The Conservatoire Collection of Choice Pianoforte Music by Henry Germer the Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol

The Conservatoire Collection of Choice Pianoforte Music by Henry Germer The Musical Times and Singing Class Circular, Vol. 40, No. 675 (May 1, 1899), p. 319 Published by: Musical Times Publications Ltd. Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3368837 . Accessed: 04/02/2015 02:52

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This content downloaded from 128.235.251.160 on Wed, 4 Feb 2015 02:52:08 AM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions THE MUSICAL TIMES. MAYI, I899. 3 I 9

The Conservatoire Collgstion of Choice Pinnuforte Mlusic. singing. DE. Koeller, the originator of these concerts Edited by Henry Germer. EBreitkopfand Hartel.] conducted with his well known ability and steadiness THIS collection of pianoforte music is stated to be " For The greatest musical refreshment of the year to us instruction and recreation, selected, carefully revised and " habitct7ltesin Sicco >'was a visit of the Halle Orchestra on edited with correct fingering and expression marks," and the Ioth ult. Mr. F. H. Cowen conducted his seventy-seven examination of the pieces justifies this assertion. Amongst splend1d players, and it was indeed a treat to hear some of the twenty-two composers who contribute to the seventy- the finest compositions interpreted as only such a band can eight numbers some English names might certainly have interpret them. The programme comprised the Overtures been included with advantage to the axtistic value of the to " Rienzi," " The Midsummer Night's Dream," and series; but with this exception no fault can reasonably be "William TelI," Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, Berlioz's found ntith the choice of the contributcors. The pieces vary " Hungarian" March, Tschaikowsky's Airand Variations considerably in length and difficulty, some telling their tale from Suite in G, and Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsody, in twenty-four bars and others extending to twenty-one No. 4, arranged for orchestra. The variety was almost pages, while the executive demands range from a " Doll's overwhelming, but although there were no solos, either Dance," by Albert Foester, to Liszt's brilliant transcription vocal or instrumentals the audience sat entranced to of the " Spinning Song " from Wagner's 4; Flying lE)utch- the end. man " and the reception music from the same composer's '4 Tannhauser." The majority of the pieces, however, are MUSIC IN BIRMINGHAM. of a light and easy nature, and many of them are very (FROMOUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) charming. THE Royal Carl Rosa Opera Company brought a week's Six R8stis SoulgS. Words by Harold Boulton. Music visit to a close on March 25. Seven performances were by A C. Mackenzie. (Op. 60.) [G. Ricordi and Co.] given at the Theatre Royal, of which three were devoted THE text of these songs is unpretentious and the neatly to Wagner. The other operas were " Carmen," ' Faust," written lines are descriptive of the characteristics of the and the sl Bohemian Girl." The artists included hIiss chief months in the year as seen in the country, with Lucile Hill, Miss Kirkby Lunn, Mr. Philip Brozel, Mr. briefly applied moral reflections- but they have a poetic Reginald Brophy, Mr. Arthur Winckworth, and others. ring, and Sir Alexander Mackenzie's music is delightfully Mr. Hamish MacCunn was chief conductor. sympathetics grateful to sing, and easy but interesting to On March 28 the last of Mr. Halford's concerts tock play. The third song, entitled " Solitude," is a little gem- place in the Town Hall The function was a compli- and those named "In leafy June" and " The time for mentary concert given to Mr. Halford by the members of wooing " brim over with light-hearted gaiety Vocalists his orchestra. The programme consisted of the Overture should make early acquaintance with these songs, and we to " Tannhauser," the Prelude and closing scene of Act i shall hope to hear some of them in our concert-rooms. from " Parsifal," and Beethoven's '4Choral': Symphony A special choir was organised for the occasion, and the - - vocal principals were Miss Rosina Hammacott, Miss Lilian Hovey, Mr. Edward Branscombe, and Mr. A. F. Ferguson. MUSIC IN BELFAST. The whole went off exceedingly well, and Mr. Halford was (FROMOUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) the recipient of a well-deserved ovation. In presenting THEMUSICAL TIMES for April gave a notice of a per- during a single season Beethoven's nine symphonies in formanceof 4 King Saul " in Dublin on March I5, where consecutive order Mr. Halford has done good service the composerhimself was the conductor. The accom- in the cause of musical art. plishedand genial Sir HubertParry came from Dublin to On Good Friday, March 3I, the Midland Musical Society Belfast,whele he conducteda performanceby the Philhar- gave its annual performance of Gounod's " Redemption " monicSociety of the same workon MarchI7. MissAgnes in the Town Hall. The placel!was packed to the doors. Nicholl and Miss Muriel Foster came with the conductor The vocal principals were Madame T izzie Matthews, Miss but the solo singers were not quite the same in Belfastas Nellie Pritchard, Mr. Hamlyn Crimp, and Mr. William in Dublin, for Miss McKisacktook the second contralto Bennett. Mr. C. W. Perkins was at the organ and Mr part (the Esil Stirit) and sang it quite admirably. Mr. H. M. Stevenson conducted. Tom Thomas was the tenor and hIr. CharlesPhillips the On March 25 the Choral and Orchestral Association bass. The chorusof the Society,which can sing Berlioz's gave a very fair performance of Gade's cantata " The " Faust" as well as any chorus, found " King Saul " Crusaders," under the direction of Mr. J. H. Adams. On exceptionally difficult,but under the careful trainingof the 8th ult. Mr. Thomas Facer conducted a second per- Dr. Koeller they knew their work thoroughly. The formance, this time with orchestra, of his new cantata orchestrawas of coursereinforced largely fromDublin and *'The Pilgrim Fathers." These concerts both formed part England, although Miss Davis, our harpist-and a good of the cheap Saturday evening entertainments given in the one-is " local." Town Hall. As " King Saul? was criticisedand appreciatedby com- During the week preceding Easter several performances petent hands when it first appeared,it may seem quite of sacred music were given in various churches. On presumptuousto speakhere of its merits or defects. the March 27, at St. Augustine's, Edgbaston, Mr. Gaul's ' Holy work was greatlyadrnired by a full house,and the " com- City " was given, and on Good Friday the same composer's puctor" (pardonthis " portmanteauword," a la Alice in " Passion Service" was performed. Sir John Stainer's Wonderland,for a person combiningthe offices of com- cantata "The Crucifixion1' was given at the Church of poserand conductor)received the most gratifyingapplause St. Stephen, Selly Hill, on Good Friday, and the same when he laid downhis baton. The performanceas a w}lole evening the Passion music from Gounod's " Redemption 7 was a good one. It might be invidiousto discriminate was performed at the Old Meeting Church. among the solo singers,but Miss MurielFoster's singing A concert was given in the Masonic Hall on the I Ith ult. of the Balladof the Death of Saul (Act iv., scene 2) was so the chief performers being the LadiesX Grecian Band of exceptionallybeautiful and tenderly sympatheticthat we Harps and the Birmingham Madrigal Choir. This last must specially mention it. This concert broughta very made its first appearance, and, conducted by Mr. J. H. successfulseason of the PhilharmonicSociety to a close. Adams, sang Pinsuti's " Spring Song," the madrigal " My On the 8th ult. Mendelssohn's" ElijahXI was performedLove is fair,7' and other pieces with good tone and fair as the last of " The People's Concerts"for the season finish. Mr. D. F. Davis contributed harp solos, and Mr The pricesof admissionwere only one shillingand sixpence Montague Pollack, Miss Beatrice Vernon, Mr. John and the Ulster Hallwas overflowinglyfull. The solo parts Walker, and Mr. and Mrs. Stockham took part in the were sung by Belfast amateurs,and all the performersin programme. chorusand orchestrawere local. It is thereforea thing to On Wednesday, the T2th ult., Miss Margaret Johnson, a be proudof that the performanceof what used to be young local pianist, gave her first concert in the same thoughta workof the firstrnagnitude and difficultyshould room, with much success. She was assisted by Madame have been really an excellent one, making allowanceof Gwen Cosslett, vocalist, and Mr. Johan C. Hock coursefor the diSerencebetween professionaland amateur violoncellist.

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