57
MUSICAL COURIER
N. A. of O. Recitals in Music Week
The National Association of Organists announces that the Wanamaker auditorium, with its magnificent new concert organ, has been placed at its disposal by the concert direction, for the purpose of presenting a festival of organ music during Music Week (May 16־). This new instrument was recently dedicated by the famous organists, Marcel Dupré and Charles M• Courboin.
The National Association of Organists is planning to make this event one of unusual significance in the history of the king of instruments and of the organization. The hearty co-operation of the Catholic Guild of Organists and the Society of Theater Organists has been secured. A different program will be given every afternoon in the auditorium, which will present the organ in every possible phase of its activity, in association with the churchly atmosphere, with the home, as a concert instrument, in the theater, and as an ensemble instrument in connection with other instruments.
A number of prominent organists will appear during the week including Charles M. Courboin, Belgian virtuoso-organist; Richard Keys Biggs, organist of the Church of the Queen of All Saints; John Doane, organist of the Church of the Incarnation. Well known patrons of music are expected to deliver brief addresses each day in tribute to the organ, and a number of prominent singers, instrumentalists and choruses are expected to appear.
Admission is free and a general invitation is extended to the public to attend this series of organ concerts.
Siloti to Spend Vacation in Europe
Alexander Siloti, the Russian pianist, concluded his American season with three appearances with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, in Cambridge, April 6, and in Boston, April 7 and 8. Mr. Siloti returned to Europe on the Royal Mail S. S. Orduna, sailing April IS.
George Engles, who induced Siloti to leave Europe for a second American visit after an absence of twenty-three years, announces that the pianist will spend his summer in Antwerp, dividing his time between rest and recreation and in the preparation of his programs for an extended American tour next season, beginning in October.
Parks Sings Via Radio
After Paul Parks, baritone, recent winner of the Bispham .contest, finished singing a program of songs at the radio concert given at Wanamaker’s, there immediately came a telephone request from Bellevue Hospital for more. The radio concert was given under the auspices of the American Legion, of which organization Mr. Parks is a member.
The Lhevinnes in Pittsburgh
Two appearances in Pittsburgh within a few days were recently made by Josef and Rosina Lhevinne, the first as soloists with the Philadelphia orchestra and the second in recital before the Society of the Friends of Music.
Class for Teachers, in The Dunning System of Improved Music Study, which was held by Adda Eddy in 1921.
United Scandinavian Singers Heard
A fine concert was given Sunday afternoon, April 9, at the Academy of Music, Brooklyn, by the United Scandinavian Singers of New York, Ole Windingstad, director, assisted by Augusta Tollefsen, piano; Carl H. Tollefsen, violin; Paul Kefer, cello, and the Tollefsen Trio. The Tollefsen Trio rendered Scandinavian folk music settings. Mr. Kefer played “Chants Russe” (Lake), “Serenade” (Ginmounoun). Mme. Tollefsen rendered Grieg’s ballade (variations on a Norwegian air). Mr. Tollefsen rendered “Old Melody” (Sinding), “Gavotte and Musette” (Tor Aulin). The Tollefsen Trio followed with Tschaikowsky’s trio in A minor, op. SO, and the United Singers finished with “Jubilate,” Lie; “Uti Bondens Stuga,” Soderman; “Sverige,” Stenhammer. It is seldom one has the opportunity of hearing a combination of such fine male voices, so well trained. Mr. Windingstad has the same control over the men comprising the United Scandinavian Singers as he has over his orchestra. The ensemble effects were expressive and in excellent tone coloring. The humming accompaniment to Anton Wettesen’s beautiful solos was very well done, and the first tenors gave an excellent imitation of the banjo as accompaniment in “Kentucky Babe.” The Scandinavian folk music was particularly appropriate and very effective, rendered artistically by the Tollefsen Trio. The same may be said of Mme. Tollefsen’s selection and Mr. Tollefsen’s group of characteristic pieces. Mrs. Tollefsen made such a strong impression upon her hearers with Grieg’s ballade that she was obliged to respond with an encore. The Tschaikowsky trio was a decided artistic finish to the program and was appreciated by the audience.
Definite Althouse-Middleton Sailing Dates
Paul Althouse and Arthur Middleton, who will make a twelve weeks’ tour of Australia this summer, will sail on the S. S. Matsonia, of the Matson Line, leaving San Francisco on July 12 and reaching Honolulu July 18. After giving concerts in Hawaii, the singers will embark for Sydney, New South Wales, on the S.S. Venture, of the Oceanic Line, on July 24, arriving in Australia during the first week in August.
The Althouse-Middleton tour is now definitely fixed to open in Sydney on Thursday, August 10, and concerts will be given there also on August 12, 14 and 16.
Kronold Memorial Concert, May 7
Elsewhere in this issue of the Musical Courier will be found the list of artists to be associated in the Kronold Memorial Concert, Carnegie Hall, May 7. Few concerts offering such a galaxy of stars have been given in Carnegie Hall this season. The affair is under the chairmanship of Baroness Von Klenner, president of the National Opera Club.
April 27, 1922
THE PROBLEM OF THE STUDENT
(Continued from page 12.)
be men and women competent to give constructive criticism in every branch of their work, so that they build up in their pupils not only a real knowledge of the material side of their art, but a keenly imaginative style, which will develop real originality.
We have had much insincerity and bluff, a desire for self-aggrandizement, an unfortunate amount of advertising, which gives the impression of charlatanism, even if it is not absolutely false, and such things should be fought by every teacher who has the welfare of his profession at heart.
I think the matter of advertising is one of the greatest difficulties for the teacher to give serious attention to. A little prejudice, a little jealousy, a ljttle desire for ״lory leads teachers to proclamations which are false and insincere and leads them to claim things which are not rightly theirs and leads them to the use of names of great singers either past or present, to which they have no right. I have definite examples in my mind.
I sometimes wonder if we would be better off if we did not advertise at all or make any claims for ourselves, any more than does the doctor or lawyer, but we must remember that there is a theatrical side to our work and therefore our methods of procedure are of necessity different from the two dignified professions just mentioned. We also have to remember that our pupils must be brought to the attention of the public and to local managers in such fashion as to secure them opportunities to demonstrate their powers, and it seems that advertising is therefore necessary, but it is also certain that advertising can be just as honest and sincere and straightforward as anything else in life, and no amount of unjust claims or of fake advertising is going to benefit either pupil or teacher.
Someone once said that after war there had always been a mass of bunk, balderdash and bolshevism, and the present time gives us no exception. One of the results of the three B’s has always been intolerance and discontent, which always follow anarchy in any form.
We are, however, rapidly passing through this period and we are probably facing one of the most interesting eras the world has ever known. We will recover from this recent confusion more quickly than the world has ever recovered from such a cataclysm, because today we have more to work with, we have more educated people, we have in reality a more generous spirit of saneness and commonsense, and I sincerely believe that we have more real earnest spirit than the world has ever had before. It only needs awakening.
The mission of our art is to idealize this spirit, to interest humanity in things other than material and to teach everybody that we have a leavening of the ordinary in life by means of the truly beautiful.
The last matter I would like to touch on is the question of reading. Literature has also been through its hard time and pupils should be guided most carefully as to what to read and what to avoid. There are countless books, for instance, upon voice and style, but there are only a few really worth while. The pupil should be guided in his reading, whether it be for purposes of direct education in his chosen profession or whether it be for purposes of general education. Time is the most valuable thing we have and we cannot afford to waste any time by the reading of useless or demoralizing literature. I know of nothing that can contribute so much confusion to the pupil of singing as the reading of various books on how to sing. For this reason I give to my pupils several times a year a list of books covering all subjects which will contribute not only to their particular singing education, but to their general culture and refinement.	Herbert Witherspoon.
Marguerite Namara Captivates New Orleans
“Mme. Marguerite Namara fairly captivated her audience both with her beauty and her splendid singing.” Thus ran the opening sentence of the criticism in one of the important New Orleans dailies after Marguerite Namara’s appearance in that city on April 3 as soloist with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra on tour. And the Times also was not behind in its praise of the Chicago Opera soprano: “The exceptional vocal artistry of Mme. Namara aroused the_ large audience to the pitch of enthusiasm excited by any artist of the year.” And the Southern city has heard many great artists this season. But it was perhaps the Item that summed up Marguerite Namara’s performance most tersely and impressively: “Mme. Namara’s success was unequivocal.”
Busy April for Van der Veer
Beside singing Lenten oratories and cantatas, Nevada Van der Veer has had an unusually busy April filling important engagements. On April 19 she was soloist with the Beethoven Society of New York; April 24, 25 and 26 she sang at the Halifax, Nova Scotia, music festival; today, April 27, the music festival at Truro, N. S., claims her services, and tomorrow a concert in Wolfville, N. S. At her appearance with the Beethoven Society, Nevada Van der Veer sang (with Reed Miller) a duet from “The Jewels of the Madonna,” “11 est bon, il est doux” from Massenet’s “Herodiade,” and a group of songs.
Schroeder Pupil at Princess Theater
Libb'ie Lewis, a young and talented pupil of Henry Schroeder, gave her first New York recital at the Princess Theater, on Sunday afternoon, April 9, revealing in her performance much fire, warmth and intelligence. Her program was made up of Bach’s “Italian Concerto,” MacDowell’s “Shadow Dance,” a group of Chopin numbers, “Le Coucou.” Daquin, three selections by Mendelssohn, three by Scarlatti, and Rachmaninoff’s prelude in G minor. She was heartily applauded by a large audience.
Little Journeys to Music Land
The monthly recitals and demonstrations of The Dunning System, at the Dunning Studio of Folsom Rensch in Columbus, Ohio, are creating much interest as the marked advancement of the work under the careful guidance of Miss Rensch is very noticeable both to students and their guests. The students are taught in this way to express themselves in the art of music before the public. They are delighted and interested in each trip to Music Land.
Miss Rensch is a graduate of the Normal Training
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