The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-03-29
MUSICAL GOSSIP.

are becoming more elaborate year by year, and
there are few churches in the city that do not
have services commemorative Of the day. The
Catholic and Episcopal churches, as usual,
take the lead In this respect, but other denom-
nations are not far behind St Aloysius
Church makes the greatest preparation, the
director, Mr.. Ii. G. Sherman, having the as
sistance OF a string orchestra, under the lead
ership OF Mr.. Robert G. BernaYs.
Epphany's new organist came in time for
Easter, and took charge last Sunday for the
first time. He is Mr.. Walter Goold. formerly of
Portland, Me-, where he has held the position
of organist at st. Lukes Cathedral for nearly
twenty years. Mr.. Goold is gentleman of
pleasing address, and is great favorie in
Portland. His series of organ recitals during
the past season has been very popular. He is
the author of many songs, and has composed
light operas and musical sketches, which have
been given with success by amateurs in Port
land and other cities. He will prove a valu-
able acquisition to Washington musical circles
The music committee of Epiphany has
secured the country for an organist, wishing
to find the best. Their choice first rested on
Mr.. Charles j.. Coleman, of Cincinnati, who
came here about the middle of December.
MIR. Coleman was most affable gentleman,
with just trihe of an air that he would show
Washington few things in music. He pro-
posed getting up light operas, and New
York musical paper announced that be would
produce "The Pirates of Penzance'' at an early
date. Pupils, however, failed to materialize,
and at the end of two months he returned to
his native borough. While the music com
mittee was searching high and low for an or
ganist Mr.. John L. Lawrence, who was con-
sidered one of our best performers before his
period of European study. returned to this
country and could have been secured. Mr..
Lawrence is now in charge of the music de-
partment in the Woman's College, Baltimore,
but comes here every Sunday, having lately
taken charge of the organ at Calvary Baptist
Church.
By the way, good music is the rule at Cal
vary Church. The quartette choir is made up
of Miss Bertha D. Lincoln, soprano; Mrs. s.
I'll. Bodfsh, alto; Mr.. James Watson, bass, and
Mr. George H. Lilliebridge, tenor anil di-
rector MIR. Lilliebrdge is a painstaking
leader, and deserves much credit for the time
and study he has given to the subject of church
music.
At Calvary Church and at several others the
exercises of the Supday-school are madelmore
interesting to the scholors by the introduction
of violins, cornets, and other instruments.
generally played by members of the school,
to assist the singing. At new uptown
church professionals have at times given their
services. One of these, bass-player, who
on account of ill-health is able to earn only
the barest kind of living. trudges up to the
church, or pays his car fare Sunday after
Sunday when he has not the price of a good
dinner in his pocket. The church probably
gives round sum to missions and charities.
1t should look nearer home and pay for SER
vices rendered.
The idea seems to be general that musicians
should be willing and ready to give their SER
vices for this or that charity or to assist at
Mrs. So-and-So's musicale. Not loug ago
prominent business man, who was aiding n
worthy charity, sent for an orchestra leader
and wanted him to furnish music on the uc
casion without pay. 81 open my house, why
should you not play?' was the way he ex-
pressed it. There is not singer in town who
is not beset with requests for just snch work.
In other cities good prices are paid for
couple of songs in parlor. Many Washing
ton people seem unwilling to pay for what
they get.
Salaries paid choir singers also range much
higher in other cities. From Miss De Vere's
$4,000 year in New York to the three or four
hundred paid here s quite drop. The num-
ber of singers in New York, Boston, and Chi
cago who receive $1,000 and over is far from
being small.
Prominent singers are prevented from com
ing here because they cannot get sufficient
pay for their Sunday work. A well-known
to live, changed her plans when she learned
that $500 was the highest salary paid here.
She had just declined an offer of 81 900 from
church in Troy, N. Y, city Of 10000 in
habitants.
Vladimir de Pachmann, the soloist at the last
concert of the Boston Symphony Orchestra
who delighted many by his playing and
amused all with his antics, assisted In con-
cert given by his wife in New York couple
of weeks ago. He occupied prominent seat
in the front of the house and led the applause.
The "ChopinZee." as he is called in Boston,
was evidently wild with delight at Madame's
playing, and the audience was iT the same
condition over the mad pianist.
The Boston Home Journal has the follow
ing characteristic aneedote of De Pachmann:
"At the hotel where he stopped there was
bell boy who was on terms of familiarity with
the great pianist. In fact, his oddship liked
him, and would allow him to approach when
it would not have been quite safe for others
1t chanced on the day of one of his matinees
that De Pachmann was still in bed, and it was
nearly o'clock. The bell boy was sent to
call him. He went up and told the musician
that it was nearly time for the concert. De
Pachmann did not at first seem inclined to get
up, and when he was fairly aroused he began
complaining bitterly that he had no time for
breakfast, Then being dressed in great haste
he flew into a state of monkey-like excitement
because he had had no practice, and felt as If
his magic fingers had not been limbered up
sufficiently to warrant his appearing in pub
lie. He fairly danced about the room, and
finally he dashed up to the marble slab on the