Earl R. Drake Company

              EARL R. DRAKE COMPANY






ANNOUNCEMENT.



M
R. EARL R. DRAKE, the well known virtuoso, was born near Aurora, Ill., in November, 1865, and evinced remarkable musical talent when but five years of age.  After studying and concertizing in this country with great success for a period of years, he carried out his earnest desire to further perfect his work among the masters of Europe, and in 1892 began daily study of the violin with Joachim, of Berlin.  Being a pianist of merit Mr. Drake was accorded the honor of playing accompaniments for Herr Joachim and his pupils, by which he obtained a thorough knowledge of the interpretation of the greatest concertos according to Joachim's conception of them.




Returning to America Mr. Drake immediately began his successful concerts, besides teaching his large Chicago class.






Mr. Drake, the violinist, held the close attention of the audience during every moment of his playing.—


Neenah, Wis., Daily News
.




The audience was prepared in one degree to hear a clever violinist, but they were not looking for so superior an artist as Drake soon showed himself to be.  To his credit be it said he is an American, but for the genuine fire of the true musician no foreigner surpasses him.  Tuskaloosa has heard a few fine violinists, but few, if any of them, have held a more complete mastery over an audience than did Drake.—


Tuskaloosa, Ala
.




Earl R. Drake was the artist at the 225th concert of the Mendelssohn Club yesterday afternoon.  His reputation as a violinist was exceeded by his performance and the large attendance of ladies that heard him had only words of the most enthusiastic admiration for this master of the king of instruments.  Mr. Drake differs greatly from the class of musicians who have given their time largely to orchestra work, and he is the ideal of a soloist.  Mr. Drake is distinguished in several ways as the only artist in the west.  He makes a specialty of the Paganini concerto which closed the program, and other works from this composer which no other permanent western artist attempts.  The harmonics which Mr. Drake succeeds in producing are of clear silver tone, and his tremolo has an exquisite finish and articulation.—


Rockford, Ill., Daily Register-Gazette
.




A large and enthusiastic audience greeted Earl R. Drake, violin virtuoso, at the Opera House Saturday evening.  The beautiful tones he produced from his fine $5,000 Stradivarius violin proved him to be a master of his instrument and an artist of unusual merit and ability.—


Fairfield, Wayne Co., Press
.




Mr. Earl R. Drake, the American virtuoso, was the leading attraction.  He entranced his audience and carried them through the entire program in which he took part.  He is an artist and that word sums up briefly all his capabilities.  His renditions are thoughtful and full of soul and his conceptions of them true to their meaning.  Everything about the performance was in perfect harmony, technic, emotional and intelligent expression.—


Gadsden, Ala., Weekly
.




The concert yesterday afternoon at the Christian Union Church was one of the most enjoyable in the history of the Mendelssohn Club.  That Paganini concerto with which Mr. Drake closed his program was given a broad, masterly rendition.  Altogether, the appreciative audience felt much gratification in having heard so fine an artist.—


Rockford Morning Star
.




Mr. Drake proved himself a master of the violin from his skillful interpretation of the sweet, soothing lullaby to the soul-inspiring concerts, and the most critical listener could but acknowledge his superiority as a violinist.—


Marinette, Wis., Daily Eagle
.




Mr. Drake played two of his own compositions for the violin, Lalo's Spanish Symphonie, Vieuxtemps' Fantasie Appassionata, and the Grieg sonata.  Mr. Drake is a violinist of great ability.  He has the true artistic instinct, playing at all times with feeling and fire.—


Chicago Tribune
.




Earl R. Drake, the enterprising and gifted Chicago violinist, has been the first player to present to the American public Richard Strauss' violin concerto.  Mr. Drake gave his concert with the assistance of an orchestra, and played with his usual technical ability and refined musicianship.  He plays with breadth and dignity.—


New York Musical Courier
.





SPECIMEN PROGRAM





Trio for Strings


Beethoven






Alla Marcia, Minuet, Andaute with Variations,




Mr. Drake, violin; Miss Blood, viola; Mr. Knapp, 'cello.






Vocal
Miss Burnap.


Jewel Song from Faust




Violin Fantasie, Faust
Mr. Drake.


Sarasate




Trio for piano, violin, 'cello
Miss Blood, Messrs.  Drake and Knapp.


Bargiel




'Cello, La Fille du Regiment


Servais




Vocal
Miss Burnap.


Selected




Viola, Air with Variations
Miss Blood.


David




Violin—(a) Slumber Song,
(b) Polish Dance
Mr. Drake.


E. R. Drake




Ensemble
Members of Company.


Selected








PAUL PALMER KNAPP.



At a very early age Mr. Knapp gave decided evidence of a predilection for music.  While but a mere lad he began the study of the violoncello and his remarkable talent for the instrument at once attracted much attention.  He was soon appearing in concert, both as soloist and in chamber music works, playing, for over two years, with a string quartette which gave concerts in a number of the northwestern cities.






On moving to Chicago in 1893 he resumed his studies with the veteran violoncellist, Meinhard Eichheim.




In 1898 he went to Leipsic and entered the Royal Conservatory, placing himself under the greatest violoncello instructor of the day, Julius Klengel.  Recognizing his unusual talent, the Royal Conservatory immediately awarded him a free scholarship to continue as long as he might wish to study.




During his second year he concertized in Germany for a period of six weeks, creating a great impression wherever he appeared.  On two occasions he played before royalty and received a handsome token of a prince's favor.




After two and one half years of assiduous study, Mr. Knapp went to Dresden and continued his work a year with Friedrich Grutzmacher, among whose pupils Hugo Becker, Jean Gerarde and other of the greatest violoncello virtuosi might be mentioned.  In both Leipzig and Dresden he appeared frequently in concert, receiving from the leading critics the highest commendation.




He returned to America in the fall of 1901, and located in Chicago where he became a member of the faculty of one of the leading musical institutions in the country.  His concert engagements have been numerous, both in and out of Chicago, and true appreciation of his genius has been enthusiastically demonstrated at every performance.





MISS BLANCHE BLOOD,



One of the most talented young lady violinists in the west, received her entire musical education in Chicago, having for piano and harmony Messrs.  Koelling and Fisher, and for violin Mr. Drake.  Her style of playing is broad and musicianly and her success with the public as both violin and viola soloist has been very pronounced.




Besides her solo viola playing she will assist in these concerts as pianist and accompanist, also taking viola and piano parts in trios with Messrs.  Drake and Knapp.




The principal feature of the evening was the violin playing by Miss Blanche Blood.  Her efforts were received with hearty applause and encores were demanded in both her numbers.  Her tone was full and round.—


Calumet, Mich., News
.




Miss Blanche Blood quite captivated the audience with her well rendered solos.  Should she visit Geneva again she will receive a hearty welcome.—


Geneva, Ill., Republican
.








INTRODUCTORY.



M
ISS ILA BURNAP has been for several seasons a popular favorite in Denver, where she began her musical education, and has more recently studied with Mr. W. W. Hinshaw of Chicago, the well known operatic and concert singer, who predicts for her a great career.  Her voice is a pure soprano, rich in quality, and of unusual volume and sweetness, and she sings with a spirit and charm which at once win her audience.






Miss Burnap's soprano solos at once won the attention of the audience, and as the beautiful tones swelled in volume a thrill of delight and appreciation was felt by every listener.  It was the consensus of opinion that Miss Burnap is one of the most pleasing sopranos ever heard here.—


The Columbian, Colorado Springs, Col.




Miss Ila Burnap sang 
When the Heart Is Young
 and 
My Dream of You
 in a manner that carried the audience off its feet.  She had to come back, not once, but many times, and she did so with pleasure, when the audience was treated to 
Bonnie Sweet Bessie
 and the 
Japanese Love Song.
  She has a pretty appearance—so taking.—


Democrat, Durango, Col.




Miss Burnap is a soprano whose equal Greeley audiences seldom hear.  Voice sweet and clear as a silver bell, her rendition of her part of the program captivated her hearers.—


Tribune, Greeley, Col.




Ila Burnap, the soprano, charmed her audience with her wonderful voice.—


Leader, Cheyenne, Wyo.




At his recital last evening Mr. Drake gave selections from Vieuxtemps, Wieniawski, Hetzel and Popper.  He exhibited a genuine musical temperament and a fine appreciation of artistic qualities.  His playing was clean, crisp and firm; his interpretation scholarly and brilliant.—


Chicago Herald
.




Prof. W. S. B. Mathews, the well known critic and editor of 
Music
, Chicago, a standard monthly magazine, says:  
The most notable peculiarity of Mr. Earl R. Drake's violin recital was its unusual prodigality of numbers of first-class proportions.  Not the least interesting of all was Mr. Drake's own Polish Dance, which ended the program.  The whole was made unusually telling and attractive by the beautiful tone of the Stradivarius violin upon which it was played.  It was the universal verdict of the audience that few artistic privileges are more to be prized than a violin recital like this, in which so many masterworks are brought together—illustrating in the fullest possible manner the scope of this king of instruments, and filling the ear with deeply impassioned melody by so many of the most gifted writers.  Mr. Drake deserves the fullest possible success in his work.




One of the most notable features of Mr. Drake's concerts is the famous Stradivarius violin, bearing date of 1713, and purchased by him for $ 5,000, which he always uses.  The instrument is one of three made by Stradivarius, remarkable for their exceptional beauty and quality of wood.  The varnish shows three colors—a gold, red and brown, heightened in artistic effect by use and age.  The tone is of the most perfectly pure and full quality, soft and even throughout, which is largely due to the perfect condition of the instrument, it having no patching in the interior.






Exclusive Management
 
THE MUTUAL LYCEUM BUREAU,
 
CHICAGO.