The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-03-03
William lester compositlons.

! William Lester Compositions.
| William Lester, the young Keokuk
composer and pianist, received much
praise from Chicago critics on his de-
but as a composer there few days
ago AS one critic said His work Is
extremely modern. it is abstruse and
difficult, and is filled with an in
Itensity OF meaning which requires
analytical and repeated hearing be-
fore full beauties are revealed" A
writer who signs himself c.. F. w,
writing in The Music News has
very interesting criticism. He has
especial praise for My Lady
Dances which is in the form of
Eminuet and which epitomizes a
charming little verse by Sadie Marian
Becker of Keokuk, who is the posses
sor OF quite versatile pen. This
critic writes:
Mr.. liam Lester. org anist, plan.
list, coach, accompanist and composer,
was presented in three of his capaci-
ties by; Mr.. MacBurney at the Mac
Burney studios on Tuesday evening
and delighted a splendidly represen-
Etative audience with his excellent
pianasm, his superb accompanying
and the abundant evidence put forth
that he is a composer of the very
greatest possibilities, for the entire
program was made up from his
works
Mr.. Lester has a most prolific pen,
as may be judged by the fact that
Op. A, No. 2, was on the list and his
work has ranged through many
forms and has covered works both
great and small.
A single hearing is not enough from
which to give any definite estimate OF
his worth as a writer, for his work
lis extremely modern, it is abstruse
and difficult, and is filled with an in
ltensity of meaning which requires an
lalytical and repeated hearing before
full beauties are revealed.
Nevertheless the form Is always
quickly grasped and the harmoniza-
+ tons are rich and full, while occa-
OCCASIONALLY a melody line appears
which is direct and simple.
AFlss Myra Baijy, soprano, was
heard to great advantage in a group
| of songs of which "As Perfume
Doth Exhale,' was perhaps the best;
When Am Dead My Dearest
| dedicated to Miss Bailey, being al
SO very charming.
| Clarence Evans played a "Rhap-
sodie'' for violin, which is dedicated
i to Adolf Bruno and the slow move
ment from q Sonata" for violin ana
piano, Op So.
I Mr.. Merle NJ. Meagley made splen-
did impression in group of excel
lently constructed songs including
one dedicated to Mr.. MacBurney and
Sonnet" dedicated to himself, and
Miss Hazel Huntley closed the pro-
gram with a beautiful Interpretation
jof group of songs which included
4 AN Indian Maid's Lament" (dedi
Gated to Nine. De Cisnerosl and
which suits Miss Huntley's fine voice
TO an utter nicely and Retrospect
which is dedicated to Miss Huntley,
and which she interprets SO splendid
ily that it will certainly find perman-
ent place in her repertoire.
I The complete list of these three
groups of songs was printed in the
| last issue of Music News.
| One of the most striking features
of the evening was piano suite I'm
4 the Golden Age" for which Mr.. les
ter has written most comprehensive
motto, and each number OF which is
/ set to beautiful verse, read at this
time by Mr.. MacBurney.
The various titles of the numbers
are Beneath My Lady's Window, :"
l"At the Masque," my Lady Dances"
l'In MY Lady's Garden" In the
Twilight" and an the Rose Garden y
These works are all of immense pc.
Itentiality and thoroughly worthy of
perpetuation especially attractive is
my Lady Dances" which is in the
form of minuet and which epito-
mics a charming little verse by
Sadie Marian Becker c. E. w.