Evening star., 1901-11-09
NJ U S CAL M ENTION

Ensemble singing requires efficient train
ed voices under skilled direction to be ar
tistic. This the Musical Art Society seems
destined to achieve I'm the choir of solo
voices under the direction OF Mr. Otto
Torney Simon The singers enrolled are
MIS- Ralph p. Barnard, Mrs. Anna Craig
hills, A Rosalie Iiolberg, Mrs. Ivy Herriot
Shade' Eieanore Simonds, Edna Scott
Smith. Mrs. w. l.. Wilson. Lillian HALEY,
John Duffey. Melville Hensey, w. ID. Nc
F'ariand, Chas. W. Moore, Horatio Rench,
Chas. +. Roberts, Eugene +. Stevens. with
ID. G. Pfeiffer as accompanist. This or
ganization is the outgrowth of the Motet
Choir, which was organized last season un-
der Mr.. Simon's direction. and will be most
pleasantly remembered by those who at
tended the concert given at the National
Rifles Armory. The scope of the new or
ganization is more comprehensive, embrace
ing in its field of study all the shorter
choral compositions of high class On the
financial side the society is organized as a
stock company. considerably over half the
stock being taken by local music lovers in
sympathy with the artistic aims of the or
ganization. The rehearsals for the work on
the program of the first concert are now
progressing. The society will sing Bach's
short cantata, Gods Time Is Best" part
of Berliozs Flight Into Egypt" Bruch's
setting OF FAR Ellen and a group of part
songs. The society contempiates having
the assistance of artist of note at each
of Its concerts and has engaged for the
first concert the young American violinist,
Mr.. William Worth Bailey While he IA
both young. being but Twenty-Five and af-
fiicted with total blindness since birth his
claim to artistic recognition rests entirely
upon his work. which stamps him as one
of the greatest performers on the violin
ever known to the American concert stage
Josef Hofmann is the latest exponent Of
school In which may be classed both
d Albert and Rosenthal. These artists con-
Germ themselves with the orchestral devel-
opment of piano tone, striving to make it
more eloquent In cantilena and more vocal
and human in its tonal coloring Rubin
stein, with his powerful hand trumpet
tone and almost indispensable variety of
touches, gave us at last the approxima-
tfon of the orchestra on the keyboard. And
this manner Hofmann has inherited. Nat
urally 1t makes his playing more at home
i'm compositions requiring passionate and in
tense treatment than in more tender and
intimate music for salon. Yet, when he
was heard here last he proved his versa
tility by the performance of such genre
pieces as the "Spinnerlied" OF Mendelssohn
and some Chopin songs transcribed by
Liszt. In some of the selections he fairly
outdid Paderewsk In lusciousness Of color.
The affectation usually found in younger
pianists is lacking in Hofmann; nor is he
sentimental: and he never turns Chopin
nocturnes into fearful tunes.
Several members of the Euterpe Musical
Club gave box party at the Columbia
Theater last Tuesday night In honor OF
Miss Estelle Wentworth. a member of the
club, who sings a leading role in the Lulu
Gaser company. Those attending were
William Muehleisen, Frank Byram, Will
lam III. Scholz. William F. Worcester. Louis
@. Freeman, Leon II. Reizenstein, Freder-
ick Seibold and Fred. s. Hail.
George Grossnnith is to return to this
country for another extended tour during
the coming winter and spring months. Mr.
Grossmith's rare gift as a musician, COM
poser and pianist, his skill in the art Of
pantomime and mimicry, and his fine sense
of humor enable him to fill an evening in a
delightful fashion.
The Euterpe Musical Clubs program last
Monday evening included solos by Miss
Elizabeth Tyler. Mrs. Wilma Benton-Smith,
Miss Kate Hitler Latham, Mr.. Raphael
Koester, Mr.. w. b. Hollifield, Mr.. r.. trank
Meyers, Miss Berthe Thompson, accompa-
MED by B. Frank Gebest. A piano solo by
Harry Patterson Hopkins was of exception
al interest The concerted number, Moe
turne and Wedding March from "Midsum-
mer Nights Dream" was also very enjoy
able.
Jan Kubelik has lately made a present TO
the Symphony Orchestra at his home IN
Prague of 81 ,OO0 to repleplsh its treasury.
and recently he performed by command
In Stuttgart before the Queen or Wurtem-
berg. He is spending his present vacation
practicing from seven to eight hours daily
the repertoire for his coming American
tour Mr Daniel Frohman has engaged
Miss Jessie Shay, who will be the solo
pianist Tor the hupeilk TOUR. Dut MI huDc-
Inks accompanist will be the same artist
who has been associated with him for the
past two years.
Mr. James @. Peakes. who died in New
York Thursday, was well known In TINS
city. He had been connected with English
opera for nearly forty years. He was with
the Caroline Rielings troupe when thar or
ganization was at it's best. and had also
sung with Clara Louise Kellogg. Emma
Abbott and Lillian Russell He was, what
is rare In opera singers, an exceiieet actor
and an experienced stage manager. His
brother, Henry C. Peakess the basso. sur
wives him.
Mr. George Lawrence is arranging a re-
cytaI with some Of his advanced pupils as
sisted by William z. Green, yiolinist: MT.
talent. The choir of the First Presbyterian
church augmented TO fifty voices will also
assist.
Fanciullrs opera, which was to have had
fts first production In this city. has been
given another route. and wih not be heard
here until later In the season
Miss Virginia Powell Goodwin has been
appointed choir directress at the Church