The herald., 1896-03-01
MUSICAL COLUMN

Simpson M. E. tabernacle is better
equipped for fine music than any other
church in the city, Indeed, the auditorium
is always in great request for concerts, the
production of orations and recitals. For
acoustic advantages this building is un-
rivalled in the city. But the music of the
church itself is by no means of the quality
of excellence that one would expect from the
character of the church and the congrega-
ton. One cause, and that unhappily an all
potent one, which accounts for its hitherto
mediocre music, is a financial stringency
and the necessity for economy. After the
collapse of the boom, this church suffered
with the majority of clerical as we'll as lay
societies throughout the city. The pros
poets for the future of the music of the
Simpson tabernacle are. however, bright
ening considerably. In the first place the
music committee must be congratulated
in having secured an able organist and di-
rector in the person of Mr.. Frank II.
Colby. This gentlemen's energy and en-
thusiasm in his work will surely be repaid
with the success he deserves. Mr..
Colby came to Los Angeles last July, and
very soon had made q most favorable im-
preston. At concert give. in the taber-
nacle soon after his arrival Mr.. Colby, ac-
cording to The HERALD of that date
"sustained his reputation for conscientious
study and brilliant execution" The organ
ist has enjoyed q thorough musical train
ing as a pupil of H. M. Durham and Otto
Bendix, and held important positions in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. in which city, and
also III Boston and Chicago, he has won
his laurels. Mr.. Colby has very fine
organ at his command in the Simpson
church but it is by no means an easy instrr-
ment to handle, and although it boasts
electric power, is deficient in other modern
conveniences and improvements. Through
the earnest efforts of the pastor, DIR. Nc
Lean, and his colleagues, the finances of
the church are now in much more satis-
factory condition, and it is hoped that
libera! appropriation may soon be
possible for the music of the church.
At present the choir ia voluntary one,
and unfortunately one cannot always ex-
pect such satisfactory results from anna
teurs as from those who make a business
of singing. Miss Jessie Goodwin has for
some time occupied the important position
and Miss Batey. pupil of Prof. Harrison's,
promises to fill the position very satisfac-
torily. A new quartet is being organized
at present, but amongst those who have
given their services to the church music
should be mentioned the names of j. w.
latter most reliable standby. Most of
the singing is at present undertaken by
| small choir of a dozen voices. The hearth
ness of the congregational singing in the
hymns Is pleasant and altogether lauda-
BILE feature in the church. Mr.. Colby is
most anxious to enlist the sympathy of all
the members Of the church in the work of
his choir, and is hard at work to build up q
musical organization worthy of the church.
There is large studio in the parlors of
the church, in which there is a fine grand
piano, and here Mr.. Colby presides over a
musicale every month. He also gives an
organ recital at intervals. The music at
the Simpson tabernacle is undoubtedly
capable of much improvement. and under
| the existing conditions there ia every prom
ise of such being achieved. Next week tine
music at the Roman Catholic cathedral
! will be reviewed.
| All lovers of good music will hail with
| delight the announcement that another op-
portunity is to be afforded of hearing Herr
Anton Schott sing. The famous Wag-
merriam tenor and his colleague, the Munich
Liederabend, or evening of song, at the
Simpson tabernacle next Tuesday night.
The tenor has consented to sing at prices
very inferior to those he is accustomed to,
and the musical public should avail them
selves Of this opportunity. Schott will sing
| TWO D6lkduS Oh LO0WoS OCnuD6rLS IJFlklnR
and Lindenbaum, Schumann's Two Grena-
| diers, an air from Mendelssohn's st. Paul,
the famous Farewell song from Wagner's
| Lohengrin, Brahms Eternal Love, and two
of Schumann's delightful liede, Lotusblume
| and The. Wanderer. Mr.. Fickenscher will
be heard in Chopin, Moskowsky, Ruben
| stein and Liszt. Truly comprehensive
| and promising program.
r 4
There is prospect of Los Angeles hear
| ing it's own again. and it is very probable
| that Miss Ellen Beach Yaw, the soprano of
| abnormal altitudinous and abysmal fame,
| may be Heard again in Southern California
with Siedl's orchestra. and Siedl is to come
| to the Pacific coast in May, provided five
| cities can be found to furnish an appre-
ciable guarantee.
| Sousa's concert on Monday night, which
was almost entirely confined to his own
| compositions, was enthusiastically listened
! to by monster audience. The consensus
of the musical portion of the audience was,
| however, that one can have too much of
| even Sousa.
| The New York Journal is responsible for
the following story:
| Society was entertained at tea given by
| Mrs. John M. Cunningham at her beautiful
| home on Pacific avenue this Afternoon, but
| society did not hear Paderewski at the tea,
because the great pianist would not cut
| rates.
| Mrs. Cunningham. a daughter of the late
millionaire Nicholas Luning, is a gracious
hostess, and, desiring TO give an attractive
entertainment to the guests who thronged
| her mansion, sought to engage Paderewski
| to play during the afternoon. a note was
| written asking what Paderewski would
charge to play for five minutes at tea.
Mr.. Gorlitz, who attends to financial
| matters for the pianist. answered in writ
! ing, announcing Paderewski's charge as
| $500. Mrs. Cunningham thought the
sum extremely large. but as she was not
disposed readily to yield to her desire to
| have the pianist play at her tea she wrote
| anothsr note, offering $1,000 for five min
utes of Paderewski's music during her re-
"ihct note was not even answered"
said MIR. Gorlitz, who told of the corre-
spondence between Mrs. Cunningham and
| himself today. 'As soon as read it said
! to the boy, There is no answer The COR
| respontlence ended, but have kept the let
ters received"
| concert was given last Tuesday even
| ing at the Luther Memorial chapel by the
Pirie orchestra of East Los Angeles. They
were assisted by a male quartet, consisting
of Messrs. Holgate, Ragland, Ross and
Oyerholzer. Miss Ritchie played piano
solo, and recitations were given by s. ii.
| Corrott and little Maude Adams.