The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903, 1895-09-28

almost every lady of his acquaintance
has a bruise or a scar which she fondly
exhibits as a souvenir of her martyr
dom to the favorite dissipation OF this
reckless and hot-headed bachelor.
Now, as moonlight drives are about
the only luxury he lavishes upon his
lady friends. and as accidents occur
continually, il seems as though life
long practice should have perfected
him in the art of managing the ribbons
so that he need not have a long train
Of mangled invalids on his track.
The first faculty recital of the Uni
versity Conservatory had evidently
been looked forward to, for the univers-
ity chapel was filed, even to the back
seats of the balcony. The audience was
unusually quiet during the music, and,
perhaps, a little too quiet at the end
of each number. The work of the
players would have been none the
worse for a little more encouragement.
1t deserved IL.
The string quartet has changed lit
tie in membership, evidently not for
the worse. Mr.. Charles Hagenow, so
far as could be judged from the ensem-
ble, played excellently and will be a
valuable member. The first number on
the program, the allegro from Beetho-
VEINS op. IS. No. 4, was played with
that excellence of interpretation,-the
musical scholarship, IL the term may
be so used, that makes Mr.. Hagenow's
rendering of classical music so valua-
BILE. Whatever defects may be noted,
L.. -,
precision of tone, in detail of tempo
the work of the quartet always sue
ceeds in this. in catching and conveying
the idea, the musical impulse of each
number. And for that one could for
give much-were there much to forgive
Mr.. Randolph's songs, though his voice
lacks a little in resonance and in that
sympathetic quality that makes peo-
pie lean forward in their seats to listen,
were excellent inmusical detail, in pre-
cision of tone and in shading. In the
Song of Hybrias the Cretan," he
showed perhaps to better advantage
than in the comparatively ineffective
music of Marschner's An Jenem
Tag" OF Mr.. Hagenow's solo. Bal
lade and Polonaise" by Vieuxtemps,
little need be said-from him Lincoln
people know what to expect. Neither
the delicacy of the ballade nor the
spirit of the polonaise lost anything in
his hands. Indeed, his new violin has
given him the means to bring out more
sympathetically than ever the music
that he feels. He was, as usual, at his
best in the flowing cantabile passages.
Miss Scofield, like Mr.. Randolph, is
well known to us. Her rendering of
Mendelsshon's Sherzo in F sharp min
or was brilliant and showed mastery
of technique. Its lack, such as there
was, was in delicacy of shading. in
interpreting clearly to the nearer,
the identity Of the distinct subjects.
Ii lacked, that is, the lyric, singing in
depreciation that Mendolssohn's work
usually asks. This cannot be said of
Miss Perkins playing of Chopin's bal
lade. That sung itself excellently. IT
lacked, however, the individuality of
Chopin-the force, the occasional ling
erings, the little impulses that make
us realize that, gay as his music NAV
be, there are always ghosts i'm the
dark corners. 1t seems, perhaps, that
Miss Scofield's manner would be better
suited TO Chopin and Miss Perkins's
TO Mendelssohn. One feels with regard
to musicians as with regard to actors,
that they best fit certain roles. And
1t Is no dispraise to say this. The
closing numbers Of the string quartet.
'Suesses Erinern," STILES Glueck."
and the oddly delicate '.Dudelsack."
closed the program. The effect was a
little marred by the marching out of a
few people whose bedtime came at
half-past nine. 1t is to be hoped that
the University Conservatory will give
us this year the opportunity to hear
much music. II is to be hoped, too.
that We will make. by liberal subscrip-
lions, such opportunity possible. Suck
music as Mr.. Hagenow is giving us
such anhraicr x,fa H..