The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-07

 attending the concert on Tuesday evening which will be given for the benefit of St. Mary's Free Kindergarten by Mrs. Truman Herbert Aldrich, Jr Mrs. Leon ard T. Beecher and MT. Walter Allen Stults of Chicago have expressed the wish that Mrs. Beeoher would tell us something about the Ballad of De- spair." which she will read, and so l decided few days ago to ask her to comply with this request, to which she most graciously consented.
 The selection is not familiar to many, further than the fact that the poem is by Henri Burger and the musical set ting by Bemberg, and little is known of 1t, save that it is highly meritorious. else 1t would not be included in this clever woman's repertoire
 As I chatted with Mrs. Beecher, whose striking and charming personality Is felt In everything that she says and does. I YVES greatly impressed with the earnest ness and sincerity of her work, the whole soul manner in which she has entered Into field of art. hitherto little invaded by women. but one which Is productive of the most interesting results; in fact al- though MT David Btspham has perhaps popularized cantillation more than any other artist of the day. still one feels that It is really womans realm-a woman's work to perfect
 
 about the Ballad of DespairY" I asked Mrs. Beecher. as we discussed the pro- gramme for Tuesday evening in many of its interesting phases.
 Tt presents an interesting problem which Bemberg has solved in an interest ing and novel way" said Mrs. Beecher.
 He has taken the little symbolic poem of Henri Burger and arranged 1t as a duet for the singing and speaking voices The passo singing voice and contralto speak Ing voice in turn take the solo part, which is in dialog form; while the in- struments speak definitely and eloquently In the interpretation of the emotional content of the piece, and make a shifting, colorful background, richly pictorial and impressive. The composer has treated the speaking voice as part of the musical ensemble without interfering in the least with It's idiomatic quality. The lines for the speaking voice are spoken. not chanted, and the inner coloring gives the quality of tone which Bemberg has treat ed as one Of the voices in this interesting and unusual ensemble"
 There seems to be an unusual aynount of interest in the coming recital by you and Mrs. Aldrich and Mr stults, I said as I listened to her interesting chat.
 Mrs. Aldrich and MT. Stults recital.' corrected Mrs. Beecher. "I appear only in the Ballad of Despair. The occasion will be distinguished by the artistry of two who have attained an enviable degree of virtuosity In their chosen field. MT Stults has beautiful voice of unusual range which he uses with great skill and intelligence The musical quality is ex- pressed by his programme building. He seems to be guided by Theodore Thomas rule-he never sings a song that Is not oy an authentic genius, nor one in which pure musical enjoyment is not the first consideration"
 You are an admirer of Mrs. Aldrfoh l know, Mrs. Beecher," remarked, as I recalled the beautiful programmes these clever women have given together.
 T doff my cap to Mrs. Aldrich. % borrow phrase from the critic wfo wrote an appreciation of the vital per sonality of another artist, She has the finely nervous instincts of the thorough bred to be always doing her, best she replied.
 ''I notice that you and Mrs. Aldrich are to give programme for the Music Study club in December"
 Yes; since we first met Mrs Aldrich and I have been interested in the in depreciation of some of the late pro- gramrne music" replied Mrs. Beecher "We have read over all of the compost tions in cantiliation form and have found ourselves distinctly in sympathy with these musical composition. in which the otHoIWlso vague offectS or tones have been sought to be specialized and intel lectuaiized by the employment of con ventional words Our programme will consist of . number of these compost tions.'
 What are the peculiar difficulties in this form of work7' I inquired
 Creating an ensemble" was the reply Mrs. Aldrich and I, with thousands of other concertgoers, were given last win ter a lesson in ensemble work which will not soon be forgotten. I made trip from here to Chicago to hear the recital of Dr. Ludwig Wullred and Conrad Boo, and the first song left me with tho feel ing that the experience was worth the effort. Aside from the many other sem sations of pleasure there was keen delight in the ensemble. It was like a beautiful rug in which one artist picked up the thread as the other dropped 1t. Both in tent upon producing the same design, the same color. As Dr. Wullred used the can tillation form In his recital, and indeed in Das Hexenlied,' which is in our roper toire, we were especially interested" Are you giving up your entire time to the cantillation form of programme ?" asked.
 "Oh. mol Acting has been called the Cinderella of the arts, but that title really belongs to elocution," said Mrs. Beecher>. .'There are two strongly marked currents which are bearing the fairy god mother to Cinderella in her ashes. Music, as 1t is used in its most modern form. not as an embroidery on life but as a revelation, criticism of life itself, seems to interpret the zeitgeist, as sculpture grew out of classical thought and paint ing and architecture out of medieval conditions. This. as it calls for the spoken words, Is my natural and logical field. am also very conscious of another current that pulls me along" And in connection with this, will not l the new theatre scheme in New York be productive of great development?" asked.
 Tt Is bound to influence all manifested and descriptive art" replied Mrs. Beecher. ''It is . concrete embodiment of strong | ly felt influence which has been growing | in this country and in England for years. | Our millionaires have endowed the col l leges. art museums, libraries, orchestras and opera houses. Now the drama is