Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-02-14
THE MUSIC WORLD,
Brilliant Start Toward Endowing
Scholarship in the Pennsylvania
College for Women.
MRS. MARIE DECCl'S RECITAL.
An Indiscretion Of Those Who Had the
Printed Programme and Adyer-
tiSing in Charge.
MRS. MARIE DECCA's RECITAL.
ITEMS THAT CANE UNDER THE sEL
Letter From Milan That Will Interest Lcyen Of
Art Divine HereabOutE

Mrs. Marie Decca's song recital at Car
negie Hall, Allegheny, last Thursday even
ing, called out an audience which in num-
bers and in social standing augured well for
the ultimate success of the effort to en-
dow a scholarship in the Pennsylvania
College for Women with the proceeds OF
this and like entertainments to follow.
Chancellor W. J. Holland, Phi. D., of the
Western University introduced the gifted
Eongs.ress and the worthy objects of the
recital in few well-chosen remarks. AL
together the occasion occupied exceptionally
dignifed plane, more so than any ordinary
Yecital BIZ even so eminent an artist as Mrs.
Decca.
Upon such an occasion it was the acme of
bad taste to place in the hands Of that
audience programmes, on which below the
various numbers were bracketed absurd
little notes about how the singer had studied
this one with the composer, had sung that
one for an enthusiastic Somebody, would
now show how her voice could
sound like & Swedish nightingale, %
and so on. For all the world
like the running fire of puffs and comments
made by the lecturer" at any dime
museum. The programme was identical
with that given in the advance circular and
copied into this department two weeks ago.
What was then said about the improperly
of usirg such matter even for advertising
purposes. applies with tenfold force to its
use in the house programme.
! ! l.. 4
nifed simplicity and reserve which artists
Of assured standing are wont to preserve in
ruch matters should give place TO the blst-
ant seli-trumpeting that now characterizes
circus and variety performers only. Mrs.
Decca'S manager, who hiss Just become her
husband also is to be presumed TO be re-
tponSible for this sort Of thing. If he keeps
az it long enough he is certain to ''queer
the whole show"-to adopt an expression
quite appropriate in this connection.
j should be briefly stated that this pro-
gramme, while purporting to present songs
Characteristic of the various nationalities
under which they are classified, falls far
short of so doing. Governs well known 'It
Was 4 Dream" is not an especially charac-
teristic sample Of English songs Taubert
Is not a Frenchman, though the song "a la
Foataine" is rather of the Gallo species.
Eckert's well-wOrn piece is commonly
known as the ''Swiss Echo Song" and had
no German quality about it, be-
ing sung in English. Neither of
the songs being classed as American" can
claim rightly to be such. Randegger, who
wrote one of them, is an Italian living in
London. The other, "Home, Sweet Home"
although the words are of American writing,
is a melody that was heard in Sir Ii. R.
Bishops opera, "Clari, or the Maid of
I-l.
and is thought BY some to have been pop
ular Sicilian air long before that.
These improprieties and inaccuracies,
which might so readily have been avoided,
are most OF all to be regretted because of
their strong tendency TO give totally false
impression as TO Mrs. Decca's artistic rank
and abilities. Her singing last week ma
terially added to the high estimation she
had already won for herself in this CON-
munity. While her voice is not one of
large volume and, when at all forced,
IS not of the purest quality, il
does possess a considerable range
ard 4 marked evenness of register and 1t has
been brought TO a condition of flexibilitY
that makes tia most admirable vehicle for
al the niceties of vocal art. Her use of the
TaazzG uocs is the most notable, perhaps, of
the many technical points in Mrs. Decca's
singing that attract The notice of the
connoiSSeur.
But these technical qualities do not con-
Etitute the chiet charm of Marie Decca's
performance. She uses them but as means
TO the end of artistic and Characteristic ex-
preston. She bravely eschews anything
IN the line Of ''prima donna ballad sing
ing" Without atfectation or attempt
a. mere vocal display, she was con-
tent TO sing the old ballads as
they should be sung, simply and
naturally. Except, for the overdone fan
business" in the Spanish song Mrs. Decca
treated all of the simpler airs in this most
praiseworthy fashion. She betrayed much
versatility in her ready sympathy with the
various contrasting styles and modes that
came in quick succession. Among them all,
Gounods lovely ''Sing, Smile and Slumber"
was, perhaps, the most original in coneep-
tioH and the most 6aintily executed.
Marie Deccs may feel assured that a warm
welcome always awaits her in Pittsburg
upon her own merit; meretricious adver-
tisIg and programme notices cannot make
IL warmer.
At the opening and during the inter
mission, City Organist II. P. Ecker PLAYED
some organ pieces in a manner that showed
the results Of earnest practice he has evil
IDENTIFY been putting in since taking charge
Of the large and effective instrument in
Carnegie Hall.