The San Francisco call., 1897-10-28
MUSIC AND MUSICIANS.

In Italy every town and village has its band
and so proud are the inhabitants OF the
emclency OF their own particular band that
they eheerfuily subscribe sufficient money TO
maintain it. Some times it is a municipal
grant and sometimes a private su Inscription.
Mascagui was the leader of a municipal band
IN small town at the time he wrote the
Cavslleria. When any band especially dis
1inguishes itself, It's fame Spreads sometimes
even beyond the border OF its own country.
This has been the case with the Banda Rossa
OF San Severe, which has lately arrived in
New York. 1t has become by degrees to be
considered the best band in Italy, and after
visiting various cities in Europe it has landed
In America sixty strong, dressed in dark uni
forms with bright red stripes and facing,
under its leader, Eugenio Sorrentino, who has
brought 1t 10 its present state of perfection.
rms band has created great deal of interest
and curiosity, and at the first performance
was greatly applauded, and received un-
suuted praise from the critics. Margaret Won
Fahsel is the soprano soloist with the Banda
Rossa, and 1t is also assisted by child violin
list, Carlotta Stubenrauch ''who played in
telligently with a real simplicity of manner
rare among prodigies," says one OF the New
York papers.
The Hum garians possess an ancient wind in
strument sui generis, which is called q taro-
cato, and which they formerly used instead of
the clarion. The sound of this instrument is
rather melan choly, sweet and appealing. The
| tarogato has been neglected for long time,
but the Hungarians remembered it on the oc-
casion of the visit of William ii to Budapest.
and a military band during the court dinner
played several pieces for the tarogato, with
orchestral Accomplishments. This resur rec
tlon greatly interested the company, and it
appears that in Hungary this instrument is
going again to be fashionable. A professor of
Budapest has brought it to perfection so
that it can be used in modern orche stration,
and we shall perhaps soon see in the scores of
the young Hungarian composers a part spe-
ciaily destined for the tarogato. While
waiting amateurs are buying in Hungary all
the ancient instruments they can find. Col
lectors should make a note.
The members of the Manhattan Union COM
Dlained lately to the proprietor of Clarendon
ID all that he was employing musicians who
were not members of the union, stating that
he must either dismiss them or they must join
the union. These players turned out TO be
ladies, and some of the other musicians OBJ
lecied TO their Deing admitted to the union.
The other trades declared the position to be
untenable, and said that anyhow they had
heard too much about musical matters lately
and were tired of it, and that if the Manhat-
ian Union tried to prevent these respectable
women musicians from earning living there
would be big row in the Central Labor
Union. The Manhattan Union then withdrew
Its objection, and, on applying again, the
ladies' were made tull-hedged members OF the
society.
A lively dis pute is at this moment being
carried on among the Bavarian journals apro-
pos OF the engagement al the Theater
Royal, Munich, of singer, Mile. Ternina, on
the very exceptional conditions which have
been N ade for her by the intendant of the
theater. While the Allgemein Zeitung sings
heroically the praises OF this young artist
another paper, the Augsburger Post Zeitung,
is indignant and afirms that the question
ought to be taken before the Chamber so that
this extraordinary engagement may be dis
cussed, as well as the sum OF $4,000 marks un-
lawfully demanded, according to it, for the
recent repairs to the two royal theaters. The
theatrical world of Munich is much exercised
over the matter and awaits with much curl
osity the denouement of this great quarrel.
Here is e letter from Sch ubert which was ad-
dressed by this great but poYerty-stricken
artist, who every one knows, was always
misera bic, TO his friend Bauernfeld: Vienna,
July 10, 1926 ut is impossible for me to
come 20 Gmunden or anywhere else; 1 have
nota sou ana in general my situation is very
sad. Come then thyself to Vienna as soon as
possible. for Duport desires me to write an
opera for him aud as the hbrettos which 1
have examined are far from pleasing me it
wonld be good thing if thy poem could be
favorably received. In default of glory it
would at least be a little money. Schubert"
When he wrote thus, exposing his misery to
his friend, the unfortunate Schubert had only
two more years to live and he had already pub
lished more than sixty works containing
| several hundred pieces
Audran's new operetta, LA Poupee," after
hov rod
| and London, is coming to New York. Audran
is the composer OF 'Olive tie" and the Mas
cot" also "Miss Helyett" but la Poupee" is
said 10 surpass them all. The libretto is the
story of a young monk who, in his novitiate
falls heir 10 large property, on condition
that he marries. In his perplexity he deter
mines to go through mock marriage with a
doll, and orders one to be made life size. The
toymaker, however, instead of a doll, sends
his own daughter to the wedding, a maneuver
which gives rise to all the interest in the
| piece.
The Paris Figaro states that it hears from
Vienna that the celebrated American humor-
ist, Mark Twain, has recently arrived there
and that the author is the father of two beau
tiful girls of whom he intends to make musi-
cians and II is In the interest of their musical
education that he is spending a year on the
banks of the Danube. The older daughter is
SOuus Asuy VI ICs duu euuOW6Q Win q voice
which will win for her as much fame as her
father has gained in the literary world.
new prima donna, Mile. Aino Ackte, has
just made great success in Paris In the role
OF Margaret Miss Ackte is 20 years old, tall
and blonde, and a native of Finland. Her
father is leader of the orchestra at Helsingfors
and her mother was 8 celebrated Swedish
dramatic soprano.
Pearl Ladd OF this city, who is not yet IA
years old, is giving two con certs at San Jose
this week, Friday evening and the
other on Saturday afternoon, al both OF which
full houses are assured. The programmes
have been compiled entirely by herself.
NJ. Cavalho has just engaged for series of
performances in February at the Opera
Comioue, Paris. an artist whose success has
been great in London and New York, Mile
Zsilie de Lussan, who is of French origin, but
who was born and raised IN New York
Both the Reszke brothers have been deco
rated by the Gear OF Russia.
After having literally cireumnavigated the