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MUSICAL COURIER
Steinway
The Instrument of the Immortals
The Foremost Living Pianists Prefer the Steinway.
Levitzki
Lhevinne
Paderewski
Powell
Rachmaninoff
Schelling
Cortot
Friedman
Ganz
Grainger
Hofmann
Hutcheson
OU may purchase a new Steinway piano with a cash deposit of 10 per cent, and the balance will be extended over a period of two years. Used pianos are accepted in partial exchange.
In Greater New York Steinway Pianos are sold only at Steinway Hall
PRICES: $875 AND UP
There are several Steinway styles and sizes, but only one Steinway quality.
STEINWAY & SONS
STEINWAY HALL 109 East Fourteenth Street
association. The “hoot” was first given under the leadership of Mary Helen Howe by a double quartet at the recent authors’ breakfast.
Louise Continno, laureate of the Lisbon Royal Conservatory and pianist to the queen of Portugal, gave a brilliant recital at Homer Kitt Hall, April 28.
Hazel Gibson Wood, soprano, was the soloist for the reception given by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce at the Willard Hotel.
George Daland, organist, was recently heard in a program devoted to the works of Bach, Haydn and Rossini. Netta Craig, soprano, assisted with songs by Ponce, Cowen and Grieg.
The Girls’ Glee Club of George Washington University, led by Mrs. Otis D. Swett, gave its annual concert at Epiphany Parish Hall.
Elias Breeskin, violinist, has been appointed concertmastcr and soloist of the Rialto Theater Orchestra, the largest organization in local motion picture houses.
The Mikado was given by the students of McKinley Manual Training School as their spring dramatic offering. The cast of high school pupils included Frances Sherier, Floyd Gessford, Leonard Davis, Arthur Hipsley, Anne Chamberlain, Helen Roeder, Frances Carrick, Robert Stabler and Merrill Burnside.
Ethel ^Holtzclaw Gawler was the guest soprano at the thirty-third community sing. Mrs. Gawler was also selected to commemorate the one hundreth anniversary of the writing of Home Sweet Home by singing the Paine song at Keith’s Theater, May 22.
Carfax Sanderson, pupil of H. Leroy Lewis, made his debut in oratorio by singing the tenor role in Mendelssohn’s Elijah at the performance of the work by the Washington Choral Society. He was particularly well received.
H. Leroy Lewis, local vocal coach, was heard in recital together with Lelah House Stoker at the College Club, Baltimore. Their program contained highly artistic material for both soprano and baritone.	T. F. G.
Columbia Students’ Compositions Heard
A concert of original compositions by students in the music department of Columbia University was given at the Horace Mann School auditorium. May 7. The compositions presented included those for piano, organ, voice, violin, cello and string quartet. Two organ pieces (arranged for piano, four hands), a canon in D major by Arthur Brandenburg and a choral prelude by Lucy Alexander, were played by Professor Bingham and Mr. Hough. George Mead, Jr., sang_ his own song cycle for tenor, La belle dame sans merci (Keats) and At Parting (Erskine). Three inventions for piano were played by Mr. Hough, one in B flat major by George Mead, Jr.; one in G minor by Walter Sibert, and one in D major by the class in counterpoint. Grace Becker interpreted two cello numbers, Melodie Plaintive, by Elinor Everit, and Chanson, by Philip Harburger. The Melodie Plaintive was very interesting with an appealing melody, pleasingly worked out. Doris Silbert played two of her own piano compositions and a scherzo by Philip Harburger. Miss Silbert’s dainty Marionettes and a berceuse with smooth and agreeable melodic and harmonic feeling were very commendable. Walter Sibert’s Cantilene and Lucy Alexander’s Larghetto were both melodious violin numbers, played by Emil Levy.
Particularly interesting were the four songs for soprano, composed by Julia Fox and admirably interpreted by Jessie Fox. They were To the Moon (Shelley), Have You Seen My Love? (Donald Davidson), Echo (Thomas Moore) and Do You Know What the Birds Say? (Coleridge). The latter number showed the most individuality of style and was very effective. Variations for String Quartet, arranged for piano, four hands, was played by Professor Bingham and Mr. Hough. The theme was written by Edward Mar-getson and the variations by Arthur Brandenburg. Wintter Watts assisted on the program, playing the accompaniment for four of his songs, interpreted by Velina de Maclot. Like Music on the Waters (Byron), Ruins of Taestum (Vignettes of Italy), The Nightingale and the Rose (Henley) and Little Shepherd’s Song (Percy) were all excellent concert numbers. The Little Shepherd’s Song found especial favor with the audience. Miss de Maclot has a clear, strong soprano voice and gave vivid expression to the songs, interpreting them with feeling.
All m all, the compositions of the various students showed skill in workmanship, and in most cases there was felt the striving for individual expression.
Erin Ballard a Delightful Artist
Erin Ballard, a charming and unusually gifted young pianist from the La Forge—Berúmen School, appeared in recital at the La Forge-Berúmen Studios on May 10, playing a taxing program of classical and modern compositions.
Miss Ballard has toured the country with Alda and Mat-zenauer as accompanist and soloist, but on this occasion, the young artist proved to be a full fledged artist-pianist, with a clear and brilliant touch, and possessing besides a charming personality.
Miss Ballard opened her program with numbers by Handel, Gluck-Sgambati and Schumann. In the symphonic etude^ by Schumann, the young artist disnlayed admirable technic. The most intense fire was noticeable, as well as the finest delicacy. Miss Ballard went through this monumental work with great ease and repose. A group of Chopin compositions gave the young pianist an excellent opportunity for deftness of touch. The G flat impromptu was exquisitely done, and the G minor ballade was played with warmth and exuberance of tone. Other numbers by Cyril Scott and Liszt brought to a close a program of unusual beauty.
Cahier to Open Season with New York Dates
At the close of her present European tour covering Germany Austria, Poland, Denmark and Sweden, which will include during the summer-many special operatic and festival engagements, Mme. Charles Cahier will return to this country late in September. On October 15 she will appear as soloist with the Society of the Friends of Music at the special concert to be given in Carnegie Hall. On October 31 she will give her own song recital in Town Hall, after which time she departs to fill concert engagements in western New York, Ohio and the Middle West.
May 31, 1923
WASHINGTON HOST TO AMERICAN GUILD OF FRETTED INSTRUMENTS
Prominent Local Organizations Give Programs During Mid-Spring Season
Washington, D. C., May 15.—The annual three-day contention of the American Guild of Banjoists, Guitarists and Mandolinists was held at the Raleigh Hotel, April 23-25, delegates coming from all parts of the country. Walter T. Holt, James H. Johnstone, Miss Franklin Harvey and J. H. Johnstone were re-elected to the offices of president, vice-president, secretary-treasurer and field secretary for the coming year. C. A. Templeman (Sioux City, la.) was appointed to the board of directors to fill the vacancy caused by the death of George L. Lansing. An interesting feature of the gathering was a display of the various forms of fretted instruments being manufactured, the makers endeavoring by the exhibit to show the advance made in their works during the past few years. The musical program was furnished by the Nordica Clubs under the baton of Mr. Holt and several guest conductors. The Nordica orchestras are formed in the main from students and for this reason exceptionally high praise is due them for the results obtained. In the past two seasons the clubs have presented Schubert's Unfinished symphony and the Beethoven C minor, forms of composition which do not seem to have appeared in the repertory of any like organizations. Both of the symphonies were given with huge success, the arrangements of B. W. DeLoss quite sufficiently caring for the intricacies of the scores. Shifting Shadows and A Moonlight Frolic, by Herbert Forrest Odell, and George Muder’s Eglantine and Goldenrod were four insets which, under the direction of the composers, were delightfully interpreted by the clubs. There were many individual numbers of merit presented by the soloists which found favor with the many who attended.
Revival of Mendelssohn’s Elijah. Mendelssohn’s Elijah was heard for the first time locally in many seasons on May 8, at the Masonic Auditorium. The oratorio was sung by the Washington Choral Society under Charles Wengerd's direction. This was the fourth work of the year and showed vast improvement over the other ventures, notably in regard to the unified and strengthened rendition of the choruses. The soloists were Gertrude Lyons, soprano; Richie McLean, contralto; Carfax Sanderson, tenor, and Charles T. Tittmann, bass. Charles T. Ferry played all the accompaniments of the evening in worthy fashion.
Artists Give Cadman Program.
A recital of Cadman music (arranged by the composer) was presented by Netta Craig, soprano, and George Daland, pianist, at the Arts Club on April 24. Mr. Cadman’s A major sonata was interesting matter in the hands of Mr. Daland. No less of an achievement was Miss Craig’s finished singing of the Bird of Flame cycle and her additional group of numbers. The two artists thoroughly appreciated their task and accorded much freshness and charm to the lesser known melodies of the avfthor. There was a large audience that applauded heartily.
Success for Chaminade Club.
The Chaminade Glee Club’s program on May 3 presented a considerable quantity of excellent music, all of which was effectively and satisfyingly sung. Foremost on the list was Paul Bliss’ cantata, Three Springs, a light and interesting work that received capable interpretation. Netta Craig, soprano; Flora Brylawski, contralto, and David Nemser, violinist, as assisting soloists, considerably aided by their pleasing appearances. The club has recently received three compositions from Cecile Chaminade, Lcs Sirens, Noel des Marins and Rondo du Crepuscule, which are to be used during the coming year.
College Glee Club Gives Unusual Recital.
The most striking recital of choral music by a non-professional group during the season was rendered by the University of Virginia Glee Club under the direction of Arthur Fickenscher on May 4, at Wardman Park Hotel. This organization showed sound training in everything attempted, its renditions being marked by precision, solidity, uniform tone quality and a clarity of diction decidedly unusual for the average university band of singers. Morley, Palestrina, Elgar and Coleridge-Taylor compositions indicated the high standard achieved. Fred Ogden, Fulton Lewis and Lyttle-tom Waddell were the vocal soloists, while Randolph Conroy, John D. Green, G. Saunders and H. M. Lloyd provided instrumental offerings.
Last Event By Rubinstein Body.
The closing seasonal event by the Rubinstein Club under the leadership of Claude Robeson offered a good deal of well developed choral singing of works by Elgar, Sullivan and Moszkowski. A group of folksongs, Slovak and Belgian, proved so popular that all five of them called for repetition. Kathryn Meisle, contralto, was the guest artist. Her numbers included the Don Carlos aria and some picturesque songs by Schubert, Gretchaninoff, Delibes, Watts, Strickland and Bridge. Mrs. Weldon Carter and Mrs. Raymond Bickey played violin obligatos for several airs. Mrs. Howard Blandy for the club and Earl Beatty for Miss Meisle proved valuable accompanists.
Twelve-Year-Old Lad in Piano Recital.
Emerson Meyers, twelve-year-old pianist, played an exacting program at the Y. M. C. A. Auditorium, May 5, astonishing his hearers. Two preludes by Bach, the Beethoven sonata, op. 10, No. 2; a Chopin prelude; the Military Polonaise by the same composer and a varied assortment of Rachmaninoff, Goossens, Mendelssohn, Grieg and MacDowell made up the assignment undertaken by the youth. His well defined interirretations and the exceptional power and assertion of his delivery seem to indicate a bright future for him. Jacob Levenson, violinist, offered two numbers.
Notes.
Marguerite and Bessie Brown, soprano and mezzo, together with Malton Boyce, pianist, gave a recital for the benefit of the Russian Refugee Fund.
The final lobby concert at the Y. M. C. A. introduced Arthur Middleton, bass; Lillian Chenoweth, contralto; Bazarova, male soprano; Beatrice McGuire, reader, and Marjorie Davis, pianist.
The League of American Pen Women have adopted as a slogan song The Hoot of the Owl, words by Virginia Munro and musical setting by Wilmuth Gary, two members of the