompanied by her mother, she went to Milan, and
There is another musical institution of considerable prominence here, known as the
placed herself under the instruction of Signor Giovanni Corsi, the great School of Vocal Art. It was founded some years ago by Madame Emma Seiler. This
Rigoletto of the day. She also studied under San Giovanni.
amiable and energetic lady is said to claim that she was a pupil of Garcia, although this
Pauline Nininger sang (in most cases under the name of Maria Paolina,) has been doubted by some. Her two books on vocal culture are often quoted. Judging
at Pisa, Udine, Asti, Rovigo, Warsaw in Poland, Leghorn, Padua, Palermo, solely by results, as in the case of the previous institution which I have named, there is not
Varese, and Palma di Majorca during the years 1873 to 1879, having had in much to be thankful for. A great many good, bad and indifferent singers have studied
Seller vocal method, but I have yet to hear one of them who was made a good singer
the meanwhile offers for St. Petersburg, Venice, South America, Bologna, the
reason thereof. Some were good singers to begin with, but after studying this method,
Portugal, Berlin and Vienna, which she could not accept for various reasons. by
subsequent public appearances have never proved that they had been benefited by it. On
the other hand I have known more than one prominent instance where the singing has
From Asti, 1875, we read :
been marred in one or more important particulars during the studies of the School of
Vocal Art. The so-called operatic performances of the classes, are sad affairs. There is
a very fine force of professors published among the list of the board of instruction It in-
cludes Messrs. M. H. Cross, Hugh A. Clarke, M. M. Warner, and Carl Plagemann, all
of whom are deservedly eminent. This season a new general director has been engaged,
Mr. Sam'l H. Blakeslee, from Oberlin (Ohio) conservatory. What he may do is not, of
course, a subject for criticism, but hitherto this much lauded school has had surrounding it
de a strong appearance of charlatanism.
" The second work of the season, ' I Lombardi,' received the same meed of success
as the first from the press of this city. Both the Corriere Astigiano and the Cittadino,
in their criticisms, give the most unqualified praise to the Signora Maria Paolina, the tenor
Forapan and to the bass Giraudet, almost all their several numbers being enthusiastically
applauded and re-demanded. The theatre was crammed to suffocation, and Trevison,
the impressario, was naturally in the best of humor.''
In Leghorn, and also Udine, in 1874, she sang the part of Margherita
Valois in "Les Huguenots." Thus the Udinese press speaks :
" The Signora Maria Paolina must have been greatly satisfied with the entire success
of her benefit, which took place last evening (August 20th), being applauded unanimously
in the second act, in which so much of the labor devolves on herself. She was also greeted
with another ovation upon her execution of the aria from ' Puritani,' which she executed
after the third act. This delightfully pure melody of Bellini was interpreted by this dis-
tinguished artist in a most admirable manner, giving with an agility phenomenal in
its rarity, unbounded compass of voice and limpidity of tone, a clean, perfect outline to
that minute and elegant embroidery of notes, that musical lace-work—by which the
dominant melody is so beautifully adorned. All through the performance the Signora
Paolina received the most flattering reception from the public,-being called and recalled
before the curtain. She was likewise the recipient of several bouquets adorned with the
most magnificent sashes."
HUGH A. CLARKE.
Professor Hugh A. Clarke, of the University of Pennsylvania, has had classes in
music for several years. Anything that he does in the way of instruction is pretty certain
to be done in the right direction. There are many other teachers, of both sexes, who
ought to wear gold medals for their golden services in the cause of music.
CHESTNUT STREET THEATRE CONCERT.
The concert at Chestnut Street theatre, mentioned at the close of my last letter, was
the best musical affair of this autumn season. Mr. Simon Hassler conducted a good
orchestra of about 40 experienced players. The singing of Miss Abbie Whinnery, par-
ticularly in Faure's "Sancta Marie," was everything that could have been expected of this
accomplished soprano. Mr. Levy nearly took away the roof with his resonant strains.
He should remember that the blue sky that overlooks Brighton Beach is further off than
She sang at the Teatro Concordia, at Padua, in 1878. The press says : the ceiling of a theatre. A decided point in the concert was the violin playing of
" The festival commenced with a vocal concert, in which all the artists of the Con- Miss Jeanne Franko. She gave De Beriot's First Concerto, and a Fantasie by Vieux-
cordia assisted. Signora Maria Paolina, Signora Luchesi, Signori Maurelli, Murski and temps, playing with some timidity and feebleness, it is true, but with large evidences
Novara were all enthusiastically received by a public eager to appreciate new evidence of of just training. I could only learn about this young lady that she is a resident of
their talents. But, above all, the Signora Paolina gave the most pleasure and received your city, and that she studied with Vieuxtemps; but we will all know more of her, I
the most applause. She gave a magnificent rendering of the valse ' Ombra Leggiera,' think, it she lives and works.