The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-04-14
THE MUSICAL AMATEUR.
Success Of the St. Louis Amateur O~rchestra-Personne of the
High School Mandolin and Glee Club-Miss Mabel Wyman
as a Pianist Amateurs Who Hope to Be Profes.
sionals-Future of Rag Time.

If one might say that there is such a
thing as a climax to purely amateur en-
deavor in st. Louis It is the ST. Louis
Amateur Orchestra, which accounts for the
unusually large crowd at its concert in the
Union Club on Thursday night. There has
not been a gathering of amateurs such as
this was since the Cuddy musical in the
Memorial Hall. 1t follows that tho audi
ence was interested and enthusiastic.
Everybody on the stage seemed to play a
violin except Director Epstein: We could
only hear the wood winds and brasses. If
certain young men had worn black ties like
their companions instead of startling GRIM
son four-in-hands. the appearance of the
orchestra would have been better.
Hard work by the entire orchestra and its
director was apparent in every number on
the programme.
Their one fault, particularly in the
"Phedre'' overture by Massenet, the first
number, was an inclination to play with
that same painstaking care with which a
nervous %youngster recites his poem for the
first time in school. Everything was there
but the essential verve. But the spirit In
the "Cortege Fantastique," by Moskowski.
was genuine. 1t seemed to be the aim OF
the orchestra. in selecting its exhibittve
music to choose that which will bring out
the work of each quartet distinctly. On
the march from the "Lenore Symphony" by
Rafr, which. by the way. had never oeen
treated to orchestration In st. Louis before.
the yiolins came in for much plucking OF
strings and divers other kinds OF work that
ia called by most unmusical terms. II any
one should happen to ask you about the
"Ienore SYMPHONY tell them that Mr.Fan'
who ia one of the modern romancists. must
hove had a bad attack Of the blues when he
wrote 1t.
,,,.s Nellie B. johnson and not Miss Susie
p cuddy, as everybody expected, piayeo
thu Violin solos, Miss Cuddy found hal she
could not give the necessary time TO the
nreparation. Miss johnson Is one OF the
first yiolinists Of the orchestra. She came
out on the stage in a gown that looked ike
a lot of pink pillows on first Inspection, anu
she wore a pink flower, and her cheeks were
mixer than either the dress or the hover
for Miss johnson had never played to 80
many people before. Under these circum-
stances we are wondering with how much
more GOODNESS and assurance she Will per-
form when she goes on the concert stage.
which is her ambition. She played Svend-
sens Romance and q berceuse by Saure.
Mr.. Harry ]. Fellows was on the programme
to sing two tenor solos, but the stress OF
circumstance caused him to sing four.
This concert closes the eighth season of
the st. Louis Amateur Orchestra. Tuesday
night, when 1t ought to rehearse, 1t will
banquet in its rehearsal hall.
Mrs. Hughey's pupils gave a musical re-
cital at the Conservatorium on Friday even
ing. They were assisted by Miss McCreery.
sonata, eliciting much praise for her exc
cution; Miss stumberg recited the Swan
Song" Miss Mason played a Mendelssohn
capricio. Misses Morris and Cottet a piano
duet, and Misses Mason. Morris. Owen and
Mr.. French a quartet. There was a chorus
and several solos. The audience was most
OF the charming and harmoni-
Gus programme.
It has been three years since the Man.
dolin and Guitar Club was organized at
the High School, and many OF its charter
members have gone to Eastern schools and
there threaten to become important figures
in the musical clubs. OF the charter men,
bers still in the school there is Paul r.
Grace, who is now manager of the club. and
plays a guitar. He is in the advance third
year class. William Ross. the energetic
is another of the original nine. He
plays a mandolin. knows all things about
music. has written two dramas and has a
barytone voice, with which he sings in
the Apollo Club. He took the club to Anna
Cotl>- I'll Y~.A M v3of~ooa s,,>NIr ,,,sk1,
the result that they have decided to make
a circuit Of these towns every year during
the holidays. George Jones. the secretary
and treasurer Of the club. is a violinist be-
sides q mandolin player. and has done so
club that 1t will be very sorry to lose him in
June. when he graduates. Fred White, who
often plays violin solos at amateur mu-
steals. also plays the mandolin in the club.
The club is proud of Max Goldman, a young
man who can play the piano and guitar.
and who has composed a number of
the most popular OF which is the
High School two-step, that everybody in
the school can whistle. Marsh Boothby. who
plays the mandolin. made q record-breaking
and cup-winnlng cross-country run about
weeks ago Edwin Friedman Is q thar
lSG LloulUSE Su0 11dIL1lSon Odu6AIoOAy 10
supposed to have moro business ability than
any other boy In the school. He plays a !
mandolin. 10 q famous football player, and |
Is president Of the athletic association. He
will graduate In June, when tho club will
be in sorrow, for he Is theb best executive
1t has had for some time. Gustav Taussig
plays the mandolin and fills the onerous Of
Of field captain so well that he is popu-
1~- 1----- n----- - Nh1~4 ---AA I
and William stauss and Henry DINER are a
twain that have Just recently entered the
school, and play the guitar excellently. The
,thers Of the new men are Joseph Flynn,
Reed Bowes. John J. Roth. George Kings
and. Harlo Seaver and George Gannett, !
who are all mandolin players.
The young ladies Of the Lafayette Park