The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-03-19

Manhattan theater. as a soloist for
Innes' band. Her engagement was the
consequence of one brief rehearsal be-
fore Bandmaster Innes, and her re-
ception by the audience was exception
ally cordial. This plucky little soprano
has had to fight her way through un-
aided and her successes are noted with
pleasure by numerous friends in this
city.
The fourth Lenten organ recital by
Mr.. Conant will be given at st. I.uke's
church this afternoon at o'clock.
Programme
Lemmens-Fugue in G.
Guilmant-Cradle Song-Repeated by re-
quest.
Mendelssohn-Sonata No 6.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS..
/ 4
The following programme of piano
selections was given by pupils of Mr..
j, NJ. Chance, Thursday noon, st. Pat
rick's day:
st. Patrick's Day.
The Fatterer .Chammade
Miss Ruth Hawley.
Sonato Op. IA, No. p z
Allegro.
Andante
Schefzo ,....................Be Beethoven
Miss Mabel Rennie.
ntsue ..'',...'''''''.''''.''' Goddard
ine butternN -, ,.....'........... .Grieg
Miss Olive Withers.
\ \ /
The success of Sousa's new opera,
The Bride Elect" has started the
Sousa fairy tales, but here is one that
rings true. 1t is story of how Fran
els Wilson lost a success and a COM
poser practically found s35,000. It was
five years ago that John Philip Sousa
was asked by the comedian to write
the music to libretto of j. Cheever
Goodwin. Sousa at that time was anX-
iouS to obtain a hearing as a comic
opera composer, and he entered upon
the work with so much enthusiasm
that he soon completed one act and
part of another. At this point the
comedian and the composer disagreed
upon terms and arbitration was found
impossible. Wilson has never been ac-
cused of being a spendthrift. and his
lnNarable rule was to purchase out
nght and never pay royalties. Sousa
refused to take less than $1,000 for a
three-act piece, and Wilson refused to
pay more than $1,000. Accordingly they
agreed to disagree. About this time
Sousa signed contract with new pub
lishers, who demanded a composition
OF him at once. The latter thought of
the march he had composed for the
Wilson opera and, digging it out of a
mass of manuscript, he sent it to the
publishers. Within six weeks after it's
publication The Liberty Bell"--for
that was the march--had netted Sousa
more than Wilson offered to pay him
ior an entire opera, and up to date has
paid the composer $35, 900 in royalties,
still making handsome returns every
month.
Joseph Hoffman, in an interview with
a Journal reporter, said that he could
stand light music for half an hour at
the end of which time he should be
quite i'll. What wonderful thing the
artistic temperament is, sometimes! He
also told the reporter that he did not
like "Siegfried" (Wagner) until he had
heard it six times, but that heavy
music was the only music after ALL"
I Il |,
Mr.. Mortimer Livingstone, well known
finest amateur pianists in the state.
Mr.. Livingstone began the study of
music at the age of II years under the
famous Prof. f. l.. Ritter. who for
many wears had charge of the music
at Vassar college, and his talents were
IT that time developed in a rapid man.
ner. He has never been engaged as a
musician professionally, preferring
1Nxy h,,t L.
terest in musical matters and is never
so happy as when seated at the key
boaro of grand piano.
The Scranton symphony orchestra
has lately been considerably increased
in size and variety of Instrumentation,
until 1t now contains a nearly full
quota of first violins, second violins,
Violas, cellOs and basses for the string
DIVISION besides having a nearly entire
reed division consisting of piccolo,
nute, ObOis, clariOnet, saXaphone and
haSSoon. Its brass division contains
the full number of Instruments, COM
prlsing trumpets or cornets, French
horns, trombones, bass trombone and
tuba, with the usual percussion instru-
Notwithstanding five timpanis or kettle
drums, one of which is of lowness of
pitch found in but few of even the
great orchestras in the United States.
With all these possibilities in their
power and under the direction of one
of the very best leaders to be found
anywhere, it will be matter of un-
usual misfortune If the Scranton Sym
phony Orchestra society does not give
the city good cause to be proud of it
in the future, even more so than ii has
in the past. Their next concert will
take place at the Lyceum theatre, April
is, the second Monday after Easter
Tickets can be obtained through all
members Of the society and also by
mail of Miss Edith Jones.
Il Il I
The Musical Courier, of Chicago, pre-
sents on its first page in the issue of
March 9 very fine full-length portrait
of Theodore Thomas in photogravure
from a photograph by Platz, of Chi
cago 1t represents the eminent leader
standing at his music tdesk, his left
hand lightly resting upon the edge, and
the baton in his right hand. The pose
is thoroughly characteristic, and the
likeness a speaking one.
/ I I
retrospect of the last few years in
the music world of Scranton shows one
Of the most encouraging and promis-
ing evidences of the appreciation of
true music by the masses of the people
OF this city. And nowhere do these
signs of progress make themselves
more evident than in the musicians
themselves. particularly the native
musicians, There is hardly an instru-
ment known to music which does NOT