The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1916-05-11
NINE. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Picturesquely Presents Russian Lifa
With Musical Illustrations
Was Pupil Of Great
Rubenstein.

Two notable artists appeared Nor
day night in Kemper hall to an invited
audience of music lovers of the city
and the pupils in the hall.
They were Nine. Emily Tate, a
former pupil of Rubenstein and men,
Der of the Royal Conservatoire of ST.
Petersburg, and Frank Graham, a dra-
matte reader of international repute
and formerly member of Sir Henry
Irving's company in London, who gave
readings of translations of Russian
poetry, accompanied by music arranged
for the readings by Nine. Tate, adapt
ed from Russian composers.
Mr.. Graham most delightful read
ing was dramatic poem, of which
he himself is the author, "The Temp
tation of Ivan," and the music of this
is adapted from Russian operate airs
used by Glinka, by Nine. Tate.
An exquisite prose-poem by Tourgue-
nieff, with musical accompaniment by
Arensky, entitled elbow Beautiful
Were Once the Roses" was another
splendid selection. The pathetic por-
tions of this were given with rare
dramatic force and intensity, revealing
glimpse of true art which it was a
privilege to hear.
Nine. Tate appeared in the beautiful
court dress Of the time of Ivan, the
Terrible. She is beautiful woman TO
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ticular grace and distinction.
Her talk was opened with direct
and convincing picture of music in the
Russian life. To no country is music
more intimate part of every day life
than to Russia. 1t is an accompani-
ment to their simplest occupations;
they sing as they go to war; they sing
when they worship and when they
work, and their music is always full of
a strange spirit which gives the essence
Of the Russian character even more
graphically than does the country's
poetry or prose literature. All this
the lecturer made clear.
Nine. Tate illustrated the many
phases Of their music with piano selec-
tions which she played with fine tech
nique and with a thorough understand
ing of the themes she presented. She
says, and it is doubtless true, that to
become imbued with the spirit of these
songs one must live in their native
atmosphere and know and understand
the people who sing them.
Her story of the songs of the boat
men of the Volga were fascinating.
She told of the mystic wierdness which
surrounds these strange singers as they
ply their craft upon the river Volga,
and she illustrated the airs.
Nine. Tate gave an interesting bit
of personal experience in connection
with trip through the Russian mon
asteries made with party including
Sir Arthur Sullivan who wrote the mel
odious operate music which has charm
ed many continents. This was before
he had written the "Mikado" and his
idea Of the wedding day chorus in that
was gained directly from the monastic
singing. In the Russian monasteries
there are no instruments for producing
music. The deep bass voices of the
singers are so harmonized that the eff
feet of the ensemble is that of organ
notes.
Nine. Tate told her story of Russian
music in so pleasant a narrative form
that one hardly realized that he was
getting information as well as pleasure
from the telling. 1t was more like the
development of thrillingly interest
ing novel. Her piano Illustrations
were artistic gems which gave pleasure
to an even greater extent than did her
lecture.
The second half of the program
where she gives selections from modern
composers is where her great powers of
expression are most thoroughly inu-
strated.
It is interesting in connection with
Nine. Tate appearance here to know
that she was a Red Cross volunteer of
the Turco-Russian war and that she
was decorated with the imperial order
of the Russian Red Cross which takes
with it many privileges, one of which
was the military education of someone
to be designated by Nine. Tate. and
she designated nephew for the honor.
She has also done work in the present
war for the Red Cross