Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1913-05-05
Bispham Concert Rare Musical Treat
Proves English Is Language of Song
SINGER AND PIANIST
ARE WELL RECEIVED

David Bispham, Americas premier
baritone, contends that the language
of Shakespeare is the only. language
in which music should be interpreted
to the English speaking races; in fact,
he goes further and boldly makes the
assertion that 1t is the only language
N which large majority of the Eng
lish speaking people can properly
understand and appreciate the Times
Sc of music. And, going still further
Bispham proves his contention to be.
correct, by the magnificent manner in
which he sings English translations of
the foreign masters and English songs
written by English speaking persons
AS anyone, who had the pleasure of
hearing this gifted concert artist
Saturday night, will Attest
As a musical treat it would be hard
10 conceive anything that could easier
reach the heart. better delight the ear,
or prove more soothing and satisfying
than the concert given by Bi5pham
and his able assistant, the American
pianist-composer, Harry ~. Gilbert.
That such was fact was amply
demonstrated by the rounds of APP
plause that greeted singer and pianist
upon the completion of each selec-
tion
That Bispham is a finished artist
was amply demonstrated by the man
ner in which he warmed up. his
fashionably attired audience. Before
he sang a note he delivered a "con-
cert monologue" on the absurdity of
the use of Italian, French and Ger
man, as a means of expressing music
for the benefit of the English speak
ing races, and, so witty was this
little pre-concert talk that Bispham
soon had his auditors in an uproar
and in most receptive mood for the
program to follow. Not, however,
that this was necessary, as the pro-
gram, rendered in two parts was
brimful of merit, consisting of songs
of sterling worth, piano solos of the
best and recitation to music that
was Incompatible. Coupled with the
merit of the, program was the able
rendition of each and every selection,
making, in all, an evening OF music
that could not well be surpassed.
Splendid Piano Solos
The first part of the evenings en-
tertainment consisted of two groups
of songs. the first group being classic
al works of foreign composers of two
hundred years ago, who have gained
fame in death. This was followed by
a series of more recent foreign COM
positions, while between the two
groups Bispham sang as a voluntary
encore "The, Pretty Creature" Among
the second group was when l Was
Page" from Falstaff, and to accentu-
ate the absurdity to which the use of
foreign languages has been carried in
the world of music, Bispham COM
mented on the fact that the divine
language of Shakespeare had been
translated into Italian in this instance
and then. proceeded to sing verse
in the foreign tongue before render
ing the songiin it's native language.
The second part of the program
consisted of group of recent compo-
sitions by Americans, including bid
Me to Live" the music of which was
written by Gilbert. As an encore
Bispham sang song written by an
American Negro composer who, he
said, has recently succeeded in hav-
ing his ability recognized, but only
after German musician had pro-
nounced his work good. The recita-
ton of King Robert of Sicily" proved
one of the premier numbers on the
program.
Between the parts Gilbert enter
tanned with piano solos and as an
encore played, with one hand, solo
which, at times, gave the impression
that it was duet
Program For Tonight
Tonight Bispham will cater to that
part of the music loving population
of Honolulu that prefers to hear songs
in their native language and will
render the following in Italian, Ger
man, French and English, and thereby
prove that his fight for English music
for the English speaking races is not
because of his inability to handle for
eign tongues:
PART /.
Classical Songs
Oui Sdegno t''Magic F'lute')... Mozart
The Impatient Husbandmen C'The
SeaSOnS'1 HAYDN !