The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1910-07-31

PIANIST. and composer, is a figure we'll
known to the people of Keokuk. Soon
after his arrival in this city from
England about seven years ago, he
became a pupil and protege of Miss
Jane E. Carey, with whom he studied
until his graduation from the Keokuk
nigh school two years ago. From here
ne went to Chicago and began the
study Of the organ with Wilhelm Mid
destitute, universally acknowledged
the foremost organist in the world to-
day. and composition and theory with
Adolf Brane, pre-eminent theorist
and marvellous composer. He adj
vanced rapidly from the beginning,
and by dint of hard work and con-
scientious application has raised him
self to position of enviable emin-
ence in the world Of music During
the past year he has been associated
with Felix Boronski in the department
of musical criticism on the Chicago
Record Herald, and thus has been in
the centre of musical currents in hi
cago.
Mr.. Lester first attracted notice by
his wonderful organ work, and during
the last winter played organ recitals
In DeKalb, Ill.,, and Burlington, Iowa,
which latter engagement was repeat
ed. He also became prominent as an
accompanist, and filed many engage
ments during the past season with
remarkable success. His compost
lions are rapidly becoming known and
q wonderful future is predicted for
the young English-American genius.
Last Thursday evening the people
of Keokuk had an opportunity to test
Mr.. Testers -iano work, and it is to
his credit that he came through the
evening with flying colors. His first
group consisted Of four masterpieces
by Bach, Handel, and Mozart, which
received a wonderful exposition. The
young pianist possesses the rare pow.
er of getting behind the technique and
grasping the psychology and soul OF
| the number. In all his work he shows
himself possessed of ideas and the
| courage to work them out; with him
| technique is a means, not an objec
tive point. Thus in his playing We
lose sight of the tremendous technical
difficulties involved, and see and fee
I the heart of the thing. These classics
| nS pay GU Will a o w OCp anu NAiSoO'Ae'
which thrilled every member of the
! audience present.
In his second group, the moderns
from Schumann and Brahms, through
Sinding to Debussey were represent
! ed The inspiring theme of the Schu
mann Romance was beautiful.
played, and the pianfssimo close was
very attractive. The sturdy yet soul
full Brah--,- "Adagio'' was fittingl.
rendered was the Sinding number
something alike in mood and expires
sion. In the "Sea," of Debussey. thu
/ pianist had an opportunity to displa.
his all sufficient technique in thu
representation of the ever moving SCI
with it's haunting cadences.
The final piano group was made W
| OF compositions by Mr.. Lester: two
1 preludes, q sonnet, and a ballade. Tit
young composers piano music is per
llaps not SO well known as his songs
i vet it partakes OF the same emotion
al, yet logical individuality that is t
be noticed in all his work. The pre-
i lude in e minor is a beautiful melodit
strain, ending in passionate crasi
of dissonances. The second prelude
is more reflective in character and i
i not disturbed by any outbursts o
i passion. The sonnet is an embodi
ment in tone of Shakespeare's mos
ardent sonnets. and is wonderful.
I effective transcription of an idealisti
II mood. The ballade was based upol
the tragic story of Queen Guenever
n in "The Idylls of the King by Tenny
son, and is rampant with the tragic In
: tensity of the poem itself The group
as whole, was one of beauty, some
times bizarre and unusual, yet full o
beauty
i A word should be said of Mr.. Les
ter's work as an accompanist. Tha
role is one lamentably hard to fill
Very few pianists are willing to S
efface their own individuality in tina
of another as to effectually and arts
tically afford foundation for anotf
| er's effort. That power Mr.. Lester ha
: to a remarkable degree. His accom-
| naniroapto ORC things 70 he remem