23 March 30, 1922 MUSICAL COURIER MUSIC SUPERVISORS HOLD NATIONAL CONFERENCE I SEE THAT Wilhelm Furtwaengler succeeds Nikisch as conductor both in Leipsic and Berlin. Cairo, Egypt, is to have a teacher in the Dunning System of Improved Music Study for Beginners. About ISO or 200 people attended the meeting on March 20 of the New York State Federation. Robert de Bruce has resigned as manager of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. The training of teachers and supervisors of public school music will be stressed at the Bush Conservatory summer school. J. Fletcher Shera has been elected president of the Music Students’ League. New York’s Music Week (beginning April 30) will be the biggest ever. Geraldine Farrar will be soloist at the opening concert of the North Shore Music Festival. Songs and compositions by Mana Zucca are continuing to be used extensively by artists. Constance Beardsley, pianist, will give a recital on April 4 at the Theatre Française, San Francisco. Walter Mills, baritone, sang in three cities within ten days. Gigli celebrated his thirty-first birthday on March 22 with a party. The London String Quartet will return to America in the fall for another tour. Jeannette Vreeland is filling many concert engagements during this, her first season. The cost of one opera performance at the Staatsoper (Vienna) is 4,000,000 crowns. Elizabeth Lennox is of the opinion that the phonograph is a post graduate course in vocal training. Sue Harvard and Michel Piastro are two more artists who have been added to those under the management of Charles N. Drake. Burglars entered the home of the Zoellner Quartet. Several prominent artists will give a concert on April 2 at the Master School of United Arts for the benefit of Russian sufferers. Florence Macbeth recently gave two recitals in one day in Austin, Minn. Giordano, composer of “Andrea Chenier,” congratulated Gigli upon his. success in that opera at the Metropolitan. Alfred Cortot has deferred the beginning of his next American tour until November 1. The Mary Rhinelander Callender estate has been assessed $40,226 for inheritance tax. The Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra will make a three months’ tour of South America this summer. Bernard Ferguson will sing five times with, the St. Louis Orchestra during the latter part of April. Mina Dolores’ recent Philadelphia recital was a great success. Bronislaw Huberman is rapidly developing into a “best seller” recording artist. The Norfleet Trio is winning honors in Southern cities. Ignaz Friedman will give eighteen concerts in Mexico next month. Use Niemack, violinist, made a successful debut at the Town Hall last Thursday evening. The Cherniavsky Trio has just completed a tour of twenty concerts. Cecil Burleigh has been elected honorary vice-president of the Musicians’ Fund of America. The San Carlo Opera Company will complete its present transcontinental tour in Buffalo on April 22. 1921-22 is proving to be the best concert season of Namara’s career. Mozart’s “Cosi fan Tutte” was cordially received when it was produced at the Metropolitan last week. Richard Strauss denies the report that he will head a conservatory to be erected in Vienna with American funds. The larger concert managements of Berlin have formed the Association of Berlin Concert Directions. Leopold Godowsky scored a tremendous success in concert in Victoria, B. G, March. 10. Schumann Heink has one ambition—to celebrate her fiftieth anniversary as a concert and opera singer. The Salem (Ore.) Music Teachers’ Association is holding a “Better Music Week” in Salem, April 16 to 22. Rosa Ponselle will interrupt her concert tour to return to the Metropolitan for a guest performance March 31. Sherman K. Smith, concert manager, was married recently to Parthenia von Osthoff, contralto. The Metropolitan Opera, will not give any more performances in Brooklyn this season. Marguerite Sylva has been elected an honorary member for life of the Key West Rotary Club. Albert Stoessel will conduct three performances of Bachs “St. Matthew Passion” within ten days. The Sak Philharmonic Orchestra (Prague) has disbanded. The librettist of “Cosi fan Tutte” was the first professor of Italian at Columbia University. Many British composers will conduct their own works at the forthcoming Bournemouth festival. Glazounoff, the Russian composer, is in Germany. Owing to financial difficulties, the opera performances at the Municipal Theater, Graz, Austria, have been discontinued. . . Edgar Fischer, head of the Fischer School of Music m Walla Walla, Wash., died on March 18. The Chicago Musical College will hold summer master classes from June 28 to August 1. . . Antonio Scotti says the work of an operatic impresario is a most difficult task. The first of a series of three monthly musicale-teas was given at the Oscar Saenger studios on March 22. Alexander Siloti is concluding a tour of the Middle West. Carl Otto Langley, cellist and composer, died on March 16. Mme. Soder-Huéck will again hold vocal classes this summer. . , , , , . Erna Rubinstein is sprightly and vivacious and talented in many ways. . ״ .. , Frederick Fradkm now is concertmaster of the Capitol Grand Orchestra. G. N. Fifteenth Annual Session Held in Nashville, Tenn., March 20 to 24—Karl W. Gehrkens, of Oberlin College, Elected President—Cleveland, Ohio, Selected as Meeting Place for 1923. latter was selected as the meeting place for the 1923 meeting. The New Officers. After the meeting place had been selected, the conference took up the election of officers, naming Karl W. Gehrkens as president; Mrs. Mary S. Vernon, Chicago, 111., first vice-president ; Oscar Bowen, Ann Arbor, Mich., second vice-president; A. B. McFee, Johnson City, Tenn., treasurer; Philip C. Hayden, auditor, and W. H. Butterfield, Providence, R. I., board member. Following the election of officers, Harry E. Whittemore, president of the Eastern Music Supervisors’ Conference, responding to an introduction by Mr. Beach, explained the purpose of the Eastern group and gave every assurance of full co-operation. Following the business meeting, Mrs. John F. Lyons, president of the National Federation of Music Clubs, addressed the conference on the subject of “Public School Music as Related to Home and Community.” She expressed on behalf of the Federation the keenest interest in the work the supervisors are doing and pledged the co-operation of all members for the further welfare of the schools. T. P. Giddings, of Minneapolis, spoke on “Casualty Lists in Supervision,” delighting his audience by humorously presenting the “Don’ts” which he found so helpful in teaching. In the afternoon, after a concert by the Men’s Glee Club, University of Louisiana, Carl Engel, Chief, Music Division, Library of Congress, threw consternation into the camp. He spoke on “ ‘Jazz’ in the Proper Light,” and in his almost opening sentence he said: “‘Jazz’ music is the beginning of art in America.” This immediately divided the conference members into two sections, with the ‘jazz’ supporters in the small minority. However, Mr. Engel said what he believed and before the end of his address harmony was restored. In the evening a concert was given by the conference chorus and orchestra at Ryman Auditorium. The chorus, under the direction of Will Earhart. of Pittsburgh, sang Mendelssohn’s cantata, “Hymn of Praise,” remarkably well, considering the fact that only three rehearsals were possible. The orchestra, made up of conference members, and conducted by Dr. Victor Rebmann, of Yonkers, N. Y., deserves special praise for the excellent work accomplished after four rehearsals, and gave the following program: Second Symphony: D Major.....................................Haydn Gavotte and Musette........................................Bach Minuet from Bernice......................................Handel Melodie .....................................................Friml Exaltation .................................................Coerne In addition to the above program the orchestra played the accompaniment to the “Hymn of Praise,” Dr. Rebmann acting as concertmaster. The orchestra was organized in 1921 at the meeting held in St. Joseph. Mo., and it is the intention to continue it each year. It is already of symphonic proportions and the playing of the Haydn symphony clearly proved the high standard of musicianship of Dr. Rebmann and his associates. The soloists in the cantata were Genevieve Schwartz, soprano; Helen Allen Hunt, contralto, and George Oscar Bowen, tenor. Friday, March 24. After a demonstration of the “Nature and Function of Educational Measurements,” by Dr. S. A. Courtis, of Detroit, Mich., a more detailed account of which will be given in the Musical Courier at a later date, Chairman Farnsworth, of the Educational Council, made his annual report: This was continued during the afternoon session, when the general topic was “The Recognition of Music in Secondary Schools and Colleges.” Mr. Harris, State Superintendent of Schools. Louisiana, told how compulsory music in the Louisiana high schools had failed to succeed. He was followed by Chancellor J. H. Kirtland, of Vanderbilt University, whose rather unfair and unjustified criticism of music in high schools and colleges was ably rebutted by Osbourne McCon-athy, of Northwestern University. A concert by the High School Orchestra, Richmond. Ind., conducted by J. E. Maddy, bore rich testimony to the tremendous advance of instrumental music in high schools. The performance was artistic and the playing of individual members skillful. The formal conference was brought to a close with a brilliant address by Henry Noble MacCracken, of Vassar College, and Dr. Richard Burton, on “The Renaissance of Music in American Life” and “The Arts in Education.” In the evening the supervisors were dinner guests at Ward-Belmont College. Following the dinner a delightful orchestral concert was given under the direction of Kenneth Rose, of the music faculty of Ward-Belmont School. From the standpoint of actual attendance the convention was the most successful in the history of the conference. Over one thousand members were registered as present, and this number will be exceeded at the Cleveland meeting.^ At the suggestion of the conference two additional committees were appointed to aid the Educational Council in research work, and reports from these committees will be discussed next year. The motto for the 1923 meeting is: “Music for every child and every child for music.” G. G. Victor Golibart’s Debut at Town Hall Still another successful debut from the Wilfred Klam-roth studios was happily launched at Town Hall on March 10. Victor Golibart, who has been preparing for this during the past three years with Mr. Klamroth, made a very deep impression on some of the critics of the New_ York press, eliciting such remarks as “Much admirable training,” “His final efforts were crowned with wild enthusiasm,” “A thorough knowledge of singing,” “Correct style, taste, clean diction and a musical feeling quite capable of producing thrills for the listener.” This is the second highly successful debut from the Klamroth studios within a few weeks, the other being that of Marie Rothman in January. A Son to Mr. and Mrs. Cesar Saerchinger Just as the Musical Courier goes to press word is received of the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs. Cesar Saerchinger, on March 26. Mr. Saerchinger is the general European representative of the Musical Courier. Music supervisors from practically every State in the Union gathered together in Nashville to attend the fifteenth annual convention of the Music Supervisors’ National Conference. It was generally conceded that this meeting was one of the most successful ever held. Progress marked every move of the convention. The historic city was bustling with activity and music filled the air. The Educational Council. For two days prior to the formal opening session the Educational Council of the Music Supervisors’ National Conference (Prof. Charles W. Farnsworth, of Teachers’ College, New York City, chairman) held meetings to discuss questions of importance to the convention. In addition to the proposed changes in the standardized course of study in music, the following subjects were considered: 1. The National questionnaire—an effort to get correct information on where and how school music is taught. . 2. A definite plan for crediting outside study in music—something vitally needed. 3. A careful analysis of the many tests, and plans for measurements of musical talent. A report on these discussions was made at the Friday morning session by Chairman Farnsworth. A complete account of the recommendations of the Educational Council will be made in the Musical Courier at a later date. Monday, March 20. The formal session opened at 8:45 a. m. on Monday, March 20, at Peabody College, with a demonstration of music education as conducted in the Nashville public schools, Milton Cook supervisor. The high spots were a class in violin instruction, said by several experts present to be the finest of its kind,, and the singing by pupils from the Tennessee School for the Blind. This demonstration made a distinct impression upon the audience of music supervisors, principally because of the great happiness which music is bringing into the lives of these unfortunate children. It would be difficult to find a stronger argument for public school music. The afternoon session was given over to more demonstrations by the children from the model school of Peabody • College, under the direction of D. R. Gebhart, and by pupils from the Peal High School (colored), of Fisk University. Mary E. Helman director. Later in the afternoon Hazel Kinscella demonstrated the Kinscella Method of Piano class instruction. The feature of the afternoon, however, was a song demonstration by William L. Tomlins, of Chicago. Mr. Tomlins arrived in Nashville a few weeks prior to the convention and trained a chorus of 200 children from the public schools of the city. Mr. Tomlins’ methods of song interpretation are well known to school supervisors, and with this chorus, as with others, he accomplished startling results. He develops an emotional response to the thought of the composition, rather than the technical side of music. Later a chorus from Peabody College sang “The Deluge,” Saint-Saëns, conducted by Mr. Gebhart, and the evening concert was given by the Fisk Jubilee Singers, who were substituted for Erika Morini, the violihist, who failed to appear. Gov. Alfred A. Taylor of Tennessee was unable to be present, and the address of welcome to the Music Supervisors’ National Conference was given by President MacKenzie of Fisk University. The response was made by Dr. Karl W. Gehrkens, of Óberlin College, who made clear the position of the music supervisors. “We are not,” he said, “a body of people paid to do work, but a body of idealists who believe above all in the children.” Tuesday, March 21. The morning session was given over to methods of teaching school music, ably presented by Selma Kronold and Alice Jones. Later, Mr. Tomlins discussed “Song Life: Its Nature and Influences.” He explained how he procured results in preparing a chorus of school children. He stressed the particular value of tone quality appropriate to the emotional content of the song as the fundamental idea of interpretative performance. In the afternoon, with Vice-President Weaver presiding, President Frank A. Beach delivered an address, “Music and the New Education.” This was followed by Randall J. Condon, superintendent of schools, Cincinnati, Ohio, on the pertinent subject,. “A Supervisor as Seen by the Superindent.” A. E. Winship, of Boston, also spoke. Following this the entire conference body journeyed by automobile to the Hermitage, the home of former President Andrew Jackson. A patriotic service was held in the little church where President Jackson worshipped. The pilgrimage was arranged through the courtesy of a citizens’ committee, the Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club. In the evening an informal banquet was held at the Hotel Hermitage. Wednesday, March 22. The entire day was given over to round table discussions on !he following subjects: (a) The standard Course of Study as Outlined by the Educational Council. (b) Grade Music, Small Cities and Rural Districts. (c) High School Music, Large Cities. (d) High School Music, Small Cities. (ej Vocational Music and Its Aim. (f) Developing an Orchestra in Rural Districts. (g) Normal Schools and Teachers Training Section. (h) Music Appreciation. The address of the day which created the most discussion was given by A. D. Zanzig, of the Harvard School of Education. He said: “If little children’s sense of music is so blunted by education that we must appeal to them from their self-confessed sense of achievement, rivalry and the like, there is something wrong with our teaching.” The supervisors did not entirely agree with Mr. Zanzig’s whole presentation, but he left food for reflection. Thursday, March 23. Following a meeting of the Executive Committee and chorus singing, conducted by J. Powell Jones, of Cleveland, Ohio, the annual business meeting was called. Invitations were received from Louisville, Detroit and Cleveland. The