The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-05-18

ponent of Nashville music, was quite the
center of attraction at the two musical
events which she graced by her presence
last week. She was in Birmingham only
day or two-just long enough to attend
Mrs Flournoy Rivers lecture at the Ad-
vent and the musicale at the Country
club given by the Music Study club on
Thursday afternoon. At both places she
quite charmed the group gathered about
her during the hours of the occasion. At
the latter function she was gowned in
chic white princess frock, to which
a vivid dash of color, suited to her dark
beauty, was given by a corsage cluster
of crimson roses, and her hat was black
one of the smart turned-up type. She
was striking figure in the throng OF
stunningly-gowned women in attendance,
and those who chatted with her during
the afternoon found her wonderfully mag
netic.
Mrs Brandau has long been an impor-
tant figure in Nashville music circles, as
we'll as the center of the loveliest social
life Imaginable. She is a pianist Of brill
liant finish, having been a pupil Of Mos
oowsky, and familiar in her years Of
musicians. AS Miss Roberta Sewell,
member of one of the fine old Tennessee
families, she was given every advantage
of travel and study. Returning. she es-
tablished a studio in Nashville that, for
its beauty and the variety of curios
adjoining its walls, as well as the count
less autographs of famous folk who are
her friends, was the talk of all Nash
vile. Her sister, then Miss Mamie Sew
ell, was also most artistic, and the two
established the old "wednesday Music
Club" which was the forerunner of the
musical awakening of Nashville. Miss
Mamie Sewell, now Mrs. Isaac Boyd of
Atlanta, however, was rather a painter
than musician and her work became well
known throughout. the south. The two
sisters each left the impress of her ex-
quisite personality on the artistic life of
Nashville to a degree not soon to be for
gotten. 1t was sometime after the estab-
lishment of the Wednesday Music club
that Mrs. Brandau, assisted by several
friends, organized the Philharmonic So
ciety, a club which was the wonder of
music lovers throughout the country. 1
chatted with Mrs. Brandau a few mo-
ments the morning of her departure when
she ran into her hostess studio hardly
long enough to say good morning and
goodby before leaving with her two love-
ly children for the train. There was
just time for word as to music in
Nashville.
II have heard SO much Of your big
music club I said, "the Philharmonic.
1t was a wonderful organization"
Eyes," she said, "a few years ago dur
ing the very climax of its history, it had
a membership of eight or nine hundred
and was then the largest music club in
the world. We gave concerts and re-
citals every month or two and at every
one it began to be expected that We
bring the greatest artists In the world,
so the demand had to be satisfied. We
had such singers as Nordica. Sembrich
and Schumann- Heink-often, concerts that
cost us $500. OF course the educative
value of such concerts for the community
was splendid, but it was a tremendous
tax upon those who had to assume the
responsibility"
us that the reason That the Philhar-
monic is no longer working club?'
asked.
Precisely. The society has not dis
banded. The music spirit in Nashville
is not dead. 1t is really, you might say,
dormant. The truth is the women who
had worked so hard and SO long began
TO feel that they were giving it more
time than they could possibly afford.
Homes were being neglected and other
duties left undone, so it was decided
to discontinue the club work temporarily
while we all rested And that is just
what we are doing. The PHILHARMONIC
society may revive at any time and
start forward with renewed energy.
There are many of us who are hop
ing for that time to come for music has
a great hold on the people of Nashville.
However" she finished, there is one i'm
portant person here in Birmingham that
we need in making a success of any
movement for music there and Birming
ham has robbed us of her. am going
to tell you a secret. I have been ap-
pointed committee of one to bring Mrs.
Rivers back to Nashville. She was one
of the most valuable musicians that we
had and we find that we can't very
well get along without her."
Finding that you are an enemy with
in our gates,'' I said, 81 can only say
that rejoice to see you go home in
ignominious defeat 1 prefer to take
your remarks literally and believe that
IL you had succeeded in your mission
Mrs Rivers would be brought back when
you leave this morning" And I said
goodbye to one of the most charming
visitors that Birmingham has ever had.