Individualities
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October 5th, 1880. THE MUSICAL CRITIC AND TRADE REVIEW. 11 from 'Dinorah.' Would it be asking too much to demand of the fair artist a complete INDIVIDUALITIES. representation of the entire opera, after her wonderful execution of the principal aria ? " Before appearing in Padua, Signora Nininger sang at Warsaw, in 1877, where she performed Bertha in the "Prophete." They said : "La Paolina (Berta) gave evidence of the most precious artistic culture and gifts. All through her part she was incessantly honored with frequent recalls." HOWE'S PHILADELPHIA LETTER. Music TEACHERS AND MUSIC TEACHING—THE CONSERVATORY BUSINESS—THE MUSICAL SEASON—CHURCH CHOIR CHANGES. PHILADELPHIA, Sept. 30. Music TEACHING. THE teaching of music demands far more attention than it has ever received. If music is a power for good in this life, like all other powers which tend to advance and elevate humanity, it should be taken care of by competent authorities and given all the advantages of wise advice and judicious government. At this season of the year in all our cities there is an army of music teachers busily engaged in distributing their cards. By what author- ity do many of these people teach music ? Imagine an unlimited number of medical prac- titioners issuing their prospectuses in regard to the healing art, yet holding no diplomas to prove their rights to practice it. I favor the framing of a law which shall demand every teacher of music to pass an examination and secure a certificate of ability. If we require this for those who essay to take care of these perishing bodies, have we no right to demand as much for the enlightenment of the mind, whose future has no limit? But just as I fairly begin to grow warm on this theme I am reminded that essay writing and letter writing are different matters. I only wanted to observe what scarcely needs being written down, since every observer knows its truth, that there are plenty of music teachers who have mistaken their calling. Any of your correspondents might fill a column on the subject. I have known instances where a pupil began to teach before her own first quarter's lessons were finished. The other day a young lady, speaking to her pupils, discoursed in this wise : "Remember, a flat lowers a note one halftone, and a sharp highers a note one half tone." How pleasant and cheap it must be thus to study music and the languages at the same time and terms. CRITICAL ACUMEN. The instances of crude teaching and shallow information about music are so numerous that those who do not study it properly never suspect their existence. And here is where the wrong enters most conspicuously, and it covers a much larger ground than might be supposed. There is a young man here for example, just elected to the post of musical editor of a leading daily. He has also just discovered the meaning of syncopation. A critic needs at least some general knowledge. The same paper, and it is otherwise a very good one, used to have a musical editor some years ago, on whom his fellow journalists loved to play practical jokes. One night he arrived very late, when a performance of "Maritana " was nearly done. Hastening around the lobby in search for points he en- countered a press representative who slyly informed him that Madame Vanzandt's render- ing of " The Fair Land of Poland " had been the hit of the evening. Soon after he met another critic who was in the secret, and there obtained a variation on the same theme. Next morning the young gentleman's article appeared, giving, in all the glowing colors of youthful enthusiasm, his imaginative transcript of the prima donna's success as having sung in " Maritana " a tenor aria from the " Bohemian Girl," amid theplaudits of the house. That critic resigned soon afterwards. MARIE PAULINE NININGEB. SOMETHING ABOUT CONSERVATORIES. young American lady, who was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, The conservatory business has done harm to the regular rank and file of teachers. _L gives her first concert in this city, since her recent return from abroad, When well managed, however, the conservatory system is a decided blessing. It makes on October 14, at Chickering Hall, with Mr. Gotthold Carlberg's orchestra the study of music more prevalent in early childhood, by cheapening rates of tuition. of picked performers, and a fine array of leading soloists. Miss Nininger, in early childhood, displayed a precocious amount of THE PHILADELPHIA ACADEMY. musical taste and talent, and, her parents having settled in Montgomery, Mr. Richard Zeckwpr's institution here, "The Philadelphia Academy," has done Alabama, she attracted, while a pupil at Hamner Hall, the attention of solid service to musical education. It was started more than IO years ago by Mr. F. Himmelsbach, a piano teacher. That gentleman, on returning to Leipsic, sold the school Ettore Barili, the well-known teacher, brother of the renowned Antonio to Mr. Zeckwer, one of the professors who had been engaged in it from the beginning. It Barili, and half-brother of Adelina and Oarlotta Patti. Barili at once recog- has constantly increased in favor from the start, and at present has a very large attendance* nized in Miss Nininger a promising pupil, and advised her to make an while the list of professors covers many of the best known musical men in the city. Mr. earnest study of music. She studied for two years with this master, and D. D. Wood, the greatest organist in this country, is one of these. Mr. Rudolph Hennig, then removed to New York, where she acquired the friendship of Signor the. finest violoncellist I know of, is another. Mr. R. Graner, formerly first violin with Luciano Albites and his distinguished wife, Madame Marietta Gazzaniga. Theodore Thomas, a versatile artist, and deeply read in theory, is another. Mr. Emil Under their auspices she appeared at the New York Academy of Music in Gastel, who seems to have filled the place of Aug. Kreissmann as a lieder singer, at least " H Trovatore." The critics of the day highly praised her performance of in this vicinity, teaches vocal music in the Academy. Mr. Zeckwer himself, a young Leonora, and predicted for her a brilliant career. musician, but of ripe culture, and with a special aptitude for business affairs, is one of the But Miss Nininger was not content to pause here. Urged by her teachers both on organ and piano. friends, many of them prominent leaders in society, she decided to study in SCHOOL OF VOCAL ART. Europe, and in 1873, accompanied by her mother, she went to Milan, and There is another musical institution of considerable prominence here, known as the placed herself under the instruction of Signor Giovanni Corsi, the great School of Vocal Art. It was founded some years ago by Madame Emma Seiler. This Rigoletto of the day. She also studied under San Giovanni. amiable and energetic lady is said to claim that she was a pupil of Garcia, although this Pauline Nininger sang (in most cases under the name of Maria Paolina,) has been doubted by some. Her two books on vocal culture are often quoted. Judging at Pisa, Udine, Asti, Rovigo, Warsaw in Poland, Leghorn, Padua, Palermo, solely by results, as in the case of the previous institution which I have named, there is not Varese, and Palma di Majorca during the years 1873 to 1879, having had in much to be thankful for. A great many good, bad and indifferent singers have studied the Seller vocal method, but I have yet to hear one of them who was made a good singer the meanwhile offers for St. Petersburg, Venice, South America, Bologna, by reason thereof. Some were good singers to begin with, but after studying this method, Portugal, Berlin and Vienna, which she could not accept for various reasons. subsequent public appearances have never proved that they had been benefited by it. On From Asti, 1875, we read : the other hand I have known more than one prominent instance where the singing has been marred in one or more important particulars during the studies of the School of " The second work of the season, ' I Lombardi,' received the same meed of success Vocal Art. The so-called operatic performances of the classes, are sad affairs. There is as the first from the press of this city. Both the Corriere Astigiano and the Cittadino, a very fine force of professors published among the list of the board of instruction It in- in their criticisms, give the most unqualified praise to the Signora Maria Paolina, the tenor cludes Messrs. M. H. Cross, Hugh A. Clarke, M. M. Warner, and Carl Plagemann, all Forapan and to the bass Giraudet, almost all their several numbers being enthusiastically of whom are deservedly eminent. This season a new general director has been engaged, applauded and re-demanded. The theatre was crammed to suffocation, and Trevison, Mr. Sam'l H. Blakeslee, from Oberlin (Ohio) conservatory. What he may do is not, of the impressario, was naturally in the best of humor.'' course, a subject for criticism, but hitherto this much lauded school has had surrounding it In Leghorn, and also Udine, in 1874, she sang the part of Margherita dea strong appearance of charlatanism. Valois in "Les Huguenots." Thus the Udinese press speaks : " The Signora Maria Paolina must have been greatly satisfied with the entire success HUGH A. CLARKE. of her benefit, which took place last evening (August 20th), being applauded unanimously Professor Hugh A. Clarke, of the University of Pennsylvania, has had classes in in the second act, in which so much of the labor devolves on herself.