The San Francisco call., 1910-01-30
GRACEFUL GENIUS
FOR LIGHT music
Remarkable Success Achieved
by SiIviO Helm in the
Lyric Field
Vine. Teresa CarrenO to Be
Heard Here This Week in
Two Concerts
BY WALTER ANTHONY

stu excellent One may honorsbly
hitch his wagon 10 a star low on the
horizon. We all 90 not reach the zen
18th. some may write symphonies. but
trundle songs are serviceable. some
may pen music dramas. but others need
not BE- ashamed of creating simple
melodies. The boundaries Of art cover
and compass Beethoven and Poster
The sixth symphony and Way Down
LpOn the Suwanee River" II were bet
ter 70 have written The Pirates OF
Penzance' than ~Genoveva-~ and in
shis simile sullivan becomes Schu-
msrr's peer. Success legitimateIy
earned is the test. always. and a single
Strauss waltz. you remember Wagner
said. is worth all the pedantic capple-
-neisrer music ever written.
SilVio Helm. composer OF the score
o. Marie Cahil's musical play The
Boys and Betty, suggested these re-
lrectlons. and Is worth an Introduction.
IL is writing racteristfca Ily. and
popular music He has turned his at
tencion 20 the lighter expressions OF
The muse. but he Is making d success
that can not be ignored, musically or
otherv-ise-
SinsularIy enough 7 found he was a
personal friend of Henry X. Hadley,
The composer who originally wrote the
music 20 Nancy Brown" Hsdley's :
name is intimately associated with the
art form Of American music. He won
The $1,000 Paderewski prize and he has
created much Of the best OF American
symphonic music Yet he couldn't
write an acceptable score for light
opera and Nancy Brown" was subse-
Queutly given TO Helm 10 rewrite.
Every man 10 his trade" said Helm.
Il do n0t deny 7 should like 10 devote
my life 70 The composition OF sym
phonies. chamber music and grand
opera shan co 50 as soon as I can
afford H. Meantime I want TO put in
e plea for the composer Of light music
de has his place and il is a mighty
usefui one. II seems 10 me. The world
would be a sorry place II all players
were IRA Eedians and all music weighty
and portentous. Epic poetry is the
greatest but our Eugene Fields and Ri
leys have place in our hearts Major
poets presuppose minor ones; sym
phonists suggest lyricisIs."
Helms achievements in music shed
additional luster on the theory that il
IS wise 70 choose ones ancestry with
C01Sfders bic care. on his mothers
side there stands a long line Of mu-
S-clsus whose careers justify belief in
the effect Of heredity. His grandfather
was noted singer IN the opera in
Trieste Ciuseppi Par6o. He was one
q The best barytones OF his day
Helms uncle, Albert Psrdo. was a well
known dramatic tenor in Austria and
row IS e teacher and concert soloist
IN New York His aunt Nine. Riva-
was In the Paris opera as prima donna,
and his mother was vel known and
talented pianist
u received my first instruction from
Easy mother. said Helm I took il
Witl the grace that e youngster sum
mons when called 10 the medicine chest
Tor dose OF castor oil But took il
on nay fathers side there were no mu-
stcians- They represent the receiving
end They appreciated music. but were
NOT performers or students For FIVE
years, between the ages Of II and 16
j was in Trieste. where 7 studied har-
mony with CosmO, an Italian composer
there. and orchestratiOn with Steiner.
German theorist and composer But
was not intended for a musical ca
Teer u was merely an ACCOMPLISH
ment that my mother insisted should
possess. On my return 10 New York
win nay family went 10 work on Wall
street 7 was assistant claims agent
f1r e big railroad company
Heln drifted into music and out Of
Z several times before he finally be-
csme settled
While working in the publishing
house headed by Shapiro he was asked
60 Wrlte The music for some lyrics that
Lao been submitted To the concern.
That was my first effort al original
creation continued the young COM
poser. but the stun had z jingle and
lllt or something that made il 90. and
then I remembered letter that had
been given 10 me by mutual friend
70 serve IS introdNction 10 Daniel Y.
Arthur. We became acquainted and
t1en friends. and arthur gave ne my
irst chance II the rewriting Of HaGley-s
score To Nancy Brown. II happened
70 q ke well, and then followed Moon
shine Molly- Marrying Mary and The
Boys and Betty Having develoned q
vein for melody and for scoring for
small orchestra, II would. I think. be
foolish Of ne 10 Try 10 stretch my
talents into larger forms
Unlike most young men who have I
made an early start Helm is not op-
pressed with the fact He IS modes,
His training and study entitie him 10
essay big things His muse is humble 4
and he keeps within the confines where 4
exists his graceful genius. He is writ
ing The best light opera music in the
country today. I think II is done care
fully he does not write TOO much ~,
2
comes 10 him; he exc5ses. discrininates
and prunes. and II his head isn't turned 4
hy the success that has come 70 him
80 cuickiy-le is stiil well within the 4
-Weuties-he VIII make memors bic 4
name for himself in the field Of light /
music writing in the construction OF 4
graceful melody, suave harmonfes of
correct and workmanlike scoring.
The big musical event this week win
be The appearance next Thursday night 4
a. the renovated Garrick theater of
Nine Teresa Csrren0. the great pianist
There VIII be but two opportunities
q aforded music lovers 10 hear Nine 4
Csrreno in this city, the second and 4
last concert being scheduled for SUNDAY
afternoon. February s. One recital VIII /
be given il Oakland AT the Liberty
-hesrer. next Friday afternoon.
OF particular stfractiveness is the
program arranged for next Thursday 4
evening. and incidentally Irnpressrio /
Green sum announces that the reno 4
-ating and Improvements at the. Car I
-ick include an adequate heating plant |
p case the evening Is chilly
a glance st the program which is TO /
be the Offering Thursday night will be I
OF the breadth and scope 1
md versatility Of the pianist.