Manuel Garcia, died July 1. aged 101 years. His life period has witnessed the growth and shaping of modern music. He was already in his twenties when Beethoven died. He was born a few years before Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin and Liszt, and he lived to the period of Richard Strauss and the radical French and German schools.
The Ohio State Music Teachers’ Association met at Cincinnati, June 20-23, with a good attendance of members. There were the usual concerts, recitals, round table discussions, with special papers by J. S. Van Cleve and Mary Venable.
The New York State Music Teachers’ Association met at Geneva, June 26-28. Papers were read by Mrs. Alice C. Clement, Mr. Jaroslaw de Zielinski, Dr. Henry G. Hanchett, and talks on practical vocal and organ work were given by Louis Arthur Russell, S. C. Bennett, and Wm. C. Carl. Several interesting musical programs were presented. Mr. Wm. H. Sherwood, the pianist, being the most notable artist. The officers for 1907 are: President, Ludwig Schenck, Rochester; Secretary, H. Brooks Day, Lockport; Treasurer, F. Shearer, Lockport; Chairman Program Committee, F. H. Shepard, New York City.
Joachim, the veteran violinist and teacher, recently celebrated his seventy-fifth birthday.
Paderewski’s estate, at which he spends the greater part of his time is called Riond Bosson, and is located near the little village of Morges, which is in the vicinity of Lucerne.
Friedrich Baumfelder, the well-known composer, recently celebrated his seventieth birthday.
The University of Pennsylvania Musical Department has made an arrangement with the Broad St. Conservatory of Music, Philadelphia, whereby students in the advanced classes of Dr. Clarke can have their compositions performed by the Conservatory Orchestra. Advanced Conservatory students may enter certain University classes.
The Triennial Handel Festival was held at the Crystal Palace, London, June 26, 28, 30. “Judas Maccabeus,” selections from “Israel,” “The Messiah,” choruses and other excerpts from “Deborah,” “Samson,” “Siroe,” “Alceste” and “Hercules” were given. The chorus numbered over 3,000 voices, and was directed by Mr. Frederic Cowen.
A German violin dealer recently sold a violin for $4,500, giving with it a certificate of its genuineness as a Stradivarius, which he had bought for $10 originally. Suit was entered against him for fraud and he was convicted and sentenced to fine and imprisonment.
Prof. Emanuel Wirth, of Berlin, second violinist of the Joachim Quartet has become totally blind, an operation for cataract to relieve him having proven unsuccessful.
A great niece of Franz Liszt, Charlotte Liszt by name, has made her debut in Paris as a singer.
Rachmaninoff, the Russian composer, was born March 20, 1873. At nine years of age he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory, three years later the Moscow Conservatory. He was a pupil of Siloti in piano playing, of Arensky and Taneieff in composition.
Robert Radecke, a well-known German musician and composer, is now in his seventy-sixth year. A study of the dates of birth of living composers shows a very large number who have passed the three score and ten limit, and are still active. Dr. Osier’s theory does not very much affect musicians.
The New Orleans French Opera House is to have a change in policy next year. The Opera Association has arranged for a ten weeks’ season of Italian opera. The city has had an opera season for nearly a hundred years.
A choral contest is to be held at Winona Lake Assembly, Ind., Aug. 10, for prizes amounting to $1,000.
The Minnesota State Music Teachers’ Association at its meeting in June, elected the following officers for 1907: Arthur C. Koerner, St. Paul, President; Miss Jennie Pinch, St. Paul, Secretary-Treasurer; Mrs. K. A. Ostergrem, Duluth, Miss Gertrude Hall, St. Paul, Robert Griggs Gale, Minneapolis, Program Committee. The next meeting will be held at St. Paul, during the May Festival.
Mr. John Clark, known in the operatic world as the basso, Signor Brocalini, died, June 7, at his home in Brooklyn. He was an Irishman by birth, but came to this country early in life. He studied for the stage in Italy and sang in Europe and the United States in leading opera companies.
The Litchfield County Choral Union gave its seventh annual music festival at Norfolk, Conn., June 6, The chorus numbered 350 voices. R. P. Paine and Arthur Mees conducted.
Rosenthal commences his tour next Fall in New York City, Nov. 7. During November and December he will play in New England and New York cities, Toronto, Montreal and Philadelphia. Early in January he plays in Baltimore and Washington and then goes to cities in the middle West, in February and March further West and to the Pacific Coast.
Mr. Reginald de Koven, the well-known composer, has been compelled to give up professional work for a time, on account of a nervous breakdown.
The Missouri State Music Teachers’ Association held its last meeting at Moberly, Mo., June 25-29.
The Philadelphia Organ Players’ Club has given over three hundred recitals since its organization in 1890. These recitals of the Club are free to the public.
Rudolph Aronson has made a contract with Leoncavallo to give the initial performance of the latter’s new opera, “The Youth of Figaro,” in the United States.
The Saturday Club, of Sacramento, Cal., subscribed $50 for the relief of musicians who suffered in the great disaster. The suggestion is made that all organized musical bodies shall contribute to this fund. The editor of The Etude has seen a personal letter from Dr. J. Fred Wolie, Director of Music at the University of California, in which he gives an account of the losses of the orchestral musicians, in instruments, music, studios and loss of employment, and urging musical persons to contribute to a fund to assist them. We urge all clubs to give the matter serious attention. The summer season will soon be past, and the need is just as great now as it was two months ago.
The Southern Music Teachers’ Association held its seventh annual convention at Gainesville, Ga., June 12-14, The Georgia State Music Teachers’ Association met at the same place at the same time. The officers of the Southern Association for 1907 are: President, Mr. August Geiger, Gainesville, Ga.; Secretary-Treasurer, Mr. Robert Eilenberg, Montgomery, Ala. The next meeting of the Association will be held at Montgomery, Ala. The officers of the Georgia Association for 1907 are: President, Mr. August Geiger; Secretary, Mr. Kurt Mueller, Atlanta; Treasurer, Miss Kate Long, Macon. The next meeting will be held at Atlanta.
The Michigan State Music Teachers’ Association postponed its meeting this year in order to give members a chance to attend the meeting of the National Association at Oberlin. Mr. Earl G. Killeen, of the University of Michigan School of Music, is President of the Association.
Patti appeared at a concert in London last June, singing “Casta Diva,” Bellini, “Quand Tu Chantes,” Gounod, “Voi Che Sapete,” Mozart.
A Summer season of music is being given at the University of California, Berkeley, by the University Orchestra, under Dr. J. Fred Wolle. In addition to the symphony concerts there will be chamber music concerts by the Minetti String Quartet.
Massenet’s latest opera, “Le Jongleur de Notre Dame,” was given in London in June. It is called by some critics a “modernized miracle play.”
The Stephen C. Foster statue was unveiled in Louisville, June 14, with appropriate ceremonies. This statue is to be placed in the new Kentucky State Capitol.
Richard Strauss’ opera, “Salome,” was given in Leipsic in June and was enthusiastically received.
Mme. Teresa Carreño is taking a complete rest in Switzerland from professional activity. Her physician advised her that she was on the point of a nervous breakdown due to her strenuous career during the past few years.
Louisville, Ky., is to have a biennial musical festival, alternating with the Cincinnati Festival, if certain plans now under way are successful. Mr. Walter Damrosch is the choice for festival conductor.
Coleridge Taylor’s variations for orchestra on a negro tune, “I’m Troubled in Mind,” were given a first performance in London last June.
Strawbridge & Clothier, proprietors of a large department store in Philadelphia, offer a cash prize of $500 for a cantata for the use of the “Strawbridge & Clothier Chorus.” The conditions are:
1. The subject must be a purely American theme of a patriotic character, and the composer must be an American citizen.
2. The cantata must be of sufficient length to require not less than 90 minutes for its performance.
3. It must be scored for full orchestra, chorus and soprano, contralto, tenor and bass or baritone solo.
4. Selection will be made and the prize awarded by a board of judges whose names will be announced hereafter.
5. Manuscripts must be submitted not later than Dec. 1, 1906, and should be sent direct to Strawbridge & Clothier.
6. The cost of publishing the cantata will be borne by Strawbridge & Clothier, who will reserve the right of performance by their own chorus. Net profits from the sale of the work shall be shared equally by the composer and Strawbridge & Clothier.
Sunday concerns in Central Park, New York City, under the direction of Nahan Franko, draw large crowds. “Wagner Programs” seem to be most popular.
The Indiana State Music Teachers’ Association met at Frankfort, June 26-29. In addition to lecture recitals, papers, “round table” discussions, etc., several fine concerts were given by State and outside artists.
Saint-Säens, according to a New York paper, is to visit the United States next season. He will give a number of recitals and conduct several orchestral concerts.
Paderewski’s tour next Fall will begin the latter part of October or early in November.
Alexander von Fielitz, the noted German composer, who is now living in Chicago, will conduct the Chicago Symphony Orchestra next season.
Mr. Wilhelm Middelschulte, the well-known Chicago organ virtuoso, has declined the offer of the post of organist at Carnegie Hall, Pittsburg, vacated by Edwin Lemare, and formerly filled by the late Frederic Archer.
The Illinois State Music Teachers’ Association met at Peoria, June 12-15, Mr. Glenn Dillard Gunn, of Chicago, President. Papers were read by Warren K. Howe, H. J. Cozine, W. E. Watt, W. L. Hubbard, L. B. Jones, Rossetter G. Cole, G. D. Gunn, besides which a number of fine recitals by members and guests were given. Moline was selected for the next place of meeting. The officers for 1907 are: President. Glenn Dillard Gunn, Chicago; Secretary-Treasurer, H. S. Perkins, Chicago; Chairman Program Committee, Theodore Nilitzer, Chicago.
The Mendelssohn Glee Club of New York purposes to raise a permanent fund in the interest of Edward MacDowell, at one time conductor of this club, whose health has become impaired to such an extent as to preclude the possibility of his ever again being able to contribute to his own support. The committee would like to enlist the co-operation in this work of every person throughout the country who is interested in MacDowell or his music. Clubs or musicians who wish to aid in the movement may write to Mr. Allan Robinson, Sec., 60 Wall St., New York City.
A rival to Miss Isadora Duncan has appeared in Berlin in the person of another California girl, Maud Gwendolyn Allan by name, who expresses music by poses and graceful plastic movement. Some of the pieces she has illustrated in this way are Chopin’s “Funeral March,” Rubinstein’s “Valse Caprice,” Mendelssohn’s “Spring Song,” Schumann’s “Träumerei,” and certain of Chopin’s Mazurkas.
The score of a cantata by Berlioz, entitled “Cleopatra” was recently discovered in Paris. It is to be produced next season.
A Siberian folk-song book is to be issued by the Russian government. The songs were taken down by a commission sent out for that purpose.
Max Reger, the much talked about German composer, was compelled to give up some of his work by reason of nervous trouble, a slight stroke of paralysis.
A Mozart Festival is to be given at Salzburg, the home of the composer, in August. The Court Opera from Vienna, under Mahler’s direction, will assist.
Leoncavallo, the Italian opera composer, with the orchestra from the famous “La Scala” theatre in Milan, will tour the United States and Canada in October and November of this year.
The chorus and employees of the Metropolitan Opera House, New York City, have asked the “Central Federated Union” for aid in their fight with Mr. Conried for the closed shop,” or recognition of the “Chorus Singers’ Union.”
Joseph Lhevinne, the Russian pianist, will devote himself, next season, largely to the interpretation of Chopin.
A new hymn book is being compiled for gospel meetings and church use. The committee in charge offer two prizes of $10 each, one for the best music, one for the best words. Persons interested should write to the secretary, Miss Mena Queale, 1716 Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa.
Mr. Louis Victor Saar, of New York City, has been engaged as professor of the theory of music at the Cincinnati College of Music.
Residents of the East End, Pittsburgh, are raising funds to build a large pavilion in Highland Park for free concerts, to seat about 10,000 persons. The present quarters of the People’s Concerts, East End Carnegie Music Hall, does not seat more than one-third of the people who want to attend.
Mme. Pupin gave a successful concert recently at East Liverpool, O., using the Janko keyboard.
Mr. Harry Packman gave an organ recital at La Crosse, Wis., May 31.
