Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1907-01-29
MASTER THEODORE SKINNER
NINE YEARS OLD. DISPLAYS
GREAT PROMISE.
RARE VOCAL treat
MRS. ". c. Rankin and Mi1s Lora l..
Holmes Sing Eseeisen. Selections
Normal Hail Crowded.

/ u TUE large uAlA0ef u1 MA1ete tostaE
lpeorie af Las Vegas who attended the
plano recital al the Normal assembly
hall last evening expected TO behold
In young Master Theodore Hawthorn
Skinner a youthful prodigy. they were
disappointed agreeahly 50 II they
cared 10 arrive at the true values of
the musical equation. For the lad ID
fortunate enough 70 possess qualities
considerably more important than the
knack Of musical combinations and
the ear for harmony that characterize
the regulation prodigy. Without aues-
ton. he adds TO genuine musical talent
an alert and intelligent mind that will
enable him 10 master the philosophy
and science Of music. n faculty for de.
tail, industry, earneStness and the EN-
Ibryo Of an understanding of the essen,
itial thought Of the composer. Unless
indications fall the youth is going TO
develop an originality Of technique
and an independence Of stage bearing
THAT will be- none the less pleasing be-
cause IL Ia unusual. That Master Skin
ner Is ever going to be In the least
awed by any audience In the world
IL not to be believed.
Master skinner appeared In eleven
numbers last night, nine of them solos
rendered entirely from memory, ana
two duets In which his teacher. Prof
IE. r. Wentworth Layton played the
SECOND part. The careful, skilful train.
line Of the teacher was apparent
'sasousaaat. hut In the lsrristic shadhlas
the correct pedaling and the musician
al Interpretation. important as Is the
place that must be assigned to the
teacher. large credit must so to the
ability of the pupil The In dis min"
wears of age and has been studying
music for nearly two years. While all
his work was we'll done. nothing was
better than the rendition of BLUE
Eves.' Seehoeck, and '.Ode to
Spring" Well, while Good Night"
In which Professor Layton artistically
rendered the second part. was thor
nughly pleasing While none of the
numbers were particularly difficult,
yet all were of grade requiring In
telligence. appreciation and careful
study to ensure satisfactory rendi'
tiOn.
Mrs. r. c. Rankin appeared three
times In vocal selections. AT Part.
ing" Rogers, Bohm's exquisite Calm
as the Night" by request. and Beat
Upon Mine Little Heart" Nevin were
her offerings. The rich, beautiful so
prano that has SD frequently pleased
Las Vegas audiences has seldom been
heard to better advantage than 1t was
last night. and the three numbers prov
ed a genuine treat. The faultless ac-
compartments by Mrs. G. c. Gise were
worthy of more than passing com
incubation. She was in such thorough
sympathy with the singer that piano
melodies seemed to be inseparable
parts of the songs.
Much regret was felt at the an
nouncement that Father POuget was
i'll and unable to appear. The regret
was tempered. however. by an ad H.
tional announcement that Miss Lora
l.. Holmes, the gifted vocal teacher of
the Normal, would sing double num-
Der. Miss Holmes added materially
last night to the extremely favorable
impression she had already made upon
Las Vegas audiences. She sang, IF ]
were a Bee" Gaynor. and Sleep,
Little Baby of Nine" Denee. with ad'
mirable taste and sympathetic ex-
preston. The lady's sweet, well-train-
ed voice has IA magnetic and entirely
pleasing quality that is apt to haunt
the recollections long after the sound
has sunk into silence. Miss Clench,
whose work never fails to be crafty
ing. accompanied Miss Holmes.
Prof. Layton Is to be congratulated
upon the success of his somewhat
novel program and upon the enjoy
ment furnished to one of the largest
audiences ever gathered In Normal
hall. The big room was so crowded
that II was necessary to carry in many