Reuben Davies

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Reuben Davies
Pianist
STEINWAY PIANO
Management
HORNER-WITTE CONCERT BUREAU
3CCO Troost Avenue
Kansas City   Missouri



AMONG the younger generation of artists who are being recognized as the most distinguished in their respective vocations, Reuben Davies, the young American pianist stands as one of the foremost.

Mr. Davies, like many other young artists who have had signal success in recent years, hails from the West.  His natural talent and musical genius are inherited from his Welch parentage which, combined with American ideals, make his playing individual to a remarkable degree.

Mr. Davies' musical education was obtained in America where it is conceded that the best training in the world is to be found.  His highly successful New York recitals have been most gratifying to all who champion the cause of American art and artists, proving again as they have, that European experience is no longer necessary to gain a high place in the realm of musical art.

Mr. Davies' repertoire is enviable, containing many of the best works of both the old and modern schools.  He is essentially modern in spirit and is best known for his excellent interpretation of the modern school of composition including the works of Debussy, Ravel, Vlanchet, McDowell, Saint Saens and others.

Mr. Davies has the musical understanding of a great artist.  His interpretations are masterly, his technique is fluent, giving always a wealth of tone color, youthful enthusiasm and poetic imagination.

Mr. Davies makes records exclusively for the Duo-Art.




1920 Press Comments

NEW YORK HERALD
—. . . There were many commendable things to be found in his playing.  He has sound musicianship and a satisfactory grasp of interpretive matters.  (By Reginald De Koven.)


NEW YORK TIMES
—Reuben Davies, a nature musician, had the matinee to himself, and gave a scholar's program.


NEW YORK EVENING MAIL
—Mr. Davies is an artist whose fluent technic and pleasantly accurate rhythm give pleasure.  His playing showed command of the instrument.


Herbert Peyser wrote in “MUSICAL AMERICA,” March 29
—. . . Soundness of technical accomplishment, rhythmic aptitude, no inconsiderable show of power, and even brilliancy manifested themselves as the most decisive features of his straightforward and intelligent work.


NEW YORK SUN
—Mr. Davies disclosed commendable seriousness in his art.


SOUTH SIDE OBSERVER and NASSAU POST (N. Y., March 28)
—Mr. Davies delighted his hearers with his musical feeling and finish.


CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR (Boston, April 1)
—. . . In his daring adventure (playing of an early Sonata of Beethoven), he no doubt shocked his fellow pianists in New York and made himself the talk of every studio in Manhattan, and in the artistic dependencies of the Bronx, Brooklyn and Staten Island as well.


NEW YORK EVENING WORLD
—. . . He plays with a seriousness of purpose and no little understanding.
Max Wertheim wrote in the MUSICAL COURIER (N. Y., March 27) …  His performance of the Beethoven Sonata was that of a thorough musician.  The Chopin group was played with much charm.  He infused into his modern numbers warmth, color and individuality.  The closing Liszt numbers were brilliantly played, disclosing a well-developed technic as well as virtuosity.  Individuality and originality characterize his work.
L. B. Gaines, conductor of the festival at Bridgton, Maine, wrote—His playing was wonderful indeed.




1921 Press Comments

NEW YORK SUN
—A program of exceeding diversion and scope brought back Reuben Davies, an American pianist of American training, last night to Aeolian Hall.  Mr. Davies plays with eager intelligence and taste and the results make for clear interpretation and pleasant hearing.  (By Gilbert W. Gabriel.)


NEW YORK HERALD
— …His playing is satisfactory because of an understanding of dynamics, good pedaling and a general plan, clearly conceived and well executed.  (By W. J. Henderson.)



NEW YORK EVENING MAIL
— …The sonatina by Ravel rippled almost as laughlingly as his 'Jeux d'Eau,' played with more precision and color.
In the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne' this clarity was well placed, and Mr. Davies showed fine power of tonal and emotional contrast in his opening number.  (By Katharine Spaeth.)



NEW YORK MORNING TELEGRAPH
—Mr. Davies exhibited a technique equal to any demands placed upon it, playing with an abandon and freeness delightful to hear.


NEW YORK EVENING MAIL
— …He is a virile player, and his rendition of the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne' was masterly and intelligent.  This massive work calls for prodigious strength and unerring technique, and it received satisfactory treatment in Davies' hands.


NEW YORK STATS ZEITUNG
—A very beautifully shaded tone, a poetic touch of best effect and an adequate technique distinguish his artistry.  The artist, who gave real pleasure to a good-sized audience, pleased especially in the Bach-Busoni 'Chaconne,' a sonatina by Ravel, a composition of real feeling, 'The Spirit of Passing Clouds,' as well as works by Chopin, Ravel and Liszt.  (By Maurice Halperson.)


MUSICAL AMERICA
—Mr. Davies possesses the secret of producing a tone of great beauty and of colorful possibilities.  (H. J.)


MUSICAL LEADER
— …His sincerity attracts his hearers immediately and he succeeds in holding their attention by many fine attributes, technic, understanding and the manipulation of phrasing, pedals and the externals of piano playing.


MUSICAL COURIER
— …His performance of the Chaconne, Bach-Busoni, which he chose as his opening number, revealed him as a deep-thinking musician, while in his playing of the group of modern compositions, his tonal color was at all times appealing.  His rendition of the closing group gave the artist opportunity to display his virtuosity.  'The Spirit of Passing Clouds,' by the concert giver, proved to be an original, brilliant and interesting composition, and received enthusiastic applause.