New-York tribune., 1921-01-23
Music Notes


ccaNpresident of the American Music
Optlmlsts. in announcing an offer of
$500 for the best pianoforte quintet by
an American composer. says she hone 5
ITO discover an American Reethoven!" 4"
If we have musician of such caliber
in the United States we hope that he
is not suffering such need as to be
waiting for Mana zucca's money The
sladN's announcement tells him what he
must do, which is to put his compost
tion in an envelope bearing motto or
nom de plume, enclose sealed en-
velope bearing the same Identification
mark and enclosing name and address
and send it to the secretary Of the
American Music Optimists, a West
13oth Street, New York City. Within
what period of time this must be done
is not stated. The judges in the COM
petition are to be Josef Stransky.
Henry Hadley, Hans Letz, Roberto
Moranzoni and Joan Manen.
Leo Sowerby, the American composer.
whose concerto for piano with orches-
ira will be heard for the rst time in
New York at the concert of the New
York Symphony Orchestra in Aeolan
Hall this afternoon, was first given
hearing in New York in March, 1918
when Walter Damrosch included in
program his overture Comes Autumn
Time" Mr.. Sowerby was then serving
with the 332d Field Artillery.
Besides the concerto Mr.. Sowerby
has composed "Three British Folk-Tune
Settings"; the "Set of Four" sere-
made for string quartet; quintet for
wood wind instruments, and a trio for
flute, viola and piano.
Mr.. Sowerby has conducted all his
musical studies in this country. He was
born twenty-six years ago in Grand
Rapids, Mich. and studied music in Chi
cago with Lampert for the piano and
with Anderson for theory Mr. Sowerby,
according TO Barker's Dictionary, has
been classed as "a composer of radical
tendencies, although he himself claims
affinity with the Franck- Indy school
rather than with those extremists who
throw over all nationality as applied to
music"
Late in 1915 Sowerhy began to make
sketches for the piano concerto. The
first draft of the composition, which
was performed in Chicago tho follow
ing year, contained q part for soprano
voice. The present version eliminates
the vocal part, besides introducing
other radical changes. 1t was scored in
its present form In the summer of 1919.
Yvette Guilbert and chorus Of stu
dents from her School of the Theater
will give the program this evening.
French Night" in the series of free
concerts in the Great Hall Of Cooper
Union, under the auspices of the
Music League of the Peoples Insti-
tute.
At the concerts By the National SYM
~ E.L
Mr.. Mengelberg will present tho first
of his seasons novelties, piece for
string orchestra, "Verklaerte Nacht,"
by the Viennese composer, Arnold
Schoenberg. This was originally writ
ten AS chamber music, but has been
amplifed by the composer II is said
not to be in his advanced style ss illus
tratcd by his Give Pieces for Or
chestra."
Blanca Kazounof, pianist, still in
her teens, from Kansas City, will. be
heard in her first New York recital in
Aeolian Hall on Monday evening, jan
uary 31.'
Alexander Schmuller. Russian violin
ist, who recently appeared with the
Mational Symphony. will give rccitsl
in Asolian Hall Tuesday afternoon,
February 1. Mr.. Mengelberg, his
friend Of long standing, will also ap-
pear on the program, PLAYING the Loca-
till sonata with Mr.. schmuYler. Cocn-
Rad Bos, who has known schmuller in
Holland and played for him many
times, Will accompany the violinst in
the other numbers.
Ernest Hutch-son will present An
ai!-Lhorin program when he gives his
second recital Of the season at Aeolian
Asa saturday afternoon, February IL.
4 sssas4 recital wiz b. g4YAs 1t