Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
THE VIOLIN FOE GIRLS.
Nothing Affords So Grand Chance to Dis
pIsy Beauty and Talent.
WRITTEN FOR THE prsPATCH.1

WRITTEN FOR THE DrsPATcH.l
The girl violinist has come to remain.
And people should be glad of it. What is
prettier than some sweet miss gracefully
holding the bow between her dainty fingers,
her violin supported under her soft white
chin, her head piquantly..tilted to one side, her
| little foot peeping out from beneath her
simple gown. her shapely arm displaying
all its curves and graces as her bow
ripples or sighs over the respon-
siye strings? And then-and then
When she draws forth from her instrument
tones that inspire, elevate, soothe and cheer
us as no other tones can; when she reveals
to us the delicate emotional forces of her
W oman nature, we feel at once the fitness,
and wonder why it took all these years to
find it out. Not only is the violin the in
strument for the portrayal of human feel
ing, but it is an instrument especially re-
quiring grace, tenderness, sensitively
strung organization. an artistic temperament
and latent emotional fre-sll attributes
belonging in marked degree to woman.
Though Pittsburg is behind other cities
in it's number of girl violinists, the number
is rapidly increasing. Viewed from the
more practical standpoint, that of bread
winning, the field is not overcrowded, and
the qualified violin teacher or violin soloist
finds the demand for her services
yearly increasing. She has not vet
come to the fore in ensemble
playing, though in large cities are lady
quartets, trios ETC., ladies playing in or
directing Sunday school or other local or
chestras; and to place the lady yiolinist on
q still higher footing, a grand symphony
orchestra, to be composed entirely of Amer
lean women, is at present under considera-
tion. Some New York managers are re
sponsible for this project, and it is de-
signed to make it an orchestra which will
be able to stand on its own merit musically.
The intention is to begin with tour of the
United States.
In London the Countess of Radnor person.
allv conducts string orchestra composed of
fifty young ladies, among them being the
daughters of the most aristocratic houses in
England, many of them carrying the title of
"Honorable" This orchestra was organized
years ago and has sustained proficiency
rarely equaled in the profession.
But violin playing is so difficult, some
girl will say. Perhaps. Rolling off log |
would be difficult if you haven't the talent |
for it. When just starting out in my career |
as q fiddler at the Oberlin Conservatory |
years ago, 1 had the pleasure of a chat with |
that well-known artist, Camilla Urso, then
on concert tour. She was the first lady |
violnist worthy of the name that 1 had
heard, and how her playing did enrapture
mel inquired of her if violin playing was
not very difficult. She replied in her broken
way, which shall never forget: ''Shust
you practice 25 hours day for 26 years
you learn. have practiced my whole life,
and have yet much to accomplish. Years
after when, studying in German conserva-
tory, 1 had practiced certain concerto for two
months without conquering it, nv teacher
me by telling me that he had
worked just Sin jahr'' on one-the we'll
known concerto of Mendelssohn.
But, looking into other branches, is not
the piano fully as exacting? With q mu-
sical ear and musical talent one is quite as
simple as the oeher, only to person pos
sessing these requirements the violin pre-
sents far wider field. Without a musical
ear, to the young lady who thinks longingly
Of the violin,I say-doni. If you have music
in your soul, cultivate the bow, being care
'ul, however, no. to spell it beau. Even
i you haven't the time, capacity or desire
20 become great artist, at least it will be
! source of much pleasure to yourself and
riendA LUCILLE ELDRIDGE-SHAFER.