Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
April 5th, 1881.
THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW.
83
turkey, roast beef and lamb, are the easiest digested, occupying from one
Bodily exercise is especially beneficial to the singer—that class which is
hour and thirty-five minutes to three hours, whilst veal, corned beef, and performed in the open air, and which calls into play nearly all the muscles
roast pork are the hardest to digest, consuming from four hours to five hours Of the body, such as vaulting, running, brisk walking, etc., is the most
and fifteen minutes. Cooked vegetables, as a general thing, unless seasoned healthful. The various kinds of instruments that have been invented for
too highly, are easily digested. Those, however, served up in a crude form, in-door exercise, such as Indian clubs, health-lifts, gymnastic tubes, rowing
as cabbage (in the form of "cold slaw "), cucumbers, and suchlike, with the machines, etc., are generally serviceable.
exception of fresh salads which in some manner seem to be beneficial, had
Daily sponging of neck and upper part of the chest is an excellent pre-
better be avoided. Pastry contains very little nutritive material, and should ventive of throat difficulties; it toughens the tissues and renders them less
be invariably discarded. Rich puddings and sweetmeats should be partaken susceptible to the influence of atmospheric changes. The growing of a
of sparingly; ripe fruits in moderation are useful as abbettors of digestion; full beard is also said to be very efficacious; I have been repeatedly assured
nuts of all kinds, especially when eaten at the conclusion of a hearty meal by reliable persons that excellent results have followed the employment of
are particularly hurtful, they do harm by absorbing the digestive fluids, this remedy. Respirators, although commonly used abroad, are seldom seen
•which of a necessity stops the digestion. A moderate quantity of liquid in this country. They are elliptical in shape, fit accurately over the mouth
only should be taken at meals. Regularity in meals is a point of vast im- like a pad, and are provided with the finest wire gauze to allow of respira-
portance. As a rule food is more easily assimulated the earlier in the day tion;'they perform a double duty, they heat the air as it passes through
it is ingested, this is due to the fact that the digestive organs have become them and they prevent all particles of dust, etc., from obtaining an entrance
thoroughly rested throughout the night, and are consequently able to enter into the body. The principal virtue of these appliances lie in the fact that
with vigor upon the daily task. Dinner at noon to be followed by a light they keep the cold air from striking against any part of the mouth or
tea at nightfall is a rule, which, if rigidly adhered to, will be a safeguard throat, which might chance to be the seat of disease.
against all ordinary attacks of indigestion. In order that acts of singing be
Respirator veils are also much worn abroad; the only difference between
properly performed it is absolutely necessary that the stomach should be nearly them and an ordinary veil is, that that portion extending from the nose to
empty. If this organ is full, it will prevent the proper inflation of the lungs the chin is lined with very fine wire gauze. The closing of the mouth and
by affording an obstacle to the descent of the diaphragm and the action of breathing exclusively through the nostrils answers the same purpose as the
one part of the vocal apparatus being thus compromised, it follows that two above-mentioned varieties of respirators. All diseases of the nasal pas-
tones generated in the latter mechanism must be faulty.
sages and mouth should be cured if possible, for fear that the larynx be sec-
The period of time that should intervene between acts of eating and ondarily involved by extension of inflammation. The affection most often
singing depends entirely upon the heartiness and digestibility of the meal. found in the nasal cavities is catarrh, which, thanks to the laryngoscopic
It is utterly impossible to specify any exact amount; generally enough of apparatus, is readily cured. An elongated uvula, or, as it is popularly
the food will be disposed of in from one to two hours after breakfast, from designated, " palate," forms a great source of annoyance, and should always
two to three after dinner and from one-half to one after a light supper, to be removed. If this operation is not performed, the offending body will
allow of free play of the breathing apparatus.
irritate the upper part of the larynx, and eventually cause it to inflame.
On account of the numerous fallacies in vogue respecting the use of alco- Enlarged tonsils prevent proper vocalization, by offering an obstacle to the
holic beverages, I shall devote a few lines to their brief consideration. By exit of air.. They should most certainly be removed.
In conclusion, let me reiterate several well-known axioms:
careful and repeated chemical analysis, alcohol—which forms the basis of
First.—That the very exercise of singing is conducive to health and
all fermented liquors—contains nothing capable of affording nourishment
to the body. What influence, then, does it exert upon the system? Simply longivity.
Second.—That a good singer is always the very type of health; and
that of a heat producer. This substance upon entering the body undergoes
Third.—That rightly learning to sing is learning to be healthy.
a process of rapid combustion, which speedily generates heat, and this heat
is almost instantaneously diffused throughout the entire frame, producing
an agreeable sense of warmth, which warmth, however, is unnatural and
short lived, and is speedily superceded by depression, which is great in
proportion to the amount of the previous excitement. The operation of
alcohol upon the human organism is essentially that of a stimulus, increas-
HIGH-PRICED.—An Episcopal Church in New York wants a soprano
ing for a time, like other stimuli, the vital activity of the body, so that
while under its influence the body can often perform greater feats of exer- " with a strong voice for $50 annually." As things go, we are sure the church
tion than at other times. When, however, the effects of the stimulation has will be accommodated, and hundreds of prima donnas will be anxious to get
worn off, there follows a state of depression which, as I have already stated, this splendid position.
is more prolonged and severe in proportion as the previous excitement has
UNDER FALSE COLORS.—Is the New York College of Music a place of
been greater. Nothing, therefore, is in the end gained by the employment amusement? If not, it is advertised in the wrong column of the Sunday
of alcoholic beverages, which is only justifiable where some temporary Herald.
emergency can only be met by a temporary augmentation of power, even at
MARRIED.—Miss Auguste Kruls was recently married to Mr. Lowes R.
the expense of an increased amount of subsequent depression. I was some
time since very much surprised while perusing a lately published work on Dickenson, in London. Miss Kruls is well known in this country. She
the voice to learn that the author advised the singer when fatigued during came over here with her aunt, Therese Tietjens, and was the great singer's
a protracted performance to resort to an occasional glass of stimulants. No constant companion.
advice could be more pernicious than this—certainly none more fraught
ON BIZET.—The role of Carmen is now performed by Mis3 Annan-
with danger to the prospects of the artiste; the habit once formed is apt to dale HARD
the performances of the Strakosch Opera Company. We do not
be kept up, more especially if it is authorized by the master, and, as a con- doubt at that
Miss Annandale will sing the rote quite acceptably; but we can
sequence, the voice will eventually be ruined. The evil effects of " d r i n k " hardly imagine
heroine void of personal charms. But Strakosch
on the voice are marked: 1st. I t destroys that freshness and vivacity so remains true to Merrime's
hia principle, that every thing is good enough for the public.
enchanting to the listener; 2d. It gradually diminishes the capacity or range
of the voice; 3d. By creating congestion it renders the delicate tissues of the
PERFECTLY RIGHT.—Hugh Talbot, who is now a member of the Abbott
larynx more susceptible to cold; 4th. Its excessive use produces a peculiar troupe, said the other day in Boston: " I have sung with Nilsson, and I have
hoarseness and cough easily distinguishable to the practiced ear.
sung with Patti; but I never heard Lucia given, as Emma Abbott gave it,
For the fatigue engendered by protracted singing, whether it be in opera Tuesday evening." We agree with Mr. Talbot, who may be a correct critic
or concert, I should prescribe an occasional sip of beef-tea, feeling well malgre lui.
assured that this beverage will meet the requirements of an ordinary case.
SOUR GRAPES—A Buffalo paper tells its readers that the committee of
The Vocal Cords are capable of a great degree of development by the
use of a judicious series of exercises. For the proper development of these the Music Festival in this city offered Miss Hauk strong inducements to take
part in the programme, but she being engaged in London for that time,
bodies, there are several rules which must be observed:
could not accept. Well, we know better. If the committee had accepted
1st. The exercises must be regularly and systematically practiced.
Miss Minnie Hauk's terms, she would have gladly broken her engagements
2nd. They must always be well within the register.
in England.
3rd. They should never be pushed to the point of fatigue.
4th. They should never be sung too loud.
WHAT'S IN A NAME?—Mme. Mary Louisa Swift has lately adopted the
5th. They should never be made use of when the vocal organs are stage name of Mile. Dotti. Generally these changes are accomplished before
attacked by cold, no matter how slight.
the opening of a career, and Mme. Swift comes rather late to the conclusion.
6th. They should be practiced while standing upright, so as to allow of But the reason is funny, too good not to be mentioned. She thinks that
free play of the lungs and aocessary vocal organs.
New York critics will treat her better when singing under an assumed name.
It is not generally known that the lungs or bellows, so to speak, of the If Mme. Swift could change her voice and style, instead of her name, critics
human musical instrument are capable of being greatly increased in size as would be delighted. We are afraid that Mile. Dotti will share the fate of
well as strength. These organs are in a measure elastic, and it is this pro- Mme. Swift.
perty which enables them to expand during inspiration and collapse during
ABANDONED.—The terrible news has reached the world that Col. Maple-
expiration. Now, if by any means this elasticity can be augmented, the
expansive power of the pulmonary organs will be proportionally increased, son has abandoned the idea of performing " Fidelio " this season. The terror
which in turn will enlarge their capability for holding air. This increase in of this news has lost its sting, as we never expected him to perform this opera
elasticity and consequent enlargement of the lungs can be produced by the or many others on his long list. If Mr. Mapleson would mention all the
practice of a variety of exercises styled " breathing exercises." If any one operas he is not going to perform, it might take a good deal of his undoubtedly
doubt the truth of this statement, let him practice these " breathing exer- valuable time.
cises "—which are porformed by slowly and gradually inflating the lungs to
BEAUPLAN.—Monsieur Gaston de Beauplan, the amiable friend and pro-
their fullest extent, allowing the air to remain there for a short time, and
then gradually permitting it to escape—daily for several weeks, and I assure tector of Mme. Emilie Ambre, will soon make his appearance in New York
him he will be well satisfied with the experiment. Numerous blowing as manager of his French Opera Troupe, and give us two weeks perform-
instruments have been from time to time invented for the express purpose ances at the Academy of Music. Theoretically, Monsieur de Beauplan must
of developing the pulmonary organs, but the employment of these con- be a good impressario ; we are curious to see him practice his art. It seems
trivances is dangerous, because the person using them, unless he exercises a that in New Orleans they like him very much, and would willingly have him
great amount of caution, is apt to strain or possibly rupture the lung tissue. there another season, if it were not for Mme Ambre, who, of course, wants
In order to estimate the expansibility of the lungs, it is only necessary to to sing all the leading roles. Husbands and friends of prime donne are dan-
measure the circumference of the body at the lowor part of the chest during gerous creatures when managing operatic affairs.
complete collapse, and then during full expansion, and subtract the one from
WHICH IS WHICH ?—Mr. Rudolph Bial has written a Geistinger polka
the other; the average difference is 2>£ inches, but I have frequently—after
a judicious course of exercises—seen this difference amount up to 4j<£ or 5 and a Gerster polka. People, who heard both, cannot come to a decision
"which is which," and confound the two creations constantly. It is very hard
inches.
to express in a polka, the characteristics of the prototype.
INDIVIDUALITIES.