Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
Crotchets and Ouavers.


GEoRa HENscEEL has written the musica
| numbers for Mr.. Beebohm Trees forthcom
ing London production of "Hamlet."
Mr.. THEoDoR SALMON, who has been among
the grip-str1cken for some weeks, is expected
| soon to be able to resume his classes.
In one series of orchestral concerts al
Berlin this season are to be given the entire
series of Joachim Rafrs symphonies as vel
as the symphonic poems of Franz Liszt.
TIE Cambria Male Coorus, comprising 81
members, under the direction of Mr.. Morris
| Stephens, will compete at the Wilksbarre
| Eisteddfod in March, singing DR.. Parry's
"Pilgrims' Chorus against all corners OF the
| same weight.
| SINGERS are presumed to be in especial
dread of the grip. Nevertheless, many OF
them take the cable cars in preference to
| dare to sing in Masonic Hall. the habitat OF
at least IL distinct species of grip.
MRS. C. S. HUNTINGTON. directress Of Trim
| ity vested choir, is still very i'll, and it is
doubtful whether she will be able to lead
the musical forces at the anniversary ser
vices in Bishop Wnitehead's honor, to be
held at Trinity next Tuesday morning.
AT the meeting called by Mr.. Joseph C.
Breil last Thursday an auspicious beginning
| was made toward establishing the new
choral society in the East End. The neces-
sary preliminaries will be carried further
next Thursday evening at the same place.
ANTON BRuoKNER's symphony in c minor,
written some 25 years since. but recently re-
vised by its composer (now in his 6Sth year),
was performed at the Vienna Philharmonic
Society's concert of the 18th ult., and in its
new form met with a most enthusiastic re-
ception.
Mrs. K. o. LIPPA will give pupil concert
at Arch street hall, Allegheny, next We'd
nesday evening. Miss Blanche Newcombe,
violinist, will take part with Mrs. Lippa and
these among her pupils: Mrs. John c.
Slack, the Misses Nellie Fleming, Stone,
Bertha Schmied, Blanca DeRoy, Elsie
Benswanger, Maple, Daisy Milligan and
Jennie Frank.
MRS J. Z. PORTER formerly of this city,
in conjunction with Mr.. S. B. Carey, violin
ist, and Mr.. Edward L. Roehussen, pianist,
is giving series of four high-classed con-
certs at Roanoke, Va, her present place OF
residence. At the first concert January IA,
Mrs Porter saIg the great aria from from
Bellini's 81 Puritani' and song with violin
obligato by Robaudi
Mr. ErEELBERT NEvIN recently gave his
series of flecture-recitals on the "Nibelungen
Ring" in Paris, and either found or made a
sufficient number of Wagner lovers in the
French capital to insist upon a repetition of
the series. Mr.. Nevins time is very fully
occuDied in giving and taking music lessons
and in making up his mind whether under
the circumstances it is really more blessed
to give than 10 receive.
Mr.. JOHN T. HoRNER is arranging for a
performance of the perennial cantata,
"Queen Esther" to be given in costume and
with stage accessories at Williamsburg Opera
House on Thursday and Friday evenings of
this week, under the auspices of the Young
Ladies' Aid Society of the NJ. E. Church.
Mr.. Horner will be the hing, Mr.; II. B.
81 Edna
j. II. Frederick Hdnldn.
THESE be pointed and practical questions,
with which the Musical Courier leads off in
a recent issue: "How many vocal teach
ers in this country-and in Europe-use
tuning forks that have been scientifically
tested and are in proper pitchf How many
vocal teachers. in giving lessons, use pianos
investigation to vocal teachers? The out-Of-
tune piano is a nuisance still more gigantic
outside the accompanimental field.
Mr.. CARL RETTER will give pianoforte re-
cital at the Duquesne Conservatory OF Music
next Thursday evening. as the first OF
series OF four concerts to be given a t that in
stitution. Miss Luella Totten a former pu-
pill of Mr. Retter's, who has since been study
lug abroad. will assist, as also will Miss
Fannie King, soprano. and Mr.. Louis Critch-
low, baritone. Mr.. Retter will play Mozart's
Fantasia in D. transcription of the Lar
ghetto from Beethoven's second symphony,
q Romance and Novelette, by Schuman,
Sarapande by Won Wilm, Jensen's "Galatea"
and Electra" and Liszts "Waldes-
rauschen."
Mr. L. A. MACDowKLL, one OF our best
composers. writes tins nugget of good ad-
vice: BRAHMS, in his last symphony, wrote
q Passacaglia with variations. Now, if the
young composer does not feel himself ire
sistibly drawn toward Passacagli with vari-
atoms, he should not dream of trying to
write them, just because Brshms has done
so. Why should ne try to show his learning
any more than affect lack of it in his COM
positions? No! music is music; theory is its
servant and therefore should he kept in the
background. II a poem must have prose
skeleton, keep it carefully in its closet.
Above all, do not parade the skeleton and
let poetry lanCufsh in the closet"
PADEREwsKI is quoted by an Eastern CO.
temporary as saying: Il consider the Bos-
tony Symphony Orchestra the best in the
world-not excepting the orchestra of the
conservatoire in Paris. There are a few
better instruments in the conservatoire, but
as q whole the Boston Symphony Orchestra
stands above it. 1t is fortunate in its direc-
tor, for Mr.. Nikisch is much superior to the
conductor of the conservatoire. After the
performance of my concerto in Brooklyn, in
which Nikisch directed the accompaniment,
i declared 1 would never play the piece
again, and will not, as its perfection may
not be reached again."
Mr.. CHARLES B. STELzNER has resigned the
leadership of the Bjou Theater Orchestra.
His successor will be Mr.. John Gernert, who
won distinction in this line of work early in
his career and now returns to the fold be-
cause Pittsburg's newer social "buds' like
to dance till nearly daylight andsthe dance
players lot is getting to be less and less q
happy one. Mr.. Gernert will be most seri-
ously missed from the concert-meister's desk
it the Mozart Clubs Orchestra, where his
efficient and energetic work has been
largely responsible for the good results that
have been accomplished under the unfavor-
able conditions surrounding all higher
orchestral activity in our midst.
REGINALD DE KovEN, whose robin Hood"
was like draught of fresh, sparkling spring
water after the muddy inanities of "Wang"
& Co., has just finished in company with
that incompatible jester, Harry B. Smith,
of Chicago, a new opera to be called "The
Knickerbockers," the incidents culled from
Washington Irving, who was a well unde-
filed of American legend. The work will be
produced by the Bostonians, who will soon
come to the Garden Theater to play robin
Hood" which was withdrawn much too
soon. Mr.. De Koven, who is pupil of Deli
bes and Richard Genee, has genuine talent
for opera comiQue, and some good things
may be expected in the new work. particu-
larly as the libretto is Harry Smith at his
best.-Musical Courier.
THE New York Nail and Express which is
not marked partisan ON either side of the
German versus italian opera question, says:
1t is no secret that Mr.. Abbey's Italian
opera season is fat financial failure 1t
was doubtful experiment. at best. Society
has done its duty by patronizing it well. but
society men and women no not fill up the
vacant seats in the orchestra and the gal
leries Men and women who patronize
hep r1ea of A,,<l