New-York tribune., 1922-03-19
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existence In 1880, and to which the
local public owed many performances
OF oratorlos, cantatas and even operas
/ given in concert form. From his book
we learn that Mr.. Jordan's public ap-
pearances as q singer date back to a
/ period when he was between four and
i've years old, at which age he and a
twin brother appeared at church
entertainment in Bolton. His musical
studies seem to have begun when he
spent $l8, which he had earned by
checking the impedimenta of guests
at summer hotel in Rocky Point, in
the purchase of comet and instruc-
tlon from d. W. Reeves. the bandmas-
ter at the hotel where nc was employed
as telegraph operator. Later he be-
came a member Of the choir Of Grace
Church, whose rector at the time was
David ii. Greer, late Bishop Of the Dio-
ccsc Of New York.
1t was while he was studying sing
ing with George L. Osgood that he
Rowland which circumstance led to his
first metropolitan experience. He came
TO New York TO visit tho Howland FAM
'ly, and Mrs. Howland. a gifted ANA
teur pianist, introduced him to Dr..
Leopold Damrosch, who, after hearing
Kim sing, engaged him to sing the
tenor solos in the first production OF
Rerlio1's "Damnation of Faust" By the
OrAtorio and Symphony societies. Mr..
Jordan does not give the date. but it
was on February II, 1880, and the sue
cess Of the dramatic lccend was the
supreme sensation of the season. 1t
was performed five times between Feb
ruary - and April ., and tlitee times
in the season OF lSSO-'S1. In the lat- !
ter performances Mr.. Jordan took no
part, however. In the spring and sum
n1er months of 1856 and 1887 he etudied
singing in London with teacher who
disappointed him, and whom he does
not name, and with Sbriglia in Paris.
whom he praises. Then, he relates. the
manager of the opera at Nice, on the
recommendation OF Nianesc, who was
the conductor, offered him all engage
mcnt after hearing him sing the songs
of Almaviva in Rossini's "Barbcr of
Scvllle,' whose forid measures Mr..
Jordan had mastered by a method OF
his own. lie declined the tempting Of
fer, having received cablesram rsknc
him to sing in the first production of
"The Damnation of Faust at the
Worcester (Mass.) Festival "T took it
to Sbriglia," Mr.. Jordan relates. "Hc
looked at it and Immediately dropped
it upon his table, exclaiming: This is
one performance, and you could sing IN
the opera month after MONTH Some
times l have been sorry that | did not
make the trial, but, on the whole,
think that ] have been happier and
possibly done more for the cause than
| could have done as an opera singer
Mr.. Busoni on
Saint-SaSns
Among the articles which have ap-
peared in European publications on the
death Of Camille Saint-Saens, one of
the most interesting was contributed
by Ferruco Busoni to the "Vossischc
Zeitung." Mr.. Busoni classifies the
French composer as belonging to the
Mozart school" and as standing in
the line Of succession with Rossini.
Chcrubini Mendelssohn, Gounod and
Bzct. He quotes the remark of keen
connoisseur to the effect that a char
acteristic feature Of Mozart's scores
is that every player takes pleasure in
the performances OF hia part. This