Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27

Helen Hopekirk, Gilbert and David Ferrier.
of Edinburgh (now prominent teachers In
tnat city of beauty, Wallace (violinist),
Macbeth (Allan), q theorist of ability, Mag.
nus Peterson lecturer on music in Aud
Reekie). Behren (of Dublin(. Sawyer (now
DR. Sawyer, quite lamous). Vincent lcaghe-
(of 1nverness). Bessie Cruden and Jessie
Taylor lof Banff), Davies (the Welshman Of
vocal fancy, Kate Ockleston (pianist OF
note), Thorley (of Manchester), and with
others who have made their mark we made
Jovlal colony, and how we would all love
to know what has become of our old chuTns.
And the "Kate Ocklestone, pianist of
note" here mentioned is, of course, she who
Is well known as local pianist. organIst,
composer and teacher under her present
name, Ms. Kate Ocklestone-Lippa.
x&x
Yet another bit from the very full col
umns of last weeks Matsical Courier demands
attention from one who knows the facts.
Mr.. Henry Hubert Haas, in an egotistic
effuslon column long. explaining that he
Is not to be coniounded with Mr.. Henry
Holden Huss Ono, not for longD and telling
why so illustrious q parsonage is buried IN
the wilds of Virginia, says:
1 have deliberately chosen "Old
Virginny," and resided there ever since
1883, with the exception of one year, ls9Ol, IN
obliterate from my memory as well as from
my teaching record, where l went sue
cessor to the late lamented Carl Merz, while
on earth, now (as they told me in Wooster,
and as the Musical World and the Et,lde had
1t, which must be right) saint" In heaven.
This is the third or fourth time at least
that Mr.. Haas has emerged from his "de-
liberately chosen" obscurity with pub
lished letter into which he has laboriously
inserted some kind OF. a sneering allusion to
Karl Merz and the authorities of the Uni
versity Of Wooster. It is time for him to
stop.
With all his inevitable 'prominence as a
leader in the musical thought and1ife Of
the Middle States-and the practical results
of his life.work will be felt in that wide
section for a generation to come-Karl
Merz was man of singular modesty and
whole-hearted devotion to his art. His
noble character was in accord with the
ideals sought to be impressed upon the 700
or 800 students of that religiously founded
and conducted institution.
It was not at all strange that, after such .
predecessor and in such an atmosphere, Mr..
Haas should feel out of his element. And
when, Just before the Commencement con-
cert, this faithful head Of the musical de-
partment stole silently out OF the town
without word of explanation, the uni
versity authorities heaved sigh of relief
at his departure even at that critical time.
1t is to the credit of MI. Haas that he now
saws of that year: sT wish I could obliter-
ate (it) from my memory as well as from
my teaching record" The dullest con-
science pricks at times.
1t is proper that this explanation Of the
animus behind these uncalled-for and re-
peated attacks should be exposed (by one
= Lii IL. fnr
saying SOY in Pittsburg, where provision
ory perpetually green in connection with
the fine musical library that he collected
and we possess
These items for musical readers were
among THE .DIsPATCH's London cable
grams last night:
The Wagner Society will give no per-
formance at Bayreuth IN 1898. The society
some time since appointed committee to
raise money for the purpose of securing
relics and souvenirs of the great master to
form Wagner Museum at Vienna. Many
such relics and souvenirs were obtained. 1t
is now rumored that they are about to be
sold to persons in the United States.
At the Trafalgar Square Theater tonight
the comic opera Dorothy" will be re-
strong company, and a good run is ap-
parently assured. Dorothy" full de-
scription of which has appeared in previous
letters of this series, is one of the most
successful comic operas on record. In fact,
it disputes with ''The Chimes of Nor
mandy" the title of being the most sue
cessful work of the Kind on record-at least
in England
Paderewski will sail on the Havel for
New York on December II. He has de-
layed his departure in order to fulfill en-
gagements here that'were postponed owing
to his recent illness. He has written a new
Polish Rhapsody for the pianoforte and or
chestra for the Norwich Music Festival
next year, where he will play a solo part.
~
Things begin to look more lively ahead,
and the local musical season of 1928 will
not have to take back seat after all. Be-
side the two extended series spoken of
above, there will be several single events of
the first importance.
One will be the first symphony Concert
ever given by the Mozart Club, now set for
about January 20 The orchestra will be
enlarged to ut least 45 men, and Director
McCollum promises a high class programme.
This event is of prime interest as q har-
binger of better things in the sadly neglected
local orchestral field
Mr. Carl Retter authorizes the first an
nouncement that he has engaged the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra, Theodore Thomas,
conductor, for q concert the last week in
April The reader already knows the
standard to which Mr.. Thomas always ad-
heres and has heard how faithfully he has
been pursuing it in Chicago. with larger re-
sources than he ever had at command be-
fore.
1t is likely, from the correspondence,
that Walter Damrosch and his New York
Symphony Orchestra will also be here
along in February, and the Boston Sym
phony Orchestra, under Mr.. Nikisch, is e1-
pected to wind up the Mozart Clubs season
as usual.
Symphony concerts by each Of the three
best orchestras in the country and by one
of our own, too! Pittsburg will hardly
know herself in the glass if this keeps on.
G. w. 8.