May 31, 1923
handicapped in the formation of correct ideals by the numerous singers with beautiful natural voices and intuitive singing talent who appear in important places before they have learned to handle their voices properly. Talent is mistaken for correct accomplishment. Such a career is, of course, of short duration and never fails to end in bitter disappointment to the singer, carrying in its train heartaches and generally a life of want and misery. These singers, in a very short time, use up nature’s gifts. They do not embellish what nature has so richly bestowed, by knowledge and understanding, nor do they strive to make of themselves artists, and of their voices instruments that will stand the necessary usage over a prolonged period of time.
“A beautiful voice is one of the most glorious gifts of nature, and I thank my good fortune many times each dav
MUSICAL COURIER
14
ALL-AMERICAN CONCERTS AT AEOLIAN
AND TOWN HALL A REAL TREAT
Songs by American Composers, with the Composers at the Piano, Sung by American Singers Trained in America, and Published by American Publishers—Performed for the First Time—Programs a Great Success
nearly every publisher in׳ America before it was eventually accepted for publication.
“Imagine such a gem being sung from manuscript and the audience rising in its applause of approval! In this way both composer and publisher will be served!
“The publishers through these concerts may present young composers in whom they have faith, ׳but whom the public has not recognized. They may bring prominently be-
THE ELM TREE INN, RAYMOND, MAINE,
twenty miles from Portland, where Joseph Regneas and his students live during the summer. Many of his most successful concert and church singers have accompanied him here in past seasons.
that I have been placed so that I may help develop this joygiving attribute.”
The writer happened to mention that he would perhaps be motoring through the White Mountains this summer, and received a hearty welcome to “drop in and see me.”
“I’ll be at Raymond, Maine, June .28,” added Mr. Regneas, “and until September 12 on the T. R. Maine line, just twenty miles from Portland, and you will find my little party and myself at the Elm Tree Inn; many call the town Regneas, but it’s still Raymond, as it was at the time when Longfellow, Hawthorne and others received the same inspiration from the woods and lakes that my students receive. My 1 what a place for accomplishing,” he continued. “If it is given to anyone to become a singer, that is the place to develop; for the person with determination to do, there is no place like Raymond.”
And with a handshake the writer ventured to add: “And I believe there is no man to work with like Joseph Regneas.”	R.
fore the New York singing public the song they desire most to introduce, and by having the song splendidly sung and authoritatively interpreted, they will be receiving one hundred per cent, representation, not possible in any other way.
“For me, these concerts will demonstrate to the vast singing public my ideas of vocal technic and concert platform deportment. Ever since my return from Europe fifteen years ago, I have, both in public and private, earnestly advocated the developing of a proper vocal technic, the very rock upon which all future success as a singer must be built, and without which a lasting success is impossible. I have always advocated singing in church and elsewhere immediately when one is sufficiently developed to give pleasure to his or her listeners, but such a proceeding must be guided with judgment born of experience. For singers to try for a Fifth Avenue church when they should be getting their experience in a small choir in some outlying district, is most foolhardy. The rising generation is greatly
The two concerts of American compositions given by Joseph Regneas at Aeolian and Town Halls, May 1 and 2, with the composers at the piano, and sung by singers who are studying or have studied with him, created great interest in musical circles, and singers, composers and publishers have urged him to repeat similar programs.
“I am delighted with the great success of this innovation,” said Joseph Regneas, when interviewed regarding these concerts, “and I have decided to give programs like these regularly throughout the year, at frequent intervals. This experiment has brought vividly to my mind the far-reaching influence of such an undertaking.”
They will prove of infinite value to young singers and give them unusual opportunities; the students will realize the importance of standing before New York critics and New York audiences, in our fine halls, where the best artists appear; they will realize that the stamp of approval in New York will be a big factor in getting engagements in and outside of the city, and it will create an interest and enthusiasm in their work which will carry them far. Miss Erstinn, for instance, was immediately engaged by Charles Gilbert Spross for two very fine affairs at Kingston and Saugerties, N. Y., after her success־ in the Town Hall concert.
“For the composer these concerts will be of special interest. The man who is well known will be able to say to the singers; ‘This is how I thought this song’; he will reveal what was in his mind when he wrote it. A case in question, without prejudice, is the song of The Nightingale and the Róse, ,by Wintter Watts, which was one of the big favorites on the program. This composition, when casually perused, would be thrown aside by most singers, but as sung by Marguerite Hazzard and accompanied by the . composer, it took on its real significance, and the publishers have had a larger call for it since the concerts than during the preceding months.
“The composer who is little known, or the man who has written a good song which the publishers had failed to recognize, will find an opportunity of putting the work to the acid test, and the publisher’s representatives at these concerts will be quick to catch the approval of a representative New York audience and make a quick bid for what the public says it wants.
“In speaking to William Arms Fisher on that day regarding his many beautiful compositions which it had been my privilege and joy to sing on my recital programs throughout the country. I mentioned among others his little song Under the Rose. With a smile he told me that it had been one of his biggest sellers over a period of more than twenty-five years, but that the manuscript had been sent to
What an opportunity this will be for the average music teacher who never comes in contact with one of these great ones is quite apparent.
Most important work has also been done by the fifteen members of the association’s board of examiners. Their goal is uniform credits for outside music study throughout the State, and they are working hard and faithfully. A complete report of their doings will be ready in the near future. The board will confer honorary fellowship degrees on the three^ Minnesotans who have disseminated the name of their native State most widely and most honorably in the realm of music. Although the three recipients of this signal honor have been elected by the board of examiners, their names are not yet ready for publication.
Recent Concerts.
A capacity house greeted the ever popular and much beloved Ernestine Schumann Heink. Nothing can be said which has not already been said many times before. The combination of woman and artist makes a recital by her an unforgettable event. The concert, which took place at the Auditorium on May 7, was greatly enhanced by the highly artistic piano accompaniments of Katherine Hoffman. Florence Hardeman, a young violinist, gave plgasing variety to the program.
A unique musical event was a concert by the Bakule Chorus of Prague, Czecho-Slovakia, which was given at the Auditorium on May 11, under the auspices of the American Red Cross. The work of these children was marvelous and should prove an inspiration for supervisors of music in the public schools. They sang songs in their native tongue as well as in English. Marie Mikova, an accomplished pianist, gave variety to the program with a group of three piano numbers by Smetana.	Q g
MINNESOTA TEACHERS TO GO
TO MINNEAPOLIS “CLINICS”
More New Dates for the Denishawn Dancers
Daniel Mayer announces that the bookings thus far made for Ruth St. Denis, Ted Shawn and the Denishawn Dancers include fifty-eight re-engagements. In the majority of these cities the company will give two or more performances where but one took place this season. The reason for this is that so many persons were turned away last time that the local managers want to have room for all who may care to attend.
Next season’s repertory will include four entirely different programs. In several of the larger cities engagements of an entire week will be played. The season will open at the Apollo Theater, Atlantic City, N. J., on October 15 and will continue there for the week. Other new engagements arranged for next season include the following • Niagara Falls, N. Y.; Jackson, Mich.; Fort Wayne and Indianapolis, Ind.; Hot Springs and Little Rock, Ark • Columbus and Springfield, Mo.; Lincoln, Neb.; Des Moines, Waterloo and Keokuk, la.; Bloomington and Peoria 111’ and Erie, Pa.
Griffith, Lhevinne and Auer to Conduct Clinics at the Coming Convention—New Plan Promises Great Interest—Recent Concerts
Minneapolis, Minn., May 16.—The various committees of the Minnesota Music Teachers’ Association, under the guidance of its president, Buchanan R. Morton, of St. Paul, are working like Trojans to put the finishing touches on the^ arrangements for the twenty-second annual convention which is to be held in Minneapolis, June 21-23. The program committee, with Lota Mundy as its capable chairman, is preparing a series of unique events which will make this forthcoming convention one of the most notable in the history of the association. The music department of the University of Minnesota has tendered the use of its new music building for all the programs and business meetings. Thus the association is assured of an ideal meeting place. It can be announced at this time that, while some programs will be given by Minnesota artists, the old style of convention consisting of a series of more or less interesting concerts and recitals will be entirely done away with and a new idea, which will undoubtedly be taken up by other State associations, will be launched. The three afternoons of the convention will be devoted to master classes in voice, violin and piano, each one of the three classes to be conducted by one of the foremost exponents of his art. For the voice class Yeatman Griffith has been secured, Leopold Auer will direct the violin class, and Josef Lhevinne will preside over the pianists. This idea had its inception in the clinics usually held at physicians’ conventions and it is quite apropos to refer to these three events as voice, violin and piano “clinics."
TWO SUMMER COURSES
June 7 to 30
, ’Tbs best expedient to perfect one’s technic consists of hand development
by means of
WOLDEMAR SCHNEE’S HAND TRAINING
Summer rates: Twenty lessons (one course) $75 Permanent address: 137 West 86th Street, New York City.	Telephone, Schuyler 7158
July 1 to 24