NEW YORK, THURSDAY, April 19, 1923
MVSICAL(QVRIER
VOL. LXXXVI—No. 16 Whole No. 2245
the crowning work of the afternoon. It was given with assurance and nobility of style.
Symphony Orchestra Concert.
The Bethany Symphony Orchestra is an organization which has gradually attracted attention to such a degree (Continued on page 30)
CLOSING DATE OF STADIUM
PRIZE CONTEST EXTENDED
LINDSBORG’S (KANSAS) FORTY-SECOND ANNUAL
MUSIC FESTIVAL HAS MANY NOTABLE FEATURES
Three Performances of Messiah Are Given—Alda, Braslau, Silver-Rickel, De Witt, Hudson and Fowlston Are Week’s Soloists—Recitals by Faculty and Pupils of Bethany College—Bethany Band, Symphony Orchestra and Instrumental Trio Distinguish Themselves—Art Exhibition and Mid-West Music Contests Additional Features
Search for New Orchestral Compositions Expected to Reveal New American Composers—Many Scores Already Submitted
There seems to be little question but that some new American composers will be discovered and set firmly on their feet within the next three months. The newly organized movement of the Stadium Concerts of New York to find such is already bearing fruit. The prize is a great one. Those who are found worthy will have their compositions played by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra during the Stadium concert season this summer.. The search is for orchestral compositions only.
So many requests have come in, however, from American composers all over the country, and so great and keen has been the interest and attention aroused, that the Score Committee of the Stadium Concerts, of which Mrs. William Cowen is chairman, and which has its offices in the Fisk Building, 57th Street and Broadway, New York, has announced that the time for receiving scores would be extended from May 1 to June 1.
The idea has been to give an opportunity to every American composer, so arranging the selection that there should be absolutely no favoritism, and that the composer of the winning score or scores would not be known until after the decision was made.
It was thought at first that May 1 would be ample time to get all possible scores in. But the pleas for an extension of time have been so many that one month’s grace is to be given.
Many scores have already come in. The Score Committee wishes it to be well understood that any form of orchestral composition, overture, symphony, suite, or whatever it may be, will be considered, provided its playing time is not over twenty-five minutes in length.
Mrs. Cowen, as chairman of this special Stadium committee, has sent out this letter widely, to every composer in the country that can be reached, to all the music publishing houses, and in many other directions.
You have no doubt read of the unusual op-portunity to be given American composers at the Stadium Concerts this summer. It was not without some difficulty that I was able to convince the committee that a movement of this kind is absolutely necessary in order to encourage American compositions.
Conductors cannot give the time to examine carefully the number of manuscripts sent to them. In that way many excellent scores have been overlooked. What I hope to establish is one definite place in this country where an American composer can send in his scores at any time; they will be carefully examined and the best ones selected to be presented by our leading orchestras.
The only way I can achieve the success this movement deserves is by your co-operation and the co-operation of all American composers in submitting their manuscripts; this will lead to greater opportunities from year to year. I stand squarely for the American composer—first, that he exists, and, secondly, if he does, he should have an opportunity to be heard. It is up to you to help me. Any form of orchestral composition will be considered providing it is not over twenty-five minutes in length. A cash prize will be given for the best manuscript, or the manuscript will be published. No scores will be accepted after June 1.
A committee of the most competent judges has been selected, and only compositions of high musical value will be presented. The success of this movement depends entirely upon your cooperation.
The Stadium Concert Committee feels that this is the greatest opportunity ever given to the unknown American composer, for those who win will achieve fame at a bound, having their music played by master hands, before thousands, interpreted by one of the finest orchestras of the world. Judging from the interest already shown throughout the country, there seems to be no doubt but that a work will be found which can fully be called a representative American one.
was the overture, II Guarny, by Gomez. A pleasing novelty on the program was a duet for flute and horn by Bernard Leaf and John Leaf. Miss DeWitt and Mr. Fowlston each contributed a group of songs which was well received.
Faculty Recital.
Oscar Thorsen, pianist, and Arthur Uhe, violinist, ap-
I Apeda photo.	IDA SYLVANIA,
|	American soprano, who has been having splendid success in opera in Italy this season.
\	Recently the papers from coast to coast published the picture of the Pennsylvania
|	farmer's daughter with the remarkable voice, and note comes a cable from Venice telling
f	of the “extraordinary success” of this same girl at the Malibran Theater on the opening
i	night of the season of opera when she sang the leading rôle in Verdi's La Traviata. At
|	the conclusion of this engagement, she will sing principal rôles in opera in Rome.
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peared in recital Wednesday afternoon. Mr. Thorsen, in the first group, presented two numbers by Blanchet and Griffes, also the Ballade in form of Variations on a Norwegian Melody, by Grieg. The various moods were delineated with a fine sense of tonal color and dynamic effect.
Mr. Uhe, who has distinguished himself both as concert performer and composer, played the Chaconne by Vitali-Nadaud, with virile tone and technical mastery. The Kreutzer sonata for piano and violin, by Beethoven, was
Lindsborg, Kan., April 9.—Frances Alda opened Linds-borg’s forty-second annual Music Festival on Palm Sunday. Visitors had arrived from all parts of Kansas and other States, including Nebraska, Illinois, Oklahoma, Missouri, Colorado, Arkansas, Texas, Mississippi and Georgia, some remaining for the entire week. A full house greeted Mine. Alda and she gave generously of her art. Her interpretations at all times breathe a spirit of sincerity. Of the first group of songs the most interesting were The Soldier’s Bride and What Happiness, by Rachmaninoff. The aria Un Bel Di, from Madame Butterfly, was given a glowing rendition. As an encore Mme. Alda (by special request) added the Prayer from Puccini’s La Tosca. The final group consisted of MacDowell’s Thy Beaming Eyes and three numbers by popular modern composers. The Singer, by Maxwell, written for and dedicated to Mme.
Alda, had to be repeated. The concert was a distinct success artistically and otherwise. Lester Hodges, as accompanist and soloist, demonstrated excellent pianistic qualities.
Oratorio Concert.
On Sunday evening the Bethany Oratorio Society was heard in Handel’s Messiah, assisted by the Bethany Symphony Orchestra. The soloists were Hazel Silver-Rickel, Winifred DeWitt, Byron Hudson and Edgar Fowlston. All sang in a very commendable manner. The orchestra, with Ellen Strom at the organ, supplied an excellent background for the chorus of five hundred voices. Special mention is due Arthur Uhe, concert-master, who leads his forces with an assurance which gives vitality to the whole orchestra. Hagbard Brase, director, can always be depended upon to give a hroad, virile performance of this oratorio.
Rickel-Fowlston Recital.
The next evening Hazel Silver-Rickel and Edgar Fowlston appeared in joint recital. Mrs. Rickel has a well trained voice, her phrasing is finished and her interpretations musical. Among the favorite numbers were Ballatella, from Pagliacci; Burst of Melody, Seiler, and Song of the Open, La Forge. Mr. Fowlston is a well-routined singer with a voice of good carrying power. He was excellent in Vittoria Vittoria, by Caris-simi. His mezzo voce is very pleasing as was evidenced in the song, Drink to Me Only with Thine Eyes.
Juvenile Piano Recital.
On Tuesday morning Ellen Strom, directress of the Juvenile Piano Department, presented the following pupils in recital: Helen Jenkins, Virginia Lind-berg, Ruby Palmquist, Margaret Carlson,
Olga Ehnstedt, Evelyn Nelson, Irene Ehnstedt, Margaret Hawkinson, Thelma Olson, Jeanette Goodholm, Velma Berg-gren, Helen Johnson and Viola McKinley. The young students played excellently.
Fine Arts Recital.
The following students of the School of Fine Arts gave a recital that afternoon: Fred Denker, Marian Kirkpatrick,
Helengould Watkin, Katharine Penner,
Evelyn Hjerpe, Ahzelle Pruitt, Clarabel Banta, Mildred Hartzell, Irene Houdek and Paul Goodman. The program and performance was of a high standard. Irene Houdek and Katharine Penner, students of Thure Jaderborg, sang before Frances Alda and Sophie Braslau, receiving favorable comment.
Bethany Band.
Bethany’s veteran musical organization, the band, conducted by Hjalmar Wetterstrom, gave a concert in the College Auditorium in the evening. The principal number
FOREIGN NEWS IN BRIEF
vation at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, last week. Record crowds attended the concert, for which admission was free, an open charge being made for programs. The series of museum concerts is being organized by the League of Arts and is to be made a regular feature of the musical life of London. There is already considerable interest in these concerts and excellent programs are promised. G. C.
cess in Mannheim, where she played Mac-Dowell’s D minor concerto with the Mannheim State Orchestra under Erich Kleiber, regular conductor of the orchestra and successor of Wilhelm Furtwängler at the Mannheim Opera.	A. Q.
Music in London Museums.
- London, March 20.—Some Bach piano music played by Harold Samuel, was• an inno-
Romeo and Juliet and the Mozart symphony in C major. Sir Thomas seems to have kept all his old brilliancy, while his readings have an even greater breadth of vision. He had a tumultuous reception from a crowded audience.	G. C.
Eleanor Spencer Scores , at Mannheim.
Berlin, March 22.—Eleanor Spencer, the American pianist, scored an undisputed suc-
Sir Thomas Beecham Returns to the Limelight.
Manchester (England), March 21.—After an absence of three years, Sir Thomas Beecham returned to the concert platform here last week, conducting the Halle orchestra in an interesting program which included a new pianoforte concerto by Hamilton Harty, the intermezzo from Delius’ Village
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