The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-06-01

that had the pleasure of knowing Felix
Motif, the great director of the Royal
conservatory" said Mr.. Gunster enthusi-
astically. while there | specialized in
songs OF Richard Strauss and Hugo Wolf,
and by the way. in my opinion, Hugo
Wo,f is the greatest Leider writer since
Schubert. l also knew Max Roger in
Munich, perfect giant physically as we'll
as unsteady. His compositions are the
most difficult and complicated l ever
saw. IT. fact. they are mathematical
problems in their intricacy. Richard
Strauss is regarded as veritable must
cal pirate, particularly in his .Salome and
Elel<tra, but he is absolutely simple in
comparison to Roger"
Speaking OF friends abroad, continued
Mr.. Gurster, "only today l have had a
most delightful letter from Watkin Mills,
with whom / coached In London for or
atorio work. Mr.. Mills is regarded as one
of the worlds greatest oratorio singers
and an authority on Handel. He says:
&c have several Messiah dates booked
for next season. Good old Handel. He
has beef real friend to mel 9"
I'm your church work, | suppose yot
have most agreeable environments ir
New York;" l remarked.
For year or more I sang in the
Madison Avenue Methodist church witt
Mr.. Charles B. Hawley. the noted song
writer, organist'' was the reply. Only
recently | have accepted the position OF
tenor In All Souls Unitarian church.
where W. will have quartet choir, with
Mr.. Louis Dresser at the organ. sing
a great deal of oratorio music on my re-
ctal programmes. as do most of my COL
leagues, and particularly are the selec-
tions from the Messiah, the Creation, Ell,
ST. Paul. the Seasons (Beethoven Men
dnloSnhn'S HYMN of Praise and the Ho1x-
City, appreciated
And the teachers in New York;" I
suggested inquiringly.
There are many fine ones" replied
Mr.. Gunster. Always with pleasure l
think of Miss Emma Thursby, who oc-
cupies such an enviable position She is
a great factor in music in every way
and some of the most delightful af-
fairs I have ever attended have been
her Friday afternoons during January
and February of each year, when she
gathers about her such artists as Mad
anne Nordica, Bonci, Jane Noria, Berta
Norma and Madame Lisa Lehman, who,
by the way, / am told, will appear
here next season."
I'VE are greatly interested in our
music festivals each year." | said. do
you sing In any of these in the east?''
IT enjoyed the Maine festival i'm
DitnSciys Sdiu thi. 1uhotCl. dp-
peared on the progra mme withAMi
Geraldine Farrar, Madame Laengehdorff,
Madame Jomelli and others. while
have frequently sung in festival work
with DR.. Carl Duff and Madame Lii
liam B,auyet, who are very popular"
And the modern composers" l, in
CURED
II have always been greatly inter-
ested in composition and translations,
L Re- De- ,-l,, n
Woman In Music and the place she
has made for herself interest me. Since
Clara Schumann and the daughter of
Gretry, the great French composer.
there have been few women who have
ranked with our best composers, but
undoubtedly there are today many gift
ed composers among them. Harriet
Ware i regard as one of the most prom
ising and talented of our women COM
posers Henry Hadley is a wonderful
example of the artist In orchestral ar
rangement. while Mr.. Charles Gilbert
Spross stands pre-eminent1y at the
head of our great melody writer's. He
is musician Of wonderful resource
and extraordinary ability and as an ac-
companist he has no superior. I have
sung with him a great deal and it is
a real pleasure to have him at the
piano and indeed America has never
knOWu- u SIcdtcI dCCoIHpdHisl WIN
Conrad v. Bos, Mr.. Spross is one of the
leaders In the art of accompaniment
playing"
II hope that we may have the pleas
ure of hearing you here in concert
work at some future day." I said as we
concluded our interesting chat.
IT have a large number of engage
ments for next season." replied Mr..
Gunster, and It certainly is pleasure
a. Iok
say that would enjoy singing here
very. very much"