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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (April 10, 1897)
T 5K-v flVpKWJf?1- -isr-w "T-" "'" V"- THE COURIER. f j& w m m. w Musical Mention John Randolph. 8 V PV WW " " ' - Truly tho v.cissitides or the singer inhavc a thorough understanding of tho grand "opera are many and varied, underlying principles of the theiry of There 13 no more common mistake music; chords in their relation to each among those unacquainted with the other; what is commonly called "Har difficulty of getting even a footing upon mony." In the third placo ho must bo the operatic stage at all, than tosuppeso able to play the piano sufficiently to that a youne cirl with an n-'reeable make some application of these prin voice has only to study singing for a year or two in order to become a prima donna. Of course if the singer has, like Fatti, the most beautiful voice in the world, ebe may like Patti, learn a few ciples a purely melodic ins'rument like the violin, while a valuable assistant is not adapted so well to tho study of chords. In tha fourth place the singer must be not only a capable soloist, but operas and sing them over and over a tower of Btreng'h in ensemble music, again ad nauseam I was about to say. The first soprano must, absolutely roust. But the most beautiful voice in the be able to maintain an untroubled way world can in the nature of things be- through rhythmic and tonal difficulties long to a comparatively limited number though other voices shriek above and of young girls. If the impression of an bellow beneath. No one can be a unimportant member of the musical musician, or even a reasonably artistic fraternity, one who has not been a sue- singer, unless he can play second fiddle cessful public singer but only a teacher as gracefully and well as he can take the and an observer of the successful and first part, I speak, of course, metaphori unsuccessful in this branch of art may not be wholly without value, I should like to set down an opinion as to what nowadays constitutes a successful singer. In the first place one must of course have heaith and a properly train ed vuce, besides an attractive appear ance and that sine qua non which (in want or a better word) we call "tempera ment." One must also be able to act at least a little and have a repertory 01 cally. Unless, in other words, he possesses absolute independence of the other voices, and ability to steer his own voice easily and Eafely with a safety born of sound musicianship, ho need not expect success save as a matter cf tho accident of a teautif ul voice or of personal attractiveness which affect the average audienca but not tha critir. And jet how few o! our concert or church eingers p3ss?ss these requite- operas. oratorios, church music, or con- meats! I need only to point to Rieger cert numbers, if song recital be tha specialty undertaken. But this is not all, even if it requires years to secure this position as it undoubtedly will do with talent and the most competent in struction. I contend that in addition to these things the singer must nowadays ba a musician. The time has past a way when ten operas of the grade of "Martha" and "Lucia di Lammermoor" constituted a stock in trade, when a competent (?) professional singer re- and Clementine de Vera of New York, to Knorr of Chicago, to Hoaier Mo jre, of Omaha as instances of really successful and artistic singers because they have their power fully in hand an 1 always at command. But I had not intended to wander 60 far from my text, which was the vicissi tudes of the averagJ opera singer. Take for instance the case of Scalchi, for mary years the most prominent contral to before the public. I do not imagine quired coaching at the pianoforte in the she can ever have been so great as Al. rudimentary matters of rhythm and boni or Viardot-Garcia, but she has pitch. A more intellectual, a more en- been and is a singer of eminent autbori lightened day has come, and a really sue ty. To be sure, at presant tha freshness cessful singer must, be ha a choir singer of her voice is gone, but she is Btill a concert, oratorio or opera singer, be a competent artist with operatic traditions musician who can think his part in eoIo at her fingeis' ends. She was for years and ensemble, and underst.nd as well the principal contralto of the Metro the instrumental accompaniment. For politan Opera company in New York, one has but to glance at the score of besides her many successes with Madame modern vocal works of much less dif Patti in Mapleson's troupe. I see that ficulty than Wagnerian music drama in after the failure of Mapleson's recent order to see that there is a gieat differ- season in this country, and after a short ence between the old tinkling harmonies engagement with Nordica's concert com anJ sidfple rhythms of Bellini and hi3 pany, this veteran singer is ri""'g s;hool and ths complex rhythmic and out her season in Western "music halls!-' tonal difficulties of Rubinstein, Brahms, It is only a step frm this to the regu Massenet, Mascagni, MacDowo'.l, or any Jar vaudeville stage, whither so many of of the ultra modern composers. Nor our actus are drifting in the present do can one sing Bee'.hovea or the art ballaa terioration of taste, of Schubert unless he is a musician. I Mme. Ssalchi is beginning the in do net mean that one must be a pro- evitable decadence which tho old opera fessional pianist or organist in order to singer fights so hard against; the failing sin- well, but I do mein that in addt- powers and loss of public admiration. 1833, at Hamburg, where his father played in an orchestra. From him his first instruction in music was received, although later he studied under Edmi ard Marxsen at Altona. In 18.VJ he undertook with n Hungarian violinist a tour, as his accompanist, and in this way first met Joachim. It was on his recommendation that Brahms went to Dusseldortand by the performance of his first composition a sonata f jr the piano gained tho greatest praise from the famous comio3er, Schumann. This appeared in Die N011 Zeitschrift fur Musik, and through this article llrahnis first became known. After a short stay with l istz at Weimar, Brahms accepted a place as director at the court of Lippe Detwold, and here he remained for several yoars. Afterward hespent ashort time in his native city and in lSIS'l went to Vienna, where he became a teacher in the conservatory. The Austrian capital had been his home practical'y since that time, although when he gave up his post in 1SG3, Brahm3 visited Hamburg, Zurich, and Baden Baden. But after live years he returned to Vienna, and has lived there ever since. During thesa years of travel Brahms was pro lific in composition, and also appeared in public as a pianist. From 1S72 to 1873 he was ths director of tho concertr of Die Gesellschnft der Kunstfreundt :n Vienna; in 1801 he was made a member of tho Academy of Arts of Berlin, a Doctor of tho University of Cambridge in 1877, and the same degree ho received 'rom Bresiau at about that time. He was a member or the Prussian Order of Merit for Art and Science, and hau" re deived distinction from nearly every European country. He had been active in all fields of music but the dramatic He has written songs,piano symphonies, and music of every character outside Ihs domain of opera. He had been ill for the past six months. It is too soon to say whether Brahm's name will go down posterity coupled with those other great "BV-Bach and Beethoven but in any caso his placo in the music of the century soon to pass away, will not be a small one. He is perhaps the last great composer in the old classical form. Sonata with sy ni phony with their architectural severity of shapo applealed to him. He was not affected by the inllucace of Richard Wagner: the so called music of th i fu ture did not mould his genius. But he was none the less a comporer of pro found Iearnirg and no less profound originality. .7. R. tion to the tocbniqu9 of singing and to the physical equipment, the singer must first or all be able to think at siyht any ordinary music he may have to sing. the deterioration of voice last of ail to ba i.e,-ceived by toe singer herself. lima di Murtka died in poverty, so did Emmy Fursch-Madi, one of the greatest dra- This implies the study of intervals and matic sopranos whoevertrod the boards what is commonly called "solfege," or wh'Io Lilli Lehmann ana Atfelina sinht reading; and also purely mental Patti still lag almost superfluous before effort 'n the same direction, besides absolute rhythmic certainty. I know many singers who are inartistic solely on this account because they are unsafe to hold steady rhythm with such slight variations as may be required by the emotional strrss of the moment. These unrhythmical singers are the bane of accompan:st. organist and director alike. In the seiond place the singer must audiences which have grown indifferent Truly the last end of the successful operatic singer is not pleasant t con template. On April 3rd, at his home in Vienna, Johann Brahms, the greatest composer of music since the death of Kulxnstein and Wagner, died at the age of sixty four years. Johannes Brahms was born on May 7, The following recital is to b) gven in tho chapel of the stats university, on rjext Wednesday evening. The public is cordially invited to be present, and it is hoped that, as many of Mr Ran dolph's advanced pupils assist, the concert may be interesting to musicians as w ell as to tha friends of the partici pants. Part. I. Quintette, from "Ihe Bride of Duc- kerroa..."Our Home Shall Be en this Bright Isle.. Unity Smart Elsie Beaier, Betsie Tumet, Oda Clcs- son, Jessie Lansing, Ethel Ga'Iey. Sop. 60I0 Air from 'Maritana' 11". V. Wallace Bessie Turner. Sop. solo "The Juniper Tree" Victor Hollacmler Lydia Andre.vp. Bass solo (a) "Love's Woes". Felix Aran (b) "Thy Stir'. . ..Pietro Mascanni Carl Frohlich. Sop. solo Two Ballad? (a "Occe I was singins" Jakohoicski (b) "The Min'sta 1 Boy" Eleanor Ra; mond. Two due's for tvo sopranos (a)-SuI l'aria" Mozart (b) Qual anelante" Marcello, (MiHG ) Edith Uis3er, EUie Beaver. Tenor 6o!o Aria from "Jeptha". ... Ifaeiiilel .luergen Albert. Mezzo s op 'Tho Heart's Spring time" F 'on Wick-file. Oda CIovoc. Part II. Duet for soprano an 1 contraltifrom "Mellstorele" lioiUt Elconor Raymond. Ethel Guilty. Sop. solo "Tell me my Heart" If. li. llhhop Edith Kisser. Contralto solo Romanza from "La Giocondn" I'oiwhielli Eugenia Getner. Mezzo Boprano "Where the Lin dens Bloom" Dudley linck Winilired Hcam. Soprano solo "L'arJita" rtlili Elsie Beaver. Contralto solo (a) "A Dream" .. C. llartlett (hi "Lovely Spring" Coeneu Etb.-I Galley. Sop solo Itecit. "Ah! for this eve" Polonaise "I am Titanu" from "Mignon" A Thomux Irose Davison Mc.Michuel. Trio "Ave Maria" It. Oteeu. Bessie Turner, Eugenia Getner Juergen Albere. Foster "Dudley offered to bet old liullinn a hundred that he would marry his daughter." Lenox "What did million do?" Foster "Ral.ieil him." (First publication April. 1.0) SHERIFF'S SALE. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, THAT by virtue of an order of sale Issued by the clerk of the district court of the third Judicial district of Nebraska, within and for Lancaster county in an action wherein Asi II Ballah e. ul. plaintiff and Soloman Heckler, ct. al., defendants. I will, at 2 o'clock v. m. on thellthdavor.May A. D. 1897. at tho east door or tho court house, in the city of Lincoln. Lancaster county, Nebrdska, offer for s Ie at public aucMon the fol lowing desribeJ lands and tenements to-wit: North half (n2) of block twelve (12) in Mill's addition to University Place Lane aster county, Nebraska. jiven under my hand 'his 7th day of April. A D. 1897. John J. Trompen, Sheriff. (First pu hi' cation Apr.l 10) SHERIFF SALE. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that by virtue of an order of sale Issued by he clerk of the district court of. the Third Judicial district of Nebraska, within and for Lancaster county. In an action wherein Sarah Waters is plaintiff and Fabien S. Potvin 1 1 al. defendants I will, at 2 o'clock p. m., on the 11th da of May, A. D. 1897, at the eat doo or the court house, in the city of Lin coln, Lancaster County. Nebraska, offer for sale at public auction the following described lands and tenen'n's to-wit: The east hairfe'2) of the northeast quarter (ne'tJ of section twenty -light (28). in township ten (10), north of range six (6), east of ih Cth p. m., in Lancaster County, Nebraska. Given under my hand this 7th day of April A. D. 1897. John J. Trcnipen. Sheriff. MONEY LOANED on Diamonds, Pianos and any good personal security. Diamonds Sought and sold. Business strictly confidential. WHLT MEL1CK, ROOM 20 BURR BLX AMERICAN EXCHANGE NATIONAI BAM LINCOLN, NEB. I.M.RAYMOND. a.J. SAWYER Prwident. Vice President S.H.BURNHAU. D G. WING Cashier. Aint Caibie CAPITAL, S250.O0O SURPLUS 525 000 Director -I. H. Raymond. S. H. Barnhas C. G.Dawes. A. J. Sawyer. LewU Gregory N Z Snell, G M Lambetma. D G Win;. S W Bars bam.