The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1917-06-28
BILE Preacher and d Sub
stantial Property
Owner.


piled in an effort to save them From
falling into oblivion. The small group
Of songs by which he is best known
include "Deep River" 1.-The Gray
Wolf" to words by Arthur Symons; a
superb setting OF Walt Whitman's S
Ethiopia Saluting the Colors," "The
Soldier" and "Jean."
"The Five Songs Of Laurence
Hope" writes a critic In the Boston
Transcript of March 10, probably rep
resent Mr. Burleigh's best work. Here
are haunting melodies, accompani-
ments rich in detail, yet not overwrit-
ter, striking bits of delineation and
much skill in the wedding of music to
words"
Regarding '"The Soldier" A. Walter
Kramer in Mnsianlst America wrote:
s.sss literary and musfcaI s."ss. "ssassts 1s os1ss
present European conflict is no excep-
ton. But l think that this
Burleigh setting OF Rupert BrOoke's
inspired lines will be among the impor-
tant art products of the great war
when the record is made"
These creative achievements have
necessarily been snatched from life
of routine musical toll, by which Mr..
Burleigh has earned his daily bread.
Since 1894 ne has been baritone s0loist
in st. Georges church, one OF New
York's old and aristocratic congrega-
tions, and for seventeen years he has
sung at the Temple Emanuel as well.
These achievements become doubly
significant when one realizes how Mr..
Burleigh has worked his way forward
almost without aid, handicapped by
color as well as poverty. 1t Is related
how Mr. Burleigh as n boy in Erie, Pa,
contracted pneumonia from standing
10 the snow outside the drawing room
window Of Mrs. Elizabeth Russell,
where bis family was in service, in or
der to hear Rafael Joseffy play, and
was gwen a chance to open the door
for the guests when later Teresa Car
reno played at the Russell home In
consequence.
Working at Erie, Pa, as a stenogra-
pher until he was twenty-six, In 1892
be came to New York and out Of 800
applicants was given a scholarship IN
the National Conservatory of Music,
where he studied for four years. By
teaching singing during his last year
there, together with assisting the Sec
retary, the mother Of the well known
American composer, p. A. MacDowell,
he waB able to liquidate his indebted
ness to the founder of the institution.
During one summer Mr.. Burleigh
worked at hotel In Saratoga In order
to make enough to carry him through
until the following Christmas. But
when. in 1894, the young musician
standing upon the threshold Of his ca
reer, secured the position Of soloist al
st. Georges, in competition with sixty
other applicants, his path became much
easier. His talent for Interpretation
Of his own folksongs soon became
widely known, and he was 10 demand
to sing In concerts and in the musical
programs Of the leading mansions Of
fashionable New York and elsewhere
The achievements last year which wor
Mr.. Burleigh the Spingarn medal arr
but the mature fruitage Of long life
Of consecrated labor.
This is the third year the medal hat
been awarded. The first was present
ed to DR.. T.. T.. Just Of Howard univer
sity for original researches in biology
Governor Whitman making the presen
tation in New York. In 1915 the gov
ernor Of Massachusetts, presented thu
second medal in Boston to Lieutenan
Colonel Charles Young Of the Tent
cavalry, United States army, for hi
services in recognizing the constabu
larry Of LiDeris, West Africa.
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