The San Francisco call., 1909-08-22

Z =
grows bold and sings abroad and
L the intimate hoot of the bird
changes into melodious cadence. not
confined TO the limits of the clubrooms
nor to the haunts of the Bohemian
grove In Sonoma county. The world at
large is invited to hear the music
made in Bohemia and a recital of the
annual music drama Is given at local
theater There is then afforded an op-
portunity to listen TO some of the best
creative talent in the country.
incidentally it might be proper to
say here that out of these annual con-
certs and the original presentations of
the music dramas in the grove near
GuernevilIe has grown an influence
which is felt wherever American mu-
sic is heard. Out of the presentation
of The Hamadryads." for instance
came the inspiration to Arthur Farwell
which crystallized in the formation of
the American music society. That
orga ganization IS devoting itself might
( lily TO the advancement of the Ameri-
can composer. Farwen, as I have had
i
the Bohemian clubs music drama four
years ago and went away asking him
self why the creative genius evident
in these big events should not get
hearing elsewhere in the United
States, and why similar coteries of
musicians established elsewhere and
struggling to find an audience should
ing and a wider encouragement. That
germ thought grew like the little tree
and now there is the society firmly
established. hard at work and with a
center in our midst.
So whatever may be the great future
of American music, whatever style of
school may ultimately be regarded a s
typically American it viii remain ever
lastingIy true that the Bohemian club
has had a hand IN the development
and that it watered the plant when it
was a tiny sprout.
That was not what I intended to say.
This is it
On Thursday next there will be given
at the Van Ness theater a repetition of
/ the music drama which was played at
/ this years foregathering of the Bo-
! hemian club members in the midsum-
4 mer grove, which is the organizations
proud domain in Sonoma county. There
7 H. J. Stewards beautiful work, Monte
yuma" which was the outdoor music
play in the midsummer of 1903. Theo-
( dor Nogt, composer of the music
/ drama The Quest of the Gorgon,"
which was given at the grove in 1905,
will be represented by his effective
musical setting of Peter Robertson's
Christmas Ode"
Mackenzie Gordon will sing several
/ selections.
The principal event will be. of course.
] the presentation of the work done by
Wallace A. Sabin and H Morse
Stephens, who wrote st Patrick at
! Tara" for this years meeting in the
! grove. 1t viii be the public's first
I chance to hear the work which has
/ been enthusiastically spoken of by all
/ those members and their guests who
were privileged to attend the event
two weeks ago.
! Sabin, who wrote the score, enjoys the
reputation of being one of the best mu-
sicians on the coast. AS organist in
the larger Episcopal churches of this
community he has been identified with
the more serious and devotional eX-
pressions of music. AS a scholar and
master of the art of composition he
has few equals here The theme which
Prof H Morse Stephens has given him
I for treatment is said to be adapted
/ splendidly TO Sabin's scholarly attain
ments. The result of their collabora-
tion in est. Patrick at Tara should
be inspirational and big.
Appropriately enough the work has
been dedicated to the memory of Denis
O'Sullivan, one of Bohemia's best be-
loved and one of her finest singers
The propriety of the dedication is
deeper, for the work concerns the land
whence O'Sullivan came and to which
he was devoting the energy of a pa
triotic son.
The story tells of the conversion of
the Irish from their nature worship
to Christianity by the patron saint Of
the Emerald Isle
An orchestra of so pieces will render
instrumental selections under Paul
Steindorn's leadership and a mighty
chorus will sing the concerted numbers,
while the solos will be in the care Of
Mackenzie Gordon and other Bohemian
club men.
The concert is scheduled to begin at
3 O'Clock, the date is August 26, the
place Van Ness theater.
Two California composers were rep
resented on a program given by Miss
Esta Palliser in London. June % last
Oscar Wells beautiful Spring Song
was one of the selections, and some
songs by ida Waldrop were given an
attentive and appreciative hearing.
Waldrop's debut as g composer was
made at that time. Though well known
here as a pianist and organist he is
not known as a composer. having only
recently tried his ski II at creative ef-