Los Angeles herald., 1910-07-21
To SPEAK PIECES To
MUSIC OF PSALT Terry
Mrs. McCIuskey ReviveS Old Bib
IicaI Instrument as Accom-
paniment to Readings

katherine Wisner McCluskey is the
originator in America of a new art.
She has introduced the use of the old
Biblical instrument, the psaltery, as
an accompaniment to her lyric and
dramatic readings. This instrument
was made to her order by ChiCkering
| & Sons, after a model in the possess
| sion of Arnold Dolmetsch, and is the
| first one which has been made in this
country, although Miss Florence Farr
has used one in England and the con-
tinental cities.
| Mrs. McCluskey has given readings
from the Irish lyric poets and at the
suggestion of Yates, whose songs
formed a large part of her program,
undertook the use of this delightful
soft toned instrument to accompany
the half melodious, half chanting
| tones which she used in interpreting
! the verses. The result has proved
more successful than she dreamed and
! her recitals in which she uses this
novel and satisfactory accompaniment
for the voice are said to be most in
teresting.
Mrs. McCluskey gives an interesting
account of her efforts at learning to
play and tune this psaltery.
There was no one from whom L
could take any lessons, no one who
be played. l knew, however, that Miss
Florence Farr, a celebrated young
Irish reader who had originated its
use abroad, was to be in America for
a series Of recitals at Hull House,
| and before one of the clubs in chi
c.Eo. so determined to see her and
have a lesson. When l called upon
| her she was quite i'll with a high fe-
YER She was propped up in bed, how
ever, and showed me something about
the instrument, although her own was
badly out of tune from travel.
| Later. when she gave a public per-
| formance, which l expected to attend
to get further ideas as to her manner
of using it, I was ill and unable to
| leave my room, so that chance was
| lost. I have accordingly worked the
accompaniments out as best / can and
musicians have been kind enough to
call them interesting"
The instrument, with its many
strings, is tuned automatically and has
range of only two octaves. 1t Is
tuned with a key like harp and does
not easily lose pitch. Aside from its
effective blending of tone with the
pitch of the voice it is a picturesque
appearing instrument and permits Of
| graceful posinf and sufficient action to
make it especially desirable as an ad-
| iunct TO a pleasing stage picture.
Mrs. McCluskey gave reading yes
terday morning at Cumnock school,
using selections from the book "a
Modern Madonna" by Mrs. Caroline
Abbott Stanley. The listeners accord
| ed both story and reader the highest
compliments, and both in voice and
manner were the beautiful telling lines
of the story interpreted. This book,
which is called the American Suffrage
Novel" offered the reader many op-
portunities for the display Of the var
| led qualifications of her art and
throughout its length she held her au-
dience intent. She is natural and un
assuming in manner both on the stage
and in private appearance, graceful
and with a melodiOus voice which ap-
parently knows no false note.
"The Bluebird," by Maurice Maeter-
linck known as the French Peter Pan,
will be read by Mrs. McCluskey next
Wednesday morning. This will con-
clude her regular programs at Cum
mock school for the summer term, but
in the autumn she expects to return
from her home in Evanston and remain
in Los Angeles for the winter.