Selected Content from the March 1904 Edition of The Etude
REPORTED BY WILLIAM ARMSTRONG There is a generally entertained idea that to know a writer is to feel a keener interest in that which he writes. To the composer this same idea is applicable. If you know… Read More
By Henry G. Hanchett Touch influenced by many considerations. Very few effects can be traced to a single invariable cause. Nearly always some side influence comes in and must be reckoned if we are to take account of… Read More
BY FRANK L. EYER. There is a vast deal of poor piano playing in the musical world of to-day. How shall we account for it? Lack of talent? Incompetent teachers? Yes, these are some of the causes for… Read More
BY ANNA E. BAILEY. There are two totally irrelevant pursuits which have greatly helped me to an understanding of artistic pianoforte touch. At first blush they both appear strikingly far-fetched. They are: The study of voice placement and… Read More
BY KATHERINE MORGAN. Andrew Bowman, to his pupil, Irving Leighter:— Philadelphia, Pa., December 31, 19—. My Dear Pupil: Old time is ringing a doleful knell for me; but for you time strikes his merry chimes. My… Read More
BY JACQUES DE LYONS. The ancient Egyptians speculated upon astronomy as the "Harmony of the Spheres." They theorized a systematic relationship between the seven-toned diatonic scale, as they formulated it, and the seven planets; the ratio between the… Read More
BY W. FRANCIS GATES. To anyone who has attended a number of artist piano recitals during a given season, there must come a suspicion that the performers are in league to keep the formal construction of programs and… Read More
BY THALEON BLAKE. Among many instructors (who deserve saintships on the pedagogic calendar, one and all!) only two succeeded in making a lasting impression upon my unwilling intellect. Strange to relate, these two were not pronounced as to… Read More
BY MADAME A. PUPIN. A subscriber has requested some rules or suggestions for memorizing and for keeping up a repertory. If properly studied, a piece will be memorized long before it is learned. Most persons begin to… Read More
BY MAY CRAWFORD. The reason Miss A. accomplishes so much is because she is always trying to work up to something. When given something new to study she has faith enough in her teacher to work at it,… Read More
BY EDWARD DANFORTH HALE The legato treatment of the pianoforte is a tradition as old as the instrument itself. Now, traditions have their value. They stand in the breach when we are in imminent peril of persisting at… Read More
One common mistake made with regard to all mechanical devices to secure technical skill is that they are looked upon too much as royal roads the use of which will secure superlative results with the least possible mental effort,… Read More
BY W. S. B. MATHEWS Much has been written first and last of the duties of the music teacher toward the patron. Is it not time to present also the other side of the shield, and to point… Read More
BY EDWARD BAXTER PERRY. One of the commonest of the many misused stock of phrases so often heard is, "So and So has a lovely tone, a beautiful touch; I should know him by it anywhere." As is… Read More
BY WILLIAM C. WRIGHT. The practice of each hand separately is commended by the best authorities. It is especially necessary for beginners; for it is easier to "break in" one hand at a time than both. But which… Read More
BY EMILIE FRANCES BAUER. Perhaps the most neglected side of the study of music is one which is most necessary to all who are interested in music whether directly or otherwise, and that is the ability to criticise… Read More
BY PERLEY DUNN ALDRICH. Considerable discussion has gone on in musical circles at various times in regard to "teaching by imitation," and it it (sic) presumable that further discussion may yet be indulged in. The argument usually put… Read More
BY FREDERIC S. LAW. The following correspondence is genuine, and tends to throw light on a question which more or less vexes all teachers:— "My Dear Mr. Blank: "Will you kindly send me your terms for… Read More
By SMITH N. PENFIELD The above terms, as denoting two schools of music, are often used by the public generally and even by musicians without clear ideas or well-defined limitations. It will help toward a proper use of… Read More
BY DANIEL BATCHELLOR [The article following is the second of a series of short helpful talks with teachers who are making or may wish to make a specialty of work with quite young children. Mr. Batchellor has given… Read More
BY ALBERT W. BORST. The student's road to that eagerly desired haven, the home of the accomplished pianist, is usually tolerably clearly marked out. It is, indeed, often so very straight that one longs for some friendly bypath… Read More
The best musical food for children is found in melodious exercises, characteristic pieces of one or two pages in length, national melodies, pleasant dance music, indeed, anything that promotes cheerfulness and excites interest and pleasure.—E. Pauer. MUSICIANS BORN IN… Read More
A NEW FORM OF PIANISM. A certain person sent her little girl to me for lessons; on one occasion I called on the parent to insist on the practicing, when I was informed that Mr. "so and so, who… Read More
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The Etude. A Monthly Journal for the Musician, the Music Student, and all Music Lovers. Subscription, $1.50 per year. Single Copies, 16 Cents Foreign Postage, 72 Cents. Liberal premiums and cash deductions are allowed for obtaining subscriptions. Remittances should… Read More
CONDUCTED BY H.W. GREENE I have told you of the Spaniard who always put on his spectacles when about to eat cherries, that they might look bigger and more tempting. In like manner I make the most of… Read More
BY HORACE P. DIBBLE. The art of singing and the art of song writing represent to-day, in their respective spheres, their share in the great evolution of the art of music. There are fashions and fads in music as… Read More
BY C. SAINT-SAENS. [Saint-Saëns, the composer, who is spending part of the winter in Egypt, has written a choral composition entitled "Hymne a la France," which is to be used in French schools and colleges. We reproduce below… Read More
BY D. A. CLIPPINGER. Owing to a very elastic nomenclature all statements relative to the voice need explanation. Such a variety of terms is used in referring to the different vocal processes that it is often impossible to… Read More
The life of a musician is peculiarly isolated. There are few, if any, callings that so absorb the time and energy and interest of their followers. Years of preliminary study are necessary to fit the singer for the stage,… Read More
Desire.—The bass voice may ascend to E-flat or E-natural above the bass staff; the baritone to an F or G; the tenor to a B-flat above the baritone. The compass of each of these voices should be about two… Read More
Memories of Moscheles. "January 13, 1886. I arrived in Leipzig this afternoon, and at five o'clock I went to see Moscheles who kept me until late, playing much to me. Although he is now seventy-one years old, he looks no older than forty… Read More
[We take pleasure in bringing to the attention of the readers of The Etude the following selections from an article contributed to La Revue Musicale, of Paris, by Mons. Eugen de Bricqueville, a well-known composer, and a musician who has… Read More
J. H. A.—1. What stops are suitable to accompany tenors or basses in solo work as well as chorus work? Ditto, sopranos and altos. Answer: For the high voices (soprano and tenor) in solo work, we would suggest for… Read More
Those who have watched with interest the progress of music in England during the last five and twenty years are sure to have noticed the great strides that church music has made in that period. Recalling the slovenly, slipshod… Read More
Has Heaven bestowed on you a lively imagination, you will often, in solitary hours, sit entranced at the piano, longing to express in harmonies your inward fervor; and the more mystical are your feelings while you are drawn, as… Read More
BY ARTHUR L. MANCHESTER. JOHANNES BRAHMS. Of very different personality from that of Tschaikowsky is the subject of our study this month. The morbid temperament of the Russian, coloring with dark hues his life and compositions, contrasts vividly with… Read More
BY H. C. MACDOUGALL. III. In our studies this month we have two pieces of widely unlike moods, demanding from the player entirely dissimilar treatment and drawing upon differing technical resources. We may extend our contrast still farther, calling… Read More
BY ARTHUR L. MANCHESTER. WOLFGANG AMADEUS MOZART. I. In the preceding series of articles under the head of Student Life and Work I have endeavored to set forth principles which underlie real study. I have based… Read More
Addison said: "The mind that lies fallow but a single day sprouts up in follies that are only to be killed by a constant and assiduous culture." Adding to mental and moral stature is worthy one's best endeavor…. Read More
MUSICAL FANTASIES. By Israfel. Imported by Charles Scribner's Sons. A collection of pen studies of musicians, among whom may be mentioned Wagner, Richard Strauss, Tschaikowsky, Chopin, Liszt, Grieg, Coleridge-Taylor, Paderewski, de Pachmann, Ternina, Ysaye, and Kubelik. The word… Read More
"Without passion," said Theodore Parker, "this world would be a howling wilderness." Without passion genius loses half its geniality. But passion is not genius, for all that, any more than it is the world. They who try to make… Read More
How few students ever have an ambition to own a good bow. Of Stradivarius and Amati they dream for years, but for Tourte, Lupot, and other good bow makes they care little. This is one chief reason why they… Read More
"The most important event of the past week," writes Hanslick, in 1861, "was the appearance of Joseph Joachim. It is quite true that Joseph Joachim, the prodigy, was well known to the Viennese public years ago, but Joachim,… Read More
A writer for The Strad, who is obviously impressed with the narrow views and the one-sided training of a deplorable number of our players, has a few common-sense things to say which we consider worthy of repetition. Says he:— … Read More
It is a good thing to encourage pupils to become familiar with certain compositions, and to assign to the themes of such pieces definite qualities. We quote the following from the Musical Standard as bearing on the subject. Whoever… Read More
Do not forget that our new number is 1712 Chestnut Street. Do not forget that the removal of our immense stock, which was done at a great expense of time and trouble, was to facilitate our filling of orders…. Read More
The Indiana State Music Teachers' Association is to meet at Fort Wayne this year. Considerable interest is manifested in Mr. Sam Franko's "Concerts of Antique Music," given in New York City. The surplus available for the General… Read More
L. L. Elson's "Curiosities of Music" contains much interesting information, such as can be used in a talk on music among people who differ from us in their ideas of music. There is no one book on the subject… Read More
Pupils of the Elementary Department, Broad Street Conservatory, Philadelphia. Don Juan Menuet (4 hands), Mozart; Polka (4 hands), Wohlfahrt; Lullaby, Swift; Barcarolle, Behr; By the Spring, Slumber Song, Gurlitt; Theme and Variations (violin), Papini; Forest Flowers Waltz, Lichner; Cradle… Read More
Teacher's Round Table Editor of The Etude: You have asked me to write what I think about the finger exercises to be given in the beginning of piano study. It is your wish, and it is… Read More
