HAMBURG. A new three-act comic opera, "Der Prinz wider Willen," by Herr Otto Lohse, was brought out with much success, on the 2nd ult., at the Stadt-Theater, under the composer's direction.

JENA. Dr. Carl Gille, for many years the highly esteemed principal secretary of the Allgemeine Deutsche Musik-Verein, was able to celebrate, on the 8th ult., his eighty-fifth birthday. Dr. Gille is amongst the few surviving persons who were personally acquainted with Goethe.

LEIPZIG.-The Liszt Verein announces an important programme for the season about to commence, which will comprise twelve concerts. In the course of these there will appear the Meiningen orchestra, conducted by Herr Fritz Steinbach; the Kaim orchestra, of Munich, under Herr Weingartner's direction. Amongst the various works to be produced, in addition to the Liszt numbers, are Beethoven's Ninth Symphony and a new symphonic work by Herr Weingartner, while Herr von Possart, of Munich, will give his "Enoch Arden" recitation, with Herr Richard Strauss's incidental music, already successfully performed elsewhere. - Handel's oratorio "Esther is to be performed by the Riedel Verein, on the 16th inst., with the co-operation of the orchestras of the Gewandhaus and of the Stadt-Theater. Herr Hans Winderstein, the well-known orchestral conductor, has accepted the conductorship of the Leipzig Singakademie, in the room of Dr. Klengel, the new director of the New York Liedertafel.—At the first Gewandhaus concert, under Herr Nikisch's direction, on the 6th ult., Beethoven's "Eroica" and the funeral dirge "Siegfried's Tod," from "Götterdämmerung," were performed in memory of the late Prince Bismarck.

MADRID. A new opera by the Spanish composer Serrano, entitled "Gonzola de Cordoba," is shortly to be brought out at the Royal Opera. Wagner's "Die Walküre" is in course of preparation and will be produced for the first time with a Spanish version of the book. Madame Calvé will appear during the season, and a new conductor has been engaged in the person of M. Crickboom, a Belgian artist, and director of the Philharmonic Society in Barcelona.

MILAN.-Verdi, who has permanently taken up his residence here in order to superintend the final establishment of the Home for Musicians founded by him, is again credited with the composition and near completion of a new opera-" King Lear," according to some, but " Nero," according to other informants, Arrigo Boïto being the librettist. The score, report adds, is to be submitted ere long to a circle of the veteran composer's intimate friends.

Moscow.-M. Willem Kes will be the conductor of the Philharmonic Concerts throughout the present season. On taking over his duties, on the 1st ult., as the newly appointed director of the Musical Academy affiliated to the Philharmonic Society, M. Kes was received at the entrance by the members of the committee with the customary offer of salt and bread.

MUNICH.-Heinrich Vogl, the veteran Wagner tenor, has completed the score of an opera, "Der Fremdling," with a subject taken from Norse mythology, the book by Felix Dahn, which will be produced this winter at the Royal Theatre.Among new works to be brought out in the immediate future are Langer's "Pfeifer von Haardt" and Eugene d'Albert's one-act opera "Die Abreise.The Kaim concerts were announced to be resumed on the 26th ult., under Herr Felix Weingartner's direction, and

PRAGUE. Quite a number of first performances are promised by the directors of the National Theatre during the present season. Amongst them are four new works by native composers, one of which, "On Easter Eve," by A. Horák, was successfully produced last month. Besides these, Tschaikowsky's "Yolanthe," and "Goplana," by the Polish composer, Zelenski, are also to be brought out, as well as, for the first time in the Czech language, Mozart's "Così fan tutte."A new opera, "Satanella," by the veteran Bohemian composer, Joseph Rozkosny, produced on the 5th ult., was very favourably received.

REMSCHEID.-A concert given last month by the baritone singer, Herr Carl Schneider, derived special interest by reason of the age of the concert-giver, which is ninety-four years, while his voice has lost but little of its original freshness and power. Although claims of priority as to age are apt to be upset, Herr Schneider may safely be looked upon as the doyen of public vocalists.

STOCKHOLM.-The new Royal Opera House-a handsome building and excellent in its acoustic properties-was opened on September 29, in the presence of the King and the Royal family. The proceedings, which were of a specifically national character, commenced with the performance of a cantata written for the occasion by Ivar Hallström, followed by the drama "Frondeure," with music by Lindblad, and scenes from the opera "Estrella de Soria," by Berwald. TURIN. The prize competition, for an orchestral composition, in connection with the International Exhibition, has brought forward sixty-two candidates. The first prize was awarded to Signor Nicolo Celega, for an orchestral suite entitled "Incantesimo," and the second to Signor Giacomo Orefice, for a similar work superscribed "Sinfonia del Bosco." Signori Toscanini, Martucci, and Sgambati were members of the jury.

VERVIERS. The monument erected to Henri Vieuxtemps, the great violinist, who died in 1881, was unveiled in this, his native town, on September 25, in the presence of the public authorities and a large concourse of spectators. During the ceremony a hymn-cantata by the deceased artist, and an "Ode à Vieuxtemps" by the talented young composer, M. Albert Dupuis, were performed by the combined musical societies of Verviers, and in the evening a grand concert took place at the theatre, when the chef-d'œuvre of Vieuxtemps, the Fourth Concerto, was played by his favourite pupil, M. Eugène Ysaye.

VIENNA. After having been closed for an entire week, on account of the mourning into which the country has been thrown, the Imperial Opera re-opened on September 21 with "Rheingold," in which M. van Dyck appeared in the part of Loge. Since then two entire performances of the "Nibelungen" tetralogy have taken place, ending on the 13th ult., under Herr Mahler's direction. Boieldieu's evergreen "La Dame Blanche" was revived with much success on the 9th ult., and Frau von Ehrenstein has been greatly applauded as Santuzza in "Cavalleria Rusticana." Herr Mahler intends shortly to produce the Abbé Perosi's "The Resurrection of Lazarus," with the personnel of the Imperial Opera. Signor Perosi, it may be added, was a pupil at the well known Kirchenmusik-Schule, of Regensburg. At the Theater-an-der-Wien, a new operetta, "Cat and Mouse," is in preparation, the composer of which is Johann Strauss, junior, a nephew of the veteran composer of the "Blue Danube" valse. The resignation by Dr. Richter of the conductorship of the Philharmonic concerts has been confirmed. He will be succeeded by Herr Mahler, whose already multitudinous duties have been recently augmented by his assumption of the post of regisseur-general of the Opera.

WÜRZBURG.-A commemorative tablet has just been placed, with due ceremonies, upon the house where the once famous musical theorist, organist, and composer, Abt Vogler, first saw the light. Students of Browning will be familiar with at least the name of this eccentric and somewhat problematical man of genius, among whose pupils were Carl Maria von Weber and Meyerbeer. Vogler was born in 1749.

composer.

OBITUARY.

MUCH sympathy will be felt by the friends of Mr. Josiah Booth in the loss he has sustained by the death of his wife, which sad event took place at his residence, Allesley, Coolhurst Road, Crouch End, on the 14th ult.

The death took place, on the 14th ult., at 60, Avonmore Road, West Kensington, of HENRY WILLIAM GOODBAN, an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, in his eightysecond year. Mr. Goodban was a violoncello player and composer. His father, two brothers, and a nephew were

all musicians.

The death is announced, on the 8th ult., at Vienna, of NICOLAUS OESTERLEIN, the founder of the unique Wagner Museum, at the age of fifty-eight. An ardent lover of music, the deceased's enthusiasm was kindled by his perusal, some thirty years ago, of Wagner's "Opera and Drama," and he conceived the idea of collecting everything which had reference to the poet-composer and his art. An admirably compiled catalogue from the pen of the collector has been published, in four volumes, by Messrs. Breitkopf and Härtel, and gives an idea of the wealth of material contained in the collection to be utilised by the future biographer of the Bayreuth master. Herr Oesterlein, who for many years occupied the post of cashier at a Viennese brewery, first attracted the attention of Wagner admirers by the publication, in 1876, of an interesting volume entitled "Bayreuth," dealing with the inauguration of the Festspiele.

The death occurred, on September 27, at Paris, of LOUIS DESORMES, the former conductor of the FoliesBergère, and a successful composer. Amongst his compositions are numerous pianoforte pieces, ballets, and chansons, the latter including the famous "En revenant de la Revue," which enjoyed such a world-wide popularity a decade or so ago. M. Desormes was in his fifty-ninth year.

LOUIS GALLET, the well-known librettist, died in Paris, on the 15th ult., aged sixty-three. He wrote the librettos for Massenet's "Le Roi de Lahore," SaintSaëns's "Ascanio," Paladilhe's “Patrie," and numerous others. He was also the author of some successful dramas and was an entertaining contributor to Le Ménestrel and other Paris journals. M. Gallet occupied for many years a post in the administrative department of the French hospitals. Professor VON KÖNIGSLOEW, the well-known violinist, who, in the course of his career, had been in artistic relations and friendly intercourse with Schumann, Brahms, Joachim, Dr. Reinecke, and other distinguished musicians, died at Bonn, on the 8th ult., at an advanced age.

GEORGE R. KEMPE, for many years an esteemed organist and teacher at Milwaukee (U.S.), died on September 27, aged fifty-two.

CORRESPONDENCE.

ROBERT BROWNING AS A MUSICIAN. TO THE EDITOR OF "THE MUSICAL TIMES." SIR, In the interesting biographical notice of Mr. Dannreuther in your October issue (p. 650), that gentleman, in recording some recollections of Mr. Chorley and his friends, says, speaking of Browning and his liking for music: "I have never seen him touch an instrument or hum a tune."

At my earnest solicitation he was present at the performance in a curtained box-a fact not known to the audience, nor, indeed, to his admirers generally. Browning hated a fuss, and it was only on my pledging my word that his presence should not be made known except to the performers that he consented to attend.

Shortly afterwards I again called on him at his residence in Warwick Crescent, when, after expressing himself much reference to the beautiful setting of the song "There's a pleased with the performance, he made a very flattering woman like a dewdrop," which Sir Alexander Mackenzie had written at my request. Mr. Browning said: "It is a rather that in the play the song should be more suggested most charming setting as a song, but my own idea was than sung-hummed, in fact-as the young lover enters Mildred's window and bends over her." Whereupon he sat down to the pianoforte and hummed a verse of the song to an extemporised tune, playing his own accompaniment. have secured a permanent record of a song written and My regret is that I was not able to jot this down and thus composed by Robert Browning.-Yours faithfully,

22, Albion Road, N.W.

CHARLES FRY.

CHORAL COMMUNION SERVICES.

TO THE EDITOR OF "THE MUSICAL TIMES." SIR,-With the widening use of the Sanctus, Benedictus, and Agnus Dei during Choral Communion Services in the English Church, may I be allowed to direct the future attention of composers to a point that, in many composi tions, appears to have been entirely overlooked or ignored? I refer to the length of these portions of the service, which, than the private prayers of the celebrant. I am aware as a general rule, take a good deal longer in performance that a hard and fast time limit cannot be laid down

(inasmuch as different priests have different uses), but certainly it cannot be contested that, from the celebrant's point of view, many such compositions are of unnecessary length. I am, Sir, yours faithfully,

MAGISTER CHORALIS.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF COUNTRY AND COLONIAL NEWS.

We do not hold ourselves responsible for any opinions expressed in this summary, as all the notices are either collated from the local papers or supplied to us by correspondents.

ARMAGH.--The Philharmonic Society held its annual general meeting on the 6th ult. Four concerts are announced for the coming season: Gaul's "Joan of Arc," for the first concert, on the 24th inst.; "The Messiah," December 15; a popular concert, January 26, 1899; and the final concert of the season on February 23. Dr. T. Osborne Marks is the conductor and Dr. Bearder and Mr. T. R. Tarleton are the honorary secretaries.

BERKELEY (GLOUCESTERSHIRE).-The Berkeley Choral Society, which has only been in existence for twelve months, gave two concerts on Tuesday, the 18th ult., in the Great Hall of Berkeley Castle, by kind permission of the president, the Rt. Hon. Lord Fitzhardinge. The first part of each programme consisted of Sterndale Bennett's "May Queen," the solo parts of which were sung by Miss Marion Harris, Mrs. W. Legge, Mr. T. H. Brearley, and Mr. H. P. Thurston. The choruses were admirably sung, giving evidence of most careful training and reflecting great credit on the conductor, Mr. Walter Woodcock, organist of the Parish Church, and the members of the Society themselves. The second part of each concert included violin solos by Mons. Johannes Wolff, pianoforte solos by Mr. Herbert Fryer, and vocal solos and glees. Mr. F. A. Sewell was the accompanist.

HANLEY.-The first Meakin concert of the season was given on the 3rd ult., in the Victoria Hall, by the Hallé Band, conducted by Mr. F. H. Cowen. There was a large audience and the programme included the "Unfinished" Symphony (Schubert), Overture from "Die Meistersinger" (Wagner), and Air and Variations from Suite in G (Tschaikowsky). Miss Florence Hoskins contributed to the success of the concert by her rendering of "Lascia ch' io pianga" (Handel) and "Le parlate d'amor" (" Faust ").

HENLEY-ON-THAMES.-The Harvest Festival was held at Holy Trinity Church, on the 13th ult. (and continued on the following Sunday), when Prout's 100th Psalm was sung by the choirs of Wargrave and Holy Trinity, conducted by the organist and choirmaster of the latter church (Mr. J. H. Chalmers). Master G. Glasspoole sang the solo parts excellently, and Mr. A. E. Healey, organist of Wargrave, accompanied on the organ. A quartet of brass instruments proved a useful addition to the organ accompaniment.

LOWESTOFT.-Mr. J. T. Pye gave an excellent concert in the Public Hall, on the 18th ult., when Mrs. Linwood Watson and Mr. G. B. Rix were the vocalists, with Mr. Basil F. Taylor (violin), Mr. Bertie Withers (violoncello), and Mr. Pye (pianoforte) as instrumentalists. A small local choir was responsible for several part-songs.

NEWPORT (SHROPSHIRE).-The harvest festival services and anniversary of the restoration of the Parish Church were held on the 13th and 16th ult., when Thomas Adams's cantata "The Rainbow of Peace" was twice efficiently given by the Parish Church choir, under the direction of Mr. Smart, organist. It proved to be an effective, wellwritten, but by no means difficult work, and most suitable for harvest-tide.

PORT ELIZABETH (SOUTH AFRICA).-The third of a series of high class concerts was given on September 22, at the Liedertafel, by Mr. Horace Barton and Herr August Wilhelmj. The programme included Mendelssohn's Trio in D minor and Gade's in F. Miss Ethel Biden was the violinist and Mr. Percival Jackson the violoncellist. Mr. Barton played solos by Chopin, Tschaikowsky, and Chaminade, and Herr Wilhelmj sang songs by Schubert, Schumann, Jensen, and others.

Mr.

SAN FERNANDO (TRINIDAD).-The Choral Society gave its first concert on September 10, when a successful performance of Gaul's " Holy City" was given. This concert marks a distinct step forward in the musical achievements of this little town of 6,000 inhabitants. Gaul's cantata was performed by a trained choir and a small but efficient orchestra. The solos were sung by Mrs. Doorly, Mrs. T. G. Grant, Mrs. E. Legge, Dr. Eakin, Messrs. Poyer, Crosbie, Shurland, and Rev. A. H. Grey. Herr C. Nothnagel and several other friends from the Port of Spain gave valuable help in the orchestra. The concert was under the direction of the Society's conductor, Rev. Canon W. S. Doorly.

WELLINGTON (NEW ZEALAND).-Mr. Maughan Barnett gave his fifteenth organ recital in St. John's Church on August 25. The programme included Mendelssohn's Sixth Sonata, Handel's Concerto in F (No. 5), and works by Wagner, Grison, Dubois, Wolstenholme, Dienel, Calkin, and Wély.

E.

C.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

G. C.-In reply to your enquiry respecting the Solesmes method of singing Gregorian tones, we gladly offer the following information. The great authority on the subject is Dom Joseph Pothier. See his " Les Mélodies Grégoriennes d'après la tradition," published, in 1880, at Tournay. You might also consult "Der Einfluss des Tonischen Accentes auf die melodische und rhythmische Struktur der Gregorianischen Psalmodie von den Benediktinern zu Solesmes," &c. (Herder'sche Verlagshandlung, Freiburg im Breisgau). In England, the Rev. Gregory Ould, Arno's Court, Bristol, is an authority on the subject. But in order to obtain thorough knowledge of the traditional Solesmes method, practice is of more value than precept—the ear and not the eye. To this end, as you live in London, you should take an opportunity of going to Farnborough and hearing Vespers sung after the Solesmes traditions by the Benedictines there. We believe that they are only sung on alternate days, but an enquiry made beforehand would bring you definite information as to the actual days. You should take a Benedictine Antiphona with you to follow the service. The Plain-song and Medieval Music Society might help you. Mr. H. B. Briggs, 14, Westbourne Terrace Road, is the honorary secretary. See also a paper read before the Musical Association on February 8 last, entitled "The Structure of Plain-song," by Mr. H. B. Briggs.

W. N.-In reply to your question as to the newest Edison phonograph, we can say from practical knowledge that it is a very wonderful instrument. The tone qualities of various musical instruments are reproduced with remarkable fidelity, though the various gradations of tone are, perhaps, not so marked a feature, though they are by no means absent. You ask, "Does it reproduce music (orchestral music principally) in a manner that would satisfy a musical ear?" That question is perhaps a little difficult to answer. There is naturally a ventriloquistic character about the reproductions, but by no means sufficient to be offensive to the ear. There will probably be improvements in the construction of the instrument, whereby the most delicate effects will be absolutely reproducible, though it is almost too much to expect that the results obtainable will be equal to the original sounds. But, as we have already said, it is a most wonderful invention, and one whose use will give much pleasure and not a little amusement. The cost is six guineas; but a large metal bell, which amplifies the sound and effectively disperses it in a large room, would cost about fifty shillings more.

"The

ORGAN APPOINTMENTS. - Mr. Charles R. Kemshead, Organist and Choirmaster to St. Paul's Church, Harringay. -Mr. Alfred Brinkler, Organist and Choirmaster to Minster Church, Thanet.-Mr. Herbert G. Loveday, Organist and Choirmaster to St. John's, Sligo, Ireland.Miss Firth, to Ennis Parish Church, Co. Clare.-Mr. Arthur J. H. Townsend, to Christ Church, Bridlington Quay.Mr. Arthur Mangelsdorff, Organist and Choirmaster to J. Atherstone Parish Church.-Mr. Robert Treen, Organist and Choirmaster to All Saints' Church, East Finsbury.Mr. R. H. Turner, Organist and Choirmaster to the Parish Church, Portsmouth. Mr. Ernest H. G. Hayward, Organist and Choirmaster to Backwell Parish Church, Somerset.

CHOIR APPOINTMENTS.-Mr. Henry S. Lucas, Alto to All Saints', Margaret Street.-Master Hubert Kingston, Treble to the Chapel Royal, Savoy.-Mr. Clifford Constable, Tenor to All Saints', Margaret Street.

Price

C.-(1) Miss Amy Fay's book "Music Study in Germany" is published by Messrs. Macmillan and Co. 4s. 6d. (2) Gottschalk's "Notes of a Pianist" is published by Messrs. 7. B. Lippincott and Company (London). (3) Back volumes (bound) of THE MUSICAL TIMES may be obtained of the publishers. Those within the last fifteen years for certain, price 75. 6d. each. The earlier volumes are very scarce; but if you will send us word as to any particular volume we shall be glad to give you every information.