Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
astic advocates and supporters of the Irish
movement, and he has resurrected and
scored many of these old folk melodies
which are destined to win no small atten-
tion from singers, owing to their peculiar
and individual charm.
At the Irish festivals we notice that the
programs are not confined merely to Irish
composers and folk songs, but are thor-
oughly catholic, taking in the latest and
best compositions of the masters the world
over.
Sir Arthur Sullivan, whose parents were
natives of the Emerald Isle, as well as many
other distinguished musicians of Irish ex-
traction, are enthusiastic supporters of the
"Feis Ceoile," the correct pronunciation
of which, by the way, is "Faysh Keole."
*
JWIAX NORDAU is of the opinion that
* ' * Liszt was a degenerate. Ilka Horo-
witz Barnay explains why, in this wise:
It seems that one evening Nordau was
introduced to Liszt with the question, ad-
dressed to Liszt, whether he had ever
seen the gentleman before. "I believe I
have not had the pleasure," said Liszt;
whereupon Nordau remark, "I have al-
ready seen the Cathedral of Strassburg,
but the Cathedral had not yet seen me."
Liszt, though usually not averse to flat-
tery, drew the line at this characteristical-
ly silly remark. Turning to the lady who
had made the introduction, he said to her,
"Ca, c'est un journaliste, n'cst-ce pas?"
and paid no further attention to Nordau,
who never forgot the slur.
*
D I C H A R D STRAUSS, Felix Weingart-
1^ ner and Engelbert Humperdinck are
each at work on a four-part symphony.
The opinion generally is, however, that
this is not the age of symphonies and that
the public prefers shorter pieces.
*
JWIRS. GERTRUDE COLBY, the pian-
* ' *• iste, during a tour through the West
and Southwest in the early part of the
summer, proved herself to be a musician
of rare accomplishments, her artistic ren-
ditions being an intense delight to all
lovers of high-class music. Mrs. Colby,
who is a resident of Erie, Pa., will be
heard in a number of recitals through the
United States the coming musical season.
*
USIC as a sedative is referred to at
some length in the recent number
of the British Medical Journal. We learn
from it that Mr. Gladstone during the
many weeks of acute neuralgia which
ushered in the last phase of his fatal ill-
ness, found great relief in music. Mr.
Herbert Spencer is said to have had re-
course to music for the relief of nervous
disturbance, and the Empress of Austria
is reported to have been cured of neuralgia
by certain strains of sound repeated at
frequent intervals. Many other less illus-
trious sufferers have had their pain
charmed away by the same sweet medi-
cine. The " music cure " had considera-
ble vogue some time ago in Germany, and
a special hospital for its systematic appli-
M
cation was, we believe, established in
Munich.
Our contemporary describes some ex-
periments made by Dr. W. F. Hutchinson,"
of Providence, R. I., as to the possibility of
producing anaesthesia by very rapidly re-
peated blows, which may perhaps throw
some light on the sedative effect of music.
By a skillfully constructed apparatus he
had found that with the number of vibra-
tions corresponding to A major, 540, one
minute was sufficient to produce numb-
ness; on stopping the current there was
a rapid return to sensation. An attempt
was then made to produce local anaesthesia
on a patient suffering from a whitlow on
the finger. The finger was placed in a
metallic tube partially filled with salt
water. Starting with A major and run-
ning up to G major sufficient anaesthesia
was produced in three minutes to allow of
an incision being made in the whitlow
without the patient suffering any pain
whatever.
In Dr. Hutchinson's experience every
kind of pain yielded equally well to the
currents produced when the rheotome was
adjusted to C major. It would appear,
therefore, that the note C major produces
vibrations which neutralize the disordered
vibrations in the affected nerve. It might
perhaps be worth while to try the effect of
airs in which C major predominates in
cases of neuralgia. It would, however,
our contemporary thinks, be prudent for
the experimenter first to assure himself
that the patient is not one that hath not
music in himself, nor is not moved with
concourse of sweet sounds, otherwise he
might find himself made the subject of ex-
periments in rapid percussions and vibra-
tions turned to D major, which would
have an effect the reverse of anaesthesia.
*
AX ALVARY, the German operatic
tenor, who for many seasons delighted
New Yorkers with his vocal and histrionic
gifts, is, we regret to learn, so seriously
ill at his home in Thuringia that his
death is expected at any moment.
*
JUDGING from present indications, we
^ will not suffer from a dearth of opera
the coming musical season. Besides the
three companies that are to give perform-
ances of opera in this city, three organiza-
tions will be heard in other cities, and
these are the Melba Company, which goes
to the Pacific coast in March; the Ellis
Company, which will give an extensive
season in Philadelphia and which will visit
Chicago, Boston, Cincinnati and other
places, and the International Company,
with De Vere at the head and that talented
musician Sapio as conductor.
*
F R E D . BEEBE, Jr., has been compelled
by increasing business cares to resign
his position as organist of Grace Church,
Newark, N. J., which he has held for
seven years to the entire satisfaction of
clergy, choir and congregation. William
Floyd Vail, who has been selected as Mr.
Beebe's successor, was organist of St.
Peter's Church, Morristown, N. J., for six
M
r
years and also of St. Thomas' Church,
Brooklyn, N. Y., for the same length of
time. Grace Church is considered fortu-
nate in securing the services of such an
able organist, accomplished musician, and
good churchman.
Mr. Vail is an employee of the well-
known firm of Lauter Co., Newark, the
largest piano house in New Jersey. His
numerous friends in the trade and profes-
sion will be pleased to know that he
has been engaged as organist of Grace
Church.
*
pvAVID BISPHAM is going to bring
*-^ over with him a patriotic song called
" T h e Eagle." This is dedicated to no
less illustrious a person than Christopher
Columbus, and the words were written by
an American now living in London, John
Richards, a brother of Mrs. Craigie. The
music was composed by Mile. Janotha,
who is remembered here as a blonde pian-
ist, and came recommended as Queen
Victoria's favorite performer. Mr. Bispham
probably regards himself as fortunate to
have got hold of a song which is at
once dignified and patriotic. Doubtless
there will be a scramble for such songs
next winter, as the most eminent of the
singers will want some of the favor that
will come to the person who appeals to
the patriotic taste. Mme. Melba was the
first to take advantage of this feeling last
spring during her San Francisco engage-
ment, when she sang "The Star-Spangled
Banner " i n " The Barber of Seville." She
is one of the fortunate singers who speak
English, and so will have an immense
advantage over the foreigners when it
comes to the patriotic songs next winter.
Emma Eames, Lillian Nordica, and Marie
Engel, among others, will be foremost,
and Marcella Sembrich, who speaks
English, will be able to make her struggle
for part of the honors that will come from
addressing the national pride of audiences.
It will be a more difficult matter for Mmes.
Calve and Schumann-Heink, who have no
English to help them out.
*
TF the papers are to be believed Chicago
*• is in the throes of a musical revolution.
The disciples of Wagner and classical
music are waging war with a vengeance
against the lovers of coon music, or as the
Chicagoans irreverently put it, " t h e nig-
ger songs." The leading figures in the
battle are Prof. Hand, who provides the
music at the open air concerts in Lincoln
Park, and Park Commissioner Joseph E.
Dunton. The latter has expressed his
dislike to the classical menus which the
Professor is serving up and wants Wagner
shelved for the popular ditties of the day.
The latest accounts from the seat of war
indicate that Prof. Hand has capitulated.
The financial aspect of the matter had to
be considered and he thought it best to
supplant the classical by the popular.
Poor Wagner.
HPHAT the war has not as yet inspired a
*• song that has spread like wildfire
through the land is somewhat remarkable.