March 1, 1923
MUSICAL COURIER
Philadelphia Operatic Society Heard
The Philadelphia Operatic Society, which has done such splendid work under the direction of Wassili Leps, gave another delightful performance Tuesday evening, January 30, when it presented John Philip Sousa’s comic opera, The Bride Elect, the composer conducting. Those taking part were Jeannette E. Kerr (who appeared previously this season very successfully as Gretel in Hansel and Gretel), Ethel Porter Brooks, Eva Allen Ritter, E. Christine Connelley, Estielena C. Truax, Beatrice R. Brewer, Effie R. McCain, Philip E. Jochem, Reinhold Schmidt, Raymond Nelson, Theodore Bacon Bayer, Otto E. Boss, Albert B. Wells, Frank G. Ritter and Arthur V. Ward.
An attractive ballet called People Who Live In Glass Houses, executed by the Ethel Quirk Phillips Dancers, was an interesting feature. Those participating were Anna May Gregory, Helene France, Anna Schoenig, Sara Schaefer, Rose Cohen, Lillian Stern, Dolores Kronberger, Rosetta Stern, Karline France, Ethel Tauber, Marguerite Smith, Jean Natier, Lois Atkinson, Margaret Cook, Phyllis Henne, May Whitlock, Doris Bradley, and the Messrs. Daly, Grugan, Hill and Petrilla.
Simmons Entertains Musicians at His Studio
Many prominent musicians were entertained at the New York studio of William Simmons, well known American baritone, on Thursday evening, February 7. Among those present were Cornelius Van Vliet, solo cellist of the Philharmonic Society; William Durieux, solo cellist of the City Symphony Orchestra; Frieda Klink, contralto; Franklin Riker, tenor and composer; Mme. Lubarsky, contralto; Josef Borisoff, Russian violinist; Frank Hemstreet, vocal teacher; Joseph Mathieu, tenor; Ruth Pearcy, contralto ; Sada Cowen, chairman of the Stadium audition committee; Lotta Madden, soprano; Herbert Peiser, music critic of the Musical Observer; Clarence McCarthy, illustrator; Mrs. Julian Edwards; George A. Wise; Mr. Rosen, violinist; Leon Kroll, portrait painter, and Nadia Reisen-berg, pianist.
Frieda Klink was heard in a group of songs, Mr. Rosen in violin numbers and Miss Reisenberg in piano selections. Joseph Mathieu presented a group of songs, and Mme. Lubarsky was heard in Russian songs and an aria from Cavalleria Rusticana.
Kay Slevin on The Radio
On Tuesday afternoon, February 13, Kay Slevin, soprano, gave a program at WJZ, the Radio Corporation-Westing-house Station at Newark, N. J. Assisted by Elinor Geis at the piano, Miss Slevin was heard in Pale Moon (Logan), Retreat (LaForge), Duna (McGill), Bogies (Sanderson), The World Is Waiting for the Sunrise (Seitz), The Last Hour (Kramer), Ah, Love, But a Day (Beach), and Little Brown Owl (Sanderson). From a listening-in station in Manhattan, Miss Slevin’s work sounded excellent, the purity of her voice and the clarity of her diction making her numbers unusually enjoyable.
Clubs, and has been used in community groups and schools, as a link in the Americanization work—a song which begins: People of every tongue,
Join in our Nation’s song In love and awe.
United all, we stand;
United heart and hand;
Loyal to our own land,
America.
A Fine Tribute for Fucito
In presenting the original of the accompanying photograph to her teacher, Laura Robertson paid tribute to her mentor as follows; “To Maestro Salvator Fucito, my only
© Mishkin.
LAURA ROBERTSON
real teacher, in remembrance of my debut at the Metropolitan Opera House, and in gratitude for his five years of wonderful work.” The date on the picture is November 6, 1922. Mr. Fucito is a well known vocal teacher of New York and his artist pupils are filling important places in the musical world. A number of pupils from the Fucito studios recently gave a very successful operatic concert.
Herma Menth at Town Hall March 17
Herma Menth, pianist, will be heard in recital at the Town Hall, New York, on Saturday afternoon, March 17.
12
NEW AMERICA MUST
BE REPRESENTATIVE
Bloods of All Nations Mingle to Form New Type—Now in the Making But Will Become Distinct
[From The Pennsylvania Register, Hotel Pennsylvania, New York.]
There was an Englishman in the office of the Register the other day—Mr. Percy O. Pickingwell, a guest of Hotel Pennsylvania from Liverpool. He talked about the future of America, when this vast country will have assimilated the foreign elements and produced a new type. He speculated upon what this new type will be like, with its mingling of the bloods of all nations, and mused upon the new America which this polyglot American will bring about. His remarks appeared in Wednesday’s Register.
Yesterday, there was another gentleman in the office— Judge Charles Claflin Allen, a guest of Hotel Pennsylvania, from St. Louis, Missouri. He referred to the Register of Wednesday, and to Mr. Pickingwell’s observations. And then he confessed that this had been a subject which had interested him for a long time.
Judge Allen is not a musician, he is not composer, and yet he has written the words and music of a national hymn. Why should this lawyer from St. Louis, who is in New York for conference with his associate counsel in preparing a case for the Supreme Court of the United States, why should he write a hymn, and call it The New America?
Slowly and thoughtfully, he explained;
“It is because I have the same feeling about America as this Englishman you talked to the other day. It is a feeling which I was first conscious of during the War. My son had gone, other people’s sons had gone—and among those sons were hundreds of thousands of foreign-born, or the immediate descendants of foreign-born, of many and varied nationalities. Some of them could not understand the language in which the orders were given; but they could fight in the spirit of America, and they did.
“It struck me then for the first time, that America is a wonderful nation in the making. We have taken all people to our shores, every nationality is represented on American soil. We can’t take one little group and say that its members are the true Americans. It is just as your Englishman said, the type has not become fixed. To be truly American, it must represent all the bloods which have poured into it, and which in commingling and reacting, one upon the other, will form a new and distinct type.
“That is why I, a lawyer, wrote a song, and that is why I called it The New America. I feel that War helped to crystallize the type, for people who represented the bloods of many nations were blended in the common purpose written into the Constitution by the founders of the Great Union of States: ‘to secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.’ ”
That is why Judge Allen, who is a lawyer who claims no qualities as a musical composer, unless it be his deep love for music, has written a hymn which has been adopted on a patriotic program for the National Federation of Music
NOW EN ROUTE TO THE ORIENT
Returning to America for the Season of 19231924־
Exclusive Management :
DANIEL MAYER
Aeolian Hall	New York
HOLLMAN
The Renowned 9Cellist
In Recital, Aeolian Hall, February 7
HIS SIXTH NEW YORK APPEARANCE THIS SEASON
Filled Aeolian Hall yesterday afternoon with one of the biggest and warmest violoncello tones of the season. It was a privilege to hear this fine artist play his own A minor concerto with such a singing tone, concise phrasing and nimbleness of fingers.—Evening Mail.
Mr. Hollman is remembered here by music lovers who go back a quarter of a century or so. Such an artist clusters memories about him. Mr. Holl-man’s tone is maintained unimpaired, a full and sonorous and rich tone.— New York Times.
The veteran ’cellist was still one very agreeable to hear. The slow, lyric passages brought an expressive tone of clearness and warmth, avoiding the academic atmosphere often found in violoncello recitals.—New York T ribune.
Mr. Hollman is still an artist. His greatest asset now is a fine, musicianly style. There is a delightful refinement to his lighter playing. Less of the virtuoso and more of the musician than formerly, he drew enthusiastic applause from his audience.—Evening Telegram.
Mr. Hollman is so familiar to many music lovers that it need only be recorded that he played well with a fine, full tone. The audience seemed to enjoy especially his own concerto which contains some lovely themes full of color and warmth, and Mr. Hollman was most successful in his portrayal of these qualities.—New York Herald.