The San Francisco call., 1897-08-26
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

| published curious dTtlCle Oh the suuJeCt u
the influence that tuning fork has on the
human voice The doctor experimental on
number of workmen in factory at Moscow.
He took an tuning fork OF steel and applied
il to the ears of his subjects, after having him
self sung the it produced. After two hours
of work, he found that his voice became more
and more powerful and acquired metallic
sonority. He continued his experiments and
found that in placing the tuning fork on his
forehead he could sing from the chest several
high notes that he had never been able to pro-
duce before, except falsetto. Several workmen
VIII had never sung, and who were practically
without voice found themselves able to pro-
duce agreeable notes when the doctor placed
the tuning fork on their toreheaos. lhese
persons stated that the notes came irolD thelr
throatS without the least effort Inc doctor
afterward made experiments with professional
singers, and found that their voices gained III
power and facility of expression When the
tuning fork was applied to their heads. IL Is
possible that the experiment has sclentinc
value. but its practical application to pro1es-
sional singers does not seem easy. One can
hardly Imagine Raoul in "The Huguenots
applying tuning fork to his brow III
order to take the chest Ut, in the duel scene,
or the Queen in the "Magic Flute" hanging
tuning fork to her diadem when she takes the
famous in alt
wagner societies everywhere seem to be out
living their usefulness, but the German Wag-
ner Society is in the worst plight OF all. Ac'
cordlng to statistics recently presented at the
congress OF the Allgemeiner R. chard Wagner
Verein, which recently met at Beyreuth, the
mem bership has diminished more than 20
per cent since 1896. When Count Won Secken-
dorm, the president, made this announcement
several mem bers voted that the German
branch of the society be dissolved. The ques-
ton was hotly debated, but finally it was re-
solved TO continue the organization with a
number of notifications. The number OF
Wagnerian societ es in other countries has
fallen from 100 to 80 during the last year
There is nothing astonishing in this new
Wagner societies were founded TO bring tR-E-
works of Richard Wagner before a world that
was cold and Indifferent to the Beyreuth mas
ters music. They have succeeded in their OBJ
ject To-day "Lonepgrin" is better known 10
the theater-going public than Norma
Popular audiences can recognize the ''prze
song" from the 'Meistersinger" more read ly
han they would recognize luna voce POGO ia"
from the "Barber OF Seville" Bellinl and RoS-
sni are more in need OF societies TO Keep thelr
works alive than Wagner IS.
Never was musician honored as Donizetti is
to be honored in celebration of the centenary
of his birth at Bergamo, in Lombardy. me
inauguration of the magnificent monument
to his memory in his natal town VIII lake
place on the 18th of next month. A grand
exposition of all the DoniZett exhibits pro-
durable will mark the festivities. During the
fetes al which the Crown Prince of Italy ana
his beau tiful wife Will preside, all the most
famous operas of the Bergamo master VIII be
performed by celebrated artists in the Theater
Ricordi, which is 10 be renamed the Theater
Donizetti. Patti, Calve and Melba Will De
among the artists, and Nordica was engaged,
but it is not expected that she will have re-
covered in time to be present. Donizettrs
| Requiem" viii be sung by chorus OF artists
| brought from all the corners OF Europe.
| The liquidation of the late Johannes
Brahms estate has made q great step ior-
! ward It will be remembered that the COM
poser died some months ago intestate and
that both Germany ana Austria claimed him
| as a citizen. The Ham burg authorities have
| now decreed that the old master had lost his
| German nationality by his long residence in
Vienna. II is believed that Brahms valuable
| collection OF autographs, his manuscripts and
| his fortune viii go to the Viennese musical
| society to which he had verbally signifed his
| intention of leaving them.
The California Music Festival Association ia
completing arrangements for its second festjz
val, to be held in Metropolitan Temple on the {
| 9 tn and 10th of November next. Nine. Gen
eyra Johnstone Bishop will be the sopTauo{
There will be a chorus of several hundred
voices, ana among the pieces performed will
| be Mendelssohns "Eljah."
The Charming Auxiliary announces the first
appearance, since her return from abr oad of
| Miss Anna Miller Wood the distinguished
| contralto, who will give a song reci tai OH
| Saturday afternoon, September A, at the First
| Unitarian Church. Miss Wood is a San Francisco
| will, dor HI n in
| Europe and the East.
A magnificent new opera-house, which has
| cost $14 O0O, 900, is to be opened at San Jose
Costa Rica, the 18th of October. Aubry,
| the manager, has engaged his troupe and
| formed his repertory in Paris "Mignon,'
"Hamlet," 'tLakme," "Manon" and other
works of the French school are to be given.
A new organization has been founded in
Rome known the st. Gregory the Great So
ciety. It's object is to reform Italian religious
music which is accused of having departed
from the traditions OF the great Palestrina and
become openly theatrical in its tendencies
Anew Swedish composer, named Stenham-
mer, is coming to the front. The Royal
OpeIa-house of Berlin is shortly to produce q
lyric drama from his pen. The work is en-
titled 'The Festival of Solhang."
De Wsiewoloyski, director OF the court fetes
to the Gear of Russia, has given great satisfac-
faction by choosing Nine. Bolska as the lyric
star at all the operate performances in honor
| OF the President of the French republic.
| The Municipal Council of Paris is remaining
| the streets of q part OF Paris after celebrated
men. Three of the streets to bear the
names of the following musicians: Ambrose
Thomas, Chopin and Benjamin GODDARD.
| At the Gaite new operetta by Planquette,
MAN zell Quatsous," is soon to be pro-
| duced.
| Massenet is writing a new act including a
ballet, to be interpoate ted in his opera, "Thais =
| CALIFORNIA glace fruits. soc ID. Townsenil'