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About The Oregon daily journal. (Portland, Or.) 1902-1972 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 29, 1908)
T N ONE thing Portland la advanced,! certainly. It la in the matter Of ! I the removal of hata at a concert It la surprising to note that many of the largest cltlea In the east oltlea that had had the advantage of generation! of culture long before Port . land had even aet iti foot on the map, era behind In thla matter. Frequently the paper take up the fight and make cauatlc commenta on the subject, And the larger hats, the more witty their commenta. But It may be that they fear they would be deprived of a prolific aubject tor humor were the trouble ium marlly disposed of and ao they don't go into the fight with sufficient determin ation. Ordinarily in theatres hata are re moved because all who go to the thea tre go to aee and they make their de mands peremptory. All have the aame purpose and so, moved by their own de sires In the matter, people remove their hats ."as they would it should be done "to them." The rules of most theatres are stringent In this respect But too many go to concerts only because it Is "the thing." They don't care if they can't sea the performer; why should anyone else care? Concerts are more often given in con cert halls than in theatres in the cities nd there usually are no rulea about hats. And yet because concerts here are given in the theatres there is no reason to take away all credit from Portlanders. The theatre has been the means of education, but the people her have been ready to grasp it And when you attend a concert In Portland, wheth er it be at a church, or in a lecture hall, or In one of the small recital halls at the piano house, one need hot worry about the hats in front. Portlanders are accustomed to taking off their hats and thev do not need a placard to make them do It. For which w may take off our hats to Portland. In New York and in Boston It Is not so. Efforts have been made to have rules passed to this end. but to no purpose usually. I take It for granted that if they nave not arrived at the stage of removing their hats they have not yet learned to listen In silence. For I believe one step follows the other and that the removal of hats for the con venience of others' sight comes before the removal of noise for the convenience of others' hearing. Portland, I grieve to say, has not accomplished the latter step yet. But to hark back. One clever writer, Louis C. Elson of the Boston Advertiser, has hit upon a clever Idea for satir izing the flaht between the "hata-on- nera ' and the "hats-offers." No, It Is not to be a fistic struggle for suprem acy: that would hardly be worthy of the arttstio subject. For It Is doubtless art istic on the one side the artistic -er-s,on striving to get the most out of an urHstlc concert; on the other an artistic person trying to get the most out of an aiiitsuc creation. Mr. Elson's plan Is to write a sym phonic poem on the subject one that would fittingly embody the Importance of the subject and the subtleties of the contest. This Is his Idea as presented to the Advertiser after a recent con cert: "But there was something of far more Import than Schumann, or Smetana, or Wolf, or Schroeder, at this concert -r Singer's Wise Investments Add to JL Madame Nordica, Who Combines Business With Art. It Is seldom that any great musician wins the esteem and personal Interest of the. public to such an extent as ha Madam Nbrdlca. Every Item regarding her life and personal characteristic I received with interest by literally mil lion of readers. Th fact that she maintain three beautiful homes, on In New York, one on the Hudson, and 'one lrv-. Paris, Is. well known? to many, but; the question . naturally .. arises; I' , 'she, too, going to waste th earning of her sarressful " year in extravagant living end in the end be reducea to THE There wai revolt! The gen tie male wno had been gaiinc- at the back of a milll nery cartwheel during the last three re hearsals, suddenly rebelled, 'and a re quest to remove feminine neaagear was Visible at all the doors! Not that this disturbed the minds of all the topheavy ones present On gentle dame sat sturdily near the storm center beneath an inverted bathtub and enjoyed (doubly enjoyed) th entire program. But the vent might rive a good ubject for soma of our native composers, who are languiahtng for American subjects. The 1- I . V. . I 1 ...4 "II- tmrff an American tone poem." "It might begin with the request motif,' followed by deep mutterlngs in the woodwind. A very long rou.nd might typify a Herry Widow' 'hat and the trombones might give the theme of defiance. The approach of the usher might now be depicted (timoroso e tremolando) and the defiance theme might respond to it 'allegro feroce. A final apotheoaia of the hat theme smothering a feebl flue theme in minor might indicate the retreat of the usher. 'rAnd the trombone's loud blare, And the trumpet's fierce air. Gave proof, at the end, that the hat was still there. "A few fragmenta of the 'request-motif might portray an unfortunate aud itor (by no means a spectator tlck."d in the nos by the waving feathers and vainly endeavoring to peep beyond the obstruction." Mlscha Elman. the celebrated Russian violinist who as a mere boy, set Europe agog about three yeara ago, and who has been steadily climbing upward since then, will sail for America this week, aeeompanted by bis father, hla personal manager, Dnlel Mayer, and his pianist. Waldemar Llachowsky. His New York debut will be made December 10, with the Russian Symphony society at Car negie hall, and if he duplicates his Eu ropean suocesses New York will be tafklne; Mlscha Elman fast and furious for some time after. He will play the Tschaikowsy concerto at his first ap pearance. Wifchiri three weeks after his arrival he will appear at 10 orchestral concerts, a record quite unsurpassed by any young virtuoso. Elman Is booked for concerts through the middle west and on the Pacific coast, and it Is Just possible that arrangements will he made to bear this young wonder In Portland a matter for congratulation if It Is effected. The music at the First Methodist Episcopal church today, will be as fol lows: Morning Organ; anthem, "Fear Ye Not O Israel" (Splcker); offertory, con tralto solo. My Redeemer ana My .uora (Buck). Miss Kstherine Davis. Evening Organ; anthem, "Gloria" (Mozart); offertory, anthem, "While th Eartb Kemalneth (Tours;; organ. My attention was called to an error in the account of Adela Verne's concert at the Scottish Rite Cathedral recently. Her claylna of Chopin's "Thirty-fifth Sonata" waa mentioned. The error was a careless misplacement of the number which refers to the work which waa the thirty-fifth. The sonata, which contains Her Large Fortune Such straits a other great singers who have gone before? Those who know her best however, realise that sufch an outcome is Impos sible. Whil the madam lives In a man ner worthy of a princess, beside being the personification of generosity she has the keen perception of -values that ha enabled her to Invest her surplus earnings In securities that are abso lutely safe and yield good returna. She is not a.J"nDcula.tor." hut ,,.. land each year has. gone on adding to the' wealthiest women In the ewintry. Her concert at the Helllg Thursday. I)ecember-19, Is the.second on the Lois Stears-Wynn Coman , course. '' Q':. OREGON SUNDAY " JOURNAL. PORTLAND, SUNDAY ; If'" 'V i V r - : y ! ' " Miss Olivia Dabl, Celebrated Norwegian Soprano, Who Sings Tonight. the celebrated Marche Furtebre and which is not often played In Its entirety because it is teeming with Tllff Iculties, is. I believe, the second of Chopin's sonatas, of which there are only three. And while on the subject I should apologize for not mentioning the change In the last number of her program from the Liszt nolonalse to the second rhap- eoaie. Absence from the nan preventea my hearing the final number and lgnor ance of the change made It appear that the number had been played as at first planned. The Wanamaker store In Philadelphia gave a series of Invitation musicales known as the "Autumn Musical Festi val." from November 16 to November 21. Among the artists engaged were June Reed, Janet Spencer, the Saseard sisters, Hans Kronold and Marie Stod dart. This Is a good hint to our own enterprising stores, though It is hardly to be expected that names so well known could be secured here for that purpose. At a political meeting an Irishman watched closely the trombone player in the band. Presently the man laid down his Instrument and went out for beer. Paddy Investigated, and promptly pulled the horn to pieces. The player re turned. "Who's meddled mit my trom bone?" he roared. "Ol did."' said Paddy. "Here ye've been for two hours tryin' to pull It apart, an' Ol did It In wan minut!" The Argonaut. . The musical during the mission at the Holy Rosary church, was under the able direction of Miss Elizabeth Hoben, and was exceptionally good. At the close of the mission Mrs. Mil lie Perkins sang Mascagnl's "Ave Maria," with violin obligato played by Miss Cornelia Barker and with Miss Elizabeth Hoben at the organ. Miss Cornelia Barker's violin solo, concerto bv De Beriot, was played with much skill. An embittered local composer told us that he loves to play "Salome," for when he turns over two pages Instead of one It Is not necessary for him to turn back. He keeps on playing, and no one knows the .difference. Professional jealousy is a devastating thing. Musical Courier. An error was made in the local pa pers in announcing that Miss Beatrice Wilson played a piano solo at the Pat ton home Tuesday. The player was Miss Elaine Clouse, a pupil of F. W Goodrich, and she did excellent work. Henry T. Flnck Is at work on a new and enlarged edition of his life of Ed ward Orleg. In its present smaller form it Is considered an Interesting work. T7DVARD GRIEG, JLJ Norway's Poet Musician -a By Olivia Dahl. When Orleg died, September 4, last year, all Norway was In sorrow. He was only 64 and his death came as a surprise. We knew that he was hav ing a serious attack of bronchitis every year, knew that he had only one lung left, but we were so accustomed to his getting well again every time that it was hard to realize that it was really the end. Grieg leaves a big empty place In Norway, even more so than Ibsen, be cause he came personally in closer con tact with the public. How many a concert I remember where the little dwarf-like man, with the big head, held us spellbound when he Inspired a rather ordinary orches tra to do the extraordinary. Grieg's music is well known all over the orld. who does not know the "Peer Ovnt Suite," and who has not played "The BprtngTV But I do not think that his songs ar as well known In this coun try as they deserve, as they are perhaps the - most typical expression of his lyric, talent Through most of Grieg's music one can trace the Norwegian fo'Wo nd t'11 h entirely orig inal. The queer rhythms and odd har monies of the northern muslo came Swsk.,J.eoJn.,Jt!is magnified and beautified. Of the piano.composltions I prefer the A minor miuvrin and k sonata In E. Among hi songs I have r "V' nifs mat l. win not at tempt to name them. Y . but he did not dare to cross the ocean. He was terribly seasick and the raw climate of the west scared him. Al though he had him lovely home "Trold haug" tn Bergen, he never could live there except In - the summer time as it wag too damp and raw. He had the most splendid offers "for touring the United States to direct the performance of his compositions. 'In fact, "w would pay him anything." as a New York manager told me two or three years ago. Grieg traveled a good deal but he always spent few months of every winter in Christian!, where he waa very much interested in all young musicians. At concerts he always sat tn the first row and it has given many young musicians trembling knees to have to face him when they sang or played for the first time in public. If he were interested in you, he might be induced to coach you. but he wa not easy to satisfy. He told straight out what he thought of you and wanted everything just so and the tempo, he wanted! You could never be too fast to suit him. ' I remember hearing Fanny Bloomfleld Zetsler tell of her meeting Grieg in Copenhagen once. After he had complimented her on her playing some or nis tnings at trie concert the day before she told him that she In tended to take up the concerto. "How do. you want it?" she asked. "Oh, faster, faster." was the reply. Socially Grieg was a charming man to meet, that is when he was among people he liked and sympathized with. He hated to be Invited out to be "shown off," and he was very out spoken. One summer, when the kaiser was In Bergen, Orleg was Invited on board the "Hphenzollern." The military or chestra was playing on deck and the kaiser, who imagines himself to be a musician as well us a' poet and sev eral other things, took the baton to lead a number himself. Grieg never said a word until the kaiser asked what he thought of him as a leader. "Very poor, your majesty." The kaiser looked somewhat surprised, then burst out laughing. The Grieg memorial concert given at the National theatre was one of the evenings one never forgets. Every sesit waul taken; In fact the concert had to be repeated three times, Most of the people dressed In black. On the stage was a bust of Grieg, crowned with a laurel wreath, and the same orchestra played the same music in the same place where he had lead them so many times. The songs were sung by Thor vald Lammers. a singer now pretty old but Btill in good voice, who was the first W bring most of these songs be fore the Norwegian public. It was cer tainly emotional. DRESS AND MUSIC Discussed in Journal a . a An interesting new department opened in the Musical Courier Is one that at first thought might seem out of place In a first class musical Journal. It Is the department of dreps and fashion. Selz Royal Blue Shoes Have the "Sole of Honor" Selz Royal Blue Shoe $3.50, $4, $5 MORNING, NOVEMBER 29, On second thought however.. It will be berg would be proud to count his md readily seen how strong an influence mirers. To the one It is a neceasity of dress has on the sense of harmony and ! life, to the other it Is cheap tinsel that it is with thia idea in view that theils better done away with altogether, department has been openecV under the "Who made the doctor a doctor?" he attractive and fitting head. 'rTone, Dress asks. "What is a musical doctort Any and Music." The goyningA proper for body can be a musical doctor. I was musical iuncuons; i.ie comoinaiions that should be worn by certain types; the necessity of a pleading style of dress In a singer or player appearing before the public; the Important part that harmony in dress plays In adjusting the mind fit the audience, are all em phasized. Of course anyone will readily recognize the disconcerting element that is introduced If a singer wears too bizarre a costume or If a stout ptanlstH aDDears in a Blender woman's tain These are details not to be overlooked, for though we be musical we are but human. And from the other point of view a listener who Is not dressed in accordance to the rules of fashion often, when she finds herself anions- other better dressed than she, will become self cousclous and In a frame of mind which must be banished before she can be entirely in sympathy with, the music she hears. A performer, too, who Is conscious of errors In lier dress, will become self conscious and awkward. So after all the department is In good place and should give some valuable hints. kORTLAND POET Praises Maud Powell a A pretty compliment was paid Maud Powell at her concert the other evening when Erskine Wood, a young writer of promise and a good deal of prominence penned the following praise poem to her art. Madame Powell was unable to grant his request though the poem struck her as such a beautiful expres sion of appreciation that she allowed me to copy it. Incidentally few socalled sonnts comply with the rules so well. REQUEST FOR DRDLA. A SONNET. "Maud Powell who from your old violin Draw music like the 'strains of Or pheus rare. Who lift from heavy hearts of men their care And make thorn feel a glad content within. Who love and plaudits from your fel lows win. Because you make the sorrows that they bear All fHde in muKhx and t lie world more fair. Hear my requent that is to prayer akin. There is some music that doth strike the ear As sweet as that the spheres of heaven made. On violin I ne'er have heard It played. And O, the pleasure It would be to hear! Play. I entreat, the joyous Ser enade , And then the fairy dainty Sou venir!" OPERATIC SINGER OF Note Settles in Portland a- a Considerable attention has been at tracted to George Walcker. th; operatic baritone who recently arrived In Port land, for a temporary stav and opened a studio in the Tllford building in the meanwhile. Mr. Walcker has not appeared t before the Portland public at all; In ' amount, turned It over to the un fact his admirers are beginning to fear fortunate, who without a word was inai ne aoes not miena to and are bringing polite pressure to bear upon 1 him. It seems only fair that when we I have among us a singer with Walcker's record he should give us the plea sure of hearing him. Walcker came from the Royal Opera at Berlin and, I believe. Is west for the rest and change only. He Is ar ranging to give some song recitals on the Pacific coast this season and next season will tour the United States. thus giving himself a rest from the arduous lire, or an opera singer. I am told that he has a repertoire of 40 operas, and among them are several of vvagner s most airncuit roles. A num ber of the professional musicians have discovered mm and are croinar to him already for Criticism. Those who hav-j neara mm. speaK most enthusiastically of his voice. A number of prominent people have agitated the matter of In ducing him to appear here in concert. He has been entertained by prominent people among whom were James Mcl. Wood, who entertained him at dinner and Robert May Tuttle, who gave a luncheon for him at the Arlington club. Walcker Is an American by birth with German blood In his veins. His parents live In the northwest and for that reason he chose the coast for his retreat. TITLES VALUABLE IN ProDortion to Effort The editor of the Musical Courier of New York waxes Indignant again at the use of the cheap title "Doctor" applied to a musician. Marc A. Blumenberg. who Is versed In matters musical and Is a well known figure among the musical cult, scorns to fall back on the title him self to make his name great, and it rubs him the wrong way when he meets those who make use of It. Mr. Blumenberg should remember, however, that he ca ters to a different olass from the "Doc tors. The latter need the title to tm- firess the kind of people they wish to mpress. The people who kowtow to a worthless title, jvno call a musician "professor" with reverential accents and translate him to the realm of the constellations when he acquires a "Doc tor" are not the kind that Mr. Blumen- The sole of a shoe is the part that gets the wear; and the only reliable sole leather is oak tanned. Many otherwise good shoes have hemlock soles; they look as good as oak, but they're not. You can't tell without wearing them that they're not oak. That's another point in favor of Selz Royal Blue Shoes; oak soles always. We don't have to guess about it ; neither do you. Every Selz Shoe has on it the -naker's guarantee of your satisfaction. Cor. 7th .Mid Washington Sts. 1908. axxed tfte other day to get a certain auit of clothes In a tailor shop and buy a mortar board and go to a certain place and pay tioo and become a doctor of music. People can make money by se curing -candidates for the places that Issue degrees for the disreputable title of doctor. Schools give the degree, col leges In the country give the degree, pri vate enternrlHAH litta fnn..mr,tA,l.. H longing to Individuals give the degree ....... auvuuc iu minx inai n degree of music has value, when It Is merely a travesty, gives us a clue to the person's intellect" XTORWEGIAN SINGER To Interpret Grieg In another column of this page is given an interesting article on Grieg by Miss Olivia Dahl, the Norwegian singer, who was a friend of Norway's great composer. The article gives some ln- ic.roiing personal sidelights on this ln- r Vi 8 '"n wno ulea within the year Incidentally Miss Dahl is rather an Interesting personality herself. She will sing tonight at the Ari,. i,nn the auspices of the Norwegian Singing Till . w l1 .regreiiea that she will not be heard while here bv a more representative audience, for Miss Dahl seems to be an artist of much merit. She brings with her many commenda ttons from well known critics, but most highly she prizes the praise of Edvard Orleg, who put In writing the very high opinion he had of her art and especi ally of her interpretative power A written commendation by Grieg is'con- tred alLe thln,f- for Grle was out spoken and honest and seldom commit ted himself irrevocably. Miss Dahl is particularly Interested In Interpreting Grieg's gongi, which she considers very beautiful. She Is to sing with the Seattle Symphony orches- t.tnVV?el'Khte1 wit th oppor tunity of giving some of the Norwegian composers songs with orchestra for the opportunity does not often offer. -KTADAME NORDICA 11 As Lady Bountiful A characteristic story of Madame Nordlca's generosity has Just come to light. Several years ago she straight ened the financial affairs of a friend who had been "plunging" In Wall street and dismissed the unfortunate one with a little salutary advice on speculation in general and "Wall street' in par ticular, after exacting a promise that never again would this unfortunate be found wooing the fickle goddess of fortune through the Wall street route Of course, "when the Devil was ill " proved true as always, until the "Devil was well. But no word of further trouble came to Madame Nordlca's ears until last spring, when back came the friend, utterly ruined and facing bank ruptcy. Little could be expected ' of Madame Nordica, and only as a last re sort was she approached. After lis tening to the sorrowful tale, the madame walked over to her Ho.k signed a blank check without asking u v me uoor, ana went away Baved from disgrace. The story would never have come to light had not the beneficiary, with a heart full of grati tude, told a few friends of this last in- and now comes Xmas and with It The Gift Problem yERILY, ours is "The Ideal Gift Store" a treas ure house of Christmas Goods this season. Hundreds of Gift Things everything for every body appropriate for the holidays is here. For many years we have maintained an enviable position among the discriminating shoppers of Portland as the most satisfactory store in which to select Gifts, and never before this year were dis plays so elaborate variety so great prices so tempting. It is not too early to begin thinking about the holidays especially if the Gift is to go out of town. Furthermore, the early shopper chooses from a com plete, new, bright and inviting stock, and selections ' will be held or future delivery if desired. We quote no prices heTe ; we'd rather you would come in and see our superb display. Then you'll grant that our showing is incomparable. For your own pleasure satisfaction economy come. And early. THE X K. GILL CO. , . THE NEWEST AND BEST IN ; --V : ; -Books Stationery Desks Bookcases Fancy Leather Goods Business and Social Engravin'; Architects': Supplies Surveyingj Instrume nt, t ; CORNER THIRD AND A UV" I MMII"!SMM,g,ff J -I um." . m stance of th tender heartednees of hl great womanT What words had fallml to do thla silent act of klndncs ht accomplished, and speculation naa loat a. devote. ' . . ,-v..-.f-. , f uVsTORICAL MUSIC ' ; I il Given by Famed Violinist 1 The New York papers have a not concerning an exceptionally Interesting "historical recital" given by Ovtde : Musln recently, at which he Instructed his audience on th history of the Vio lin. Beginning; with a number by Cor elii dated 1663, he played from the master who have given some of tho . best to violin literature. In chronologt- ,. cal order, pointing out the character istic and the advance In style. Th portraits of the composers were shown on th, stereoptlcan screen as he played from each one and he prefaced his se lections with sketches or each composer. Others whose names have figured in vlolinlstic literature whose compoat tions were not played or who were merely performers and not composers were spoken of. Views of crude looking instruments antedating the violin Were shown. The homes of Cremona ami Brescia and other famous violin makers, . and many other interesting subjects were shown In stereoptlcan views. Musln was pronounced a delightful lecture recitalist who spoke easily without notes giving, without hesitation, dates and many detailed bits of data. The lecture was instructive from many points of view. SLU3r OF CANTOX Where the Poor of a Great Chinese City Live. From the Lady's Realm. Stand beside the imperial custom house at Canton and let the eye rang down the river toward Hongkong. As far as the sight can reach lie boats, boats and again boats. These are no or dinary craft mere vessels of transport' filying hither and thither, but the count ess homes of myriad Chinese, ta which millions have been born have lived and died. They are the dwellers of th very poor, who live in them practically free from rent, taxes and the other burdens of the ordinary citizen. - i The Tankia (which means boat dwell- ers), as the denizens of these floating houses are called, form k sort of caste apart from the rest of the Cantonese. The shore dwellers regard them as be longing to a lower social order, and in deed they have many customs peculiar to themselves which mark them a a separate community. How the swarm ing masses of them contrive to support existence Is a mystery, but their chief mode of employment Is in carrying merchandise and passengers from place to place. In some oases the daughters of the family go ashore to work In fac tories, as do the girls of other countries, but the year's earning of a Chinese factory girl would scarce suffice to buy a single bat for her western sister. . Of course as against this low rate of pay the standard of living is correspondingly different The houses which make up these vast . floating s'ums are of all sizes. Some are but IS feet long. From these cramped dimensions, however. they range up to a length of 69 or 60 feet. A beat, large nough.o sccommQdate a family of moderate size can be ob tained for $20, and since the anchorage' is freo it is obvious that the Tankia effect many savings impossible to the, shore dweller. Adolph Zlnert a Frankfort, Ger many, slaughter-house employe, has killed 5,000,000 hogs during the last 21 years.
