Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-25
BY Gencvra Johnstone-Bishop


short tour under the management of
Bernhard Ulrich.
Hamburg, who is in some respects the
most Titanesque figure in the pianistic
world since Anton Rubinstein, was not in
the strict sense an infant prodigy. He
began his studies, it is true. at the ten
der age of with his father, who was a
professor at the Moscow conservatory.
But he didn't like practicing any more
than the average boy.
II used to malinger shamefully," said
the brilliant Russian pianist recently OF
his early musical training. 81 even de-
liberately drove splinters into my hands
to escape the hated practicing. How
ever, my father persevered patiently with
me, and at last came a day when ambi-
ton awoke in my heart, and the drudg-
cry was drudgery no more" Many pa
rents will find new courage through this
confession of one of the greatest living
masters of piano technique.
1T well remember how. as child, was
always encouraged to take an active part
in boyish games," writes Hamburg,
"but 1 am afraid every youthful enthu-
siast is not blessed with a father so pru-
dent in this respect as my own. In fact,
talented child at this moment undergo
ing a musical training which will be pro-
ductive of more harm than good, owing
to parental indscretion. Serious prac-
tice should on no account be commenced
before the child is years old.
Readers must not, however, imagine
that because I hold these views about
the early training of the very young
advocate lazy life for alb students of
music. On the contrary, no one knows
be%ter than myself that 1t is only the
strenuous worker who can hope to sue
coed in public. That is why 1 smile when
read, as I sometimes do, that Mark
Hamburg works only for one hour each
day. AS a matter of fact. work pretty
nearly all day, but, of course. do not
spend all my time at the piano. AS a
general rule, my actual practicing occu-
pies about three hours, but l pass many
more in studying the great masterpieces
of literature and in keeping in close
touch wl,n current events. The necessity
for this will, 1 think, be apparent on re-
Election, for once out of touch with what
is going on about him, an artist cannot
bring the same breadth of mind to bear
upon his art"
Hamburg believes that piano practic-
ing even for virtuoso should be limited
to three or four hours a day, divided into
two periods.
Katherine Goodson's playing of Bee
thovens Moonlight Sonata" in London
not only gained her the highest praise of
the critics of the day there. but also won
her a flattering commentator for pos
sessing the great and beautiful soul OF
genius, speaking to ue through the me-
dunn of music, bidding us live true men
and women" as expressed by poetical
admirer of her gifts as pianist.
A grand concert for the benefit of the
Francis Murphy memorial fund Will De
given at the Auditorium Friday Octo-
Der 4.
Among the distinguished musicians who
will appear to aid this great cause will
be our own we'll known violin virtuoso,
Macmillan Dick, who will be remem-
bered as an accompanist and also as one
of the features of the tour of Miss Ellen
Beach Yaw during her tour of the United
States and Canada. He is acknowledged
as one of the greatest masters of the vio-
lin in America.
In nobility of tones and style he mas
few equals. Macmillan Dick will be as
sisted by Mrs. Edmun =. Shenk lCath-
crime Colette), soprano, a well known
singer of this city, and Edward s. Fuller,
pianist. Another notable event of the
evening will be Archibald w. Sessions,
organist. also well known in Los An
geles.
An entertainment could not be given
for better cause than that of the Fran
els Murphy fund, man who did more
good for the men of the United States
than any one else, as TESTIFIED by the
thousands of the blue ribbon wearers and
by the kilograms of sympathy that
poured in on the family of Mr.. Murphy
after his demise. This will be an oppor-
tunity for his many friends and admir-
ers to see a good musical entertainment,
as well as to help the cause. 1t will be
for one evening only, Friday, October 4.
Tickets on sale at the Auditorium box
office.
Not little diplomacy was needed, it
seems, to induce Nine. Sembrich to I'M
dertake the late winter tour which Lou
don Charlton is arranging for her. When
the little prima donna finished her south
ern tour in the spring her manager
promptly began nursing a scheme to
send her to the Pacific coast, plan with
but one drawback, the singers refusal
to crowd three seasons into one. Stoutly
she maintained that her fall concert tour
and three months in opera provided all
the opportunity desired for the disposal
of thrills and aeronautic notes, and she
sailed for Europe firm and unmoved Mr.
Charlton, however, while brooding over
the gloomy picture of far western con-
cert money diverted into less worthy
channels, bethought him of the SEX
proverbial instability. Whereupon he
made tentative proposition to num-
Der of coast cities. Results exceeded
rosiest dreams-apparently every place
west of the Mississippi was crying for
Sembrich and wouldn't be happy until 1t
got her cablegram stating that the
demand had been made practically unani-
NOUS was sent sizzling under the Allan
tic, and the following day came answer
that madame lad relented. She will
start for the left-hand border of the mar
as soon as the season at the Metropoli-
tan opera house closes in February.
The Spanish and Mexican citizens OF
Los Angeles are all vieing with each
other to make the recital to be given by
the Mexican prima donna, Miss Elena
Marin, a success when she appear al
Simpson auditorium on Friday evening
of this week. The advance seat sale is
at Bartlett Music company's, opposite the
L.