THE OREGON SUNDAY; JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING. NOVEMBER 15, -1808. '
THIS week , cornea - the happg an
nouncement that Madame Lillian
Nordic will return to Portland
next month In concert, tinder the
Lola Steers-Wynn Coman manage
ment. The announcement la met with
joy, for no other dinger, unleaa tt he
Bchumann-Helnk haa ever been' given
uch whole-hearted love aa well aa ad
miration in Portland. .
Madame Nordlca I will be here the
night of Thursday December 10, to
aing at the Helllg, and It t aaid that
this will be , her laat appearance In
Portland, for she la contemplating giv
ing up the concert stage to devote her
time exclusively to her pet hobby
the establishment of her American Bay
reuth on ihe Hudson. However, not
very much has been aaid about thla
retirement, for it might be that madam a
will be prevailed upon to remain before
the public soma time yet, and she la not
the one to use this "farewell appear
ance" aa an advertisement.
Madame Nordlca la not old aa prima
donnas go. It may be an unchlvalroua
art to publish some women's ages
abroad,- but If a woman, has accom
plished as much aa haa Nordlca and
lias such widespread fame and wide
reaching Influence aa haa this queen of
song, there la no want of chivalry In
saying 'that she has accomplished all
that she has before she la 60. She was
born in 1859.
Madame Nordlca la one of the most
delightful public personages I have ever
tni't. one is a woman or large Drain
and large heart. -There are some singers?-
ad to tell, whose Interests do not ex
tend, beyond their own limited sphere
and their own hopes for success. Not
so with Madame Nordlca. She deals
with large ideas; she thinks about big
things: she debates big questions, sb
solutely unrelated to her art; she
battles with big problems. There is
nothing small about her nature. She
talks about "us working women" as
though she were one of the lowliest of
them, and speaks of the the unfairness
shown to poor working women as
though she herself had known what It
was to work under these unfair condi
tions. . ,
A success In the financial world her
self, ' ehe still feels for her humbler
sisters who meet with Injustice and she
longs to be able to fight for them. Need
less to say she believes in woman's suf
frage. And. withal, Madame Nordlca Is thor
oughly feminine. A strong character.
ha haa. however, none of the mascu
line traits about her. She likes her
comforts and likes a cosy, little chat
over the teacups, and she loves pretty
clothes as much as anyone. It la this
cUmxnt nf womanliness coUDled with
her splendid strength of character and
v dignity that endears her to her audl
nce. They begin by admiring and end
i.v invlnir her. This has been notice
odlA In hnr annearancea here. The
spontaneity and. the sincerity of the
ovation given her last June when she
sang with the New York Bympnony or
chestra bespoke a warmth of feeling
that passed mere cold admiration.
Madame Nordica'a main ambition has
' always been to do something for fu
ture generations so that her usefulness
amuM not nass with her life. That-4s
the way she happened upon her Ameri
can Bayreuth plan. She hopes to bulla
this large Institution for the benefit
of American girls who now have to go
abroad for study, and there often frit
ter away their ume ana tneir money
nothing is left merely through lgnor-
nM of the nroner way to proceed. At
this Institution Madame Nordlca hopes
to center the best Instructive talent of
the age that talented Americana may
thus secure what their limited means
often makes it impossible for them to
She also nlnns to have concerts given
there by the best talent the world of
fers. Her plans nave oeen -set ionn
more In detail In this cava, and thev
are too extensive to explain farther
here. Suffice it to say that Madame
Nordlca now says, that it is ner on;y
desire to live to see this dream ful
filled. And the land tnat sue has
bought for the project and the money
she has turned over to It takes It far
enough out of the realm of dreams and
Into the province of reality to make It
seem that she will have her desire soon.
And now for her appearance here next
month. This by the way will be the second
of the aubscrlptton series given by Miss
Bteers and Miss Coman for the Oogorsa
concert was given aside from the se
ries. Madame Nordlca, will thla Ume
bring with her Emma Showers, a pl
anlste of Memphis, Tenn., who haa some
very nice things aaid about her: Fred
erick Hastings, baritone, and Andre Be
nolst, accompanist Mlsa Showera has
studied extensively in Boston with
Baermann and later In Europe.
She Is . pronounced an artist of high
ideals who wishes to raise the standard
of musicianship among pianists to the
same high level occupied by violinists.
Mr. Hastings also Is an American, for.
by the way. Madame Nordlca Is one ot
those rare people who do not belittle
home products, but believe In giving
them a chance with the Imported. Mr.
Hastings has a dramatic baritone. He
Is especially successful as an oratorio
and concert singer.
Miss Ethel Sundqulst. a talented
young, violinist of Astoria, is gaining a
good deal of attention by her talent
She studied for three years with Sauret
and now that she has returned to As
toria she studies with Frank O. Elchen
laub, the talented Portland pianist who
pronounces her exceptionally -.- clever.
Next Tuesday she will be the soloist
at the Philharmonic concert in Astoria
and will play "Ballade e.t Polonajse"
(Vieuxtemps). She has worked up this
number entirely with Mr. Eichenlaub in
the short time she has been studying
with him and shows exceedingly good
style.
An Important step in music haa been
taken in San Francisco where Bach
festivals are to be Inaugurated under
the direction of Dr. J. Fred Wolle at
the Greek theatre. The first concert
will be given nest May andv the first
number will be the G minor class. The
Bnch chorus consists of about Joo
voices and is divided into the Berkelny-Oakland-AIamedai
section and the San
Francisco section.
A benefit concert will "be given for
. St. Agnes baby home "next Friday even
ing at the Heilig under the auspices of
ihe Ladles' Aid society of the cathe
dral.". "Mrs. May Dearborne Schwab and
Misa Petronelhv Connolly - are arrang
ing the program, i The Lakme quartet
Will give several numbers, among them
the beautiful "West Wind." written by
Father Dominic, with words by Mrs.
Alma ,IJ. Rogers. Mta. . Arvilla Mo
GvH Stolte la . the accompanist - for
the quartet during the absence of ,Mrs.
Warren B. Thomaa and will be the
accompanist that evening for the solo
ists. Mrs. Schwab will sing a number
of her child songs, in whfoh ahe -has
been heard In recital. Miss Delia Brad
ley, reader, will give aome child verse
in line with these songs. Miss Con
nolly, Miss Ethel Lytle 'Booths, and
Stuart McguWe, the talented baritone,
will be the other soloist. Mlsa Cor
nelia Barker will contribute violin num
bers. The patronesaea for the concert are
Mrs. A. T. Rockey, Mrs. L. Allen Lewis,
Mrs.'W. C Alvord, Mrs. Henry Waldo
Coe. Mrs. P. J. Cronln, Mrs. D. W.
Burke, Mrs. John Murphy, Mrs. "W. F.
Graham, Mrs. F. Sullivan and Miss M.
McKay.
P. 6. Hickie will give two interesting
groups of songa at the recital Monday
night, given by pupils of Mra. Rose
Coursen Reed. Among, his numbers will
be the well known aria "To the Evening
Star" (TannhauserV, a pretty Italian
serenade by Scuderi; Schumann's "Die
Lotosblume," and "Don Juan's Serenade"
by Tschalkowsky. Misa Orayce Ellen
Campbell and Dr. George Alnalle are
the other sololsta. . The Tuesday After
noon club will glVe two numbers.
s
The musical program at the Cente
nary M. B. church today will consist of
organ numbers by William R. Boone
of Corvallis and a tenor aolo by C. B.
Patterson in the morning. There will
be a social next Friday night at the
parsonage given by the church as a re-
eeptlon to the new choir with Mr. Pat
terson and Mr. Boone.
The music at the Taylor street M. K
church today will be as follows: Morn
ing Organ voluntary, anthem, "By
Babylon's Wave." (Gounod); offertory
contralto solo, v'GIve Alms of Thy
Goods" , organ pnstlude. Evening Pre
lude, anthem, "The Choir Angelic,"
(Hanscom); offertory, tenor solo, "The
Old Sweet Story, (Parks); postlude.
w
The younger members of Miss Grace
Wilton's piano school gave their second
recital of the season last Saturday aft
ernoon before an attendance of HO young
people. , Miss Katharyne Shannon and
Miss Mlna Uhlman have been added to
the faoulty In Miss Wilton's school.
w
Frank G. Eichenlaub haa been en
gaged as head of the violin department
at Columbia university on the east aide.
Mr. Eichenlaub has not been in Port
land many months, but his talent and
conscientious work have gained him
ready recognition.
Among the out-of-town people study
ing with Mrs. Rose Couraen-Reed are
Miss Katberine Romlg of Newberg, Or..
Miss Marian Plummcr of Hillsdale and
Miss Kathryn Shannon of Forest Grove.
The need of a new American national
anthem was discussed recently by the
National Institute of Art and Letters,
of Which Professor William Milligan
Sloane of Columbia university la presl-
V f
' V . 3r H
Latest, Picture of Mma. Lillian Nordlca,
Ns , .f-... .f
s ,s s, ,V s-v
jZL r:fli- ''-
dent. The organisation decided that we
need a new anthem. That being settled
for the five thousandth time, the meet
ing, adjourned, Musical Courier.
Mra. Chloe McClung-Daneke has be
come a member of Rose Coursen Reed's
Treble Cleff club, taking the place in
second alto of Mra. Virginia Wire, for
merly Mra. Reno Hutchinson.
. -v : "
.A correspondent asks, "Who Is the
youngest and who is the oldest ot the
most famous living composers T" Rach
maninoff is 85 and Ooldmark is 7S.
Musical Courier.
The muaio at the First , Baptist
church today will include, a 'cello solo
by Charles Duncan Raff and a gospel
duet by Miss Kathleen Lawler and Miss
Ethel Shea.
Miss Kathleen Lawler has reorganized
her chorus of women's voices and there
are 26 members In the chorus.
-a
ADELA VERNE IS
Pianistic Wonder
Monstrosity is not a pretty word
because we have come to associate it
too much with the idea of hideous ab
normality. But it is a strong word and
originally means merely a deviation
from the usual form, and hence some
thing extraordinary, wonderful, marvel
ous. I suppose that is the reason
heard a cleverplaniste who was almost
struak dumb with wonder, use only that
one Iterm of Mlsa Adela Verne the
others night. For her genius is almost
unbelievable.
Alfred Metzger. the discriminating
editor of the Musical Review of San
Francisco, described my feelings of as
tonishment when he wrote of her, "My
ears could hardly believe my eyes, and
m v eves could hardly believe my ears.
and had it not been for my soul, I cer
tainly would have been bewildered.
Ym. like Rosenthal, she leaves one
with a sense of the Inadequacy of the
English language to aescnoe ner art.
Wonderful. reDeated several times in
succession with a gasp and exclamation
point after each one would come the
nearest to an expression oi ner ri.
It is a Dltv that Miss verne waa neam
heard only by a few hundred Invited
people Thursday night at the Suottlsh
Rltu cathedral. A fortunate few suc
ceeded in getting the Invitations for
feited by the mempers wno aione were
en. I tied to them. And these few. com
prising several 6f the musical elect
sat up ana wonaerea ai ims pnenomenon
who made the piano answer to every
whim and fancy of her splendid mu
sical mind. For her fingers were only
servants of her will. And so subservi
ent were they that her hearers were
merely eonsciouB of the magnificent
sounds that wove themselves into gior
Imia expressions of human emotions.
And for once they forgot entirely the
perfeot technic. It was only with an
effort that one realized it was a pro
cess of" keys being struck with mar
velous control. It was sound existing,
not being made.
And yet adjectives fall when one at
temnts to describe her technical accom
plishment. But added to this are char
acter, force, individuality, and impres
sionability without weak sentimentality,
that make her playing of the master
pieces vivid pictures and living stories.
The most phlegmatic could not but be
moved by her playing. That wonderful
Chopin 35th sonata which only a few
artists can play adequately left noth
ing to be desired In her interpretation.
It throbbed with tragic intensity. Vol
canic force, present In aU her work
showed Itself In Chopin's wonderful
work. Unlimited power was there, but
v3
1 tS
4
Wio Will fas Here Next Month
5. a
"J "7 Si
it waa kept under the. control of her
mlnd. ,, . -
To enumerate the numbers on her
program which especially held the audi
ence would be hard, for It waa a varied
program and everything waa played per
fectly. The 22 Beethoven variations
displayed her technical skill. The four
pieces for the harplschord. all written
in the seventeenth and eighteenth cen
turies, showed how well she could lay
aside her strength to Interpret these
dainty, quaint bits. The staccato study
by Rubinstein was a glittering, spark
ling marvel. - Her wonderful singing
tone waa especially shown In "Au Con
vent" (Borodin). ''Tha Wind" (Alkan, a
characteristic piece, was not a piano
composition under her hands but a real
reproduction of caprices of the wind
and cold shudders, alternating with hot
waves of enthusiasm, passed through
the house. The Liszt polonaiase teemed
with martial spirit and force and aha
was forced to respond to a wild encore.
Naturally she was compared to most
of "the great pianists and never to her
disparagement, 'rime and again Mad
ame Carreno'a name was mentioned ayd
suffice it to say, Mlas. Verne, who, by
the way, is only a young woman in her
early twentlea and extremely modest,
did not auffer by the comparison. She
will undoubtedly be heard of farther.
I only hope that Mlsa Steers and Miss
Coman, who have interested themselves
In her career, will find an opportunity
to bring her back here, that Portland
at large may have the opportunity of
hearing this wonderfully talented young
woman.
-55
UST TO DUST" IS
Text of This Sermon
-- . -a
Qelma-Heida 'Of Paris, well versed In
matters musical, writes wittily to the
Musical Courier ' concerning the warn
ing given by a prominent physician.
Delma-Helde is well fitted to speak of
dust dirt dust, gold dust or any kind
of dust In connection with muslo, for he
has been In active service in the music
al field long enough to know what kind
of dust is most frequently raised by
stampeding musicians. Contaminated
dust, bv the way, must be some kind
of cousin to tainted money. Following
are his remarks:
"Microbes (germlsltea or parasites, as
you may choose to cail them) leave no
thing untouched. It la claimed, not even
pianos or bank notes, particularly when
touched with dust 1. e., the wrong kind
of dust. It In undoubted that dust (the
ordinary dust) is rich in germs of all
kinds, and dust la deposited everywhere.
The dusting of the parts of a piano may
produce cases of pneumonia, influenza
and Scarlatina, Persons playing upon
pianos (according to. a learned medical
authority) may be attacked by the
germs of these diseases lurklnjr In the
crannies of the Instrument, waiting for
their opportunity to he inhaled by th
lungs and to recommence their deadly
work. Pianos are, therefore, suscepti
ble of carrying within them the germs
of dangerous maladies (not melodies),
hence It is an absolute necessity to
prevent their abfrblng the dust which
carries the contamination. Here, again,
aa always, we must beware of the dust"
ARIE CORELlTiST
A Gifted Musician
There are many conflicting opinions
about Marie Corelll's books and their
merit. However, anyone wlli concede
that this emotional writer Is a woman
of much ability, whether or not her
novels meet with one's artistic or prac
tical approval. The following from the
London World throws some Interesting
sidelights on a much-discussed woman:
"Marie Corelll's passion for muslo
she has a rare mastery of the piano and
plays the mandolin ravishingly har de
votion to flowers, her collecting hobby,
which runs mainly to rare editions of
books and pamphlets, and her taste for
reading fill whatever la left of her life
when she Is not speaking in public or
working on some novel. The gifted wo
man's talent aa a musician is beyond all
doubt. She was educated, in fact for
a musical career, under auspices of that
celebrated poet and man of letters,
Charles Markay, into whose family she
was adopted when little more than a
babe.
Her fluency in French was acquired
during her convent days near Paris, this
period of her life being devoted, how
ever, to the acquisition of her splendid
musical education. , In the neatness of
her technic, even when she interprets
appallingly difficult themes. Marie
Oorelli is an artist to her finger tips
in a most literal sense. The extreme
delicacy and flexibility of her sense of
rhythm enables her to take all sorts of
liberties with a work without for a
moment severing or even fraying its
general line. Beforee she was 15, In
deed, Marie Corelll was writing an
opera. Beethoven, according to one au
thority, is the only man she could be
capable of loving. He has the advan
tage or Demg aeaa.
-S3
RON CHANCELLOR
As Sentimentalist
a
Keudell has compiled a book on Bis
marck's sayings in which the tatter's at
titude toward muslo Is particularly'
shown. The great German statesman Is i
not often considered from the sentl- j
mental aide of his character. He was, ;
however, passionately fond of music.
His favorite composers were Beethoven
and Schubert, and the only thing he
disliked about their works were the
variations, which, he said, do not speak
from the heart. Keudell tells of seeing
the man of blood and iron i shed tears
during a performance of the Sonata
Appaaslonata.
''It is like the singing and obbmg
of the whole human life?" Bismarck
remarked. "If I heard this music often
I should always be brave." He often
invented a pictorial background for
music which had none. Of Mendels
sohn's Caprlcclo he said, "In part this
sounds like a merry Rhine ioumav: at
other places I fancy I see a fox run
ning along cautiously in the woods."
v nen ne uvea at -FTanxiort Bis
marck often aaid he dialiked to go to
concerts or operas, for two reasons: He
dialiked being confined In the limited
space occupied by a seat and he ob
jected to paying for music.
fa hi music, ne saia. sucn as you
hear in concert halls and opera houses
has little attraction for me; but there
Is nothing I love more than music at
home; there it lias a most Denetlclal
effect Music should be a free gift like
love.
'Tfiowever, he did not grasp his oppor
tunity to help Wagner who had the same
idea, to carry out this plan. Wagner's
first plan was to make the Bayreuth
festival performance accessible to rich
and poor alike but he found he needed
money to build the theatre. He hoped
for aid from the government and wrote
to Bismarck asking it but the letter was
never answered.
- W i
a
DIERKE'S STUDENTS
Give Good Recital
A charming recital waa that of Tues
day afternoon when Mr. Dierke present
ed several of hia pupils t Ellera halt
A large erowd attended and showed- Ita
appreciation" 6f the artistic program.
The first number was Liszt's famous
"Les, Preludes," a symphonic poem for
two pianos, played by Miss Pearl Smith
and Miss Amy May. It was splendidly
played with the lights and shades of
the story well drawn. Miss May and
Miss Smith are an exceptionally happy
combination in piano work,, playing to
gether In " absolute sympathy. "Lea
Preludes," a splendid composition show
ing the contrasting phases of a big ques
tion, ia Written about Lamartlne's poem.
"Notre Vie Eat-olla autre Chose qu'une
Serie de Preludes,"1 (freely translated:
"Our life is It ausht else than a series
of preludes?). It might have added to
the pleasure of the audience had thai
Jm
EYTINGE BENEFIT THURSDAY
f mmmMmmmmm sms-1 mm i a
- :7vH' ' Til
.f m yjf v
Misa Rose Eytlnge, Veteran Actress, for Whom Benefit Is to Be Given
Thursday afternoon at the Heilig the
Rose Eytlnge benefit matinee will he
the principal dramatic feature of the
week in Portland. This benefit, which
Is being planned and carried out by
Mlna Croliup Gleason of the Baker
stock company, promises to have fully
as much Intrinsic as sentimental
merit. Mrs. Gleason has arranged to
have acts from each of the theatres of
the city, Including the "Little Johnny
Jones" musical comedy at the Baker,
.the Orpheum. the Grand and Pants gs,
as well as recitations by former pupils
of the famous beneficiary.
James Olason will give his new play
let by Will Cressey, "Mlas Qoddard of
Ypsllantl." Mlsa Seymour Will Kin54
'Swastika Sue," the new song by Gene
vieve Thompson, and will have a large
chorus and elaborate scenic accesoriea
if It were'nt for Mlna Seymour's bl?
heartednesa no Portland benefit could
ever become a success. Miss Jewell
and x Mr. Ayres, leading woman and
leading man of the Baker stock com
pany will give the "balcony scene"
poem, or rather Its translation, been
read before the number or printed on
the program.
Miss Ruth Raymond, a very talented
little girl with a delightful mannrr,
followed with a Chopin waltz and Cham
inade's "Arlequine. The latter shq
played especially well with a good re
production of the spirit f merriment
and mischief. Her youthful independ
ence and unconsciousness won their way
with the audience.
Miss Anna Bitser played Rubinstein's
Romance in E flat but did better In
Weber's Invitation a la Valsa In which
she produced the rhythm unfailingly.
Miss Evelyn Carey played three num
bers with musical understanding and
temperament. Le Chant du Ruisseau
waa probably her best number, played
with delicate grace. Two Massenet num
bers "Angelus," from "Scenes Plttor
esque" and "Aragonaise" were played
with Intelligence.
Miss Pearl Smith's playing of "Fan
tasia Hongrolse" (Liszt) brought the
program to a triumphant clos'. Mr.
Dlerke played' the orchestral parts on
the second piano. Miss Smith's Inter
pretation was perfectly satisfactory.
She played with strength, with delicacy
and agility. When the theme, which Is
used also in the fourteenth rhapsody,
waa brought in. she played with a vi
vacity and firmness that penetrated the
audience and later made them burst
Into rapturous apolauae. Misa Smith Is a
rirst
Was rather a crude affair, but out of it
name the first complete Piano in the per
fection of the
Stein
tar I
It is just the same with Player-Pianos.
The first ones were in the nature of -an
?xperiment, until finally, through evo
lution of. perfected ideas, the world was
p;iven the first complete and perfect
Grand Player-Piano in the
A. B. Chase Artistano Piano r
T;HE WORLD'S GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT IN PLAYER-PIANO CONSTRUCTION
It is indeed true that Player-Pianos, like Pianos which do not progress in con
structive ideas, really retrograde. You .owe it to yourself to examine the A. B.
Chase Aristano Player. - '
h
SIXTH AND MORRISON STREETS OPPOSITE POSTOFFICC
. - 1V"rT;
Portland ' Seattle , -
from "Romeo and Juliet" Charles E.
Coture, who is aaid to have an unusu
ally good tenor, will sing. :Miss Elsie
Garrett, accompanied by Miss Anne
Ditchborn, will give aome of the new
songs and Miss Mabel Belover, accom
panied by Carl Denton, will give some
musical recitations and other novel
ties. Miss Marararet Easrbert will lve
dialect recitations, while Miss Kent of
the Baiter stock company, will try and
arrange a scene from "Maga" with Mrs.
John Thorn. As a final attraction Mrs.
Gleason Jierself will give her enter
taining monoloane. '
Confectioners and florists 'ot the city
have agreed to furnish- flowers and
candy which will be sold during the
afternoon by a niamber of vouni soci-
ety women under the chaperenage of
Mrs. Fred D. Chamberlain, Mra. W. T
fangie ann Mrs. ueorge Bauer.
All or the proceeds are to go to
Mrs. Eytlnge, wio will be 70 years
old on Baturday next The benefit
would have been given on Mra. Bytlng"s
birthday, but owing to the Saturday
matinees it waa Impossible to ar
range ,t.
musician of great ability, with musical
feeling and character about her work
that places tt high Indeed.
There Is brilliancy in her playing
wnuoui any ox ine raxe xecnnio or so
many brilliant pianists, which cannot
bear close examination.
COMPETENT CRITIC
v-l Praises Maud Powell
Everyone that knows anything about
musical criticism at all knows of Philip
Hale of Boston, annotator of the Boston
Symphony programs, and well-known
critic In general.' His opinion of Maud
Powell, violinist, who plays here
Thanksgiving eve. Is so good, so sane,
and so just -that I cannot refrain from
copying It here, and making my bows
to Mr. Hale, who has told some good,
wholesome truths, not only about
Madame Powell, but, by Innuendo, about
some other musicians in a different
class:
"Of women who have visited us of
late years, only Lady Halle is to be
named In the same breath with her.
Maud Powell has reached the goal by
honest and honorable means. Her own
natural gifts, her genius for Indefati
Victor Talking Machines
- ' ' '
Tacoma
Everett '
gable and Intelligent work have rltte .1
her in the proud position. She haa tin',
put her strength In press scents wit
sackbut and psaltery and himli-oiiiiilln
cymbals; ahe did uot use her sex, m I
her nationality to boost her into a pool
tlon she did not deserve. Her onegr.i
friend and helper has been her indta-
Bu table talent It would be Idle to stir
lat she plays like a man. for she pUy
better than moat men. it would l mis
leading to say that she plays Ilk a
woman, even though the posm-eslon of -the
finer sentiments and gentler emo
tion were thus implied. Maud Powell
playa Ilka a true artist, who knows all
emotions and passion but is not mas
tered by them, for ahe realizes -that-sentiment
la not efflmlnacy, sensuous
ness is n6t caterwauling, and prrkIoii,
even at ita height U not hysteria,"
. , ,- - y-y- i-
w
OMAN COMPOSER
Honored in New York
One of the most " delightful person
ages that has recently visited our coun- '
try Is Madame Cecils Cliaminado, the
French composer and pianist She has
come over to America at the solicitation
of many, for a short tour only, expect
ing to be at her home again in Paris to
in America waa at Carnegie hall In New
York on a Saturday afternoon when she
gave a program of her own p4ano com
poKltlons and her own songs for which
sheplayed the accompaniments. Yvonne
de St Andre, mezzo-soprano, and Ernest
Groom, baritone, were the singers.
The papers have written much on thl
talented woman, the .moat popular
woman composer that ever lived. Hh
seems to arouse no antagonism. Every
where respect Is shown tier and though
she would .hardly be classed as one of
the giant composers, her work Is al
ways given its due. ' At her opening
concert ' the hall waa crowded and in
numbers and proceeds it outshone anyv
concert in many years. It was a sur
prise, but it showed that Chamlnade not
only holds a place aa a clever com-v
poser but holds a firm place in the af-
fectlons of the public. The Musical
Courier gives one ot the most jusc
criticisms of her concert While In n
wise belittling her art the critic elearly
dettnes the nature of her work.. He
rays mere c&n u pu uuiervuvv ui upm
Ion as to the melodic attractiveness and
graceful rhythm, elegance of facture ami
harmonic charm In all her works, . He
pronounces them salon works and say a
they frankly pretend to be"nothing elsi
and as such are among the very best
products of that style of music.
"There is in them at times." he says,
"a certain degree of melancholy which
at times rises to deeply poetical utter- ,
ance. especially in some of the songs.
To affect to disparage the Chamlnade
muse because its products fall pleas-,
antly upon, the ear is the worst kind of
pedantry. The enjoyment which thla
woman composer has given to thou
sands of really musical persons is the
best proof that her artistic appeal is ;
baaed on sound and worthy accomplish
ments. As a pianist Chamlnade makes
no virtuoso pretensions, and indeed she ..
needs nothing of that sort In her works,
for they are not excessively difficult
and their writing is in a facile, grace
ful idiom within the reach of any fairly
well equipped technic. .
"The most demonstrative applause re
warded Chaminade's every effort, and
she received It with a degree of per
sonal charm and unaffected modesty
which made the ovation as much an ex
pression of affection for the woman aa
a tribute to the composer."
w
AGNER PRAISED
By Noted Musician
The Revue de Paris haa published
some letters written by Bizet to hia
mother- in-law in 1871. the time of the)
commune. What la of especial Interest
is that the composer of "Carmen" ex
presses In them his opinion of Wagner,
who was then a bone of contention.
"It is the lot of a great genius to be
misjudged by hia contemporaries," he
wrote, "Wagner Is not my friend, and I
hold him in but moderate estimation,
but I can never forget the tremendous
Impression made upon me by thla great
reformer. The charm of his music la
Indescribable, unutterable; it Is full of
voluptuouanesa, tendernesa. love. The
Germans, who have given us so much
in matters of music, realize, Indeed,
that Wagner is one of their strongest
pillars. The spirit of the nineteenth
century in Germany has gained power
through him. You well know how bit
ter hatred and harsh judgment affect
a great artist Fortunately for Wagner,
he is endowed with such unlimited
pride that criticism can not reach hia
heart granted that he has - a heart.
which I douDt.-
Tn another letter Bizet wrote: "Do
not believe that I am discouraged. If -
I saw that one or my contemporaries
was about to surpass me. I should be-
...UaJ T 1mlt- hn althniiirh T
progress so painfully and slowly, I still
keep easily at the top. Wagner, the '
great the wonderful musician, whom
you would admire If you were familiar
with all hia music, la ao far above and
beyond all of the present day that he
must be omitted entirely from all com- -pari
aona."
The Hawaiian Symphony orchestra
at the Perkins Grill for the first time
In Portland. t
.
IBellinham i
V
.7