Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, April 25, 1915, Page 13

By HENRIETTA M. REE LL musical Omaha is keyed up to concert pitch in anticipas tion of the Mendelssohn Chotr Festival, which takes place J%] this week. And for several WRAEEL) reasons, one of which, and sons, o6, an perhaps the greatest one, is that at these concerts there is such boundless opportunity to revel in the spirit of the riusic, because in the work of our great choir and the famous Chic ago orchestra the spirit is there to be revelled in Music paints In the overtones of lan~ Euage, and the poems presented by the choir will suggest through thelr musical settings much which is sald in and be- tween the words. Sometimes a mood Is enhanced, sometimes a background of nature is suggested, running water, or the surging sea; perhaps one can imagine the rustle of breezes, or the shimmer of ! noonlight, the rocking of a cradle or a boat, or the seductive delights of the merry dance. The character of the music depends upon the meaning of the song. It one reads the words carefully and then listens attentively it is easy to see how the music enriches and strengthens the words or mood of the poem, and how it often suggests much more than is said. It does not only depend upon the mean- ing of the song, however, for, granted that the music is well written, it depends upon the singers and even more upen the conductor to present the spirit of i¢, and then, lastly, it depends upon the listener [~ when it is presented to hear ft. | The Mendelssohn Cholr and the Chl cago Symphony Orchestra have long| since proven their ability in the art ot interpretation. The spirit of every num- {::r is there in clear and finished expres- ! sion It is possible to hear and enjoy, but in order to do so one must concen- trate upon the music and not be count- | ing the members of the choir and or-| chestra, the lights in the Auditorium, mor studying the effect of a neighbor's | 1 attire, nor thinking how very ill one is; in other words, one must be what Schauf- fler calls a creative listener, who hLy at- tention and appreciation so. reflects the inspiration of the music that it reacts upon the performers and returns agaln vastly strengthened by the listener's sup- port. Did you ever try being a creative listener? The delight and inspiration galned more thaw pay for the experl- ment. One cannot help but receive some effect from the music in this way, some ' pleasure or new idea to take home, and it is this which is the valuable part. s Sldney Lanier, poet and musician, wonderful flute player, and soloist with the Peabody Symphony orchestra, writes thus of the Theodore Thomas orchestra in 1871. “And tonight I come out of what might have been heaven. 'Twas opening night of Theodore Thomas' orchestra at Central Park Garden, and I could not |WILL PLAY WITH THE NEW YORK SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. | ful Fifth Symphony, the C minor one, with the celebrated and marvelously beautiful andante. This has not been played in Omaha for many years, and at the request of several of the local musi- cal colony, Miss Paulson wrote Mr, Damrosch requesting it, with favorable result. This is, perhaps, one of the best known and best beloved of all sym- phonies, as well as one of the greatest In all symphonic literature. Beethoven himself Jeft to clue to its meaning, and with that clue nearly all critics have ar- rived at the same conclusion, namely, that it plctures the struggle of an indi- vidual with Fate, the alternations of hope and despair and the final triumph. i The elghth annual May concert given by the Swedish Singing soclety, Norden, and Joel Mossburg, basso, of Chicago, assisted by a group of the Omaha sym- phony orchestra, Claude Coyle, assistant to Henry Cox, director; the Danish Sing- resist the temptation to go and bathe in the sweet amber seas of the music of this fine orchestra, and so I went and tugged me through & vast crowd, and after standing some while, found a seat, and the baton tapped and waved, and 1 plunged into the sea, and lay and floated. Ah! the dear flutes and oboes and horne drifted me hither and thither, and the great violins swayed me upon waves and overflowed me with strong lavations, and sprinkled glistening foam In my face, and in among the clarinett! as among waving waterlilles with flexible stems, I pushed my easy way, and %o, even lying in music water I floated and flowed my soul utterly bent and prostrate.” Not & word of analysls, nothing but the pure enjoyment he had experienced, the inspiration which he had gained from the | ( music which the orchestra still possesses. There is 8o much to be learned and en- Jjoyed at the Mendelssohn Cholr Festival that no really sincere teacher or student can afford to miss these concerts, yet if every music teacher in Omaha saw to it that every pupil should attend, the Audi- torfum would be full without drawing upon outside music lovers. One wonders | why this is not accomplished? Choir | singers could learn from and be inspired by the choir soloists, and all vocal stu- | dents could learn from the distinguished soloist (each voice is represented); violin- ists and other players of orchestral in- | struments could learn from the orchestra; pianists could learn of the great tonal effects and the large works; organists could learn how to produce orchestral effects properly, and barmony students would have an unequalled opportunity to study form. As was said at the beginning, all musi- | cal Omaha is anticipating these concerts, because these are the ones who know their value. / onductor of the fa- ymphony orchestra, { which gives one concert only at the | | Brandels theater on Friday evening, May born in Breslau, Prussia, January At a very carly age he showed ] a great fondness for music and was in- H Walter Damrosc] mous New York ) structed by his father and later studied with Rischbister and Drasseke at Dres- | den He came to America with his par- ents in 1871 and before he was 19 year: old was the conductor of the Newar Harmonic soclety. His thirty years of | devotion to choral, operatic and orches- | tral music in America is generally | known, and for this service he was re- cently made doctor of music by Colum. bia university. Mr. Damrosch, who fs certainly in a position to predict our musical future says [ 1t America continues to d?\‘l‘lflp‘ musically in the next twenty-five years | as it has done In the last, we may con- | fidently look forward to its excelling the | old world in this most beautiful of arts. | In technical excellence cur operas, opera | companies and orchestras already excel | the best that Europe can offer, and hun i | 1 of native and forelgn bora music teachers of the first rank are at work | ( wll over the country in developing not | enly professionals of high rank, but ama- | teurs, whose musical intelligence thus ' quickened makes American audiences to- 1 jay the most critical as well as appre | ciative in the world. The great Ameri- \can composer has mot yet arrived, but | | we are ready for him when he does come, and he will certainly not be permitted to . suffer neglect at our hands as has come | to so many of the great composers of { Europe.” Corinne Paulson, planist, will be the § only soloist for the concert on May 17 ang will be the second Omaha girl who | ras the honor of making her American / debut In connection with a great orches- ‘ra | | e There also is cause for rejoicing among music lovers in connection with this con- cert, for it will afford Omaha the op- poTtunity of hearing Beethoven's wonder- | dard is said to be the possessor of the ing society, Dania, and the Norwegian Singing soclety, Nor, will be given at the Swedish auditorfum, Sixteenth and Chi- cago streets, May 1 at 8 p, m., John 8. Helgren, director, and Miss Margaret Liljenstolpe, accompanist. Joel Mossberg 18 an interesting singer, Chicago's well known musical writer and musician, Glenn Dillard Gunn, writing thus about his work: ‘“Mr. Mossburg was especially successful. He has a resonant voice of rarely rich and sympathetic quality and sings with taste and intelligence.” The three socleties will unite in singing Grieg's “‘Land-Sighting,” with Mr. Moss- berg as sololst, and accompanied by or- chestra. There will be other numbers upon the program by the orchestra and cach of the different societies, as well as | several golos by Mr. Mossherg. The | proceeds will be set aside for the enter- tainment fund for next year's convention of the Swedish Singers' Union of Amer- ica. P iy Musical Notes, Mr. James Goddard, American bari- tone, will appear in concert at the Y. A. auditorfum Monday evening, May 3. This is Mr. Goddard's first Amer- ican tour after singing leading roles in Noyal Opera Covet Garden, London, England, and Imperial Grand Opera, Vienna, Austria. A program of unusuai merit is looked forward to, as Mr. God- most remarkable and magnificent bass- baritone woice on the concert or grand opera stage today A most delightful program of harp music and readings was given by 3 Lorette De Love on last Tuesday to the sisters and pupils at the Sacred Heart &cademy, where the artist learned the first principles of harp playing. This was Miss De Love's first program since she had the misfortune of spraining her wrist hefore Christras. Her concert on May 2 has aroused genuine enthusi- asm, especlally as she wishes to allow some talented young lady in Omaha to secure a scholarship in the use of the harp, which fact proves that the artist is a benefactre, in her native city, 13 Mrs. Lena Ellsworth Dale for the sec- ond {ime this season will sing at Bovd's theater, Tuesday Soclety Concert night Her songs will be “Toin Du Ball." waltz; “Say Yes" D'Hardelot: "I Hear You Calling Me,” Marshall-Mr. Vernon C. Rennett, accompanist. On Tuesday, May 4. Miss' Edith Flickinger, soprano, wiil sing. ———————————————————— Why not ride on something safe and substantial? The Dayton Airless Tire Would it be a pleasure to ride from 5,000 to 8,000 mi with- out punctures, blow-outs, anl the ‘anxiety that accompany neumatic tires? Then Invest in he Dayton Alrless Tire, the easlest and most durable tire on the market R. M. TWADDELL 3304 ML Ave. Benson, Neb. THE OMAHA SUNDAY As a Pleasure Car The Electric Vehicle Stands Pre-eminent. BECAUSE: It is cheaper to operate than any other car. Elec- tricity is cheaper than gasoline and the price never fluctuates. There is no expense when the car 1s not in use. It needs no chauffeur, anyone---man, woman or child--- can operate one with perfect safety. It is comfortable and safe---no engine vibration, no dirt and smell, no danger from acci- dents, no breakdowns. It does not need to be cranked, all you need is to push the lever. It requires very little expense to house. No dangerous gasoline storage tank and other paraphernalia needed---it’s always ready to start, day or night, rain or shine. It is quickly started and stopped in crowded thoroughfares---the brakes working easily. It is more reliable than other cars---a less number of parts to get out of order. The life is much longer. There are no fire and explosive dangers. For pleasure the electric vehicle has no equal. For visiting, a spin through the boule- vards and parks, and going to the theater at night, it will be found all that is desired. For business---driving to the office and bringing your husband home at night, making business calls throughout the day, and especially for shopping, the electric vehicle is unrivaled. For commercial use the electric truck has all the advantages which stand out prominently in the pleasure car. Charging is Easy-- It is a very simple operation to charge an electric car. All that is necessary when you reach home at night is to push the plug into the car and throw the switch. When the batteries are sufficiently charged the charging set will shut off automatically. The rates for current for charging are very reasonable. These Dealers Sell Electric Vehicles in Omaha, and Will Gladly Demonstrate ORR MOTOR SALES CO. ELECTRIC GARAGE CO. W. L. HUFFMAN AUTO CO. DRUMMOND MOTOR CO_ Omaha Electric Light & Power Company