L - Washington University in St. Louis

ITHE MUSICAL NEWSMUSICAL NEWs-continued.done much to enhance the reputation of the establishmentwhich Mendelssohn and a few kindredspirits called into existence.Dr. Guenther was born at Leipsic, November 4, r822,and finally closed his eyes thereat in the sixthmorning hour of September 12, r897, so that he waswithin two months of completing his seventy-fifthyear. His character was a fine one. High principledand considerate to others, he has helped manya struggling British subject and American citizen tosecure the musical education which their limitedmeans threatened to cut short. His loss is mournedon all sides. Peace to his ashes !-Ge1·man 'Times.WAGNER, RossiNI AND ScHOPENHAUER.­Schopenhauer was very fond of music-that is,of certain kinds of music. When Wagner senthim a copy of the ''Nibelungen'' he asked afriend tb thank Wagner for the present, adding :·'He ought to leave music alone; he has moregenius for poetry. I am very fond of Rossiniand Mozart.'' To another friend he said :''He has sent me his Trilogy. The fellow isa poet and no musician. I admire and loveMozart, and go to all the concerts where Beethoven'ssymphonies are played, but whenone has heard much of Rossini everything elseis a nuisance! "When he spoke of Rossini he used to lookpiously to heaven. Yet when he and thecomposer were at the same table at Frankforthe refused to be introduced. ''That cannot beRossini; that is a fat Frenchman.'' Schopenhauerhas no sympathy for Weber, whose"Freischuetz" he called "a miserable littleopera." He had all Rossini's operas arrangedfor the flute; and every day, from I 2 to I, hefluted away, kindly taking care that no on~could hear him.-MU8ical Courier (N. Y.)THE CHOICE WAY TO TEXAS.Parties in the Southeast contemplating avisit on business or pleasure bent, to the greatEmpire of the South, should see that theirtickets read via St. Louis and THE IRoNMouNTAIN RouTE. This is unquestionablythe most direct line to Dallas, Ft. Worth,Houston, Austin, San Antonio, Galveston andall cities in the Lone Star State. For fullparticulars, maps, time tables and descriptivepamphlets, address H. C. Townsend, GeneralPassene-er and Ticket Agent, St. Louis, Mo.PHILHARMONIC SociETY (New York City).The Philharmonic Soc\ety will give this seasoneight concerts, instead of five as heretofore,and judging from the list of soloists alreadyengaged- Ysaye, Pugno, Marteau, Gerardy,Nordica and Plancon-the increase in numberwill be attended by valuable artistic,results.The selections for the programs include Symphony,G minor [Koechel, sso], Mozart; SymphonyNo. 2, D major, Beethoven; SymphonyNo. 2, D major, Brahms; Symphony No. 5,B flat major [new], A Glazounow; Suite No.s, G major, op. 55, Tschaikowsky; Suite No.2, E minor, "Indian" [new], Edward MeDowell; symphonic poem, ''The Noon­Witch," op. Io8 [new], Dvorak; symphonicpoem, ''Tasso,'' Liszt; symphonic poem, ''KingLear,". op. 20 [new], F. Weingartner; symphonicpoem, "Sehnsucht," after Schiller[new J, Siegfried Wagner; prelude, andanteand fugue, J. S. Bach [orchestrated by AntonSeidl]; overture, "Manfred," op. 115, Schumann,and numbers from "Parsifal" and "DieW alkuere. ''At the first concert Dvorak's "New World"symphony will be ~iven, and Ysaye will playthe Brahms D major violin concerto.LOVE'S DESIRE, BY EDM. ABESSER.An analytical review by Waldemar Malmene.This lovely composition, which appeared inthe Oct6ber number of THE MusiCAL NEws,is one of such exquisite beauty that it maywell be ranked with one of Mendelssohn'sbest songs without words. A short review ofthe same may help the player to a more intelligentand soulful interpretation, while thestudent of harmony and composition will havehis views enlarged by it, and notice by whatsimple means the composer has succeeded increating so charming a little gem. The harmoniesare all nearly related, there is nostraining to produce effects by showy andclashing passages.Analytical review: The first part endingwith the sixteenth measure in A flat, consistsof two sections, of which the first closes in Fminor with the eighth measure. Delicatephrasing is absolutely necessary to do justiceto the composition, not only in connectingthe motivo in the melody, but special care .must be bestowed to play the underlying accompanimentin the right hand as subdued aspossible. The subsequent six measures (PittAllegro), beginning with the dominant harmonyof F minor, starting like a duet betweenbass and soprano, become gradually more impassionate,leading to an episode in six-eighttime. The rythmical motivo of the first partis easily recognized in the first four measureswhich are followed by a new phrase, twomeasures long, which is reproduced an octavelower ; the clynaJ.nic contrast of the latter isalso noteworthy. The metre changes to nineeighttime, a short melodious cadenza in theright hand reintroduces the first four measuresof the Piu Allegro movement, but more forcibly,as the duet passages which appeared beforein single notes are now given' 'con passione'' inoctaves. Once more the composer returns tothe six-eight tempo, in which the syncopatednotes in the right hand and the subsequent descendingchromatic passage, give it a plaintivecoloring which is enhanced by the sustaineddouble notes in the bass. The pedalshould be carefully used and changed whenthe F minor harmony is followed by its dominant.The six closing chords of the strettoshould be played ritenuto and vigorously togive due effect to the progression in the melodyas well as in the bass. The first sixteenmeasures are repeated, but felicitiously precededpy arpeggios in the left hand, whichshould not be played too hurriedly, in orderto produce that harplike effect, with the helpof the p ~ ·i.al, which the term ''arpeggio'' implies.The tranquil character of the coda maybe ascribed, to a certain extent, to the employmentof the so-called ''organ point,'' asthe composer reiterates the tonic on the firstbeat in the bass, during seven measures,though the harmony, changes from tonic todominant. It may be mentioned that E .Abesser ranks with the best composers inEurope, occupying a professors chair atLeipsig.Review."The Church Choir'' is a monthly journaldevoted to church and kindred music, and isof special interest to all who are engaged inthat class of musical work. The Octobernumber is an excellent specimen of this publication.Correspondence from the principal citiesin the Union inform the reader what is beingdone in the different churches. One of themost interesting articles is on ''Registration,''by Will C. Macfarlane, accompanied by threemusical examples illustrating the choice ofstops. Also the essay on the origin and developmentof church music should be read byall organists.MADAME MARIE ZIEBOLD-BONNET,In St. Louis.Thanks to the invitations issued by Mrs.Kate Broaddus, a large number of music lov.ing people had the opportunity of listeningOctober I4 to the charming artiste, MadameBonnet, at a soiree mU8icale given at the Conservatorium.That Mrs. Broaddus should take a specialinferest in the American prima donna caneasily be understood, from the fact that shewas her pupil for some time before continuingher studies in Europe. The lady was wellknown in St. Louis as Miss Mary Ziebold,coming here from Red Bud, Illinois, her nativeplace, and was often heard in concerts.She is said to be the only American who hasyet met the severe requirements of the Milap.Conservatory of Music in Italy, earning the"Grande Diplome," a prize much coveted byall who enter that time-honored institution.Madame Bonnet's voice ·is a highly cultivatedsoprano of great range, which was fullydemonstrated in the selections which she sangat the soiree, notably the Aria from Mozart'sMagic Flute, and the · Staccato Polka by Mulder,while in the two ballads by Barnby andVieh she gave ample proof of possessing greatfeeling, combined with very distinct enunciation.The hearty and spontaneous applausewhich she received must have been highlygratifying to the lady.The program was diversified by piano selectionsperformed by Messrs. Kroeger and Vieh;the former played the popular Dance of theElves, and with Mr. Vieh, a Suite de Valses,both his own compositions. Mr. Vieh distinguishedhimself by playing Taussig's arrangementof a Waltzer by Strauss, and alittle love song, which the prima donna sangvery effectively.Miss Ziebold though happily married to aFrench gentleman of means, is still devoted toher art, and is at present crossing the oceanto meet Mr . .,Nikisch, from whom she hasreceived offers to sing in concerts.