Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1895-10-26

city had two such acquisitions as we now find
ourselves possessed Of in Prof. Il. A. Heritage,
late Of Fremont, Neb., State Conservatory o
Music, and Prot. Emil L. Wimklcr, recent
graduate Of the Royal Conservatory, at Leip.
aig, Germany.
The FIRST opportunity to hear these gentle.
zen at public recital was Monday evening
and their performances we're given in free
and easy manner, nothing s,ilted or strained,
music Of the highest class, both performing
from memory and as easy as though before a
circle Of personal friends, while really stand.
ing before an audience Of thousand people.
While there were golden chimes Of music
stealing all through the concerto in g minor
the underlying sadness Of the composition wa,
felt by the dulest ears and there was relief in
the applause that followed the selection from
Mendelssohn, played by Herr wiuhler, with
Miss Hughes as the second pianist. Il was
considered remarkable that in all that long
performance Of classical music, the inslru.
mental director at The Willamette College Of
Music played without note before him and
most Of the time apparently obvous to ali
abou, him and completely absorbed in the ex
eeution Of his art. A generous applause fol
lowed the players and Prof. Heritage sang
three passages from Handel's "Messiah." 1t
was most gratifying reception that was ac
corded the new vocal director oi the fore
most conservatory Of music on the Pacific
coast. The large chapel Of Willamette was
packed with a most intelligent and refined
audience and Heritage appeared at his best.
His tall manly figure, broad shoulders and
deep chest tones from powerful pair Of lungs
and the most cultivated voice that any music
school in the west has yet secured, soon won
The hearts Of his hearers and he retired with
another burst Of applause. The crowd was
beginning to catch on to the high character OF
the performance, something that does not al
ways happen when high grnde musical pro.
gram is placed before them. waltz ana
overture from Chopin followed, which was
interrupted with applause right in the middle
and the modest German pianist had TO get up
and bow an acknowledgment before proceed
ing. In Schubert's "Erl King" the most
rapid changes Of passion are introduced and
to personate them on the stage and to appro.
priately vocalize them drew out the full pow
ers Of the singer and he was equal to the task.
From the highest trills Of bridal ,carrol to
the deepest wall Of despair in death, Heritage
showed himself master. The accompani-
ment was a revelation in itself, to be we'll
performed only by great performer. To-
gether they received tumultous round OF
applause. In the "Ship on Fire, there was
the same dramatic rendition Of one Of LIES
tragedies at sea, for which the singer received
a most hearty encore. lie responded with
the beautiful "From the Desert Come to
Thee" wierd wild love song from the fiery
heart Of Bedowin chieflain, by Pinsuti. The
master performance Of the evening at the pi- |
ano came when Herr winkler played his |
prize winning composition that gave him !
scholarship at the Leipzig Conservatory OF
Music. IL is seldom an instrumental per
fJrmance is encored In the far west but this |
time Il was granted in an unmislakable man.
ner, In the only comic one OF the great
master Wagner's operas, Prof. Winkler
selected the prize song with variations from
the ''Meistersinger, in which the humor and |
mirth enacted on the streets Of old Nuremberg
forms background to the love song of the
young knight as he makes the effort Of his
life to win the hand af his lady love.
The classical program was closed by Her.
itage singing the scene Of sylvia, in the opera
OF "Elnani." In the first part he interpreted
the spread OF a false rumor against Elvira, for
which he ehides himself in the second pass
age, and then in the tumult Of passion calls
for his sword and vassals to slay Emani, the
true lover Of ElviTa. Prof. Heritage had in
tended TO sing this selection in Italian but
very sensibly concluded to employ the Eng.
lish translation. This concluded a rather
heavy evenings work, and YET all were
delighted with and appreciated every number.
"Ssuttering Jim," was called for and sang
by special request. II is humorous musical
composition, by Prof. Heritage and was well I
received. There was no music score at hand (
but Winkler improvised some Of his own and ,
Il was great success from the standpoint OF I
the audience.
Winkler played under great disadvantage.
lie had not been feeling well for several days
owing 10 the climatic change he has undergone
in coming here from Leipzig to Western
Oregon. But his playing revealed powers Of
execution and expression lha, eapIivated all
those capable OF judging. There is a finish
o his playing and he plays entirely without t
notes. There is no adeetation about Heritage. {
lle is plain, substantial. solid every. .ineh.a-
man style Of fellowt hard-wo'king, devoted to a
music for musies sake, an organiser, busi. /
iess man, teacher whose industry and
permit OF no .riling or sentimen- \
alilies. lie has high ideas OF his art and !.
he best friends Of the school hope he may
long be permitted to labor in our midst, and
'ay on to the higher renown the good name :
which Prof. Parvln has built up lot Villa,
nelie in the department Of music.