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MUSICAL COURIER
May 2 5, 1922
STEINWAY
The
Instrument of the Immortals
T ISZT, greatest of all pianists, preferred the Steinway. Wagner, Berlioz, Rubinstein, and a host of master-musicians esteemed it more highly than any other instrument. It is these traditions that have inspired Steinway achievement and raised this piano to its artistic pre-eminence which is today recognized through-out the world.
Old pianos taken in exchange. Also pianos for rent. Inspection invited.
STEINWAY & SONS
Steinway Hall
107-109 East 14th Street, N. Y. C.
m
KALAMAZOO PLAYS HOST TO MICHIGAN
S. F. M. C.’S SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Federation Artists Presented—Interesting Addresses and Reports Given—Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra Concert
Brooks, violinists; Anita Byers and Louvella Schroeder, sopranos; Ruth Nichols, contralto, with. Claribelle Weimer, accompanist.
Devora Nadworney, Prize Winner, in Recital.
An enjoyable closing for the convention was a recital given Thursday evening by Devora Nadworney, mezzo soprano, prize winner in the National Federation Young Artists’ Contest. Miss Nadworney made a highly favorable impression, being possessed of the requisite qualities of artistic feeling, a rich, flexible voice and, in addition to genuine musicianship, a personality of decided attractiveness.
To complete the program, in place of the portion allotted to Enrique Ros, pianist (who was unable to appear), two Kalamazoo artists—Esther Dean Rasmussen, violinist, and Eulalia Snyder Buttleman, pianist—played Cesar Franck’s sonata for violin and piano. This number gave great pleasure, and Mrs. Buttelman’s accompaniments for Miss Nadworney displayed evidence of genuine talent.
A significant and :interesting announcement made during the course of the convention was the decision to provide a State system of music credits and to inaugurate a State system of music memory contests which would be held throughout the State the coming year. Support has been promised for this movement by the State Department of Public Instruction, and bulletins will be issued dealing with the subject by the State department. Mrs. Ottaway’s announcement was greeted with much enthusiasm, for the Federation has earnestly worked to bring this about.
No election of officers was held this year, as elections are held biennially. Following are the names of the present officers: president, Mrs. Elmer James Ottaway, Port Huron; first vice president, Mrs. Frederic B. Stevens, Detroit; second vice president, Mrs. F. Dunbar Robertson, Grand Rapids; recording secretary, Mrs. H. M. Snow, Kalamazoo; corresponding secretary, Mrs. Harry Bacher, Calumet; treasurer, Mabel Larson, Calumet; historian, Mrs. Theodore O. Leonard, Jr., Detroit.	M. J. R.
Alice Louise Mertens Delights Danbury Audience
Alice Louise Mertens, contralto, gave her original lecture-recital of “Music of the Orient by Oriental and Occidental Composers,” at Concordia Hall, Danbury, Conn., on May 4. She made a most favorable impression as the following excerpt from the Danbury Evening News would indicate: “Alice Mertens, contralto, who appeared here earlier in the season with marked success in oratorio, was heard here
ALICE LOUISE MERTENS,
contralto.
again yesterday under somewhat different but equally enjoyable circumstances. It was the Afternoon Musical Society that brought Miss Mertens to Danbury yesterday for a lecture recital on Music of the Orient, given in Concordia Hall with the assistance of Gladys Grove at the piano.
“Miss Mertens succeeded yesterday not only in upholding the extremely favorable impression which she made upon her former appearance in this city, but also the nature of her program yesterday was such as to reveal new vocal qualities and characteristics. Her voice is unique among contraltos. Rich in color and of great power there is no suggestion of heaviness throughout the entire extent of its amazing range. It is a voice of such warmth as to lend itself admirably to the sensuous characteristics of Oriental music, and her program throughout was sung with most artistic effect. The singer opened her program with a short lecture covering some of the general characteristics of the music of the Orient, and preceded each of her several groups with explanatory remarks.”
Addison Pleases Bridgeport Audience
On the day following Mabelle Addison’s concert appearance in Bridgeport, Conn., April 20, one of the critics in reviewing the event stated that her voice is of remarkable sweetness and fine texture. The Bridgeport Telegram spoke especially of the lovely quality of Miss Addison’s tones, and one of the comments published in the Evening Star was to the effect that she pleased her audience apparently as she was recalled for an encore after each group.
Gunster’s Appearances on Farrar Tour
Frederick W. Gunster’s recent appearances on the Geraldine Farrar tour follow: May 8, Eau Claire, Wis.; May 9, Virginia, Minn.;.May 11, Duluth, Minn., and May 12, St. Paul, Minn.
Kalamazoo, Mich., May 18.—An event of unusual interest to musicians of the State, as well as to local music lovers, was the sixth annual convention of the Michigan State Federation of Music Clubs, held in Kalamazoo from April 25 to 27 inclusive. Various clubs of other cities of the state were well represented in attendance. Sessions were held in the ball room of the Burdick Hotel, both business meetings and concerts. The convention was under the auspices of the Kalamazoo Musical Society, which has just dosed an unusually successful year.
Two hours of the opening afternoon were given over to the registration of delegates, and after this a very enjoyable tea-musicale was provided for the guests at the home of Mrs. A. B. Connable. The artists for the occasion were Esther Dean Rasmussen, violinist, and Eulalia Snyder Buttelman, pianist.
On Tuesday evening, April 25, the convention was formally opened by addresses of welcome and greetings from local societies by F. M. Hodge, president of the Kalamazoo Choral Union, and Mrs. H. M. Snow,_ president of the Kalamazoo Musical Society. Mrs. Boris L. Ganapol of Detroit extended greetings from the National Federation of Music Clubs, and Mrs. Elmer J. Ottaway of Port Huron responded for the Michigan Federation.
Federation Artists Presented.
Following the addresses a concert program was presented by representatives of State Federated Clubs, including the prize compositions in the Michigan Federation of Music Clubs’ Michigan Composers’ Competition. Mrs. Harry Bacher of Ann Arbor, chairman of the Composers’ Competition Committee, was in charge of this program. The artists presented were: Edna Katherine Koehler, Monday Musicale, Mt. Clemens; Elizabeth Stevens, Thursday Musi-cale, Bay City; Marian Struble (State Young Artists’ Contest winner), Matinee Musicale, Ann Arbor, with Eulalia Snyder Buttelman, Kalamazoo, accompanist; Mrs. Thomas B. Ford, Saint Cecilia Society, Grand Rapids, with Charles P. Seager, Grand Rapids, accompanist; Jeanette Johnson and Catherine Brandenburg, violinists; Mrs. C. W. Ryan, cellist; Marie Donner Bush, pianist, Morning Musical Club, Battle Creek; Doris Howe (State Young Artists’ Contest winner), Matinee Musicale, Ann Arbor, with Eulalia Snyder Buttelman, Kalamazoo, accompanist; Sylvia Simons (District Young Artists’ Contest winner), Tuesday Musicale, Detroit; Olive Dobson Henkel, with Florence B. Hayden, Matinee Musical, Lansing, accompanist; Marie Rice, soprano; Mrs. Raymond Gould, cellist; Fred W. Gage, Battle Creek, accompanist; Mabel Pearson, soprano; Frances Barrett Jones, contralto; George Jones, tenor; Frank Scherer, bass; H. Glenn Henderson, Kalamazoo, accompanist.
The prize compositions and names of composers are as follows:	Song—“Ariette” (soprano or tenor) and piano
solo—Sonata Fantasia, Andrew C. Haigh, Detroit; song— “Regrets” (cello obligato), Charles E. Roat, Battle Creek; anthem—“Not Unto Us, O Lord,” Elva M. Donaldson, Grand Rapids.
Wednesday Addresses.
The program for Wednesday offered some highly interesting and constructive addresses, including the following: H. C. Maybee, director of music department of Western State Normal College, Kalamazoo (subject: “The Relation of the Private Music Teacher to Public School Music”). Howard Clarke Davis, Federation chairman public school music, New York (subject: “Music Credits in New York Schools”). Mrs. Dean Kelley, Michigan Federation chairman public school music, Lansing, and Elizabeth Stevens, president Bay City Tuesday Musicale (subject: “Music Credits in Michigan Schools”). John W. Beattie, music supervisor national conference, music supervisor Grand Rapids public schools (subject: “The Place of Music in Education”). Mrs. F. Dunbar Robertson, Grand Rapids, State second vice-president, was chairman of the afternoon meeting.
Kalamazoo Symphony Concert.
In the evening, a complimentary concert was given by the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, directed by C. Z. Bronson, and the Kalamazoo Musical Society. The orchestra numbers were Massenet’s “Phedre” overture and the allegro moderato from Schubert’s “Unfinished” symphony, followed by Saint-Saëns’ “Tarantella,” with duet for clarinet and flute played by Charles Brocato and Harry Parker. The other artists presented on the program were Harper C. Maybee, Leoti Combs, Lillian Knowles, Mrs. Ernest Greene, Frances Barrett Jones, Esther Dean Rasmussen, Elsa Dukette and Eulalia Snyder Buttelman. Mrs. Buttelman and H. Glenn Henderson were the accompanists. The visitors were generous in their expressions of approval.
Various Thursday Events.
Thursday a complimentary luncheon was held in the Hotel Burdick dining room, with Mrs. Gordon Kingsbury Saint Clair, as toastmistress. Following are the names of speakers and subjects discussed:	J. Harold Powers, direc-
tor music department, Central Michigan Normal College, Mount Pleasant, (subject:	“Inter-High School Music
Tests”). Mrs. Norris Wentworth, chairman Artists’ Bureau, and Mrs. James E. Thoms, chairman junior clubs.
The visitors were entertained by a sight-seeing tour of the city following the luncheon, and at 3 :30 a “Junior Demonstration” was given by the Coldwater Junior Fortnightly and Juvenile Fortnightly clubs, and Kalamazoo Music Students’ League. Mrs. James E. Thoms, Coldwater, served as chairman.
An interesting and significant part of this session were reports from the five junior clube of the State which are now federated, including Port Huron, Saint Clair, two in Coldwater, and one in Kalamazoo.
In the recital Coldwater was represented by Charlotte Dickinson, Helen Barrell and Gretchen Schultz, pianists; the Girls’ Chorus, and Allen Swain, pianist. A talk on the work of the Coldwater juniors was given by Mary Jodg-
The Kalamazoo musicians on the program were Lois Eilers, harpist; John De Vogt, Frederick Wolf and Mary