The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-02-16
"A Tete-a-Tete
with
the Musicians


&noUr0ooBenoo@o
ANY items Of news about music should be
sent to Mrs Willie Hutchinson, room 20,
Hotel Burnett, telephone No. 1lO4.
Some Houston audiences have been hear.
ting OF late several OF Edward Grleg's ex-
quislte songs. and they have also been told
some Interesting things about him as man
and musician, and | hope what they have
heard has whetted their nppetites for more.
One Of the most delightful points to dwell
upon while considering the accomplishments
and career Of this great Norwegian com
poser is the pure and perfect happiness OF
bis long married life.
The loving harmony and sympathetic
belpfulness which distinguish the almost
ideal union between Nina ana Edward Grleg
recall the perfect marriages Of those other
artists and genuses, Clara Week and Rob
ert Shumann. and Elisabeth Barrett and
Robert Browning.
In England the popular acceptance OF
srieg was FASTENED by the concerts he gave
there with the aid OF his wife, who has
helped him by her interpretations OF his
songs. as Clara Shumann helped her nus
band by playing his piano forte music
Nine. Grlog made her last public appear
Ance in London about three years ago, when
she also sang for Queen Victoria at Wind
sor.
II the state Of Greg's health had permit
ted, many triumphs might have been won
In the concert halls OF Europe and America
ny himself and his wife. and tine world
would have become familiar sooner with
some Of his most fascinating "Lleder." For
more than thirty years he has been hopeless.
II conaumptive.
Grieg lie not writer or fne music only :
he has a graceful and convincing literary
style. An interesting example Of 1t is the
article written by him soon after Verdls
death and published in "rhe Nineteenth
Century and After" This is an exalted an
probation of the almost endless variety ana
grandeur of Verdi as composer aud
tender tribute to the man as well.
Willie Hutchinson.
The committee appointed 10 decide upon
the merits Of the songs entered IN the con
test inaugurated by the Daughters Of the
Republic Of Texas have agreed that none o.
She compositions received are quite worthy
Of the prize offered Several OF the poems
sent were, from many points Of view, far
met quite all the requirements
They propose TO open another contest
this time calling for the words alone, and
when they shall have chosen the poem they
will offer an lnducement to composers tc
enter competition In writing the music to
ht the words so selected.
This manner OF procedure seems much
more In keeping with modern methods OF
song writing on the Wagnerian principle
the poem is the drawing whose strength
and beauty the color given by the music on
riches and intensihes
Let nobody be discouraged by tets re.
hinder. But It must be admitted that, with
the one exception Of Joseph Haydn ana the
Austrian national anthem, no man has even
yet sat down with the deliberate Intention
OF writing national hymn--and produced
Que! Such things come by inspira tun-apL
sometimes Ivy accident
The experience OF the ladies' composing
the committee Of the ID. x. T. lends THIS
writer 10 print here a short EXCERPT from
Elson 5 excellent book called "rhe National
Music Of America Here 10 is
IN 1881 number Of Northern gentlemen
onered prize OF $500, or medal OF same
value, Tor words and music OF a National
hymn May II, 1851, q committee Of thlr.
teen tabsit omen9 issued the call for this
nnch- Wlshed-tor anthem. There We're about
1900 competitors; manuscripts poured In
from California, from England, from Italy.
from everywhere. After filling about ave
waste baskets with rejected contributions,
the detected thirteen came 10 the conclusion
that not one OF the poets ana composerS
had produced work that could he called
National or that was ikcy TO become so.
The committee reached this depressing Ton.
eiusion after about three months OF hard
labor"
As In this community the family OF Mr..
George Kidd is conspicuous for the musical
culture OF Its members, It seemed appro-
Pirate as part of tho ceremony at the FIRST
marriage among the children of the family
that the musical features should he more
prominent than is usually the case on such
occasions
So. at the church. Miss Mary Car.nn ISlda