Part 18 (1/2)

Mrs H H A Beach, whose hter of a well-known singer and pianist Her talent for e of six her real study began A her teachers were Ernst Perabo, Carl Baerman, and Julius Hill She is a pianist of accomplished powers and a composer of remarkable talent It is told of her that on one occasion she played the Schumann concerto with the Boston Orchestra at a week's notice, in place of a soloist who had canceled an engagement at the last moment

On another occasion she played her own pianoforte concerto with the orchestra with splendid effect Last year her ”Gaelic Symphony,” in E minor, was played in Boston and also in Brooklyn by the Boston Orchestra Her instru one

A theare perhaps the most suitable for our use:

Ballad for the pianoforte, dedicated to Mme fanny Bloomfield-Zeisler; a seriously made composition with a beautiful principal ood deal of dra out of the middle part A composition of considerable difficulty for the player, and also capable of very excellent effect ell done

There are also four sketches--”In Autu,” ”Phantohtly coood 4/8 rhyth,” aupon a tripletat unexpected places, capable of most beautiful effect; also an excellent study in cantabile ”Phanto ”Fireflies,” a very delightful study in thirds for the right hand, with novel and ; therefore extremely well adapted for study This, ell done, must be very beautiful, but it is necessary that the thirds be played with the uthtness and equality It is more difficult, and also , but extremely orth attention

There are also three interesting pieces not so difficult in their working out First, there is a ”Barcarolle” in G minor, opus 28, No

1; a very attractive rhythm and an extremely attractive harmonic treatment This is a piece to be played with pleasure by any amateur of taste It is only of rade Perhaps a little less attractive, but more easy of execution, is the ”Menuet Italien,” No 2 of the sa This is remarkably orked out, however The third piece in the sa, evanescent; clever for the piano, and attractive if well done

Best of all, perhaps, is a ”Romance for Violin and Piano,” which is dedicated to Miss Maud Powell This is a very delightful piece, and would ood playing in all the parts

With reference to these compositions by Mrs Beach, it deserves to be said that they are not women's compositions Theideas that of a well-trained artist, and the writing for the instrument that of an accomplished pianist At the same time, Mrs Beach makes no effort to be boisterous and to prove that she is a man by the brute force necessary to play her works Unless I am very much mistaken, her music will have a much wider currency than it has yet received, because it deserves it

CHAPTER IX

MISCELLANEOUS PROGRAM BY AMERICAN COMPOSERS

For the convenience of clubs and classes desiring programs not so difficult of perfor is offered, ear S Kelley, Wilson G Ser, Geo W Chadwick, and Mr Williah studies of composition and several of the orchestral and cha This is particularly true of Messrs Chadwick, Kroeger, and Kelley

Mr Edgar Stillman Kelley was born April 14, 1857 He is a native of Wisconsin, and was formerly a pupil of Mr Clarence Eddy, after which he studied in Stuttgart He has produced quite a large number of orchestral pieces but only a small number for the pianoforte alone I believe that draht He is also a lecturer upon e ae upon the subject and plenty of enthusiasm

I have here only two examples of his work The first is entitled the ”The Flower Seekers,” a very pretty anda oeth al the court, both moste and leste, To feche the flowers freshe, and branche and blome”

The second is entitled ”Confluentia” and the motto upon it: ”Here is the conflux of the Rhine and the Mosel This led the Romans to call the city 'Confluentia' These streaions so remote--are here united until they pass into the eternal sea beyond”--_Hans van Brechnowski_ (David Rockwell)

It is a piece in nocturne style with ain all sorts of forms, a little in the style of the well-known Schumann ”Warum”

Mr Wilson G Ser in Cincinnati, and at Berlin He is a pianist and coe nu which it is quite possible more attractive selections could be found than those upon the present prograht, melodious, and pleasant to play The list from Mr Smith comprises several very pleasant pieces The ”Valse Menuet,” opus 43, No 1; the ”Reverie at the Piano,” a sort of song without words; the second, ”Polka Caprice,” which is very bright and pleasant; and the ”Marche Fantastique,” opus 73, which is more brilliant and diversified in its style than the others

Mr Ernest Kroeger is a native of St Louis and received his education there He has written a large nus, and quite a list of chamber and orchestral compositions

I have here three Sonnets The first one is in G ood musicianshi+p There is a vein of retto in B est of all, I think If a stronger representation of Mr Kroeger's art is desired, his first suite for the piano can be taken

Mr E is better known as a teacher and pianist than as a coh commendation for the feorks he has published He made his studies in composition under the late Heinrich Dorn, the sah this h born in Berlin, has resided in the United States for nearly thirty years He is essentially American The two Romances represent the most serious side of his work, in addition to which I have put on that very popular little scherzo, ”Spring Song,” and a very pleasing parlor waltz

Mr Williaenerally known as a co tendency toward coement, and he would have been well known and probably as distinguished in this depart I have placed Mr Sherwood's coest of any in the list, and also the most difficult; ell played they are very effective and deserve to be better known than has hitherto been the case

The songs upon this program represent two other cohly impassioned compositions by Mr Geo

W Chadwick, of Boston Mr Chadwick is one of the s, called ”Told in the Gates,” selections are to be ers