Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-15
CLARA BELL PALMER.
SKETCH OF THE RISING YOUNG vIR-
ClNIAN PIANIST.
Wide Recognition Accorded Her Wonder
full Talents by tho Worlds Fair Com
rnissioners-To Go TO Europe.

AIOUB TIC lew ln-ut-ci'Ntths N"-fo
pianis,s of American. none Is more
genius-stamped than Virginia's own cara
Bell Palmer. The career Of any gifted
artist In this life Of fierce ego struggle Is
Of interest only to the public when de-
gree OF success has begun to unturi us
rose-colored banner. and the clear gieam
Of rising star begins 10 shed Its glow
before It. The world does not care now
one has failed-it does care how one mas
succeeded.
Miss Palmer Is well known In musical
circles in her own State, and In Mary
land, where her studies have been latteriy
pursued. At the age of Il she entered the
Valley Female Seminary, in Waynesboro',
remaining two years. The first year she
carried Off the medal of proficiency. AT
the end Of the second year she was
awarded the diploma in the department or
instrumental music. From here she ell
tered Peabody Conservatory OF Music, at
Baltimore, and at the end Of three years
u certificate OF proficiency was conferred
upon her by this well-known institute OF
exacting excellence The following two
yfd4o were htNOttd " lNtl'ita4E W 'A'Ne
the expense OF further study in Baltimore,
and the concert engagements, tine latter
bestOwing upon her well-known popu-
larity, both in Maryland and her own
State. But from the Worlds Fair in her
official position as Virgn,a's representa-
tive Of music, a wider recognition OF her
talents has been accorded, establishing
her reputation in n wider field.
Her first appearance in Chicago as Nir-
ginia's representative, was in series Of
recltals, among them some most success
full ones Tor the benefit of her own State
bulding-the wcll-known and beloved Mt.
Nernon-thcse Iecitals taking place at
Music Hall, Texas building, and Mt. Yer
non.
The medical people OF the Worlds Fair,
recognizing at once her remarkable tai
ents, made farther demands upon her
artistic genius. and she was called to
appear before the Expert Jury OF Music.
receiving as "A result their official recognl-
don. IL is an enyiable record for any
pianist to have passed the approval OF
the expert jury, whose well-kuown
names bear superior weight In the must
cal world.
\ GRAND TRIBUTE.
After the ordeal, Miss Palmer was in
vlted by the Committee on Music 10 APP
pear alone i'm n piano recital in Assembly
Hall. WOman's Building, that all music
lovers and critics might have the prvi-
lege OF enjoying her rare gifts and re-
markable versatility as an artist Per-
haps the greatest tribute to her talents
next to the medal from the Worlds Co
lumbar Commissioners awarded her. and
which she has recently received, was
this recital accorded her in Ass mbly
Hall. There gathered crowded audience
OF music deyOtees and earnest crlucs.
who were borne through an eXacting ana
NARY llOusly- beautiful programme WIN
no thought of moments or dilhcuity, Out
only of exquisite ease masteriui power
and inepir,ug genius. Entirely from
memory this gifted young artist swept
through programme OF wide rans''
borne along 10y the intense approval of as
critical an audience as falls often to the
ordeal of any artist. From the first num-
her 10 the last Of this recital winning
and holding an audience in peculiar sym
u9thv. she bore IL 10 an enviabie hnlsh
al rronounceI success. Though this Re-
cit,l WAS important in it's official recOgnl-
ton. IL Was IL more delightful IN tseli
than many others rend red elsewhere
The entertainments given Tor the peh..i1
OF her own State building were Greaiiy
noupiarized by Miss Palmer's talents.
a,oa z.al. and Mt. Vernon, Incompatible
In historic charm to all other state build
iucs. VAS the centre Of these added at
reactions of music second to no other
STATE in the Union. made 50 By the d'-
voted services Of its faithful young
pianist. , .ervpv
,uss palmers remarkable technique Is
ca subtle in its power, and her interpre
tation so overwhelming in IT'S master
tha, one never thinks Of technique ih1
raer, mechanism, but just TO be borne Oh
with the spirit of the author. Her IN
| terpretation OF Beethoven ana ths oI0
school does not yet show the rlchles'
,hat years will bring, but with her Bee
thoyen-I,ke head and likeness she Is SURE
To express his power In fullness OF tlihe
Her rendering Of Wagner OF lsZt' aHu
the new school ovinces her keen genius
| of the times \ successful student OF
Wagner must b. endowed with large
| brain as well as heart, and 10 portray
| this giant genius there must De intel
lectiial understanding as wei as sou
sentiment, and in this young girl or mgr
character and strong mental poise these
seem the right adjuncts 10 her musica
genius to interpret the Wagner schoo
with irresistible faithfulness. This Is nc
| small eift for so young an artist-tol
! only giants can step in giants footsteps
| Her playing IS often characterized ~
| svrlpath-tic 1t IS mOre-it IS mast riul
| Mere "sympathetic' playing Is not al
| WAYS masterful, but masterful playing l.
| always sympathetic. She has the pure
| mastery OF expression. her Interpretation
! finding its way to the hearts of Others
| as surely as the mountain springs burs
| their way to the sea. And above this
! she possesses the nneness OF sincerity
| that is the very pulse thrOb OF art. anl
| when the higher qualities OF an indl
| yidualiiy are so linked with distinc
| talent IL Is Il priceless gift. with th'
| true artist the internal force Is the un
| falling requisite 10 success, and II NJ
| blight overtakes this brave young wo
| mans life, her talents in music, marked
| by so strong an individuality. must II
time make her n great pianist.
IN EUROPE.
| 1t Is her purpose to begin farther stu
| dies this year in Europe, for which sh'
| has been planning for the past two years
with results purely from her own endea
| vOrs encouraging her to this end. Supe
| rior talents as hers could never be com
| plete without the broadening OF such ear
nest study as Europe alone affords. VIII
a technique that even now seems equal tC
| all reasonable demands, great brlllancy
| OF touch and an Interpretation full o.
! originality and picturesque qualities. sh'
| has only to add the breadth and color
| judgment and balance that ripper expert
ence and full opportunities will give, an'
| she may have 1t in her power 10 come
home and electrlfy American audiences.
| Virginia has every reason to feel
State pride in being the home Of TN
gifted young pianist. in no less degree
than in being the home Of her long linz
Of past and present celebrities. She ha'
| just pride in her statesmen, her gred
soldiers, her scholars, her gifted authors
and thus to add an exceptional musician
is but scoring another point in her impor
tant statehood in being proverbially abb
to produce always the best
It Is a keen pleasure 20 offer words
OF tribute To true genius. and a, rare privi
lege always 70 encourage by word or deeC
the lofty aspirations of gifted youni
n or