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 Hospital, Birmingham, Eng., as the net proceeds of the last festival was $22,000.
The Bach Verein, of Leipzig, gave a Bach Festival January 26th; March 29th another is to take place, and another in May.
Franz von Blon, the well-known composer, has resigned his position as conductor of the Berlin Tonkünstlor Orchestra.
Francesco Cortesi, opera composer and singing teacher of prominence in Italy, died in Florence, in January, aged 77.
Puccini's new opera, "Madame Butterfly," was announced to receive its first performance last month in La Scala Theater, Milan.
The score of an opera composed by Bizet in his earlier career, called "Don Procopio," has been found. It is to be given at Monte Carlo.
The directors of the Worcester, Mass., festival have decided to adopt a scheme of five concerts for the next festival, following the plan of 1903.
The Abbé Perosi is said to be training a choir of three hundred boys for St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome, as "a first step in the reform of the music there."
Mme. Schumann-Heink has received from the authorities of Oldenberg and Weimar the golden medal given for distinguished services to art and science.
Some German conductors now give the older orchestral works with a small orchestra instead of using the full complement of the modern symphony orchestra.
Two of the leading Russian music publishers, Jurgenson and Belaieff, who did much to bring out the works of the younger Russian composers, died last December.
The Emperor William of Germany has directed that a complete collection of German folk-songs be made. Many prominent persons in Germany are interested in the project.
The great fire in Baltimore, Md., wiped out almost all the music stores and a number of studios. The Knabe Piano Company's home office and warerooms were burned out.
Jean Louis Nicode has finished a new work of symphonic structure in six movements, one of which introduces a chorus. The title is "Gloria! Ein Sturm und Sonnenlied."
The Berlin correspondent of the Musical Courier, of New York City, speaks of some forty important musical events in one week. Surely that is enough even for musical Germany.
A new harp has been invented and offered to the public by a German musician. It is a chromatic harp, with two sounding boxes, and without a pedal. The arrangement of the strings is the same as in the piano.
A government certificate is required from anyone who wishes to teach music in the "middle schools," normal schools, and other official institutions, as well as to hold the position of director of private music schools in Austria.
It was announced about a month or so ago that Paderewski is to start on a concert tour which will include Siberia, Japan, India, South Africa, and America. Recent events will certainly change the first part of his proposed itinerary.
Max Bruch, who recently celebrated the sixty-sixth anniversary of his birth, while in Rome was the guest of honor at a concert in the house of the once celebrated violinist, Teresina Tua, in which only his compositions were given.
Mr. Frank W. Hale, for many years manager of the New England Conservatory, and well-known to hundreds of graduates and students of that institution, has resigned. He has been succeeded by Mr. Ralph L. Flanders, assistant manager for some years past.
Edouard Colonne, the celebrated Paris conductor, directed concerts in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Scotland, in January last. He was one of the special conductors engaged for the present season of concerts by the Philharmonic Society of New York City.
A school for choir boys on the style of those conducted in England and Russia, to be a feeder for the Sistine Chapel, Rome, is to be established by the Abbe Perosi, who is now in charge of the music at this chapel, so famous in the annals of ecclesiastical music.
On the 14th, 15th, and 16th of the present month an Elgar Festival is to take place in Covent Garden, London, under the direction of Hans Richter. The oratorios, "The Dream of Gerontius," and "The Apostles," a new symphony, and some other orchestral works will be given.
According to a London paper the national anthem of the Japanese presents some curious features to an occidental musician. To judge from its key signature it is in B-flat, but it begins in C and leaves off on the same note. The harmonization would not commend itself to the purist in such matters.
At Easter time it is expected to celebrate the thirteenth centennial of Pope Gregory the Great, the reformer of church music. At the same time there will be a meeting of persons interested in the revival of the Gregor an music and its restoration to use in the church of to-day. Pope Pius X is much interested in the movement.
Up to the present time the vacancy in the directorship of the Pittsburg Orchestra, due to the resignation of Mr. Victor Herbert, which is to take effect at the end of this season, has not yet been filled. It is understood that the position was offered to Walter Damrosch, but declined. Mr. Damrosch believes his work is in New York City.
A wealthy citizen of Aachen, Germany, a city of 135,000 inhabitants, has given $35,000 to establish chamber music concerts at a low admission fee. A public-spirited citizen of Düren, a town of 27,000 inhabitants, has given to the municipal authorities $125,000 to build a city theater and concert hall. American millionaires might profit by these examples.
Glasgow has a fine collection of works of interest to musicians in the Euing Musical Library, now in the possession of the Glasgow Technical College. It consists of over five thousand volumes of music and musical literature. It includes good copies of the works of most of the best known of the early writers such as Boethius, Gafurius, Praetorius, Morley, Mersenne, and Kircher.
Mahogany is in so great demand for fine furniture, as well as for pianos, that the supply is scarcely equal to the demand. Cuban mahogany was at one time considered the finest, but now a very desirable quality is obtained from Mexico. It is expected that the Philippines will supply some very useful varieties of hard woods for piano case's and other articles which demand wood capable of fine finish.
Eduard Lassen, the eminent composer, died last month at Weimar. He was born at Copenhagen, April 13, 1830. His parents moved to Brussels in 1832, and the boy received his early musical education in that city. In 1851 he gained the Roman Prize, which gave him opportunity to travel in Germany and Italy. In 1858 he was appointed Court Director at Weimar, a position he held until 1895. He wrote several operas, works for orchestras, and a number of songs that have become great favorites.
Mr. Edward Macdowell, who has been professor of music in Columbia University for the past eight years, has tendered his resignation. Mr. Macdowell feels that the atmosphere at Columbia is not favorable to general art culture, and expressed himself as dissatisfied with the work he has been able to accomplish. The president of the University has requested Mr. Macdowell to prepare a paper criticising the Department of Fine Arts, to which the Music Section is attached, and giving the reasons for his resignation.
A hitherto unknown likeness of J. S. Bach was recently discovered in Mainz. A Bach enthusiast, Dr. Fritz Volbach, has secured possession of the portrait and is making investigations as to the painter. It represents the composer at the beginning of his sixtieth year, and unquestionably is one of the best of all the known Bach portraits. The powerful intellect and unbending energy of the creator of the Matthew Passion and the B Minor Mass show forth in the face. It is supposed to be the missing Erfurt likeness.
The published list of the names of organists who will give organ recitals at the World's Fair, St. Louis, Mo., includes some of the leading organists of the United States. Alexandre Guilmant, the famous organist and composer, has been engaged for a series of thirty-six concerts, beginning August 15th, and extending over six weeks. Two other world-famous organists who will play at the Fair are Clarence Eddy, formerly of Chicago, now of Paris, and E. H. Lemare, formerly of London, Eng., now organist at Carnegie Hall, Pittsburg, Pa.
A committee on help and information has been organized by the Women's Philharmonic Society of New York City. One of the main duties of this committee will be to operate and extend the philanthropic work of the club. The musical work in this section of the club's activity embraces settlement work, classes in sight-singing, class and private lessons in piano and violin playing, concerts for the people at settlements and working-girls' clubs, an 1 musical interpretation. The club has arranged to furnish to students in all branches of art information about boarding houses in New York City. Mrs. Carlos C. Alden, 480 Park Avenue, is chairman of this committee.
The opera festival plan for the Wagner and Mozart festivals to be held at Munich this summer has been announced. The Mozart Festival will last from August 1st to 11th; the operas to be given are "Marriage of Figaro," "Entführung aus dem Serail," "Don Juan," "Cosi fau Tutte," and "Magic Flute." The Wagner Festival will commence August 12th and last for one month. "Tristan und Isolde," "Flying Dutchman," "Die Meistersinger," and the Nibelungen dramas will be given. The conductors for Wagner operas are Felix Mottl, Arthur Nikisch, and Franz Fischer; for Mozart operas, Franz Fischer and Hugo Röhr. The price for orchestra seats has been fixed at $5.00.
The sixteenth biennial May Music Festival, of Cincinnati, Ohio, will be held at Music Hall, May 11-14th. Five concerts will be given under the direction of Theodore Thomas. The principal works to be performed are: B Minor Mass, Bach; Missa Solennis, Beethoven; Ninth Symphony, Beethoven; Kaiser Imperial March, Berlioz; The Dream of Gerontius, Elgar. The Chicago Orchestra, augmented to one hundred players, will be present. The chorus, numbering about five hundred voices, has been under the direction of Edward W. Glover, chorusmaster for the festival. The leading artists engaged so far are: Agnes Nicholls (London), soprano; Mme. Schumann-Heink, contralto; Muriel Foster (London), contralto; William Green (London), tenor; Watkins Mills (London), bass.
By the time this number of The Etude reaches its subscribers Richard Strauss and his wife will be in this country. Arrangements have been made by which the great composer and conductor will conduct the symphony orchestras in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Cincinnati, and Chicago, In addition to this he will conduct concerts of the Philadelphia Orchestra in Boston, and the Pittsburg Orchestra in Cleveland. Another series of concerts have been arranged for the Wetzler Symphony Orchestra, of New York City, by which this orchestra, with Rich, and Strauss, and Herman Hans Wetzler, will visit Troy, N. Y., Buffalo, N. Y.; Toronto, Can.; Detroit, Mich.; Cleveland, Ohio; Indianapolis, Ind., and Scranton, Pa. This will certainly keep the distinguished visitor busy and incidentally swell his bank account.
The twenty-sixth annual meeting of the Music Teachers' National Association will be held at St. Louis, Mo., June 28th to July 1st. The general program will consist of Association Meetings, 9 a.m.; Recitals, 11 a.m.; Organ Recitals, 2.30 p.m.; Association Recitals, 4 p.m.; Orchestral Concerts in Festival Hall, 8 p.m. Forest Part University Hotel will be the official headquarters of the association. Special arrangements have been made for the members. Rates will be announced later. Eminent artists will preside daily at the grand organ on the Exposition grounds, where the meetings of the association will be held, and the director of the musical features of the Exposition has placed the orchestra at the disposal of the association. All musicians who expect to attend the Exposition will be repaid by arranging to include the association meeting during their visit. Dues may be sent at once to Mr. Francis L. York, secretary, at 240 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Mich. The president, Mr. Thomas a'Becket, can be addressed at 1541 North Nineteenth Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
A "Messiah" Festival will be given at Lindsborg, Kans., March 27th, 28th, 30th, and April 1st and 3d. The chorus will number five hundred and fifty voices, accompanied by an orchestra of fifty. The festival is under the direction of instructors in Bethany College Music Department. Mme. Nordica gave a recital at the college February 4th.
Pres. E. H. Scott, of the Western Conservatory, Chicago, is delivering a course of normal talks to young teachers. They consist of practical suggestions and discussions regarding everyday work with pupils.
A fine series of recitals is being given at the California College of Music, Oakland. The programs are well balanced, and represent the leading composers, classical and modern.
A concert was given in the Upper Alton, Ill., Baptist Church, February 3d, under the direction of Mr. W. D. Armstrong, organist.
We have received an interesting program book from the Matinee Musical Club, of Austin, Texas, for the season of 1903-1904. Meetings are held fortnightly.
Miss Edna J. Taylor, pupil of Miss Frances Louise Ellison, gave an enjoyable recital at Morris Harvey College, Montreal.
The Music Department of the Kansas State University, under the direction of Prof. Charles Sanford Skilton, is showing most commendable activity. A Christmas concert, a recital of music for two pianos, and an organ recital have been given recently.
A recital of the pupils in vocal music of the Warren, Ohio, School of Music, was well received. Miss Niles, formerly of New York City, is in charge of this department.
Mr. Wm. H. Pontius has arranged for a series of Round Table meetings at his Dubuque, Iowa, studio. Discussion of topics pertaining to vocal work are carried on, with a short song recital at the close. The meetings are very helpful and instructive.
An "Operatic Recital" was given by pupils of Miss Parry Bundy, at Topeka, Kans., January 22d. The story of each of a number of operas was read, and selections from the operas were played, two pianos being used. "Martha," "Faust," "Carmen," "Le Prophete," "Barber of Seville," "Flying Dutchman," "II Trovatore," "William Tell," "Lohengrin" and "Tannhäuser" were studied in this way. Miss Bundy has arranged for a sonata recital with educational features in March.
The Mendelssohn Choir, of Toronto, Mr. A. S. Voigt, director, gave a series of three concerts, February 10th, 11th, and 13th. The Pittsburg Orchestra was engaged for these concerts.
Mr. H. L. Yerrington gave his twenty-third annual organ recital in the First Congregational Church, Norwich, Conn., January 1st. He was assisted by Miss Lucile Peck, violinist.
We have received the program book of the Chaminade Music Club, of Jacksonville, Ill., for 1903-1904. The work includes studies of operas, relation of poetry and music, and modern music.
The Charles City, Iowa, String Quartette gave a concert of chamber music, January 14th.
The Choral Society of Philadelphia gave Elgar's Oratorio, "The Dream of Gerontius," January 28th. The work was so well received that another performance of it will be given April 4th.
