Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE fl T. N. A. CONVENTION.
(Continued from
Page j>.)
Stanley, of Ann Arbor; Prof. George Cole-
man Gow, and others.
In the evening there was a large attend-
ance at the concert. The interest centered
principally in the first production of Harry
Rowe Shelley's symphony in E flat major,
tinder the direction of Arthur Claasen.
Mr. Shelley's composition must be set down
to his credit as showing a distinct develop-
ment of melodic gifts. It is a strong, con-
vincing work, which will unquestionably
add to the reputation of the composer. The
audience was in a sympathetic mood, and a
genial reception was given the symphony.
WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT.
In the afternoon in the auditorium was
held a conference on "Women's Work in
Music," under the direction of Mrs. Theo.
Sutro, president of the Women's Depart-
ment.
Mrs. Sutro delivered an address in which
she said: "Many men, great and little, have
denied the possibility of original musical
composition to women until this came to
be an almost generally accepted axiom.
Prejudice has stood in the way of all pro-
gress. I am glad of the opportunity to
demonstrate what women have already ac-
complished in composition."
Other addresses were made by Miss Fan-
nie Morris Smith on "The Value of Wo-
manhood in the World's Work;" Miss Char-
lotte W. Hawes, on "Science in Music;"
Mrs. Donald McLean,on "Patriotic Music,"
and Mrs. Mary Gregory Murray, on "The
Principles of Expression." An elaborate
musical program was rendered.
THIRD DAY
SATURDAY.
The Conventionjwent bravely to work
to-day with a business session in the con-
cert hall, when Prof. C. G. Gow of Vassar
College read the new constitution as adop-
ted by the Committee on Revision, of
which he was chairman, and after consider-
able discussion it was adopted. One of the
new provisions is that members of the as-
sociation shall consist of representatives
from State and county associations, char-
tered music schools, music faculties of col-
leges and universities, and choral organi-
zations of one hundred members or more;
also of supervisors of music in public
schools and professional men and women
of good standing as teachers and journalists.
Persons not musicians, but who are inter-
ested in music, may be elected associate
members.
After a discussion as to the holding
of the next convention, the following offi-
cers were nominated: Herbert W. Greene,
president; J. F. Keough, secretary, and C.
W. Langdon, treasurer.
At the conclusion of the meeting a piano
recital was given by William H. Sherwood.
The program was an excellent one, and Mr.
vSherwood was enthusiastically received.
An important conference on "Methods
and Results in Music Schools" was held in
the Lyceum, at 11:30 A. M. Chas. H.
Morse presiding. The first paper pre-
sented was on "Music School Study at
Home and Abroad," by Henry Holden
Huss, who began by speaking of the study
of Bach's music. He urged that teachers
should pay more attention to the poetical
side of that composer, and not teach
students to play his works in a mechanical
sort of way. The general assumption that
schools in Europe were better than those
in the United States, he characterized as
false, and declared that it was not too
much to hope that students would be com-
ing to America from Europe within a
decade.
Other papers were read by E. D. Hale
of Boston, Louis C. Elson, Harrison M.
Wild of Chicago, and by the chairman.
In the afternoon a conference on "Musi-
cal Journalism" was held in the concert
hall, presided over by Louis C. Elson of
Boston, who made an opening address in
which he said that American musical
journalism, while still young, had some
things to its advantage over European
writings. It was free from the dullness
of the English musical criticism, free from
the rigidity of the German, and from the
venality of the French and Italian.
Papers were also read by W. J. Hender-
son, Arthur L. Manchester and in behalf
of a number of others who were absent.
In the afternoon, piano recitals were
given by Wm. H. Barber, Leopold Godow-
sky; both artists were assisted by promi-
nent vocalists. In the evening Victor
Herbert and the Twenty-second Regiment
Band entertained the visitors with a popu-
lar concert on the roof garden, assisted by
the Arion Society of Brooklyn.
WOMEN'S DEPARTMENT.
The second session of the Women's De-
partment of the Convention was devoted
chiefly to the scientific side of music, and
it was so interesting that t the salon was
crowded to its utmost capacity for three
hours.
The program was arranged by the Com-
mittee on Methods of Teaching and the
Committee on Musical Lectures, and was
devoted mainly to methods.
Few of these methods have been devised
by women, but, as women outnumber men
so largely as teachers of music, they make
most use of them, and it was therefore
thought entirely appropriate to have them
demonstrated in the women's department.
A few of the most approved ones were
chosen, and fifteen minutes were devoted
to each, an explanatory talk by a teacher
of the system being illustrated by her best
pupil.
Miss Amy Fay, the exponent in this
country of the Dieppe method of teaching,
gave a five minutes' talk on the ethics of
the system.
Miss Fay was largely instrumental in
pushing the method in Germany, and
sketched entertainingly its central idea as
well as the personality of its creator.
Miss Fay, in her address, attacked the
Virgil method, which she claims is only a
new presentation of the Dieppe method.
She said, "Mr. Virgil learned the latter
from me, and I am delighted with the use
he has made of it, but I think he ought to
have acknowledged his indebtedness to
Dieppe."
Later Mrs. Virgil spoke in behalf of the
Virgil method, and alluding to Miss Fay's
remarks said "that there were those in the
room who could testify that the Virgil
method was substantially the same twenty-
five years ago as it is to-day. "
One of the most delightful numbers was
furnished by the children of Primary School
No. 16. Under the direction of Miss Mc-
Caffery they sang the intervals, major and
minor, of the scale with a precision that
was wonderful.
Mrs. Gustav Becker, Mme. Cappiani and
Miss Kate Chittenden talked of various
methods, and some excellent music was
given in illustration.
FOURTH DAY.
This being Sunday, the members of the
Music Teachers' National Association car-
ried their melodious art into the churches
and temples, where special programs had
been prepared and sermons were preached
for their benefit.
FIFTH AND CT.OSINC DAY
MONDAY.
The session opened with a joint meeting
with the elocutionists. President Greene
said that the two professions had much in
common, and the vocal branch of the
musical profession especially near to that
of the elocutionist. President Chamber-
lain pointed out the close relationship be-
tween voice culture with singing in view.
Rhythm, he said, was common to vocal
music and spoken poetry, and even prose.
"Enunciation in Singing," by Alexan-
der Melville Bell, of Washington, was read.
Other papers were: " Some Causes of Vo-
cal Catastrophe," by Dr. Frank E. Miller;
" T h e Mental and Physical Tone," by
Mme. Florenza d'Arona; "False Ideals
Antagonistic to Artistic Singing," by
Charles Davis Carter; "Opera Considered
as Music and Drama Combined," by Mme.
Louisa Cappiani, and "The Relationship
of Singing and Oratory," by Louis C.
Elson.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
The business meeting for the election of
officers and selection of the next meeting
place, held in the Lyceum, was exciting.
Not only did the location of the next con-
vention provoke a hot discussion, but an
independent ticket for officers, headed by
Arthur Foote, and supported by Prof.
Goodrich and Western members in oppo-
sition to the regular one nominated by
the vice-president, was nominated.
The regular ticket won after a fight. It
names H. W. Greene again for president;
James P. Keough, of New York, for secre-
tary, and Alexander S. Gibson, of Connec-
ticut, for treasurer. The Executive Com-
mittee named is: A. J. Wilkins,of Bridge-
port, Conn.; Carl G. Schmidt, of Morris-
town, N. Y., and F. A. Fowler, of New
Haven; and the Program Committee:
William C. Carl, of New York, William E.
Mulligan, of New York, and John Tagg,of
Brooklyn.
New York was selected as the next meet-
ing place for the annual gathering. There