Vernon Symphonic Quintet

              Platform Music & Entertainment By Clay Smith


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VERNON QUINTET A FINE INSTRUMENTAL COMPANY



Personnel From Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.—Good Reports Received From Committees




In the discussion during the musicians round-table at last year's convention, it was brought out by the managers that the ideal lyceum and chautauqua attraction was a company composed of individual soloists on orchestral instruments who were also able to put on a good ensemble.  Everyone knows or should know that you can only have a good ensemble by having the correct grouping of instruments.  You cannot expect to have an ensemble by putting an accordion and piccolo along with a tenor and a piano.  There are certain tone qualities in instruments that simply will not blend.  You cannot get a 
saturated solution
 with them, so to speak.




Each instrument has a certain tone color and the way some of these tone colors have been made to clash in some of the lyceum and chautauqua companies is enough to make Mr. Berloiz turn over in his grave.




A year or so ago, a lady violinist, and a good one, said she was asked to jump way south to lead an orchestra on a chautauqua circuit.  She hurriedly threw her things together on receiving the wire and left on the first train as the salary was quite attractive and it was with a responsible bureau.  They advised that their violinist had taken sick and had to go home.  Imagine her chagrin when she found the orchestra consisted of three other girls, one playing cornet, one playing drums and doing the reading and who admitted she could not read a note of music, and the pianist.  I wish you could have heard this young woman, who had had excellent musical training tell her trials for the next fifteen weeks.  But that's another story—suffice it to say there have been no greater offenders in the mismating of musical instruments than the lyceum and chautauqua companies.




I am glad to say this practice is growing less each season and that there is now a tendency to return to rationality again.  One of the fine instrumental companies that is just now attracting considerable attention is Vernon's Cleveland Symphonic Quintet.  Those of you who heard their concert at the convention last year will hardly need this information.  I thought Mr. Vernon's violin solo one of the high spots, musically, of the whole week.  I am told the entire personnel of this company is made up from the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.  Their instrumentation is fine, consisting of two violins, viola, 'cello, piano, 
and organ
.  I would personally rather see a wood-wind used there than the organ in conjunction with the piano, but there is no question but what they have an excellent ensemble for chamber music as it stands.  They give varied programs of solo and ensemble numbers featuring chamber music selections for string quartet and trio, supplemented by brief talks about music and composers.  Also solos on the Viola d' Amour, an obsolete mediaeval instrument.  I wish I had one of their sample programs by me at this time, but as I have not, the above description will have to do.




A report from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, to The Billboard says of the Vernon Symphonic Quintet:  
Never a better musical program in the city.  They present music of the highest excellence in a way to delight everybody in the audience.  One can hardly speak too highly of the artistic work of the quintet.  Our audience was absolutely delighted.





VERNON SYMPHONIC QUINTET This fine organization is with Ellison-White this summer





And this paragraph from a column article in the News of Aberdeen, S. Dak.:  
Mr. Vernon is a real artist and supported by an able group of musicians.  The program of the evening included many fine numbers but the second number, played by the string quartet, was perhaps the finest of all.  Andante Cantabile, by Tschaikowsky is a wonderful composition of mingled sweetness and pathos and was presented in a manner that gripped the hearts of the audience and held them in tense suspense until the last wonderful note died into silence.




Here is what the Laurel Daily Leader had to say about them after their appearance there:  
The Laurel Music Club had the honor last evening of presenting one of its stellar attractions, the Paul Vernon Symphonic Quintet, which marked the fourth of the series, with three more to follow. * * *  While their entire program was exquisite, their encores were particularly so.  They gave some old favorites such as The Beethoven Minuet, The Boccherine Minuet and The Rosary.  The leader of the quintet, Mr. Paul Vernon, made their program most interesting and easy to follow by his splendid explanation of each number.  These musicians won Laurel with their graciousness, their pleasing appearance and their very likeable personalities.




The Vernon Symphonic Quintet is the type of musical attraction which is a credit to the movement and you never have to be apologizing for the type that plays real legitimate musical instruments in a legitimate way.  Let's pull for more of their kind.—Clay Smith.




A MULE and a man make no progress while kicking.—


Swarthmore News Letter.




THE 
Red Headed Tent Boy
 says:  
Remember, the size of the mouth has nothing to do with the quality of the taste.





The Lyceum Magazine



July, 1924




Music Reviews By Clay Smith



TWO WONDERFUL SONGS from Presser, ROSE OF KILLARNEY words and music by James Francis Cooke, published in one key only for medium voice, but it should be published for low voice as well.  This song has been out several years and it is hard to understand why it has not been better promoted and more widely used as it is a splendid Irish ballad, just the sort of a melody John McCormack would be at his best in.  The motif is placed in a 3/4 moderato and smacks of the 
Auld Sod.
  A more typical Irish air would be hard to find.  I can heartily recommend ROSE OF KILLARNEY to any good singer.




SLEEPY HOLLOW TUNE words by Bertram Fosdick, music by Richard Kountz, published in D for low voices and I understand it will soon be issued in other keys.  This song is issued in the Etude Magazine of June.  Those of you who used the 
Lazy
 song to good effect will find SLEEPY HOLLOW TUNE of the same type and just as effective.  There is a humming part, a sort of obbligato for the voice while the pianist plays the refrain thru the second time which adds a touch of sweetness to the haunting melody and rounds out a harmonious whole.  SLEEPY HOLLOW TUNE is a song that will live.




NEW SONGS from Harms, Inc.  MEMORY LANE words by DeSylva, music by Spier and Conrad, published in popular style in one key only.  MEMORY LANE is the best waltz song I have seen for a long time.  The triplets used in the chorus give it an air of distinction not usually found in a popular song.




WHERE THE RAINBOW ENDS words by Grey, music by Ayer, published in one key only.  A semi-popular ballad in alle breve tempo, a fair melody, but the refrain is full of unpleasant intervals which do not seem to get anywhere.




JUNE BROUGHT THE ROSES words by Stanley, music by Openshaw, published in three keys:  low in A flat, medium in B flat and high in C.  A rather pretty ballad in 3/4 valse lento, but a long ways from being another 
Love Sends a little Gift of Roses.




WAITING FOR THE DAWN AND YOU words by Irving Caesar, music by Leo Edwards, published in one key, but as this is an advance copy I presume it will be issued in keys for all voices.  It certainly should as this is a beautiful ballad, by far the best song of the four.  The construction consists of two verses of proper length for working out a correct musical sequence followed by a refrain which is strong in musical beauty.  The whole is backed up with a full, sustaining piano accompaniment.  A ballad good enough for any place where good music is used.




NEW SAXOPHONE MUSIC published by Volkwein Bros.  Pittsburgh, Pa.  Six numbers composed and arranged by Louis Panella as follows:


(1)


The Two Bache'ors (Bolero)


(2)


The Jolly Two (Polka)


(3)


Jack and Jill (Waltz)


(4)


Tom and Jerry (Waltz)


(5)


The Two Gnomes (Dance)


(6)


The Two Lovers (Polka)





This collection is published as solos for all the saxophone family, as well as clarinets, cornets, trombones, and baritones.  Also as duets for any two members of the saxophone family or any two of the wind instruments named above.  They are of just the right length for concert purposes and of medium grade, not too hard or too easy for the general run of players.  They also have marked value as teaching numbers.  I find them well harmonized thruout and above the average in musical interest.  No doubt these numbers will have a wide popularity on the summer programs.  The titles are somewhat weak, especially for printed programs, but I can assure you the music is more seriously good and should not be judged by the titles.




THREE SPLENDID SONGS from Theo.  Presser Company ORPHEUS WITH HIS LUTE, a superb setting of Shakespeare's poem by Daniel Protheroe.  This is only published as a solo for soprano and baritone, a serious composition done in that finished musical way of Protheroe's which needs no further comment from me.  A fine duet for the recital program and especially fitting for teaching purposes.




FUNNY LITTLE FELLOW words by Monica Rily, music by Allen P. Grant, published in one key only, medium voice in F.  Just a simple little poem telling the usual story of the Pickanniny set to a very musical melody, has more value as a pianolog than as a song.




DRIFTIN' ON words by Cameron Field, music by Richard Kountz, published in one key only, for a low voice.  A splendid song for those especially good in character songs or rather songs of a certain distinct type.  This is another lazy song and must be sung very slowly and with a worn out drawl.  If done just right it is very effective as a novelty.  The song consists of two short verses.




(Reviewed by Russell Jeffries England, well known music critic of Philadelphia.)




In the baker's dozen of songs I have given my morning to looking over I have found just two which to me seem to strike twelve.  The first is 
Little White Moon Of My Heart
 by Bertrand-Brown; but the one that impresses me most is a ballad entitled:  
All I Need Is You, Just You;
 Words by Elizabeth Gordon, music by Clay Smith, published by the Heidelberg Press Of Philadelphia.  Mr. Smith has written a lovely obbligato for violin or 'cello and this is published with the song in three keys.  The text is unusually musical and the melody is one of this well known composer's best.  It is a slow, plaintive air with that certain touch of pathos that is so noticeable in this writer's songs, yet never overdone.  
All I Need Is You, Just You
 is a love ballad as pure and singable as:  
Kathleen Mavourneen
 and I believe it will live as long.  Any voice of average capabilities can register with this song and it seems to be just as good for low voice as high.  (I am reading it from the high key) Mr. Smith has treated his piano accompaniment in a rather original way.  It is full arpeggios of follow-up chords which augements the interest where the singer holds a tone three counts.  I have added this song to my regular repertoire.





THIS MAY HELP YOU



Just think what it would mean to the managers if every person who spends all or even a part of his time on the lyceum or chautauqua platform carried a card in the Who's Who department of The Lyceum Magazine.




It would mean that the managers could quickly get just the information they need about everyone in this field.  Right now, however, these busy men are making daily use of this department.  If your card is listed it means they can quickly find you if they want to reach you at any time.  Your being easily located may mean many additional dates for you.  It may result in materially increasing your income.




A one-inch Who's Who card costs but $2.00 a month.  Send us the material you wish used and we will prepare the copy.  If you want a cut send a photo and we will have the proper style of cut made.—Advertisement.




WORDS FOR WIZARDS
 is the title of a clever little book of forty pages written by George Schulte of Chicago.  It contains appropriate 
patter
 to be used in connection with various magical effects and should be of great assistance to the performer who appreciates the importance of entertaining conversation when presenting his tricks.  It is copyrighted by the author.





MODERNIZED NURSERY RHYME



Sing a song of ex-pense—Pocket full of dough


When the week was started, But not when it was thru;


Had to wire for money To finance the male quartet;


Now isn't that the deuce To tell the manager?  You bet.




—H. Chas. Cox.





ELLISON-WHITE NOTES



Portland, Ore.—We note that the May issue of The Sphinx, the publication of the Society of American Magicians, carries a first page story on McDonald Birch, our Six-Day magician, written by Chas. V. Stout.  
Chuck
 has certainly been hiding his light under a bushel, for in addition to his fame as a writer, now comes the story from Idaho of his having taken the place of Ralph Erwin as Mr. Baxter in 
The Mollusc.
  Mr. Erwin was ill with tonsilitis and it was necessary for him to go to the hospital at Orofino.  It was then discovered that 
Chuck
 had been understudying him and in four different towns gave thoroly satisfying performances.




Boise over the top
 is the wire just received from Mrs. Thatcher.




Walla Walla is another one of those 
almost too good to be true
 towns, having already formed a contract committee whose duty it is to have the 1925 contract all signed up before the beginning of the 1924 Chautauqua.




In Willits, California, every child of school age, both grammar and high school, and every child enrolled in five county schools, received a free ticket to chautauqua, purchased by the committee. W. S. Foster and Frank Muir each gave $150.00 toward the fund and the others on the committee made up the remainder, augmented by three entertainments which were given during the winter for this purpose.




At St. John, Washington, Della Scott McGregory, Director, discovered that many of the committee were not working to put over the ticket sale.  Della got busy and mailed each guarantor two tickets, asking for their co-operation, which resulted in the sale of a good lot of tickets.




We have just learned of the good work of Carol McFeeters, Six-Day Junior Supervisor, at Corning, California.  This was at the first of the season during the epidemic of the hoof and mouth disease when the director scheduled for Corning was needed elsewhere.  Miss McFeeters stepped into the breach and not only did the Junior work, but the directing as well, with credit to herself and the Bureau.




When McDonald Birch was playing Cottage Grove, the Society of Magicians at Eugene drove down to hear him, and to take him back with them to Eugene as their guest.  At Medford, also, the magicians gave a banquet in his honor.





CHICAGO REDPATH NOTES



Chicago, Ill.—The Four-Day Canadian circuit opened, July 5, at Glencoe, Ont.  This circuit is under the general direction of Elmer B. Persons, manager of the Redpath Toronto office.  On July 18 the Atlantic Five-Day circuit goes into Canada.  Roy E. Bendell is manager of this circuit.




Former Governor Brough of Arkansas, who has been lecturing on the first day of the Atlantic Five-Day circuit this year, made the speech placing Senator Robinson of Arkansas in the race for Democratic nomination for president of the United States at New York.  Governor Brough has been very active in Senator Robinson's campaign.  It will be remembered that Governor Brough was himself elected to chief executive of Arkansas without opposition when he made the run for governor the second time.




The Gulf Five-Day circuit has just closed, its closing town being Beardstown, Illinois.  This circuit is under the management of Orville O. Bottorff.




O. W. Thomas, former manager of the Gulf circuit and now state field representative for Florida, has joined the forces of the Seven-Day circuit platform superintendents for a number of weeks.  Mr. Thomas superintended the first town in which a chautauqua was held on this circuit.  This town was Pulaski, Tenn.




Opie Read has written a number of articles for the Cosmopolitan Magazine.  These articles will appear at an early date.




Professor Forest Ray Moulton is the sponsor for a new plan for dividing the calendar year.  He would have thirteen months of twenty-eight days each, with an extra day every year except leap year and then two extra days.  This plan has been given considerable publicity in the Chicago papers.




Among the Redpath lecturers who have been making splendid records as commencement speakers, is Hon. William D. Saltiel.  Mr. Saltiel gives a wonderful address which should be conducive to right thinking and right acting.