The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-02-20
..,.,red Last Night at High School
Before Large and Enthusiastic
Audience Of Music
Loving People.
WORK OF MRS. McGAW
4. Recital Was Fitting elimination
q Remarkable Series Given
in Keokuk by Well
Known Artistic.

Friday evening IN Tie IilSH SCnool
assembly room, Miss Eva Emmett Wy
.on gave her final recital in Keokuk
ba,ore large and enthusiastic audi
ance The recital was given especial
" for the pupils of the High school
and Grammar school l., but the favor
which the artist has won with Keokuk
vas made evident by the fact that the
assembly room was well filled with
audience composed not onl.' OF school
children, but largely of the prominent
music lovers of the city. Mrs. F. A.
McGaw played Miss Wycoff's accom-
paniments and again demonstrated to
Keokuk her mastery of this most diff
cult art. a
The recital last night was, perhaps
the most thoroughly enjoyed of any of
Miss Wycoff's work in Keokuk, and
came as fitting elimination to the
remarkable series of concerts she has
given here. Her first number, Loves
Springtime," by Hammond, won the
sympathetic appreciation Of the audi
ence, and from this to the end of the
program, she held the unfaggingg in
terest OF every person in the big
room Extended criticism OF all the
songs will be impossible in this space
but in the first group Of American
songs "The Nightingale, Stephens,
particularly delighted the audience.
me selections in the first group were
representative of the best in American
songs. Miss Wycoff's Interpretation
was artistic, and her technique good,
the ease with which every word could
be understood being noticeable fea-f
ture of this group. ,s -
A song from the Old Italian, and two
French songs followed the English
group, Both were admirably render
ed and were typical Of the songs OF
these two nations.
The most heartily enjoyed group on
the program was composed of four
German Lieder. Miss Wycoff stated
that in the German Lieder is to be
found the highest development In song
composition today, and that of the
composers Of this school, Schubert,
Schumann and Franz stood first. In
the Interpretation Of these songs,
Miss Wycoff Is at her best. Her voice
Is well adapted to the smooth, running
cadences which characterize them,
while her Interpretation Of the Spirit
Of the compositions is thoroughly artis-
tic. The best evidence of this fact is
the strong appeal each of these num-
bers made to the audience. Repeated
and enthusiastic encores compelled
the artist to sing again both Schu-
bert's Margaret at the Spinning
Wheel" and Robinstein's "Thou Art
Like Flower"
The most noticeable element OF Miss
Wycoff's work is the unusual degree
with which she impresses her auditors
with the real message Of the song
which she is singing. She appeals to
them directly and surely on the basis
OF the beauty and worth OF her song
rather than on the strength of her
own personality. And to do this eff
lectively is the aim Of the true artist.
MISS Wycoff's Is good, necessarily so,
70 produce the above results. Her
voice Is clear, well placed and always
qnder perfect control while her tone
coior is varied and enunciation always
clear.
Too much credit cannot be given
70 Mrs. McGaw for the really remark
liable accomplishments she played
n ast night and in the other recitals.
lne amount OF labor involved in pre-.
pafing and rendering some fifty ac-
eompaniments such as Mrs. McGaw
prayed cannot be estimated by one
VINO mas not done such a work That
.ney We're well done goes without say.
Jug, ror 1t is we'll recognized that Mrs
McGaw's ability as an accompanist is
'uch as would bring her national sue
cess Should she make this her work.
j. R.
Another Report.
J, me song recital given last night at
me nigh school auditorium was the
'asl OF series of three recitals given