Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-11-16


Winifred Byrd in the world of
= music is now insured, was estab-
flished at her second Aeolian hall con-
cert given November fourth in New
York. Miss. Byrd made her musical de-
but at Aeolian hall last winter, when
the superb artistry of her playing, won
for her the unqualified praise Of the
New York critics and music lovers. In
accordance with tradition, musicians
lentering the New York door of their
art, invariably appear at Aeolian hall
lin second concert following within
the course of year upon the first one,
twhen the musical world is given an op-
,portunity to set the stamp of perma-
nent recognition and commendation up
on the talent of the artist in question.
Thus Miss Byrd's Salem friends receive
led with pleasure word of the demon
strative ovation which greeted her at
the close of this second recital, indicat-
ling as ii did the entry of the Oregon
pianist to an accepted position among
the ranking musicians of the day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Asahel Bush of Salem,
who are passing the winter in New
York, were among those who had the
qualification Of hearing Miss Byrd on
this occasion. Their comments as writ
ten back to friends in the city confirm
ed the supplementary verdict Of the
audience.
Speaking Of Miss Byrd s concert the
musical critic on the New York Times,
James Gibbons Huneker, says:
"Sparks flew from the stage of Aeo-
liam hall last night. A little blonde girl
in Gainsborough blue, zoned with gold,
flew at a grand pianoforte and her thin
muscular arms were transformed into
ferocious fails as she thrashed out
List 5 Campanella. She scintillated
and she scared, but the bells she rang
were brittle in tone. 1t was Winifred
Byrd, and her Buster Brown coiffure
was to be noted throughout the audi
ence; little Ethel Leginskas, full Of sup
pressed technique and boiling over
with enthusiasm. (The original Ethel
was also presnt and remained to the
end.) Miss Byrd s piano playing is un-
even, but always vital; therefore in
teresting, because suggestive. She over
pedals, almost everything, and the over
tones fight in the air Like Spanish mi
crobes when Dr.. Copeland is discover
ed in the offing. She has lapses of
finger memory, which is not the same
thing as a loss of musical memory; it
merely means an occasional dropped
note. And her massive chord playing is
better than her single finger runs,
which lack proper relief. Perhaps this
is natural finger weakness, or else ic
may be the young artist shoots her
bolt too soon, anticipating her climax,
and her nervous power is prematurely
spent. We incline to the belief that she
pedals every bar too much. 1t began in
the arpeggios of the Chopin Fantasie,
and was particularly noticeable in the
A minor Study by the same master, The
hard positivsm of brilliant youth was
also too insistent in its affirmations
throughout the lovely Mozart Sonata
in F-a favorite of the late Rafael
Josseffy-whilh should be coaxed, not
commanded
so much for the diverse Side of
Winifred Byrd S art. On the fair side
of her slate much might be written.
She blazes with temperament. She has
the energy of a demon, as heard in the
Dance of the Gnomcs,'i by List.
Her range Of dynamics is excellent. She
is musical. These were admirable things
in the Chopin number; the II minor
study from Opus 25, the "Winter
Wind " aforesaid, and the great Fan
TASTE. A study by Baerman, presumab-
ly Carl Baerman of Boston, went well,
and Mendelssohn song was delivered
with sweet simplicity. We refuse to
mention the Prelude by Rachminoff
except to say that the Russian has
written other preludes, one Of which
Joseph Hoffman plays with much eff
feet. Miss Byrd achieved success with
her hearers She gave among her en-
cores the q minor Prelude of Chopin,
which did not sound altogether Chopin
esque. Paderewskf might call her, as
he once called FRITZ Seheff, ''the lit |
tie DEVIL not Of grand opera, but Off
the keyboard" /"
The Sweet Briar club win be enter |
tanned by Mrs. c. c. Chaffee Wednes-
day afternoon at her residence on the |
road. The Sweet Briar club
along with other organizations has
been forced to discontinue all Club
gatherings during the past month, ow.
ing to the influenza conditions. Mrs. |
Dudley Gibson, newly elected president |
win preside at the meeting wednes-
day.
The Community Red Cross auxiliary, |
Of members residing on or in
the neighborhood of the Wallace road, |
will also resume work next Friday at
the regular headquarters
Mrs. Il. G. Curtis is enjoying visit
from her son, Deane Curtis, who ar
rived Thursday night direct from
Queenstown, Ireland, Mr.. Curtis enlist |
ed in the navy year and half ago,
and has been serving on the battleship
which piled between ire
land and England. He has now been
from the naval base at
Queenstown TO Mare and near San
Francisco.
Mr.. Curtis was popular member of
the Salem high school before his en-.
listment and win be better remembered |
by his school friends as Larry Cur |
it's. He left yesterday for Corvallis,
where he win visit his sister, Miss
Irene Curtis, a student at the Oregon |
Agricultural college over the week end. |
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