The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-12-20
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MUSICAL
Mr.. Rartlett,s Concert,

There must have been some reason why
the entertainment given last night at Has
brouck Hall should ave been set for the
week before Observation-Disclosures it was, it
was responsible for the small audience.
People had the best possible excuse for de-
Ginning TO buy ffty-cent tickets, and a great
many people awaited themselves of it. How
ever that nay be, the programme was an
excellent one: There were artists of no small
reputation who ave their services IN this
occasion. They was Homer N. Bartlett,
known in this city better as a composer than
as a pianist. When some future generation
makes up a list of men who have helped the
cause of music in America, the name of
Bartlett will receive honorable mention.
1t is a couple of decades too late to
say anything new about his place
among American composers; his status has
been fixed full as long as that. He began
with his fantasia on PleyePs Hymn. If
we mast have variations, let us be grateful
for sue as these, where there is some aim at
the effect of an orchestral arrangement. His
ballade, played in the second part, has a
smooth, flowing theme, broadly treated.
This was bracketed with an etude of Chopin.
As a pianist, Mr.. Bartlett's touch is pleas
antly even, and his fingers nave been brought
to an agility truly remarkable. To be sure
he was mainly playing his own compo-
%sitions, but then Mr.. Bartletts music is no
fun to play. The Chopin number was SO COR
rect as to lack spontaneity.
Two years ago read in a Boston paper a
little poem by Deland that began "Gray are
Loves gentle eyes," lost the paper and lave
tried ever since to recall its delicate phrases.
1t was a pleasant surprise to find it again set
to Mr.. Bartlett's music and sung by Miss Ida
Belle Cooley, q soprano who, if signs fail not,
has a future in store for her. She is young
and has an engaging manner; her voice is
mezzo in range, producing a full, round tone,
without the usual vibrato bleat. She has
had good training n her voice is worth it.
Her first song was by Grieg. Mr.. Fred A.
M~ollenhauer played the violin part in the
opening trio for piano, violin and organ, and
afterward one of his own compositions,
"Andante Appassionata ct Danse Hon
groise.n The applause of the evening was
his for the spirited finale of the 'Danse," but
why call it "Hongroise" when it has Italy
written all over it? The William Tell over
ture has outlived its usefulness as a piano
duet, and even Gottschalk's pyrotechnical
arrangement, or the excellent treatment it
received from Mr.. Bartlett and Mr.. Louis
R. Dressler, could make it anything but a
back number.
Mr.. and Mrs. Henry Firth Wood need no
Introduction to a Jersey audience. Mr..
Wood recited "The Latest Form of Literary
Mysteries a travesty on Mary E. Wilkins's
recent sPastels in Prose-; a rustic's view of
an earthquake; 'sThe Long Handled Dipper"
and DENNY jake a Christmas story of
real human INTEREST," 1t was written by
"Peleg Arkwright," as David Proudfit signs
himself. 1t may be remembered that this
gifted writer was for some time a resident of
Visit to New York" recited Story's dra-
| matte confessional" and brought down
the house with Alden's clever story of Jim
my Browns Steamer Chair"
Mr.. Schxyarzss Recital.
The third, of a series OF free organ recitals
l -s.x1 H. NJ Afo,,%o L 49, - .-.o.
churches Of the city, was given last night in
the Hedding Methodist Episcopal Church,
where the organist was assisted by Mrs.
Joseph Runyon Let's. Mr.. Schwarz's course
in keeping the composition of his program
mes strictly to the highest standard is
| worthy of sincere praise. In these recitals
Mr.. Schwarz has a certain responsibility as a
| public educator, a responsibility which he
seems to acknowledge and fulfil. His num-
bers last night were a Bach fugue, an air
from Mozart's first really important
| opera, aIdomeneo,n a finale of
Mendelssohn, a Christmas offertory of
Alexandra Guilmant, the Brautgesang
from Jensen's Wedding Music an
| allegretto of BertholdT Tours, and an offertory
of Batiste, closing with the march from
Tannhaeuser. Mrs. Joseph Runyon Let's,
solo soprano of st. Johns. Free Church, of
which Mr.. Schwarz is organist, added much
to the enjoyment of the audience by singing
twice during the evening.
The occasion of Mr.. Frederick Deans
| lecture on s.Oratorios and Their Writer'S to
be delivered in Hasbrouck Hall next Friday
evening, December 20, will have the charac-
| ter of a Christmas festival. Selections from
the best known and most popular oratorios,
as well as novelties heard for the first time in
Jersey City, will be sung by a augmented
chorus and with specially engaged ~soloists.
The programme will include selections from
Handeis Messiah" Haydn's Creation, y
Memberships 'St. Paul, :" LISTS "Christus, y
and Gounod's s'Redemption;' besides extracts
from the earlier works of Carissimi and
Cavaliere, and from the only American ora
torio. Paine's ISL. Peter.o M. B. L..