The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1912-11-15

year, SAID Mrs. WllkerSOn, coming mere
like many others purely from a CONNER
cial standpoint. The longer l stay, how
ever, the more | am impressed with the
artistic ambition of your city, and the
intelligent appreciation shown any effort
in this direction. A city which has grown
so rapidly as this is apt to develop I'M
symmetrically, and it is usually the finer
things that suffer. The Music Study Club
is an organization which l consider su-
perior in many ways and the Drama
League is a splendid club. The South is
such a land of leisure-for the women at
least-surely the aesthetic and artistic
tastes should develop beyond that of 9TH
ers. And that is just the impression 1
have of theml They are delightful"
"And what particular line in The Art of
Expression will you follow in your read
ings?' l asked.
Il have adopted Interpretative Read
! ing" Mrs. Wilkerson said. "as my espe-
cial forte. BY Interpretatiye Reading l
mean literally TO apprehend by means
of art; to show by illustrative represen-
tation. An actor or reader interprets the
character of Hamlet Tor Portia, just as a
musician interprets sanata or an artist
a bit of landscapel In any case Interpre-
tative Reading presupposes the mastery
| of the technicalities, breathing, poise,
voice resonance and gesture, in early
years of study, SO they become as the
| strings of the musical Instrumental be
played upon in the expression of thought
and feeling"
And what do you regard as the most
necessary adjunets to the successful
Reader? 1 asked
"A wide and comprehensive knowledge
of literature, especially English literature;
a thorough knowledge of the subject to be-
expressed, and everything that can be
acquired bearing upon it-these are the
| things most requisite was the answer.
Then insight-artistic insight-and that
| God given thing called talent-these sim
ply cannot be acquired. Personal mag
nstism is an important factor. You are
| conscious of 1t and note it in a marked
| degree in any one who can command the
genuine attention of minds, separately or
en- masse. A certain Bishop of the South
| ern Methodist Church whom | know pos
sesses this personal magnetism, l think
more than any one / have ever known.
| When you listen to him speak your DOR
mant faculties of mind arouse, you lol-
low the thought, you understand. Every
actor or actress of note has this quality
| in a marked degree 1t is the artistic in
| sight of Schumann- Heink-that is one
of the greatest elements of her success
Whether singing The Rosary Catholics
say she allows just the pausing neces-
sary for the literal counting of the
prayer, OF beads or the .Erl-King,' In
| which she so wonderfully suggests the
| Erl-King, the father, the child by voice
/ and expression alone So great are her
imaginative powers that we lose sight of
the singer and see and hear only what
! is in her mind and voice!''
ts.x,tt
netism or individuality sometimes a hin
drance?" | suggested.
ut is a point wherein many readers
err The personality Of the reader must
not ntrude-for 1t is an intrusion-be-
tween the audience and the subject or
character presented said Mrs. Wilker-
| son. 1T is easier for the actor because
he has costume, make up and stage set
| ting to complete the impression"
"Elocution, | regret to say" / suggest
ed. 'has come to be looked upon by many
as a bore, so outrageously is it done in
many instances
"Elocution has been the most abused
and most misrepresented of arts" Mrs.
Wilkerson agreed.
"A little talent. audacity, sffec-
tation and only a superficial knowledge
cf the subject at hand--and OIL Ye
| shades of Shak espeare One wishes he
were Fido and could hide under the
| seat! however, Wnere one hears an
artist like Mr.. 5. II. Clark of the Chi
cago university, or George W. Gable
read his own writings, knowing their
lintellectuality, one braces up and is in-
spired with respect for the art of ex-
pf esson."
And the relation of the Drama to
| Music-not an ideal combination ii isp'
| remind.
Reading with musical accompanies
Tor Cantillation. it is properly
termed. interests me, and has for some
| years-more than any form of express
sion" said she. Descriptive sym
phonies of high aesthetic value and ar
ranged especially for this work have
feen written by Grieg, Max Heinrich.
! Richard Strauss Franz List, Max
lSchilling, Stanley Hawley and others.
An old musician writing in the Mus-
cal Courier says: Although not pub
/ lshed. L recall having heard Thome.
Nicholas Rubenstein and List impro-
wise and accompany the reading of
Sarah Bernhard, Helen Modieska and
Crolzette years ago" So. you see this
work is not new.
stanley Hawley has made specially
OF this poem illustrating and has sue
i ceeded almost beyond any one who has