MUSICAL COURIER
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institution, having completed the post-graduate work under the American pianist, Edgar Nelson.
1Walter Spry for Austro-German Musicians Fund.
Walter Spry has been appointed Western representative to collect funds for the Austro-German Musicians’ Relief Fund. Mr. Spry’s address is care of the Columbia School of Music, 509 South Wabash avenue, Chicago.
American Conservatory Items.
In a recent preliminary contest for violin and voice given by the Society of American Musicians for the purpose of selecting soloists to appear with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra next season, American Conservatory students were most successful. George G. Smith, baritone, was selected first among the three in the vocal competition, and Nesta_ Smith and Stella Roberts were selected among the three in the violin competition.
The_ Department of Public School Music is planning most intensive courses for the summer term. In addition to regular and post-graduate courses there, will be special courses by George H. Gartlan, superintendent of music in the public schools of New York City, and other prominent educators.
Robert Scanland, pianist, former pupil of Allen Spencer, is now teaching at Heidelberg University, Tiffin, Ohio.
Albert Lukken, baritone, former pupil of Karleton Hackett, was elected dean of the music school and head of the voice department at the University of Oklahoma.
Joseph Novy, cellist, artist-student of Robert Ambrosius of the conservatory faculty, played Saint-Saëns concerto with the Civic Orchestra, February 25, Frederick Stock conducting.
Else Harthan Arendt’s Pupils and Women’s Chorus Heard.
A most interesting and exceptionally well presented program was that given on Tuesday evening, February 20, by pupils of Else Harthan Arendt and the Women’s Chorus, under her direction at the Sherwood Music School. Irma Rehberg, George F. Gordon, Katheryn Llewellyn, Loretta Liedell, Lucille Long, Hannah Jane Fiske, Mabel Daly, Maria Castro-Leon and LeRoy Hamp were the pupils who reflected the splendid vocal training received under Mme. Arendt’s guidance. Under this versatile teacher’s direction, her women’s chorus obtained admirable results in numbers by Mark Andrews, Elgar, and Gaul. Adding to the enjoyment of the evening, Mme. Arendt sang with the chorus the Bizet Agnus Dei.
Musical News Items.
The first of a series of organ recitals at the first Presbyterian Church was presented on February 21. The organist appearing was William E. Zeuch, organist of the South Congregational Church of Boston, who presented a long and interesting program.
Carl Craven, tenor, is engaged for a joint program at the Chicago Beach Hotel on February 25. Emma Hammar, (Continued on page 61)
Santoliquido, who for the first time had his name inscribed on the program of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, is a splendidly gifted composer who does not resort to cacophonous noise to win the attention of the hearers of his music. His style of writing is elegant, clear, tuneful, imaginative and descriptive. Mr. Stock and his men gave a beautiful reading of the new compositions of this young man and no doubt other of his works will reach these shores next season. Anyway, these two outputs well deserve further hearing and contributed in no small way in making this week’s concerts most enjoyable. Equally successful was the composition of the other Italian, Pick-Mangiagalli, whose Sortilegi made a deep impression. Pick-Mangiagalli also, though a modern, is willing to write melodious passages that charm the ear, and that kind of music always makes an appeal on the imagination. His Sortilegi is a very interesting work that was superbly rendered by the orchestra, and Wïlhelm Bachaus played the piano part in a manner all to his credit. Stock brought out all the beauties contained in the new work and made it well liked. Bachaus besides played the Beethoven G major concerto as his solo number and brought forth all his pianistic qualities, making his part of the program stand out conspicuously. A scholar, his playing of the concerto was masterly and the rapturous plaudits of the audience a significant mark of approbation. The program also included the overture to The Impresario by Mozart and a Romantic Suite by Reger.
Bush Conservatory Pupils Win in Preliminary Contests.
Two artist pupils of Bush Conservatory have won places in the preliminary trials of the contest now being conducted by the American Society of Musicians for the honor of an appearance as soloist with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
The talented young women who have been awarded places in the final trials are Ebba Fredericksen, artist-student of Richard Czerwonky, and Leola Aikman, soprano, artist-pupil of Charles W. Clark. Both of the young artists have been students at Bush Conservatory for several years, and give evidence of the high grade of training characteristic of this progressive institution.
Miss Fredericksen, who comes from Seattle, Wash., will be remembered as the winner of the fine old Italian violin given last season by Lyon and Healy in a competition for the most talented member of Mr. Czerwonky’s class at Bush Conservatory. Miss Aikman is an Illinois girl, who has studied with Charles W. Clark for a number of years; she has also to her credit the added distinction in having won a prize of $1,000 in a beauty contest conducted by a St. Louis paper.
The final trials of the competition of the American Society of Musicians, which has attracted city wide attention, will be held March 14.
Lyell Barber, the gifted pianist whose recent Chicago recital was acclaimed by the critics as most successful, was a visitor at Bush Conservatory recently. Mr. Barber, who was in Chicago on his. way to fill engagements throughout the Middle West, is one of the talented graduates of this
March 1, 1923
nificent manipulation of his instrument, gave unalloyed pleasure and his contributions to the evening’s program brought out many numbers seldom heard and well deserving a hearing, especially when played by a master harpist.
Out-of-Town Visitors.
Among the out-of-town visitors this week were encountered, besides Rosa Raisa and Giacomo Rimini, Titta Ruffo and his astute personal representative, Howard Shelley, both of whom looked the picture of health and told us many interesting stories during their week’s stay in Chicago. Ruffo may sing a few performances here next season. At least this is the wish of many music lovers who have been deprived in the last few years of hearing the famous, baritone in grand opera.
S. Hurok was here looking after the interests of Chaliapin and the Russian Opera Company, now appearing at the Auditorium. Most of the company were present at a supper given during the week at the new Russian restaurant in the Chicago Musical College building. The affair ended, at about four o’clock in the morning.
Roger DeBruyn, who has done a great deal for the Irish Band of Toronto, managing most successfully its twenty-week season just concluded, was a guest in the city for a few days and left for the East, stopping in Battle Creek, Ann Arbor and Detroit (Mich.) before going back to his office in New York City.
Marion Andrews, the popular impresario and representative of this paper in Milwaukee, was also among the visitors and told many interesting things concerning her activities. She has already re-engaged the Russian Opera for a series of performances in Milwaukee, and will present the troupe in Racine, Wis., and Green Bay, Wis., at the close of the company’s present engagement at the Auditorium. Next season she will open her course in Milwaukee with Chaliapin, who has also sung in Milwaukee this season under her management. Paderewski’s recital in Milwaukee practically broke all previous records. This concert was also under Miss Andrews’ management.
Father Finn and Lee Pattison for Gunn School.
The Gunn School of Music announces the engagement for the Summer Master Class of Father 'William J. Finn, the noted conductor of the Paulist Choir of New York. Father Finn will lecture on choir methods, literature of the middle ages, the Russian Choral Art, Gregorian Chant and the problems of organists and choir masters generally. His course comprises sixty hours, three hours per day, five days a week for four weeks, beginning June 25. The school also announces the engagement of Lee Pattison, the gifted associate of Guy Maier, whose two-piano programs made a sensation throughout the country. Mr. Pattison will begin his association with the Gunn School in May and will teach throughout the summer master school.
The school also calls attention to the recent engagement of Colberta Millett of Milan, who for twenty years was a vocal teacher in New York, Paris, Milan, Berlin. Mme. Millett joined the faculty of the school the first of the year and already has enrolled a large class of enthusiastic students.
Pietro Yon in Organ Recital.
The first of the anticipated series of organ recitals at Kimball Hall, February 20, proved an auspicious event. The management was happy in presenting as the initial number Pietro Yon, who delivered a program which served to bring out all beauties and hidden intricacies of his instrument and with such masterful control as to completely enthrall a musical audience and send it into raptures during the entire evening, ceaselessly calling for encores. In the estimation of this writer, Pietro Yon has sustained his great reputation and is a revelation in organ composition and mastery, and stands in a class by himself. His technic is large and clear, his touch crisp and at the same time velvety, his tone always full and colorful; his pianissimos, crescendos and diminuendos are delightful. Everything he plays bears the imprint of superb artistry. In this program he was equally as great in his pedal work as in his key manipulation. To be graphic, he literally turned the organ inside out to the view of his greatly surprised auditors, bringing to view revelations in tone and effects hitherto unknown to them and brought more out of his instrument than it had ever been suspected of containing. He can be rightfully acclaimed a wizard of the organ.
Notes from the Sturkow-Ryder Studios.
Jean MacShane, professional pupil of Mme. Sturkow-Ryder, played on the Daily News Radio Program, February 23. On Saturday afternoon, February 24, some five pupils were presented in recital by Mme. Sturkow-Ryder at her studios. Janet Friday played two Bach inventions and two Chopin waltzes, Ethel Eiler offered a Bach invention, Beethoven’s bagatelle and Raff’s Spinning Song; Sophie Shapiro rendered the B minor Bach French suite and the Mozart rondo; Ethel Dale played the MacDowell Witches’ Dance; Jean MacShane was the interpreter of numbers by Scarlatti and Rubinstein, and, to close the program auspiciously, Mme. Sturkow-Ryder played the Beethoven violin and piano sonata with Ann Hathaway.
MacBurney Studios Recital.
A program of Italian and Spanish songs served to add interest in the work of the several advanced vocal pupils of the MacBurney Studios at Fine Arts Hall, February 22, which was the fifth program of the series of the fourteenth season. Each participant who appeared on the program has been heard in dissimilar numbers, and the versatility, aplomb and musical understanding evidenced bespeaks of advancement not only in those things here spoken of but also the voices are growing more colorful. All this is indicative of the power of conveyance by the preceptor or preceptress. These evenings are very enjoyable, as_ the end sought by the MacBurney Studios is to carry music in all of its variety to the world; hence the selection of Italian and Spanish for this occasion. Eleanor Johnson, contralto, Lillian Geraghty and Leola Turner, sopranos, Edward Poole Lay baritone, and B. Fred Wise, tenor, were the pupils heard on this program.
Orchestra's Program.
Three novelties by Italian composers, Francesco Santoli-quido’s Twilight on the Sea and The Perfume of the Sahara Desert, and Riccardo Pick-Mangiagalli’s Sortilegi —compositions written in the modern musical language— proved happy additions to the repertory of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra when played for the first time here at Orchestra Hall at the regular weekly concerts on Friday afternoon and Saturday evening, February 23 and 24.