February 1, 1923 COUE One of our occasional contributors recently offered us an article dealing with the value of Coueism for the musician. The article was refused, not because it was not a fairly good article but because, in the first place, we had said the same things in various ways before, and because, in the second place, a too strong commendation of Coueism is dangerous for anybody, and especially dangerous for the artist. Not that we have anything against Coue or his system. O my no! Not being a musician it is not our business to concern ourselves with him or his practices. Yet, as appears from our contributor’s article, we cannot leave the question alone. It is thrust upon US. Until that article was laid on our desk we had not associated Coue with the musical profession at all. After glancing over the article, however, we suddenly came to the realization that here was one musician putting his faith in Coue, and that there might be others, many others. Now, our treatment of the Coue type of psychology has always been negative. It has not been our effort to try to persuade people to fool themselves, but rather to learn not to fool themselves, which is quite another matter. There is a vast■ difference between the mad “Better and better” formula and the sane “Know thyself!” We have endeavored to give our readers (those who happened to need it) courage. We have endeavored to persuade certain discouraged ones that their discouragement was groundless, that they were permitting themselves to be ruled by baseless fear. Not that we had any idea who these readers were when we wrote the editorials. They were not aimed at anybody. But the letters we subsequently received proved that they had found their mark. And some readers were highly grateful. u But, note this! Our attitude has always been “Know yourself,” not “Fool yourself.” For it is just as bad, and far more dangerous, to think you are better than you are, as to think you are worse than you are. Self-dissatisfaction has made more great artists than self-satisfaction ever did or ever will. Not that we have anything against Coue or his system. But we have one case in mind of a singer who permitted himself to get a chronic throat trouble by believing that nature would take care of itself or that germs could be killed by wishing them dead. Instead of having succeeded in wishing the germs dead this singer has got himself in such a condition that he wishes himself dead. The trouble with Coue and all his ilk is, that there is some truth in the things they preach. If only one could use them in moderation they would no doubt be useful. But the very first thing we are told is that we must “go the whole hog.” If we carry our doubts with us we will defeat the system. It is not a thing that one can try to see if it works. If it is approached with that mental attitude it is sure not to work. It reminds us of a man we once saw in Hungary who believed that if you struck a knife blade hard enough and quick enough with the flat of the hand the hand would not be cut. It was in a cafe, or rather on the sidewalk in front of a cafe, mid-afternoon. The man had not been drinking. He was perfectly sober. Also he was a university student, apparently intelligent. Yet he set that knife edge up on the table, holding it in that position with his left hand, and struck it with all his force with the open palm of his right hand. Since that day we have never for a moment doubted the power or the vast danger of imagination, self-deception, belief in all sorts of things that are disproved by common-sense and experience. There is only one good attitude for a musician: a level head—neither chronic discouragement nor fear, neither conceit nor self-satisfaction. The truth is, that every one of us can say to himself every day of his life: “I’m pretty good, but I might be better.” But you won’t get better by just saying so. MUSICAL COURIER directors will be elected, and the future of the Foundation will be determined. 20 artists. He deserved the splendid—and unexpected —success which the chorus won in Mexico. It has made good, not only there but also everywhere else it has appeared. Rumor has it that Max Reinhardt will come to this country very soon. If he does it is to be hoped that some manager will engage him to put on those two delightful works of Offenbach—La Belle Helene and Orpheus. They ought to win here not only an artistic success but also a decided financial one. -----$>---- When a letter came into the office the other day from somewhere in the Middle West with a big sticker on the back of it. “Hempel Is Coming,” we thought to ourselves that there was a lively’local manager somewhere out there with an eye for publicity; we also thought that Miss Hempel’s office, which doubtless furnished the stickers, also has a good idea of publicity. •----------- Henri Verbrugghen made a decided hit as conductor of the Minneapolis Orchestra. With characteristic enterprise, he is always seeking to introduce something new into musical life and programs. His latest was to give a very successful choral concert in connection with the Minneapolis Orchestra. It was decidedly successful and Mr. Verbrugghen hopes to build up a first class choral organization which will collaborate regularly with the orchestra. '--------- Although Margaret Matzenauer has been singing in this country for twelve years, her recent program at Carnegie Hall was the first recital she has given in New York in several years. It was a success from every standpoint. It is to be hoped that its results will convince this splendid artist that she has a New York public that admires her as a concert singer as much as it does in opera, and that she owes it to this public to appear here in recital every season—and more than once. ------------ Andreas Dippel called on us this week and explained at length his plans for reviving his opera company for next season. Mr. Dippel stated that he is to start shortly on a visit to about twenty cities which he wants to include in his circuit; and that, if he receives the financial support he desires, including the assembling of an ample working capital, he will reorganize his company for a tour of these cities; but that, contrary to his course this year, he will not make a move of any sort unless this support is absolutely assured. ----------- Otto Kahn, addressing the Colony Club, spoke of a new theater to be built here under his patronage and under the management of Morris Gest, in which the American composer and artist will have a chance to be heard, along with the best of art and artists from abroad. Something can be done, something truly helpful, if Mr. Kahn will back the project without reservation. But in a project in which native and foreign art and artists are both interested, it has always been the experience so far that the home talent has had to take second chance. Before commenting on the plan, one must wait for more detailed information. -----<3----- ־ The Kansas City Conservatory Orchestra, Arnold Volpe conductor, “the object of which,” to quote from a program note, “is to promote efficiency, routine and experience among students and prospective professional musicians,” is doing an important Americanization work. It is helping, as other similar organizations are doing, to put American musicians in our symphony orchestras, and it is helping, which is no less important, to make our next generation of musicians the equal of any in the world. How successful these efforts have so far been is demonstrated by the success of the recent concert of the orchestra, of which an account is given in another column, at which a classic program was played in such a way as to captivate the critics as well as the public. The Ukrainian National Chorus left Mexico last Saturday after breaking all records for a musical attraction in that city. Originally announced for four performances, the number was increased to seventeen. Beginning in one theater, the chorus soon moved to another, the largest in Mexico Citv, and in addition gave a number of outdoor performances in the Plaza del Toro. The record audience numbered no less than 32,600 persons, larger even than that which assembled to hear the late Enrico Caruso on the occasion of his visit a short time before his death. Owing to the success of■ the Mexican engagements the Pacific Coast dates were cancelled for this year. The chorus on its return to the United States will fill the remainder of its scheduled dates through the Middle West and East and will then sail for South America where it will have an extended season next summer, returning for its second American tour the season of 1923-24. Manager Rabinoff is heartily to be congratulated on the energy and determination which he exhibited in bringing oyer this large body of Ml LSI CAI L<0 №1 IE P Weekly Revieu/ ״■ mt Worlds Music Published every Thursday by the .™53VSig,A,i־ COURIER COMPANY, INC. WILLIAM GEPPERT ........................................President ALVIN L. SCHMOEdEB. 1 ־.'.I !!! 1111 ״ ;:.־!:11 .־ ;;:; ;;;; Trtas‘ 437 Fifth Avenue, S. E. Corner 39th Street, New York Telephone to all Departments: 4292. 4293, 4294, Murray Hill . __________ Cable address: Musicurier, New York ssgs «assas? AI.TIN L. 8CHMOEQEB......................O״״,! Ma17,״r Leonard liebling .............. *״, ״״,,״ , H. O. OSGOOD Y ....................Editor-in-chief WILLIAM GEPPERT I PRANK PATTERSON f........................Associate Editors CLARENCE LUCAS J RENE DEVRIES I J. ALBERT RIKER f••••................General Representatives q j: KIC E S ?n?C^i?a^EA?&TeEBgY?^״NN?^? 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New Zealand News Co Ltd BuS!nLndon?PE.n ^e4n,tS־Engla״d';ternatl0nal NeWS Ltd- »«»־״• SoresMFnSIthoLTMtY?Igfltls for. s?,e at the principal newsstands and music kiosques in EuroSi 4 S teS an־־« ״lo״° *־ the Friday previous to the dale of Entered as Second Class Matter January 8, 1883, at the Post Office at New _______________York. N. Y., under the act of March 3. 1879. THE MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA Published every Saturday by Musical Courier Company Devoted to the interests of the Piano Trade. New York Thursday, February 1, 1923. No. 1923 Men may come and men may go but music will live forever. --------- They are making a great fuss about pilotless planes. Well, m music we’ve had playerless pianos for a long time. ------e----- . A Norwegian scientist says that music can be eaten, like food. Would Schonberg and Casella be digestible ? ------<8>--- What many of us would like, would be to have the radio broadcast what some of the singers are saying when they sing in English. ------<8>--- The old song, Silver Threads Among the Gold, is obsolete now, because women either pull out the silver ones or have them dyed. ------^------ Is not some of the current social unrest caused by amateur parlor tenors and the small girls whose parents compel them to play a piece for the company? —-------- - “Just at present the Harvard yell has all other yells backed off the sounding board,” says the Morning Telegraph. We’ll lay a wager on the yell of the claque at the Opera. ------<$>--- Our concert artists more frequently say “I drew so and so much in such and such a place,” than “I made a great success in such and such a place.” Is it the spirit of our country or of the artists, or both ? ------«>---- Manager Hurok says that he is going to bring his Russian Opera Company here for a short season in May, which is good news for New York. The company, under the influence of steady meals and steady work, has improved considerably upon its standard of last spring, so we are informed. ------------ The best symphony orchestras in existence today are right here in this country. And last week at Carnegie Hall, Nicolai Sokoloff conclusively proved to New Yorkers that his Cleveland Orchestra must be ranked among the very best of those in America. The improvement that the talented conductor has brought about in his organization within two years is astonishing. -------®----- Many persons had wondered as to what had become of the Caruso American Memorial Foundation which started with so much energy and publicity. It appears that the organization still is in active existence and, as provided for in its constitution and bylaws, the annual meeting of its national committee will be held Wednesday, February 7, at the Bankers’ Club, 120 Broadway. A detailed report of the results of the fund-raising activities will then be presented,