Arizona republican., 1908-12-11
MAUD POWELL SAYS
 SHE LIKES ARIZONA
FIRST WOMAN VlOLINlST PLAYS
 HERE TONIGHT
In An Interview She Gives Her First Impressions of Arizona and Talks a Little About Music.

l
 A modestly gowned woman, with a
 black fur boa carelessly entwining her
 shoulders, a black hat trimmed with
 vari- -calored feathers, hair as black as
 a ravens wing and eyes that shone like
 some of Arizona's native gems, their brilliancy conveying an idea of great
 reserve force and depths of emotion
 such was the impression received by a representative of The Republican on meeting Madame Maud Powell whom
 critics proclaim the first woman vio- | linist of the world.
 This is her first visit to Arizona and
 she is enjoying it-partly for the sake | of asSociations-almost as much as
 much as Phoenicians will enjoy her presence here for the beautiful music
 that she contrives to draw from her violin.
 "Ohi let me tell you," she said in
 her vivacious way, why I have looked | forward to my visit to Arizona ever
 since it was arranged for. Ever since was a little girl 1 have wanted to
 come here to look down from the preci- pices of the Grand Canyon into the l Colorado river and thus try to get some idea of the frightful hazards my uncle, Major Powell ran, when in 1869,
 he made the first trip down the river
 ever made by white man. l made all Arrangements to visit the canyon a
 month ago, but now I am very much afraid my engagements in Colorado will interfere with that anticipated plea sure"
 rI,n s,,N, ls.I ,rr1,f Madame Powell with a firm determina- tion beforehand to say nothing what ever about music on the theory that it
 must be an awful bore to have to dis cuss the same subject so many times, so he asked:
 What do you think about this big chunk of partially irrigated desert we call Arizona?"
 People who live in the big eastern cities was the reply, "who visit the capitols of Europe each year, who live in an atmosphere of cathedrals and sky scrapers cannot be said to have lived till they have seen the west in all
 it's glory of mountains and deserts.
 There is nothing like it to enlarge ones horizon We are too prone to stray away from Nature and the west brings us back to it. In Portland I played in the Forestry building-a cathedral of logs. The wooden violin sang its song to the great street trunks about and acknowledged fellowship with the for lest whence it sprang. My father was la pioneer of the plains and I, in the same spirit, am trying to be a pioneer in music"
 This country reminds me strongly of South Africa where we played 42 weeks. The Hotel Adams is almost a reproduction of the hotel at Kronstadt and another at King Williamstown in Africa. Their climate and character of architecture are also similar. They have the same pretty bungalows that I see in Phoanix. "
 Madame Powell then spoke of her violin which is said to be a wonderful instrument. Tt was made in 1775. but unlike most old instruments has been little used and is not worn out with too much playing. Arizona air is good for it just as it is for a person. Frost and dampness are ruinous to violins.
 Speaking of music" said Madame Powell, q will say that I never play down to an audience While I try not to weary them with displays of technique I do try to lift them to a plain above popular music. I try to select poetic appeal which all can un- derstand. I try to get at the elemental force of things as CarenO did with his piano. Cheap music is ruinious to the taste and love for good music and I | think mothers should not permit their children to acquire their musical tastes from the ten cent show places. Just l what my program will be tomorrow night I do not know, but there will be | by request the VieuXtemps concerto in | D minor; the Vienna waltzes of Shuett | and the Chaminade trio. q think I am very fortunate in my | assistants. Miss Mukle is of the type | of the Amazons and is a perfect genius. | She is simple and direct and of a | personality. Mistress Ford | has an intuitive ability that is remark | able She has that same faculty that | Arthur Nikish possesses and uses so | as an orchestral leader"
 As the interviewer made his adieuX | he complimented himself that he had | been compelled to ask but a single | question and that he had not introduc- cd the subject of music.