M II S I C A L C O V II I K /1
88
April 20, 1922
was the largest, probably, that was ever assembled m West Virginia for a musical event. The Woman's Clnb entertained Mr, Sousa and the members of his band with a banquet before the evening performance,
On March 27 and 28 an interesting recital was given in the High School Auditorium by Charlotte Peege, contralto ; Philip Sevasta, harpist, and Florence Brinkman, pianist.
The closing concert of the Music Department of the Woman’s Club will take place April 20 with Merle Alcock as the *pedal attraction.	E. K.
Chicago, 111-—(See letter on another page.)
Denver, Colo.—(See letter on another page.)
Detroit, Mich. —(See letter on another page.)
Durham, N. C., March 27.—Rosa Ponselle'* first appearance in this city last Saturday night was one of the finest achievements ever recorded in the history of local musical effort. Under the auspices of the Kiwanis Club she gave the music lovers of Durham something which will long linger in their memories. Unlike many artists of steliar rank, Miss Ponsclle did not confine her program to operatic arias alone. She sang her way into the hearts of her hearers with old English ballads and folk songs which they all knew, and responded so generously with encores that the audience finally desisted in its applause through sheer shame in asking for more. It is reasonably safe to predict that Miss Ponselle will be heard again in Durham. B. G.
Evansville, Ind., March 24.—The appearance here of Rosa Ponselle on March 17 added another triumph to that singer’s list and provided an event for Evansville music lovers equalled in interest only by a previous recital by the same artist last season. It is difficult to describe the impression made by this singer on her hearers, except to say that she embodies every ideal as a vocalist. Her tones, vibrant and clear, an effortless production, well controlled, combined with a radiant personality, leave nothing to be desired. Miss Ponselle was accompanied by Stuart Ross, whose excellent playing of the piano parts added much to the effective program. Mr. Ross also contributed two groups of piano solos, which were well received. Both artists graciously added numerous encores in response to continued applause; at the conclusion of the program Miss Ponselle was recalled again and again and rewarded the insistent plaudits with two extra numbers. Miss Ponselle’־ programmed numbers included the aria “Weep. Weep” (“Le Cid”), Massenet, and songs by Giles Higgins, Grieg, Frank La Forge, Verdi, Schumann and M. Rieger. Mr. Ross played compositions of Chopin, Balakirev, MacDowell and Liszt. The concert was one of a series being given under the auspices of the Civic Music Commission.
One of the most enjoyable of the season’s recitals given by the Musicians’ Club of Evansville was that of March 14. with Rosetta Samuels French, pianist, and Stanley Deacon, baritone, as soloists. Mrs. French is a member of the organization and is an artist of exceptional ability. She played several charming groups, including Schumann and Chopin numbers. The program was in the form of a lecture-recital, and a brief outline of each instrumental number was given by Prof. Andrew T. Webster. The singing of Mr. Deacon, of Boston, Mass., was thoroughly enjoyed. Mr. Deacon was presented as guest artist and gave two delightful groups of songs which won enthusiastic response from his audience.
M. L. K.
Fitchburg, Mass.—(See letter on another page.)
Fort Collins, Colo., March 25.—Preliminary to the annual tour of the Ladies’ Glee Club of the Conservatory of Music of the Colorado Agricultural College, the club gave its home concert and operetta Tuesday night, March 21. at the college auditorium here. Director Alexander Emslie of the Conservators־ had charge of the program. The operetta, “The Lost Necklace,” concluded the program, and the leading parts in it were taken by Jennie Edwards, Ida Hansen, Gladys Love, Miriam Kilbum. Jessie Paddock and Frances Kelso. Those appearing in the concert portion of the program were: Jennie Edwards, violin; Misses East-burn, Hansen, Bowersox, Kilbum and Paddock, quintet; Frances Kelso, readings; Emma Brosh, piano, and Jessie Paddock, contralto. The Conservatory Orchestra, with Prof. Howard Reynolds directing, played some special numbers.
Under the auspices of the Veterans of Foreign Mars, a concert was given here the night of March 16 at the Empress Theater, the artists being Josef Konecny. Bohemian violinist; Esther Luella Lash, soprano, and Thelma Marty, pianist. Konecny. who saw service in the American army in France, was well received, as were the other two artists.	E. A. H.
Grand Forks, N. D.—(See letter on another page.)
Kalamazoo, Mich.—(See letter on another page.)
Lincoln, Neb.—(See letter on another page.)
Los Angeles, Cal.—(See “Music on the Pacific Slope.")
Lowell, Mass., March 23. — Edward Everett Adams, teacher of voice and piano, presented a number of his pupils in recital on March 15. It was the l°8th in a series of similar recitals which have been a special feature of his work here.
The final test in the music memory contest among the pupils of the junior high grades in the Bartlett School was held in the school hall on March 15. under the direction of Inez Field Damon, supervisor of music in the normal school. As an evidence of the interest taken in the competition, it may lie said that no less than seventy-six of the children achieved a perfect record. Pupils of the school gave an interesting vocal and instrumental program while the test papers were being corrected.
March IS, under the auspices of the Middlesex Women’s Club, Lowell had the privilege of hearing the London String Quartet in a concert of chamber music, the program including the Debussy quartet in G minor, the "Londonderry Air” in the arrangement by Frank Bridge', the folk song phantasy composed by Mr. Warner, of the quartet, and the beautiful Schubert quartet in D minor, with the variations on “Death and the Maiden.” The artistry of the players was wonderfully merged in the ensemble, and their title to a place in the front rank of organizations specialising in music of the more intimate kind was conceded after hearing their polished and beautifully blended performance.
The following Monday there was opportunity to contrast the folk song, as developed in the two compositions played by the Londoners, with folk music in its more primitive
Cleveland Philharmonic Quartet and the MacDowell Chorale, of Canton, March 19. The latter organization, composed of fifteen of Canton’s best women singers, is under the direction of Ira B. Peniman, of the voice department of Mt. Union College, Mrs. D. M. Herrold as accompanist lent sympathetic assistance. The Philharmonic Quartet has demonstrated what an excellent standard can be set by the serious work and constant practice of four artists. The soloists with the quartet were Sol Marcosson, who played with fine feeling “Andantino,” by Martin Kreislcr, and “Perpetuum Mobile,” by Reis. Mr. Hedyler, cellist, showed great dexterity and ability in two pleasing solos, “Air,” by Pergolese, and “Saltarello,” by Roeber.
An audience composed of probably 2,500 people attended the concert given by the Alliance Symphony Orchestra and the College Glee Clubs in the Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, March 19, expressing the greatest enthusiasm for the entertainment so generously provided. Special interest centered around the new symphony orchestra under the directorship of Prof. R. W. Oppenheim. Many people prefer a symphony orchestra to all other forms of musical entertainment, and a first class orchestra is always a matter of civic pride to any community. Considering the excellent work of the new orchestra, organized scarcely a month ago, it seems possible that Alliance may be so favored. Enthusiasm and hard work are necessary to make such a project successful, and it is apparent that this new organization realizes the dignity of its undertaking. Only four rehearsals preceded the first public appearance Sunday afternoon. The new orchestra, composed of forty-five musicians of Alliance and vicinity, has an excellent instrumentation and the different selections were well balanced; the ensemble work is surprisingly good.	R. McC.
Boston, Mass.—(See letter on another page.)
Buffalo, N. Y.—See letter on another page.)
Canton, Ohio, March 24.—Hundreds of Canton music lovers wended their way to the City Auditorium, March 19, to enjoy the annual complimentary concert given by Thayer’s Military Band. The program presented by the organization under the directorship of William E. Strassner, ..who has been the leader of the band since 1903, was one of the best that the band has ever played to a Canton audience. The opening number was “Battery Park,” written by Prof. H. Clark Thayer, a live, bright march, which was warmly received. A clarinet solo, “Serenade and Polonaise,” J. M. Missud, was played by Charles Arnold.
Herma Menth repeated the triumphs of her former visits to Canton when she played her piano recital_ in_ the First Christian Church, March 22. This Viennese pianist is making an enviable.reputation for herself with her artistic work and her careful, conscientious interpretations of the works of the world’s famous composers. Miss Menth is possessed of a masterly technic and plays with the strength and forcefulness that one would expect from a male pianist. And yet withal she has a delicate, colorful touch in softer passages. She presented an especially pleasing program, beginning with Mozart, Lully-Godowsky, a weird composition by Couperin, Gluck-Saint-Saens and Bach-Liszt. The next group included Chopin and Rachmaninoff. As_ an encore she played the “Shepherd’s Hey,” by Percy Grainger. The last group contained numbers by Debussy, Cyril Scott, Go-dowsky, Sauer and Gounod-Liszt. As a concluding number and encore she played the Liszt arrangement of the Mendelssohn wedding march, into which she put a number of her own interpolations. One of the most brilliant numbers was the “Dance Negre” by Cyril Scott, which displayed her digital fleetness. The concert was fairly well attended and the applause which greeted the completion of every number indicated the keen appreciation of those present.
The Victory Artists, an octet of enjoyable entertainers, were greeted with a packed house when they appeared March 18 at the Canton City Auditorium in the next to last number on the musical course of the Y. M. C. A. The artists were Henry Burr, Bill Murray, Albert Campbell, Frank Croxton, John Meyer, Monroe Silver, Fred Van Eps and Frank Banta. They put on one of their famous programs and everyone in the audience seemed well pleased.
R. McC.
Charleston, W. Va., March 29. — This season in Charleston has been fraught with many difficulties and interruptions in a musical way, a six weeks’ campaign by the Rev. A. W. Sunday being one of the principal interruptions during the latter part.
An interesting program was presented by the Music Department of the Woman’s Club, being composed almost entirely of compositions by the late Cornelius Hasten Estill, composer-pianist and organist. The auditorium of the First M. E. Church where the recital was held was taxed to its capacity and each number was thoroughly enjoyed by the appreciative audience. Those who participated were Mrs. John Meridith, Ruby Elkens Bacon. Charles Cupit, William Patrick, Edith Cushney Britton, Mildred McKee Hardesty, Mrs. J. O. Jennings, Marcus B. Cohn, Marguerite Silling, Mrs. Riley Wilson. Mrs. James Mosher Imboden.
Louise Howell Shadle, contralto, was the soloist with the Charleston Symphony Orchestra at a concert given in the Rialto Theater. A large audience heard the program and gave marked evidence of its enjoyment.
On March 20 The Woman's Club brought Joint Philip Sousa and his famous band to Charleston. They gave two concerts, one in the afternoon and one in the evening in the Billy Sunday Tabernacle. It is estimated that thirteen thousand people heard the two concerts. The night crowd
ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Albany, N. Y., March 26.—One of the most impressive and unusual musical services in this section was the program presented March 26 in St. Peter’s Episcopal Church by the vested choir of boys and men of St. Peter's, the Mendelssohn Club and other musicians, in honor of the thirtieth anniversary of Dr. Frank Sill Rogers as organist and choirmaster at that church. The chorus numbered more than eighty; two organists, in addition to Dr. Rogers, contributed to the program, and many prominent in musical centers came to town for the event. The soloists included Marvin Smith, boy, soprano; Otto R. Monde, bass, and Howard Smith, tenor. Stuart Swart, a pupil of I). Rogers and now organist of the First Reformed Church, played the prelude, “Kin Festc Berg,” Faulker, and Harry Alan Russell, also a Rogers pupil and now organist at the Cathedral of All Saints here, gave the organ postlude, “Toccata,” from the “Suite Gothique” of Boellman. Dr. Charles C. Harriman, rector of the church, paid a glowing tribute to Dr. Rogers. Among those who have sung in St. Peter’s choir during Dr. Rogers’ leadership is Alfred Piccaver, now a leading tenor with the Vienna Grand Opera.
The night following the service Dr. Rogers entertained about one hundred and fifty guests at dinner at the Albany Country Club. The company included members of his choir, the Mendelssohn Club (of which he was the founder and conductor), many Albany organists and the following from out of town: Walter Henry Hall, professor of church music at Columbia, and Dr. Rogers’ predecessor at St. Peter’s; Mark Andrews, composer-organist of Montclair, N. J.; W. E. Zench, organist of the New Old South Church, Boston; H. Willard Gray, church music publisher, New York; Frederick Rocke, organist of St. Peter’s Church, Morristown, N. J.; George Fowler, a pupil of Dr. Rogers, now organist of St. Chrysostom’s Church, New York, and George Bangs, also a Rogers pupil and organist of the Church of the Beloved Disciple, New York.
Roman Catholic organists of Albany are holding regular meetings to arrange special musical services for the celebration of the diamond jubilee of the Albany diocese.
Lydia F. Stevens, instrumental chairman, and Mrs. George D. Perkins, vocal chairman, arranged a program of American music for the Monday Musical Club. Mrs. Lowell D. Kenney presented the paper. Mrs. Fred Stahl, Mrs. Wendell M. Milks, Mrs. Roswell P. F. Wilbur, Mrs. Horatio S. Bellows, Mary Whitfield and Esther D. Kenes-ton arranged the program.
The final concert of the season of the K. of C. entertainment committee took place in Knights of Columbus Home before a large audience. Margaret Ryan, Marcella Bradley, Alice McEneny, Thomas Francis O’Neill and Roger fi. Stonehouse contributed to the program. C. Bernard Van-denberg presented his voice and piano pupils in recital, William Harold Browne, violinist, assisting.	E. V. W.
Alliance, Ohio, March 24.—The audience was appreciative of the excellence of the program as presented by the
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