Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler a Believer ir» the Theory That With Various Individuals Are Asso-
ciated Certain Characteristic Colors—Program for Her Recital—Whiting and the Chicker-
ing Harpsichord—Schelling to Play His "Fantastic Suite"—Emil Sauer to be Heard in
October—Bauer Scores Great Success at His Recital—Important Volume Issued by the
Oliver Ditson Co.—New Opera Conductor—The Retirement of Dr. Carl Muck Much Regretted
—Some Notes of Musical Happenings in This and Other Countries.
Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler, the famous Ameri-
can pianiste, is a believer in the theory that with
various individuals are invariably associated cer-
tain characteristic colors. "I have a friend,"
she said, "who associates with every person she
meets a distinctive color. Talking with her one
day, I was surprised to find, when I made my-
self think of it, that I, too, had a sense of color
value of individuals. We brought up the names
of mutual friends, and I mentioned the color
suggested by each. In almost every instance it
corresponded with the color the lady I was talk-
ing to associated with those persons. "It is very
natural when you come to think of it. Take a
quiet, modest, shy, bashful, retiring young girl;
you would never think of any vivid reds or yel-
lows in connection with her. It would be a pale
blue or gray, or fawn, perhaps. Or take a man
with flashing black eyes. You would never sug-
gest neutral colors in connection with him. 1
believe there are laws governing this thing that
will some day be formulated on a scientific basis.
In all probability there-is a physical basis for it
that some day we shall know all about. It is
only in comparatively recent times that the theo-
ries concerning the physical basis of mind were
established. If we could only come back two
hundred years from now, we would know very
much more than we do. There must be some
similar explanation of the tone-color sense. Dif-
ferent keys, different composers, different com-
positions are associated with different tone
colors. When I sit down to play, of course, 1
don't have that in my mind, but when I think
about it afterward I am convinced that there is
some logical basis for the thing."
* * • *
Mme. Zeisler, who scored such a success with
the New York Symphony Orchestra last week in
this city, when she played the Steinway, will be
heard in recital at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 12.
Her program is as follows: Beethoven. 32 varia-
tions, C minor; Schumann, Nachtstueck, Op. 23,
No. 4; Paganini, Violin Caprice; Schumann,
To«cata, Op. 7; Chopin, Prelude, Op. 28, No. 16,
Sonata, B flat minor, Op. 35; Paderewski, Theme
Varie; Von Fielitz, Nocturne; Brockway, A Sere-
nade; MacDowell ( a ) , The Brook (b), Winter;
Wagner, Ride of the Valkyries.
• * • •
Arthur Whiting, whose remarkable demonstra-
tion of the Chickering harpsichord recently
aroused most favorable commendation, will give
a series of informal recitals at his studio, 141
East Fortieth street, New York City, on Saturday
afternoons, February 29 and April 1, and on
March 1 and April 5. The programs will be de-
voted to pianoforte, harpsichord and clavichord
music.
* * * *
Ernest Schelling's "Fantastic Suite" for piano
and orchestra, the orchestration of which was
completed last year, will be played by the com-
poser at to-morrow afternoon's concert of the
New York Symphony at Carnegie Hall. This
work of Mr. Schelling's was played recently in
Europe with great success. Mr. Schelling plays
the Steinway piano.
* * * *
The announcement that Dr. Carl Muck is to
sever his connection with the Boston Symphony
Orchestra at the end of the present season has
occasioned much genuine regret in musical cir-
cles. While it has been known that Dr. Muck
was only on a leave of absence, yet the fact
that this leave was extended for a year led
many to believe that we might keep the great
maestro for a longer period, but the Berlin
authorities have decided that his services are
needed in Berlin as much as in Boston. There
is much speculation as to the successor of Dr.
Muck, but those on the inside in Boston claim
that nothing will be done before the early spring.
* * * *
An important announcement was made this
week by Wm. Knabe & .Co., to the effect that
Emil Sauer, who made a successful tour of this
KMIL SAUEK, WHO VISITS US IN Ol'TOHKU.
country -some even years ago, will revisit the
United States about October, for the purpose of
making a concert tour which will extend over
the entire country.
* * * *
In these columns recently we have spoken of
Harold Bauer's remarkable work with orchestra
in terms of high praise, and at his second recital,
which occurred at Mendelssohn Hall last Satur-
day afternoon, he again afforded the keenest
pleasure to the appreciative audience in attend-
ance. Bauer is in very truth a master of the
keyboard, a- man who never puts his personality
above his art, an artist who is great in any
and every school, hence his numbers are always
imbued with the spirit of the composer and inter-
preted in a most sympathetic and beautiful spirit.
Nothing more charming can be imagined than
bis playing of Beethoven's Sonata, opus 81. He
gave it that color and human touch that makes
Beethoven when well played always a delight.
The three pieces by Debussy entitled "Estampes"
were also read with remarkable insight and skill,
and the varied moods and characteristics em-
bodied in these numbers admirably interpreted.
Bach's Toccato and Fugue in C minor was given
a broad reading, notable alike for its clarity
and romantic feeling. In the Andante from
Schubert's B flat Sonata, Bauer soared to new
heights. This, as well as the Chopin numbers
which closed the concert, were the highest ex-
amples of piano playing. At the close of tha
concert Baiier received a veritable furore of ap-
plause, and was compelled to come out time and
time again, eventually adding an etude and
waltz by Chopin. The Mason & Hamlin grand
which Bauer used was a remarkable instrument.
There was an amplitude of tone, and an abun-
dance of quality that afforded the player every
opportunity to display his varied moods and in-
terpret the spirit of the compositions. To use a
technical expression, "there virtually seemed to
be no bottom to it," as every demand for tone
left the hearer with the idea that there was still
plenty in reserve, and what is worthy of especial
note is that no matter what register or whether
the demands were heavy or light, that richness
of quality and musical charm was ever prevalent.
To hear such a combination as Bauer and the
Mason & Hamlin piano is certainly a great treat.
11
once given by Paderewski to a wealthy Ameri-
can. It was when MacDowell was in the faculty
of Columbia University, where, for a variety of
reasons, he was most unhappy. This American
came to Paderewski for advice, saying that he
wanted to invest a sum of money where it would
do the mott good to the cause of music.
Paderewski answered:
"Give an annuity to
MacDowell, so that he will not have to teach and
may devote his whole time to composition. That
is the greatest gift you can make to the cause
of American music." Unfortunately the advice
was not followed.
Another valuable edition to the many volumes
that go to make up "The Musician's Library" has
appeared from the press of the Oliver Ditson
Co., of Boston, entitled, "Songs from the Operas,"
for soprano. The volume is edited by H. E.
Krehbiel, the famous critic, in a most authorita-
tive and interesting manner. The famous arias
from the operas of every school are presented
in chronological order, beginning with songs
from the earliest Italian productions, just emerg-
ing from the era of artificial counterpoint, down
to contemporary musical drama. As Mr. Kreh-
biel shows in his illuminating preface, the num-
bers which make up this volume are chosen not
merely for their historical interest, but they
afford a comprehensive view of operatic develop-
ment. The original text is given with each num-
ber, together with an English version, which
seems to avoid the banalities of many current
translations. Portraits appear also of the most
noted composers represented in the volume.
There are some 188 pages of music which show
every evidence of careful editing. The volume is
superbly produced, and of that high standard
which has made "The Musician's Library" so
highly esteemed by musicians. We feel confi-
dent that the volume under review will prove
highly popular with all the musically inclined,
hence its value to the music dealer as a quick
selling and profitable addition to his list. The
volume retails at $1.50, paper, cloth back, and
$2.50 in full cloth, gilt.
• * • •
The patrons of the Russian Symphony Society
concerts will enjoy quite a treat at the next con-
cert which takes place at Carnegie Hall on the
evening of Feb. 13, when Miss May Mukle, the
famous 'cellist, who scored such a decided suc-
VAV
MTCKIl:.
*
•
* *
The Kaltenborn String Quartet of New York
are giving a series of concerts on Sunday after-
noons at the Crescent Athletic Club in Brooklyn,
which are of more than ordinary merit from a
musical standpoint. The ninth concert will
occur to-morrow (Sunday). The Sterling piano
is used at these concerts.
*
The death of the gifted American composer,
Edward A. MacDowell, brings to mind the advice
VlCI.I.lST.
cess in recital in New York, Jan. 4, will be the
soloist. She will play the A minor, concerto by
Davidoff. Miss Mukle is an artist of unques-
tioned merit, and her playing is noted for its
remarkable quality of tone and complete mastery
of mechanical difficulties. The success scored in
New York has been duplicated in Chicago and
through the western cities.
*
•
•
Paderewski has an intense dislike for private
recitals. The ether day, being invited t a play
in one of the palatial homes of Chicago, he asked