NEW YORK, THURSDAY, May 25, 1922.
jV\USICAL(§VRIER
VOL. LXXXIV—No. 21. Whole No. 2198.
work not only does not abound in dissonances, but contains some really beautiful melodic parts as well, the choruses especially revelling in a wealth of sound and colorful tonal description.
FAMOUS ENGLISH WATERING PLAGE SCENE OF
SUCCESSFUL FESTIVAL OF BRITISH MUSIC
© Underwood dr Underwood
DR. WILLIAM (L CARL,
ner organ in the First Presbyterian Church, Fifth fc City. Dr. Carl, founder and director of the G *f tdtc most widely known of American organists.
The text, by Victoria Schotteck, offers ample material for musical treatment. As to structure and form the work is condensed and replete with dramatic tension, so much so that one imagines it suitable for stage production. The plot strictly adheres to the Biblical story, and is divided into four tableaux of rich Oriental coloring, the scene of action being Babylon.
Louis Graveure’s Success.
Louis Graveure, the Anglo-American baritone, did not fail to attract great and well deserved attention in the musical circles of Dresden when he made his debut here a few׳ days ago. His “Liederabend” gave proof of quite remarkable interpretative powers, also in the German lied which he has made quite his own except for the pronunciation of the language. This alone betrayed the foreigner.
Mr. Graveure’s stage presence and polished manner, revealing the man of the world, highly added to the unusual success he scored in the Saxon capital.
A. I.
Easter Holiday Crowds Listen to Leading British Composers Conducting Their Own Works—Vaughan Williams’ New “Pastoral Symphony” Creates Deepest Impression—Dan Godfrey the Musical “Prime Minister”
tion. In the words of a leading critic it is “truly a noble work, without a trivial phrase or a trivial thought in its conception. Eugene Goossens’ “By the Tarn” and “Tam (Continued on page 6)
STOEHR’S “PRODIGAL SON”
HAS SUCCESSFUL PREMIERE
Louis Graveure Captures Dresden Audience at Debut
Dresden, April 27.—The initial performance in Germany of Richard Stoehr’s oratorio, “Der verlorene Sohn” (“The
Ruth Montague Wins Stokowski Medal
Out of twenty-nine singers, picked voices from the studios of Philadelphia singing teachers, Ruth Montague, mezzo contralto, of Norristown, Pa., was selected as recipient of this year's Stokowski medal by a vote of nine to one. The trials were held before the public and began in April. By a process of elimination, eight voices remained for the final trial, when each contestant sang a classical aria, a modern aria, and three songs. The award brings with it the honor of an appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra at one of its regular pairs of weekly concerts next year. Miss Montague is twenty-one years of age. She is a pupil of Nicholas Douty, her preliminary work having been done with Frederick Leonard. Honorable mention was given to Veronica Sweigart, Philadelphia, contralto, a pupil of Perley Dunn Aldrich. The judges were Mme Zimmerman, Miss Dercum, and Messrs. Aldrich, Connell, Douty, Edmunds, Evans, Henri Scott, Shaw, Van den Beemt and Van Gelder.
Muzio to Sing with Chicago Opera
As announced in last week’s issue of the Musical Courier, Claudia Muzio will not be heard at the Metropolitan Opera House, where she has sung for the past five or six seasons. Prior to sailing for Europe on the Mauretania on May 16, Miss Muzio signed up with the Chicago Opera, with which organization she will be heard the first part of the coming season. January and February will take the singer to Monte Carlo for the opera season there, after which she will probably be heard here in concerts.
Miss Muzio will not sing this summer at all, but will enjoy the first real rest that she has had in years; last summer she appeared with marked success at the Colon in Buenos Aires. Her time will be spent at her Italian villa in recreation and preparation for the coming season.
Moscow Art Theater Coming to America
S. Hurok, the New York concert manager, is negotiating for the first American tour of Stanislawsky, the noted director of the famous Moscow Art Theater. It is planned to bring the entire personnel of the company here, together with the full scenic and mechanical equipment for the most important productions from the extensive repertory of this celebrated theatrical organization. There will be limited engagements in New York, Boston and Chicago. Permission has already been granted by the Soviet Government for this tour
Prodigal Son”), achieved an undisputed success here recently. The Teachers’ Choral Society, the Philharmonic Society and renowned soloists participated—all in all about 00U performers—under Johannes Reichert’s lead. It is a pleasure to state that a contemporary creation like the Stoehr
Bournemouth, England, May 1—It was a happy idea of Dan Godfrey’s, the musical director of Bournemouth, to have a British music festival at this popular seaside resort at Easter time. Londoners go to Bournemouth as. New Yorkers go to Atlantic City, at Easter. The town is full of cultured folk who appreciate—or ought to appreciate— good music. No other time or place could be chosen that is more favorable to the propaganda for native music. And the success of this two weeks’ festival has borne this out.
It has borne out the fact, also that a provincial town in England can become a real musical center just as well as . provincial towns in Germany, if there is a personality to organize the local forces and the proper understanding on the part of the munic-' ipal authorities. Bournemouth fulfills both of these preliminary conditions, and as a consequence it has a fine municipal orchestra, besides the choruses that grow like flowers in every British town ; and it has music all the year round. The present festival is merely a concentrated demonstration of this vital musical activity, and it served the additional purpose of freshening up the depleted finances at the command of the musical “boss.”
Dan Godfrey’s Personal Success.
First impressions of Bournemouth are of a rather sleepy town, nestling happily between pine woods and the sea. The atmosphere is sluggish, and the casual observer would never dream of the existence of a live musical personality, •»׳ho has not only created a cosmopolitan reputation for-himself and his orchestra, but who also stands for something very definite in English musical life. Probably no conductor has more first performances of native works to his credit than Dan Godfrey, the director of music at Bournemouth, and the success of his festival of British artists is not only a noteworthy mark of the very genuine and growing enthusiasm felt in England for native music and musicians, but also a testimony to the splendid work and achievements of the director himself.
Nearly All-British.
The music of the festival has not been exclusively British, but the artists, with the single exception of Mme. Suggia, the Portuguese cellist, were entirely of native origin. Practically every British composer of note was represented during the fortnight’s music, the following being among the most important :	Balfour
Gardiner, Granville Bantock, Vaughan Williams, Gustave Holst, Eugene Goossens, Arnold Bax, Roger Quilter, Josef Holbrooke, Dame Ethel Smythe, Sir Edward Elgar, Edward German and Sir Alexander Mackenzie.
Of all the works played perhaps Vaughan Williams’ “Pastoral Symphony” made the deepest impression.
Those who dismiss it as dull because “nothing happens” will find on a second hearing that the perfect atmosphere of sheer beauty will more than compensate for any lack of mere “effect.”
Granville Bantock Participates.
The visit of Granville Bantock, who came from Birmingham specially to conduct a performance of his “Pierrot of the Minute,” ■was also an event of considerable importance. Holst, Bax, Goossens, Ethel Smythe and Edward German each conducted programs of their own compositions. Bax’s “Tintagel,” which had been performed previously in Bournemouth, but not, thus far, in London—a fact which illustrates thè forwardness of this town—brought the composer an ova-
EMPORIA HOLDS ITS EIGHTH ANNUAL MUSIC FESTIVAL
Bourskaya to Sing with Chicago Opera
S. Hurok, New York concert manager, announces that he has contracted for the appearance of Ina Bourskaya the sensational mezzo soprano (formerly with the Russian Grand Opera Company), with the Chicago Opera for the full season of ten weeks, beginning next November At the conclusion of this engagement, she is to make her New York debut with the Metropolitan Opera Company.
Adolf Bruñe Winner of Mana-Zucca Prize
It has been announced that the winner of the Quintet Contest, for which Mana-Zucca offered a prize of $500 is Adolf Bruñe of Oak Park, 111. Honorable mention hás beeffi awarded to Samuel Gardner for the second best composition‘' Over thirty manuscripts were submitted and the award was postponed at the request of several composers who asked for more time.
Walter Greene, Zoellner String Quartet, Dicie Howell and Salzedo Harp Ensemble Give Programs
voice in the first number, Handel’s “Hear Me, Ye Winds and Waves ” He was equally effective in catching the mood ot the smaller songs and transferring it to the audience The audience was enthusiastic in its applause and Mr Greene responded with several encores, mostly in a lighter vein except the last, which was the well known “Toreador Song” from “Carmen.”	6
Zoellner String Quartet.
The Zoellner String Quartet, which gave the second coi cert of the festival, on Wednesday night. May 3, render( a delightful program which proved to be an‘ inspiration treat in ensemble music. His playing of the quartet numbe as well as the shorter pieces was well balanced in ton¡ (Continued on page 26)
Emporia, Kans., May 16. 1922.—The eighth annual May music festival of the College of Emporia was opened on Tuesday evening. May 2, by Walter Greene, baritone, who gave a good account of himself in a recital of arias and songs. The absence of a great orchestra was noticeable this season on account of the fact that no great symphonic body was available in this part of the country at this time. In former years the New York Symphony or Minneapolis Symphony was an important part of the festival. However, all the organizations and individuals taking part in the festival made it an artistic success.
Walter Greene Scores.
Mr. Greene had the privilege of singing to the first audience of the week and demonstrated his power and splendid