July 15, 1916 MUSICAL AMERICA 21

to the train, and seeing us safely aboard. As. he stood there, waving us a farewell, his tall figure looming dark against the ~ 5lEVEH.ING AS TEACHER- amber sunset sky, the whole made an "impression" not to be forgotten. Had we only possessed the necessary gift, the The Dutch Discusses His scenes of the afternoon might have served as the basis of a futurist tone Artistic Theories at His Sum­ poem. Fortunately, or otherwise, we could only keep the group of pictures in mer Home on Long Island­ mind to hang on memory's walls. Emphasis Upon the " Dead­ (All rights reserved) Weight" Principle- Impor­ MINNIE TRACEY RE-ENGAGED tance of Environment to the Will Continue to Instruct Cincinnati Musician Conservatory Students in Minnie Tracey, the American prima By HARRIETTE BROWER donna soprano, who has been a member "COME down and see me on Sunday of the vocal faculty at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music during the season afternoon-there will be music," just passed, has been re-engaged by that wrote Martinus Sieveking, the Dutch institution for the season of 1916-1917. musician, from his sylvan retreat on Miss Tracey's production of Meyerbeer's Long Island. The invitation was .allur­ "L'Africaine" with her students at the operatic performance given at the Con­ ing, the day proved fair and we went. servatory on May 26 was so notable that Mr. Sieveking has chosen not to locate it will doubtless bring many students to on the seashore, but ~ little inland, where the Cincinnati Conservatory next season green lawns ani! shr ubbery abound. to study grand opera with her. At the summer of the Cincin­ With him are 1\1rs. Elliott and Inez nati Symphony , under Cheva­ Elliott, hvl· d"u·l\·hter, who has studied in lier Spirescu, two of Miss Tracey's pupils with the distinguished teacher for have been soloists, chosen from a large the last ten years and will probably make number who applied to the conductor. Emma Noe, who was the Selika in the a tour of America. Mr. Sieve­ "L'Africaine" performance, sang during king considers Miss Elliott a thorough t he opening week, while Marguerite Hu­ mistress of his method, and thus far the kill, another Tracey pupil, sang arias only authorized exponent of it in this from "Manon" and "Butterfly" at one of country. last week's concerts. ' When we arrived at the villa sounds of a piano met us before we reached the gate. Bach was being played with amaz­ SELLING NORDICA'S EFFECTS tn g fluency and velocity. We paused to listen and waited till the music ceased Diva's Wraps, Gowns and Furs Offered before pressing the bell. ·The player re­ at Public Auction in Newark sponded and Jed us into the parlor, which serves as music room. It is a square Personal effects of Mme. Lillian Nor­ room, with several windows looking out dica are fast finding their way into the upon the green. On a small mantel shelf hands of the public. An announcement stand a few drawings, prominent among of an administrator's sale, held early them a photograph of on the afternoon of July 14, at 24 Clin­ which she sent to Sieveking in commem­ Martinus Sieveking, the Distinguished Pianist, Teacher and Composer ton Street, Newark, N. J., set forth a oration of her seventieth birthday. Two tempting array of apparel from the es­ concert grands take up the major portion tate of Mme. Nordica. Among the numer­ course I have to charge a fee for my nical exercises, and wants all the sonor­ ous articles offered at this public vendue of the room, though the whole space ity that can be brought out. His whole seems dominated by the presence of the work, but it is not my aim to make a few of the rarer ones were selected for money. For I often give much time to mentality is built on large lines of special mention and were advertised as pianist himself. You feel that here is thought; even his handwriting corre­ a big personality; a man who has t.hose with talent who are deserving and follows: yet unable to pay. I want to be sur­ sponds. Yet he can caress the keys of One Irish Lace Gown. thought much, studied deeply; one who his instrument delicately, when he wills has suffered too-which he says is a I'OUnded by talented, congenial people, One Cerise Evening Cloak. necessity if one would do anything whether I live in America or in ." to do it. One Rose Point Lace Dress. worthy the name of art. Yielding to our request, Mr. Sieveking Later in the afternoon we had tea and One Diamond Spangled Dress. In answer to some of my questions the began to play. First his "Souffrance," t!elicious cakes made by Miss Elliott's One Black J et Gown. artist said: . written three years ago when his son fair hands. Sieveking was genial and One Gold Cloth, steel embroidery. "I was surrounded by musical influ­ was very ill. It expresses a father's anx­ full of anecdote. He wished me to ex­ One White Velvet Brocade. ences from the beginning of my life. My iety for the recovery of the stricken amine the hand of his pupil and note its One White Satin Evening Wrap. father was a thoroughly trained mu­ one. After this Beethoven, Op. 27, No. beautiful development. "She plays with One Russian 'Sable Coat (six tails), sician, a conductor and composer, my 2, the "Moonlight." Then a Bach the greatest perfection," he said. "You velvet coat attached. mother was a singer. I have always Gavotte, transcribed for piano by him­ shall hear her; I shall insist that she One Hudson Bay Sable Coat. lived in a musical atmosphere; I think self. Next some Chopin, and finally, one make a career." of his latest compositions, a Nocturne, this is one of the most essential things When tea was over we visited Miss Notable Amateur Production of " Pirates if one would become a musician. At a which has an appealing, haunting Elliott's studio on the floor above, with very early age I began to study the melody. its grand piano piled with music, its of Penzance" in Pittsburgh piano-before long I began to compose. "Women like this piece," he remarked, comfortable chairs and couches, a pleas­ PITTSBURGH, July 8.-As a testimonial At twelve I played organ in a church. in answer to our openly expressed ad­ ant work room indeed. benefit for Harold J. Reihill, a local Later I went to , to Leschetizky. miration. "This and the 'Souffrance' We feasted our eyes on a glorious sun­ tenor, who is an invalid, an amateur pro­ The Professor took great interest in me have, I think, the right to exist; they . set as we left the villa and walked about duction of Gilbert and Sullivan's and was especially kind. There were six are modern but not futuristic, for I can­ the wide, quiet streets, bordered with "Pirates of Penzance" was given last of us, singled out of a class of ninety, not write in that style. The Nocturne green hedges and gardens, and dotted night in the Nixon Theater by the Pitts­ to be his favorites; they were Hambourg, is somewhat after the manner of Chopin with pretty villas and cottages. burgh Opera Company. The perform­ Gabrilowitsch, Goodson, Schnabel, New­ - I quite frankly acknowledge it. It cer­ "I love the country here," Mr. Sieve­ ance was consistently smooth, being de­ comb and mvself. tainly does not copy the Polish master, king said, as he pointed out this or that clared one of the best amateur produc­ for it is distinctly modern; ·but it is in view or bit of color. "It is so quiet and tions heard nere in many years. Thomas Early Struggles his spirit. I wrote it while staying in a restful and I can work so well. There F. Kirk directed the work; Emil 0. "Well, after those days I gave con­ beautiful place, where there was a lovely is a group of students working with me. Wolff conducted the orchestra. The prin­ certs everywhere, and came to America garden with flowers and fruit, blue skies [ teach three hours each day, but no cipals were Emma F. Curran, August also. But I was not satisfied with the overhead and sunshine and moonlight. I more-the remaining time is for myself." Adrian, Edward P. Coyle, F. William success I had won, nor with what I had have expressed •in it the feeling t his en­ A consultation of time tables showed Saalbach, Margaret V. McCann, Helen achieved. I felt there were deeper prin­ vironment made upon me. Some com­ that me must soon be on the wing. Our Flately, Mary Kelly and Katharine Cur­ ciples underlying my art which I had posers write from the heart, like Beetho­ genial host insisted on accompanying us ran. The chorus also sang well. not fathomed. So I set to work to dis­ ven; some from the head, like Strauss. cover them. The method I have evolved Wagner expressed both head and heart." is the result of fifteen years' hard work. Sieveking's Method But I am happy with the result; I feel I have won out. I feel I have gained A little later Mr. Sieveking brought the correct principles of true piano the manuscript copy of his piano method CLARA WULLNER technique. Life has been a bitter strug­ and we fell to discussing the material gle at times. I have had to go hungry, and doing the exercises. After each one PIANIST I have even had to starve! All that is had been tried, he would say: "Do you over ; I have no financial worries. My approve of this.,? Do y.ou think it will The name of WiUlner has been made aim is to bl'nefit others with my discover­ help? Is it not a good exercise? Any famous in the musical world by that ies. I want to help teachers to teach one who can play this with endurance better, and players to play better. Of and velocity has technique." The scale master singer Ludwig Wiillner. Another exercises were especially interesting and member of the gifted family, helpful. ARNOLDE The master constantly speaks of the CLARA WOLLNER, Pianist, will tour "dead weight" principle; he says the arm America season of 1916-I7. hangs· on the finger tips. While all this STEPHENSON is true, the term dead weight does not, Mgt. Mrs. Herman Lewis, Inc. Mezzo-Soprano to my mind, convey the whole truth, and may mislead those who are not initiated. 402 Madison Ave., N. Y. (Carlton Chambers) SEASON 1916-17 T .ZephonttS: M vrray Hill 7058-2890 Management: M. H. HANSON It gives no idea, for example, of the re­ 437 FIFTH AVENUE quired fiqnness of the finger ~ , nor of the extreme muscular energy with which EARL each. key is to. be depressed in all finger Mgt. Wolfsohn Bureau exercises. It is this element of energy, 1 W. 34th St., New York combined with arm weight, which gives CARTWRIGHT power and sonority to the tone. Sieve­ BARJTQ NE Concert, Recital, Oratorio king, as is well known, uses an instru­ STEIN,WAY-- PIANO USED ment with ;wider keys: he insists on high, Schumann·Heink Ill West 47th Street, New York large movements of fingers for all tech- SEASON 1916-1917 NOW BOOKING