Charlevoix county herald., 1916-07-28
NO FUNNY SONGS
IN CONCERT WORK
MARK TWAIN'S DAUGHTER ONCE
TRIED THEM BUT FAILED TO
GET A SMILE
HUSBAND IS HER ACCOMPANIES
Nine. Gabrilowitsch Started her Mus
cal Career as a Pianist-Des-
cribes Her Work.

Philadelphia, Pa.-To be the daugh-
ter of Americas foremost humorist
and the wife of one of the worlds
greatest pianists would be distinction
enough for almost any woman. Nine.
Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch, wife OF
Ossip Gabrilowitsch and daughter of
Mark Twain however, had ambitions
of her own and she is now just Nine.
Gabrilowitsch, contralto, with a repu-
tation all her own and a good follow
ing among the concert goers of New
York and many other American and
European cities.
zone would think that singer with
your connections would combine mus
&c with humor and sing humorous
songs once in while instead of all
those serious things which always fill
your programs" an interviewer re-
marked to her.
"Once / tried It," she answered with
a humorous twinkle in her eye.
81 was singing German songs to an
American audience. Both Beethoven
and Brahms have tried their hands al
humor. After the group of funny songs
almost every face in the audience was
serious and entirely missed the
laugh. They hadn't understood the
words. So the only thing left me TO
do was to go back in the dressing
room, where / enjoyed the joke all to
myself. Since l don't know any real
ly good American songs that are fun
ny and at the same time musical, I've
decided to stick to the serious things
for the present.
One of the unique features of Nine
Gabrilowitsch's recitals is the fact
that the accomplishments of her songs
are played by real virtuoso-her hus
band. But it is not because she needs
any help at the piano. She could play
them herself-that is, If etiquette and
The fact that singing requires concen
tration did not demand that she stand
up in front of the piano and forget the
keyboard.
II started my musical career as a
pianist" she confided, land was study
ing in Vienna, when by accident l dis
covered that / had voice. The life OF
the singer appealed to me much more
than that Of pianist, so ] changed
teachers and became a vocalist"
with all of your pianistic talent, do
you ever give joint piano recitals in
stead of voice and piano entertain
ments with your husband?"
During the summer we get much
enjoyment from piano duets, and
when other pianists are present from
works for three and even four play
ers, but we do not play these things
publicly. Almost every evening last
summer we had our own little piano
recitals with no audience except per-
haps friend or two who happened to
be with us. I think every singer
should be familiar with the best there
Is in instrumental as well as vocal
music-to be a musician as well as a
vocal performer. Some singers must
have their songs drilled into their
ears by an assistant at the piano.
Singing to me would be drudgery
things up myself at the piano. Until
a song has been played and sung over
and over many times, and committed
10 memory, It ought not to be sung
publicly. The proper way to interpret
a song usually does not come until 1t
has been thoroughly memori2ed.
"In singing publicly the most diff
cult thing to do is to concentrate the
mind on the spirit and character of
the role that is being assumed. In the
song recital each song means differ.
ent impersonation. IL the songs are
all about similar things monotony re-
suits. 1t is this power to concentrate
that makes Nine. Yvette GuilDert such
a great artist"
Nine. Gabrilowitsch's favorite sing
er is Nine. Marguerite Matznauer, and
she also Is fond OF Miss Emmy Des
tim, Miss Elena Gerhard and Nine.
Julia Culp. German songs are her IA
vorite musical compositions, through
she sings and likes many Russian and
French works. Just at present Amer
lea Is her favorite country.