The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-10-14
MT. Clarence R. Klenk and the Very Attractive
 Musical Programmes Rendered At the Florence Cafe
By DOLLY DALRYMPLE

Has done more for the general uplift
 Of musical affairs in Birmingham than
 the very attractive orchestras provided
 by the different hotels cafes and clubs
 within the past few years.
 Time was
 When just any old orchestra was good enough for the people to "eat by" so to speak.
 But
 With continued appreciation of good music,
 And
 Frequent visits to the big cities of the east and abroad
 The populace, as we'll as the skilled musician, has come to demand better music, and you will find some of the very best musicians in the entire country engaged in this sort of work
 Brmir gham is particularly fortunate in claiming for her own a musician of the type and high class of MT. Clarence R. Klenk.
 There is nothing gaudy nor "showy'' about Mir. Klenk. In fact
 He's far too modest in regard to his accomplishments for his own good For as MT. David Bispham said in recent Interview in one of the big ! musical papers: "I think that advertising is an art just as much as is singing or acting or any l thing else that we honor with that name. To interest the entire public in what a person has to offer for the public's own benefit or pleasure is surely worth consid- efation. l do not wish to be misunder- stood. l do not mean blatant misstate- ments and sensational personal matters. l think that these things have made modest people dislike the advertising side of their work, but a dignifed presen- tation of subject through proper med ium should not be objectionable to any one."
 MT. Klenk as vioinist ranks very high.
 A beautiful tone, fine technique, and an appreciation of music that is ex- ! auisitely refined and sensitive makes a | happy combination that always makes | it's appeal.
 I In arranging his orchestra for the music I at the Florence Hotel cafe, MT. Klenk has gathered about him a capable sex l tet Of players, and the vast crowds who l frequent the cafe are loud in their praise l of the splendid music they hear there | at all times-music of the highest order, played with a delicacy and a finesse that
 is beautiful and pleasing at all times. l MT. klenk being a fine violinist, appre- | ciates the value of a good instrument as l the real artist necessarily must, and it | Is real treat to hear him talk about
 his collection of violins, and what they | mean to him.
 1 My own violin I love as though it were really human," said Mr Klenk. as | he chatted with me the other day Ut is l 6 Montaganana-1734-an one of the best
 Instruments that l have ever seen any l where. l got it from collection in Can | ada some years ago, and it is naturally I the most important factor in my life. l l have been a collector of violins for many | years, and have had at one time some l 10 or S0 Of course, I've sold a great | many of these. You'd be surprised, per | haps, to know that negro bought one of the best violins I've ever owned" | Really, down in their hearts, the ne groes as a race are born musical,'' l l suggested, "and consequently come as
 near being natural musicians as any peo-
 pie in the world, but I must say that | appreciation of a fine violin is rather as- | tonishing.'
 -"This one I speak of" said MT. Klenk
 twas a Joannes Guidantus, made In Bo- logna in TIA. It is a large pattern, nicely arched, with Guarnerius 'Fo. The tone is large and especially smooth and round and the instrument is scroled very artis-
 tically on beautiful, curly maple. The negro told me he had formerly had a fine fiddle and something had happened to it-lost. strayed or stolen-and when he came tc buy from me showed him some lthing cheap. but he wanted the best, and he got it.'
 l I felt very comfortable when I heard
 MT. Klenk speak of such an instrument as mere fiddle
 Somehow
 That sort of showed him up as distinct ly human-and not entirely divine, which quality we are wont to associate with the finished musician always-but they car possess both.
 'I have in my collection wonderful instrument made by Guarnerius," said
 Mir. Klenk, 'the founder of the great fam