14 MUSICAL AMERICA August 28, 1920

Ornstein to Play in Southern States and Havana , Who Composed u Old Folks at Home,'' During the Christmas season, Leo Ornstein will be heard in Havana, and Left Many Songs Unpublished, Says Daughter on his return he will play in one or two cities in the South. During the By HARVEY B. GAUL latter half of January and- early in Feb· ruary he will tour cities of Texas, clos. ing his Texas tour at Houston on Feb. ITTSBURGH, PA., Aug. 24.-There ing? Well, I have always taught piano. up my organ recollections for anything 4. Two days later he will give a recital P has always. been an air of mystery My father gave me my first lessons; in .in the world.'' before the New Orleans Music Teachers' fact, he taught me all the rudiments. Association at New Orleans. This will about the old Stephen Collins Foster I asked her if she knew that Harold And the rudiments in those days, were Vince11t Milligan had just written the be the beginning of an extensive South. homestead. It may have been the dirt, ­ the same as to-day. He gave me my best book about her father that has been ern tour, which will be limited only by the broken windows or the poor, tired foundation, and to have had the founda­ published, "Did he?" she said, "I never his having to return to New York on broken down fences that gave the house tion of Stephen Foster is something, is knew it. I don't know half of the things Feb. 24 and 26, when he will make his an air . of visualized mystery. But the it not? So I teach what he taught me, that · are said about my father. I want ~rst appearances with the National Sym. plus what I have later achieved. No, I to say this, however, that most of the phony Orchestra, under Willem Men· thing I had in mind was auricular for don't teach his music. People would think things said about him are untrue. A g el berg. there were sounds of a tinkling piano. I was trying to perpetuate him and he -great deal of stress is laid on the way Could it be that the spirit of Stephen doesn't need my puny help. Besides, I he wrote. That is all nonsense. He Foster was ouija-boarding a piano? believe in an all-round education for my wrote music and improvised music the pupils. How many lessons do I give? same as anyone else. I don't want to Rosa Ponselle Will And so it was that I decided to investi­ It is the middle of Summer now, and say anything about the latter part of gate. I walked up to the front door and most of my pupils are away. I only give his life. It was full of· tragedy. New Divide Time Between a decrepit old man who proved to be · three lessons a day. You think that is York didn't treat him well. Many of Opera and Concert the caretaker, answered the bell. too many for an old lady. I have told his compositions were stolen or lost. I you before that I am not old, and besides­ have quite a number i.n my trunk now "Do you wish to see the· museum?" he ! love to teach. In the winter I have a that were never published. He was inquired. I saw the museum, but let us large class of pupils, and they don't all cheated time and time again, and that pass it by lightly and quickly as it is the come to me because I am the daughter of is the reason I don't send them to a pub- saddest museum that was ever exposed my father, for I have a little reputation lisher." · ' of my own. Maybe it isn't very big, Fears Publishers to ·.-the human eye. Its meagerness· and but nevertheless, it- is entirely my own. meanness were pathetic, and as an exhibi­ Teaching with me isn't exactly a liveli­ I said I knew several who were as tion place, it was tragic. As it reflected hood, nor yet a habit. I teach because honest as the day is long. "It makes no difference," she continued; " I couldn't discredit upon Pittsburgh, and as we I love to impart music." l said something about her reference trust any of them. If any publisher have enough such, ! _wiped a ten-year-old to "concords" and "discords " and asked wishes the manuscripts he will have to particle of dust from my eye, thinking it if she also composed. "Ye~, I compose. come here and ex~mine them in my room. was a tear, and inquired who was play­ I have a whole trunk full of songs. Some· I wouldn't let them out of my sight. ing the piano. "That's Foster's daughc times I write my own lyrics, but nol; They are too valuable to trust to the ter" answered the caretaker, "would you often. Composition is the love of my mails and the exigencies of some pub­ care to ·see her?" life. Maybe I got it from my father and lisher's reader. Yes, I think there is When I said I should, I was told to sit maybe-anyway I compose. There . ir; money in them, and I know the public down a moment. Presently, there was a hardly a night but what I sit down when would like to sing them, but-well I -sound of footsteps and as I looked up, the work is done and improvise for hours­ guess I am a bit peculiar about them. in came an old lady of indescribable age. Improvisation is such fun. Maybe it if' People never treated my father right It was Mrs. Marion Welch, Stephen as you say 'a disease,' but it is a most: and he never treated himself right. Foster's daughter; the one spoken of pleasant sickness. No, very few peopl(• There are pianos of his sca:ttered-::Jl over somewhere and affectionately as. "Little know I compose. I don't try to market Pittsburgh. At one time in his life, I Marion." "Come up-stairs to my music my compositions. Many of them aren't knew him to have as many as fiv-e pianos @Mishkin room," said she, "it is more pleasant up worth it. Do I have my father's gift af in different parts of the city. As for manuscripts of his songs, they are scat­ Rosa Ponselle, Dramatic Soprano of the there. It is _so hard· to keep the down­ melody? I most decidedly have not! Metropolitan stairs clean, when you have but little That is given to very few people. My tered everywhere. There are people all mciney and the city won't do anything." father was a great gel).ius, and I am ov·er this country who claim to have, and During the forthcoming season Rosa So I followed her up the stairs, and but a poor scribbler. I would like to undoubtedly have, songs in his handwrit­ Ponselle of the Metropolitan will under­ there under the eaves of an old Mansard have you hear my compositions sometime ing. They should send them in to the take the most comprehensive concert tour roof was her "music .room." It contained when we both have more leisure." museum. It would be fine for the city, that she has so far attempted. Miss) an old piano, an old picture, some old I expressed my delight at the prospect, and tha-t is where they belong. People Ponselle's concert season, so f ar booked, chairs and much old music. and then conversation drifted around keep them as relics or maybe to make opens on Oct. 8, at Worcester, Mass., "And are you too, musical?" I asked. from one phase of music to another, and money, I don't know which, but they where she has been engaged as one of "Am I musical?" was her response, something was said about church music. shouldn't keep the songs now that he the stars of the Autumn Festival. The "Why, I am a music teacher. I have "I am an organi-st, too," said the charm­ has passed away.'' tour also includes Columbus, E vansville, taught all my life, for well over fifty ing old lady, "I have played the organ I asked her if she knew Stephen Foster Chicago, Det roit, Nashville, and Tulsa, years. You think I only look fifty _years at old St. John's Church-yes, the one was "coming up" for the Pantheon of Okla. Miss Ponselle's time up to March old now? I wish 1 were, as a matter of - down there near the cross roads, for a America's great ones, the Hall of Fame. 6, will then be taken up exclusively at fact I am a bit past seventy, but n ever great many" years. I worked with Harry "Of course, I know it," was her answer, the Metropolitan. On ¥arch 8, she will mind, I still feel young." . Ringwalt,. do you know him? Yes, isn't "He should have been there long before open her spring tour at Jacksonville, "And feeling young.,you "know, is a he nice, He has done a fine work for now. Wasn't he our first great com­ Fla., appea ring in succession at Sav­ matter of concords. Not that I haven't Pittsburgh with his cho.ral music. He poser? Aren't his songs sung all over annah, Atlanta, Montgomery, New York had plenty of discords-and some of and I-worked together for a great many the world and in ev·ery language? Some·­ with the Rubinstein Club, Boston (two them aren't resolved ye·t, but then the · years. He taught the choir and I made times America neglects · her geniuses. appearances), Washington, D. C., Toledo, discords only make the concords sweeter. the old box of whist les toot out 'Old Hun­ Yes, 1 am glad he will be awarded his Ohio, Yonkers, N. Y., New Haven, You want t~ know about my music teach- dred.' It was such fun! I wouldn't give niche. Better late than nev-er, isn't it?" Waterbury, Conn., Bridgeport, Provi· Apd so I arose and prepared to go. dence, R. I., and Springfield, Mass. On "Come and see me again," was her fare­ April 17, Miss Ponselle will r eturn to the well. "Everyone who comes here comes Metropolit an for -a week of special per· merely to see my father 's trophies. I formances and leave· again late in April like to have folks come to see me. I wish for her spring festival t our, which opens I could see that new book about my at Denver, Col. father you spoke of." I told her that I Miss Ponselle has been engaged as the would mention it in MUSICAL AMERICA, star of the Hays, Kan., May Festival as I knew took also re-engaged for· Houston, Tex. At our paper, and could hardly wait until Columbus, Ohio, Chicago, Detroit and BONCI Saturday night to read it, and maybe he New Haven, Conn., Miss Ponselle will would send her a copy, as he would un­ have the a ssistance in her concer ts of her doubtedly like to have one reader of the sister, Carmela Ponselle, mezzo-soprano. Leading Tenor Chicago Opera book who knew as much about the sub­ j ect as he did. Florence Macbeth, soprano of the Chi­ cago Opera Association, has again been Association engaged by the Gloversville (N.Y.) Phil· Kriens Pupil Heard in Worthy Recital harmonic Society. This will be the third ST. JOHNSBURY, VT., Aug. 9.-Mar­ appearance in the city. jorie Crampton, violinist, pupil of Chris­ Available for a Limited tian Kriens, theNew York VIi olin teacher, was h eard in an interesting recital with Number of Concerts Sigrid Eklof, accompanist, under the F ranees Aida · · 11 auspices of the Girls' Community Season 1920-2l League on the evening of Aug. 6. Miss Crampton disclosed admirable technique Mary Garden and excellent tonal quality in works of Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Ambrosio, Kreisler, ~ Bruch, Rubinstein and in a group of com­ Carolina Lazzari Excluaive Management positions by Chris'tiaan Kri-ens, all of which she played charmingly. There ROGER de BRUYN was a large audience in attendance. Charles Hackett 220 Weat 42nd St., New York. Tel., Bryant 8811 Rudolph Ganz (!; Jl.•l~lt Mr. and Mrs. Meyn Give Musicale Mr. and Mrs. Heinrich Meyn gave a and musicale at "The Orchard," their sum­ mer home in the Catskills on Aug. 4. Mr. SUMMER SCHOOL Meyn· sang a group of French songs, john McCormack Farolt7 or International Jleputation-ALL DEPARTMENTS OPEN DUltiNG THE among which were works of Foudrain, SUMMER, Dramatie Art, MUSIC, Lanl\l&IOS Thomas, Hillier and Chaminade. Ameri­ Special Normal Course In can . composers who were represented on Management: Charles L. Wagner PUBLIC SCHOOL MUSIC the program were Sidney Homer and D. F. McSweeney, Associate Manager • Location aod SUn