Arizona republican., 1922-01-03
MUCH PROGRESS IN
MUSIC MADE HERE
DURING LAST YEAR

A review OF the musical progress
of Phoenix in the past year brings to
light the fact that more advancement
OF the serious side of the greatest OF
arts has been attained than in any
previous year. The success is due
largely to combined efforts OF all
promoters OF music, both actual per-
forming musicians and lovers of
music. Mrs. Henry d. Ross, at the
head OF the state musical clubs, at
tended the nationaI convention and
Ron for this state the banner for
having established more musical
clubs than any other state in accord
ance with population.
Among the newly organized clubs
is the active interest developed by
the Musicians club Of Mesa, COM
posed Of some 25 active and asso-
ciate members. A courst of events
started this season at the Mesa High
school auditorium managed by this
club won for it high praise.
The Musical Events branch OF the
Musicians Club of Phoenix has pre-
sented several Of their numbers OBJ
tanned by arrangement with L. E.
Behymer OF Los Angeles. Mabel Gar
II.
violinist, already have appeared, with
gratifying success, while Pavlowa,
Russian danseuse, is to appear early
this spring with her ballet and baby
symphony. Early last spring the
Events branch brought to Phoenix
the New York Philharmonic orches-
ira with Stransky and Hadley, con-
ductors.
Under the management of the
Redewill Music company, which has
been bringing attractions to Phoenix
the last is years, Tetrazzini sang in
Phoenix last March, drawing great
crowd.
The piano firm is now bringing
Sousa and hi band to play two con-
certs at the Shrine auditorium on
January 3. These two performances
will serve as a musical dedication
to the new Shrine building. Here
tofore only 1000 people could be ac-
commodated in the halls of Phoenix,
but in the Shrine plans are being
made to take care of fully 1000 at
each performance.
In new musical organizations the
Arizona Bohemian club, an associa-
ton of men interested in the allied
arts, will make its initial bow in
entertaining John Philip Sousa at a
reception January 9th. The club has
used a uniqu, idea in naming the
officers of the organization by musi-
cal titles. Franz Darvas is director
(president): Milton Rasbury, asso-
ciate director -president); L. A.
Weiss, concert master (secretary)
Howard f. Ewing, librarian (trea-
surer); William r. Davenport. mezzo
(sergeant- at arms); Eugene Redewill
impresario business manager). The
club is planning to bring to Phoenix
a number of the best artists and at
fractions before the end of this sea-
son. The club will function with
civic bodies for promotion of the al
lied arts, many Of its members al
ready being members OF the leading
clubs, the Rotary, Kiwanis,. Chamber
of Commerce and Merchants and
Manufacturers.
In musical equipment Phoenix has !
made progresr in greater proportion |
than in her offerings. Three new |
pipe organs have b:en installed. The |
Rialto theater has a Wurlitzer pic |
ture instrument which is the last |
word in organs OF it's kind. Saint |
Mary's cathedral has at last realized |
Its dream in securing an excellent |
Estey instrument with echo organ. |
the only echo instrument in the city.
In public halls grand pianos have
been installed in the Shrine audi
torium, Rialto theater and the San
Marcos, and in fact there are grands
in every public hall in Phoenix ex-
cept the high school, the stage of
which is rather small In round
numbers about 500 pianos of all
kinds have been placed in homes the
past year in the valley. Phonographs
and talking machines can only be
estimated, but 1t is safe to place the
number for the past year at about
1900.
The Concert club is a new society |
Tor the study of the important musi- |
cal works, under the tutorage of |
Franz Darvas, head of the piano de- |
partment of the Arizona School Of |
Music.
A movement has been under way |
to secure action of the high school |
board and the board of regents of
the university to place music as an
accredited study in Arizona schools
and to have teachers who have the
proper degrees supervise the tuition.
Inis movement is endorsed by most
OF the musicians OF Phoenix. When
put into effect the Arizona musical
school work will be accredited in !
California am vice versa.
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