Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 25 N. 23 - Page 6
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
" THE LOST CHORD."
As far as the greater public is concerned,
it is by such splendid pieces of melody as
" T h e Lost Chord," rather than by larger
efforts, that the good work which Sir
Arthur Sullivan has done will be best or
more popularly remembered. The com-
position of this truly beautiful song is
also linked with sad memories in the life
of the composer, for its composition came
about in this way. His much - loved
brother Frederick fell ill, and for three
weeks he watched by his bedside night
and day. One night—the end was not
very far off then—while his sick brother
had for a time fallen into a peaceful sleep,
and he was sitting as usual by the bedside,
he chanced to come across the verse of
Adelaide Proctor's with which he had five
years previoiisly been very much im-
pressed. Now, in the stillness of the
night, he read them over again, and al-
most as he did so he conceived their musi-
cal equivalent. A stray sheet of music
paper was at hand, and he began to write.
Slowly the music grew and took shape,
until, becoming quite absorbed in it, he
determined to finish the song. Even if,
in the cold light of day, it were to prove
worthless, it would at least have helped to
while away the hours of watching. Thus
was written " The Lost Chord," perhaps
the most successful song of modern times
—at all events, one whose sale has, up to
now, exceeded 250,000 copies.
PIANOFORTE STUDY.
"Pianoforte Study" is the title of a work
just issued from the press of Theodore
Presser, Philadelphia, of which Alexander
McArthur is the author. As its name im-
plies it is a survey of the entire field of
piano playing and study. Each chapter is
in itself an essay of rare worth and engross-
ing interest. The wide scope of the book
can best be estimated from the captions of
each chapter: Amateurs; What to Play;
How to Practice; Where to Study; Touch,
Tone and Pedaling; What to Avoid; In-
terpretation; The Sublime and the Senti-
mental; Musical Acrobats; The Study of
Harmony; The Reading of the Classics;
Modern Pianism; Pianists of To-day; Pro-
fessional Piano Students; Artists and So-
ciety; Patriotism; Student Life; The Ar-
tist and His Calling.
Space will not permit us to make any
extracts from this excellent work. Mr.
McArthur has served up an unusually dry
subject in an interesting dress. Tt is vigor-
ous, healthy, educating and moreover,
truthful writing which should be read
by every one interested directly or in-
directly in music. The essay on Patriot-
ism especially is admirable. It is conceived
in the proper spirit—the true American
spirit—and contains telling arguments
against the feeling of know-nothingism
which has prevailed in certain circles in
this country during the past few years, and
which is even being nurtured at the
present day. This book will unquestion-
ably augment Mr. McArthur's musical and
literary fame. "Pianoforte Study" con-
tains 140 pages, bound in cloth, and is re-
tailed at $1.25.
©
SOUSA'S EUROPEAN PLANS.
John Philip Sousa has arranged to invade
Europe next year at the head of his famous
band and to the inspiring strains of his
own martial music. Just a year ago, while
on a vacation tour, Sousa conducted the
brass section of the famous Philharmonic
Orchestra of Berlin at a complimentary
concert arranged in his honor, and the
great success he achieved in the German
capital convinced the American composer
and leader that there was an undoubted
field for his band in Europe.
"Yes, I am going to Europe with my
band next summer," said Mr. Sousa. "The
trip will occupy fourteen weeks, and we
shall sail from New York on Wednesday,
May 25, 1898, returning early in Septem-
ber. I go abroad under the direction of an
English company organized expressly for
the purpose of exploiting my band. The
American representative of this company
is E. R. Reynolds, who will be general
manager of the band and its tours. Henry
Wolfsohn, the well-known manager of
musical attractions, will manage the tour
in Germany and Austria. We shall open
in London on June 3, 1898, and will de-
vote five weeks to a tour of England, Scot-
land, Wales and Ireland. Then one week
in Paris and Brussels, followed by six
weeks in the principal cities of Germany
and Austria, beginning with Berlin. The
tour will extend as far as Vienna and
Buda-Pesth.
"My band for the European tour will
consist of sixty musicians, a representative
American organization. We shall take
with us two of the greatest of American
soloists, a singer and an instrumentalist—
both women of course. Their names will
be announced later. We shall take Amer-
ican printing with us, and our programs
will be the same judicious blend of the best
works of the best composers with the
lighter forms of musical expression.
George Frederic Hinton will accompany
me to Europe as business manager, and
Frank Christianer will remain in charge of
the New York office.
"On our return to America the band will
play in all the principal cities of every
State in the Union. Our twelfth tour
begins in this city on Jan. 8, 1898, and will
continue up to the date of our sailing for
Europe,"
SECOND CH1CKERINQ GRAND CONCERT.
The second of the Chickering Grand
Orchestral concerts, Anton Seidl, con-
ductor, will take place next Tuesday even-
ing, Dec. 7th, at Chickering Hall. Xaver
Scharwenka will play the Beethoven Piano
Concerto B flat major and four smaller
numbers: Impromptu, G minor, Schubert,
arranged by Scharwenka; Scherzo, E
minor, Mendelssohn; Prarieblume and
Etude, Scharwenka. The orchestral num-
bers will be Snaetana's Overture, " T h e
Bartered Bride;" the Siegfried "Idyll,"
and Mozart's Symphony, D major.
Xaver Scharwenka, who will display
the beauties of the Chickering grand on
this occasion, made his first appearance in
London in the season of 1881, before the
close of which he had the honor of being
presented to their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales.
He was also twice invited to play at the
London Philharmonic concerts, an honor
rarely accorded to any artist. Mr. Schar-
wenka also performed at twenty other con-
certs during this English visit. He was
an auditor at one of the famous Crys-
tal Palace concerts at which the pianiste,
Madame Montigny-Remaury (a sister-in-
law of Ambrose Thomas), was to have
played the Saint Saens Concerto, but for
some unavoidable cause, failed to reach
London in time.
The director having been informed of
Scharwenka's presence, requested him to
play a concerto and to replace the artist
announced. The librarian had only the
score and parts of the Beethoven Em-
peror Concerto at hand, and without a re-
hearsal he gave a magnificent rendition of
this great work, at the conclusion of which
the immense audience greeted him with
unstinted applause.
o
Miss Gertrude May Stein has signed a
three-year contract to sing leading roles at
the Opera House at Mannheim, Germany.
dasb, Eycbanoc IRentefc, ateo
Slfc on lEass payments
THREE 000RS WESToF BROADWAY
P I P C0.
. 3ST. "ST.
All our instruments contain the full iron frame and
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
Of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of our in-
struments, and therefore challenge tho world th»t oat*
will excel any other.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
" THE LOST CHORD."
As far as the greater public is concerned,
it is by such splendid pieces of melody as
" T h e Lost Chord," rather than by larger
efforts, that the good work which Sir
Arthur Sullivan has done will be best or
more popularly remembered. The com-
position of this truly beautiful song is
also linked with sad memories in the life
of the composer, for its composition came
about in this way. His much - loved
brother Frederick fell ill, and for three
weeks he watched by his bedside night
and day. One night—the end was not
very far off then—while his sick brother
had for a time fallen into a peaceful sleep,
and he was sitting as usual by the bedside,
he chanced to come across the verse of
Adelaide Proctor's with which he had five
years previoiisly been very much im-
pressed. Now, in the stillness of the
night, he read them over again, and al-
most as he did so he conceived their musi-
cal equivalent. A stray sheet of music
paper was at hand, and he began to write.
Slowly the music grew and took shape,
until, becoming quite absorbed in it, he
determined to finish the song. Even if,
in the cold light of day, it were to prove
worthless, it would at least have helped to
while away the hours of watching. Thus
was written " The Lost Chord," perhaps
the most successful song of modern times
—at all events, one whose sale has, up to
now, exceeded 250,000 copies.
PIANOFORTE STUDY.
"Pianoforte Study" is the title of a work
just issued from the press of Theodore
Presser, Philadelphia, of which Alexander
McArthur is the author. As its name im-
plies it is a survey of the entire field of
piano playing and study. Each chapter is
in itself an essay of rare worth and engross-
ing interest. The wide scope of the book
can best be estimated from the captions of
each chapter: Amateurs; What to Play;
How to Practice; Where to Study; Touch,
Tone and Pedaling; What to Avoid; In-
terpretation; The Sublime and the Senti-
mental; Musical Acrobats; The Study of
Harmony; The Reading of the Classics;
Modern Pianism; Pianists of To-day; Pro-
fessional Piano Students; Artists and So-
ciety; Patriotism; Student Life; The Ar-
tist and His Calling.
Space will not permit us to make any
extracts from this excellent work. Mr.
McArthur has served up an unusually dry
subject in an interesting dress. Tt is vigor-
ous, healthy, educating and moreover,
truthful writing which should be read
by every one interested directly or in-
directly in music. The essay on Patriot-
ism especially is admirable. It is conceived
in the proper spirit—the true American
spirit—and contains telling arguments
against the feeling of know-nothingism
which has prevailed in certain circles in
this country during the past few years, and
which is even being nurtured at the
present day. This book will unquestion-
ably augment Mr. McArthur's musical and
literary fame. "Pianoforte Study" con-
tains 140 pages, bound in cloth, and is re-
tailed at $1.25.
©
SOUSA'S EUROPEAN PLANS.
John Philip Sousa has arranged to invade
Europe next year at the head of his famous
band and to the inspiring strains of his
own martial music. Just a year ago, while
on a vacation tour, Sousa conducted the
brass section of the famous Philharmonic
Orchestra of Berlin at a complimentary
concert arranged in his honor, and the
great success he achieved in the German
capital convinced the American composer
and leader that there was an undoubted
field for his band in Europe.
"Yes, I am going to Europe with my
band next summer," said Mr. Sousa. "The
trip will occupy fourteen weeks, and we
shall sail from New York on Wednesday,
May 25, 1898, returning early in Septem-
ber. I go abroad under the direction of an
English company organized expressly for
the purpose of exploiting my band. The
American representative of this company
is E. R. Reynolds, who will be general
manager of the band and its tours. Henry
Wolfsohn, the well-known manager of
musical attractions, will manage the tour
in Germany and Austria. We shall open
in London on June 3, 1898, and will de-
vote five weeks to a tour of England, Scot-
land, Wales and Ireland. Then one week
in Paris and Brussels, followed by six
weeks in the principal cities of Germany
and Austria, beginning with Berlin. The
tour will extend as far as Vienna and
Buda-Pesth.
"My band for the European tour will
consist of sixty musicians, a representative
American organization. We shall take
with us two of the greatest of American
soloists, a singer and an instrumentalist—
both women of course. Their names will
be announced later. We shall take Amer-
ican printing with us, and our programs
will be the same judicious blend of the best
works of the best composers with the
lighter forms of musical expression.
George Frederic Hinton will accompany
me to Europe as business manager, and
Frank Christianer will remain in charge of
the New York office.
"On our return to America the band will
play in all the principal cities of every
State in the Union. Our twelfth tour
begins in this city on Jan. 8, 1898, and will
continue up to the date of our sailing for
Europe,"
SECOND CH1CKERINQ GRAND CONCERT.
The second of the Chickering Grand
Orchestral concerts, Anton Seidl, con-
ductor, will take place next Tuesday even-
ing, Dec. 7th, at Chickering Hall. Xaver
Scharwenka will play the Beethoven Piano
Concerto B flat major and four smaller
numbers: Impromptu, G minor, Schubert,
arranged by Scharwenka; Scherzo, E
minor, Mendelssohn; Prarieblume and
Etude, Scharwenka. The orchestral num-
bers will be Snaetana's Overture, " T h e
Bartered Bride;" the Siegfried "Idyll,"
and Mozart's Symphony, D major.
Xaver Scharwenka, who will display
the beauties of the Chickering grand on
this occasion, made his first appearance in
London in the season of 1881, before the
close of which he had the honor of being
presented to their Royal Highnesses the
Prince and Princess of Wales.
He was also twice invited to play at the
London Philharmonic concerts, an honor
rarely accorded to any artist. Mr. Schar-
wenka also performed at twenty other con-
certs during this English visit. He was
an auditor at one of the famous Crys-
tal Palace concerts at which the pianiste,
Madame Montigny-Remaury (a sister-in-
law of Ambrose Thomas), was to have
played the Saint Saens Concerto, but for
some unavoidable cause, failed to reach
London in time.
The director having been informed of
Scharwenka's presence, requested him to
play a concerto and to replace the artist
announced. The librarian had only the
score and parts of the Beethoven Em-
peror Concerto at hand, and without a re-
hearsal he gave a magnificent rendition of
this great work, at the conclusion of which
the immense audience greeted him with
unstinted applause.
o
Miss Gertrude May Stein has signed a
three-year contract to sing leading roles at
the Opera House at Mannheim, Germany.
dasb, Eycbanoc IRentefc, ateo
Slfc on lEass payments
THREE 000RS WESToF BROADWAY
P I P C0.
. 3ST. "ST.
All our instruments contain the full iron frame and
patent tuning pin. The greatest invention in the history
Of piano making. Any radical changes in the climate, heat
or dampness, cannot affect the standing in tone of our in-
struments, and therefore challenge tho world th»t oat*
will excel any other.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).