Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-25
THE MUSIC WORLD.
A Success Scored by the Allegheny
Musical Association.
MISS BEESLEY'S NEW YORK HIT.
A Pittsburg Tenor to Be Welcomed by His
Friends This Week.
BUDGET OF INTERESTING GOSSIP

The concert of the Allegheny Musical As
sociation at Carnegie Hall last Tuesday
evening was, all things considered, the most
successful occasion in the history OF that
still young. but progressive organization.
The hall was filed with an assemblage OF
cultured people whose just appreciation OF
the entertainment was at all points ex-
pressed with no uncertain sound.
Conductor W. A. Laferty deserves con-
graduation on the continued Improvement
manifest in his chorus. The body of tone
was never so full and so well-balanced as
on this evening. The contraltos ex-
hibited surprising strength for their
numbers; the tenors, however, still
need some augmenting. In the
numbers for female voices only, there was
some uncertainty in the middle voices and
there was slight confusion in the first Re
demption" chorus, where the words Lovely
appear, "etc. ,are taken up for the final repe-
tition. Beyond this there is little matter
for adverse criticism. The chorus singing,
as a whole, was notably intelligent in
phrasing, refped in dynamic effect and full
of appropriate spirit and feeling.
The fact that these good qualities came
pieces and especially in such charming part
songs as Henry Smart's Lullaby" and
STARS of the Summer Night" approves the
present policy of confning this chorus to
work of that type. The ability to sing
through great oratorio, occupying the
entire evening, with unabated power,
preciSion and spirit, is not to
be expected from a chorus that has
not had long experience and does not have
the very best vocal material to draw upon.
The Allegheny Musical Association is on
the high road to this beatifc state of
choral DEVELOPMENT; but at present il is
prudent, as well artisticalIy profitable, to
delve into the treasure house of glees, part
songs and detached choruses. They already
sing well without accompaniment; why
not give some examples Of the school of
Palaestrlna and his followers?
The remainder of the performers must
needs be dismissed in few words this morn
Ing. Miss Maud Powell, the vlolinist, made
and drew-her first bow before a local
audience, and scored a genuine success.
Genuine because founded on true musical
merit, not on gymnastic pyrotecnnics.
Miss Powel's execution is BY no means so
dazzling as that of several PLAYERS that have
excited US this season. She manifested,
however, what is much better, a true artistic
style and rare amount of musical feeling
and inesse. She will be most gladly heard
again. Mr.. Joseph Gittlngs, in his piano
solos as also in the Accomplishments,
all of which be undertook on short
notice in Mr.. Bells absence, did woman
service; Miss Grace Miller sang In very
pleasing fashion, as ALWAYS, and the trio,
in which Mrs. Kiefer and Mrs. Scott Joined
her, had Its good points, even if the piano
did tail always to follow the pitch taken
from time to time by the singers
Welcome to a Pittsburger.
Mr.. Frank Milton Hunter will doubtless
receive a hearty welcome to his native city
this week on his first appearance here since
returning last summer from several years OF
vocal study under eminent masters in Flor
ence and London. That would be insured
by the standing of his family-two we'll
known young attorneys are brothers of the
tenor-and by the number of his personal
friends. But the general public of Pitts
burg has also good ground to be interested
in the local debut of promising young
tenor, who achieved sufficient success in
London to be offered, it is stated, tempting
engagements to sing leading roles with the
Carl Rosa Opera Company (with Miss Zelie
de Lussan) and with Miss Agnes Hunting
toms Company - engagements neither of
which the state of his health at the time
would allow him to accept.
Mrs. Hunter comes home now as a men,
Der of a successful concert troupe, which
includes Miss Hortense Pierse, soprano,
Mr. James Blamphln, narpist, and Miss
Kate Nashti Baxter, pianist. Miss Pierse,
by the way, is said TO be an exceptionally
handsome young woman; if so, the troupe
must average we'll in looks. for Mr.. Hun
ter's face and physique would tend to keep
that average high. As to the more i'm
portant artistic qualifications of the troupe,
the following extracts from the review in
last Wednesdays Cleveland Leader are in
point:
The concert was excellent Miss Pierse has
clear. bright soprano voice. under a generous
share of cultivation, and pleasing presence
Alr. BlamphIn, the harpist, is probably the
finest and most finished performer on that beam
tltul instrument ever heard here, and Mr. Mil
Ton Hunter has tenor voice which is musical
and pleasing. and sings with great taste The
pianist and accompanist, MISS Baxter was a
good player. Altogether. they gave an enter
talnment of high standing and merit. The
audience was very large, nearly filling the great
hall and its constant applause and the numer-
Gus encores it called for testified to the evident
enjoyment it experienced.