The San Francisco call., 1908-10-05

tivation of whose music can
N never develop the crankyiSm of
- cult. If there were Bach
society devoted to the exclusive
study of the Leipzig giants work in
every city in the land. there would
still be no Bachism; but just musical
culture, catholicity of taste and re-
finement of Judgment ideal and per-
feet. You can no more make a fad
out of Bach than you can out of the
study of the history of music. He
wrote in all forms and his influence
is found in all forms of composition.
from the mighty music dramas of
Wagner to the exquisite. Lieder of
Robert Franz. Bachs tremendous
genius can no more be escaped by
present day writer's than can the ira
ditions and convictions of the race be
eluded or the atmosphere of our times
avoided.
The news columns of the daily press
have announced the extension Of the
Bach society in Berkeley to this city.
Across the bay there have been study
ing for several months $50 music
lovers. who are mastering the gigantic
difficulties of the score of Bach's
minor mass. DR.. j. Fred Wolfe is
leader and director. Now 1T is planned
to form a branch OF the society in this
city and carry on separate rehearsals.
Later Oakland and Alameda branches
may be organized. and on the occasioni
of the presentation of the work next
May, the combined choruses united
into one to present for the second time
in America this monumental work.
On next Thursday evening. as has
already been announced, the local
branch of the society will be organ
lied by DR.. Wolfe. The meeting will
be held at Plymouth church, Post
street near Steiner, and it is to be
hoped that at least as many members
will enroll themselves as have Joined
the Berkeley division.
1t is familiar and national history
how Wolfe organized the Bach choir in
Bethlehem in the eighties and gave his
ST. Johns Passion and st. Matthew's
Passion and the Christmas oratorio
The choir expanded and grew under
Wolle's sympathetic and scholarly
gifts until in 1900 it was able TO in
terpret and present in its entirety the
minor mass. A similar duty Wolfe
stands ready and able to perform for
San Francisco.
If reports of those enthusiasts who
heard her sing may be accepted with
out qualification, San Francisco will
have the glory next Sunday afternoon
of discovering another great singer.
She is Nine. Blanche Arral and she
arrived here from Honolulu on the
Alameda without intention of singing
She had expected TO go east at once
but Impresario VIII Greenbaum heard
her and marveled. Then he went after
a few musical friends in whose judg-
ment he placed great confidence and
they all marVeled at the voice she ex-
hibited. 1t ranges up to + above the
lonesome c, and there she trilIs and
toys with tone entirely unconscious of
her altitude. Also she has expressive
ness and perfectly produced voice,
wide repertoire and a splendid Euro
pean reputation. All these things are
what Greenbaum-anything but an en-
thuSiaSt usually-and his friends who
heard her sing declare.
Greenbaums assertions. moreover.
bear the final evidence of sincerity. He
has shouldered the risk of giving her
an orchestra of so musicians and the
leadership of Paul Steindorff. Besides
he has assumed the risk of the entire
recital next Sunday afternoon at the
Van Ness theater
az do not expect to clear expenses
on the first concert" said Greenbaum to
me, because nobody knows her and
nobody believes a manager anyway;
but l do expect to even things up and
make some money as we'll on second
recital. because shesfs going TO surprise
San Francisco with the greatest voice
that has trilled here since Tetrazzini
was our queen"
Nine. Arral. as stated, is not a
stranger to fame abroad. Her expe-
rience, however, has been peculiar and
most of her artistic life has been spent
under one governments subsidy and
patronage. The circumscription Of her
fame is thus explained. and we are to
va Inc of he
extravagant claims of her managers
and Will Greenbaum. Meantime the
latter assumes the financial risk and
makes a fair claim for patronage for
his concert 1t Will be conceded that
he does not often pose in the role of a
pioneer and his claims for Nine. ArraI
are stamped with a promising seal. BY
all means let us hear Nine. Arral.
She will sing four or five big arias,