The Chicago madrigal club: D. A. Clippinger, conductor

              D. A. CLIPPINGER, Conductor.

Slayton Lyceum Bureau
STEINWAY HALL CHICAGO, ILL.
The Chicago Madrigal Club
Fourth Season



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GEORGIA KOBER, Pianist

Chicago Tribune
—Displayed fluency, refinement and appreciation.


Toledo (O.) Morning Star
—Technical accomplishments are adequate and she plays in good style, with commendable clearness and dash.


Minneapolis (Minn.) Tribune
—Her technique is excellent.  Her work shows intelligence, artistic style and finish.  Brilliant octave work.


Milwaukee (Wis.) Sentinel
—A fine technique, with an unusually delicate and musical touch.  Her work in the Litolff Scherzo was excellent.


Chicago Inter Ocean
—In music requiring dash—brilliancy—she is at home to an unusual degree.  The chief characteristic is well tempered virility.


Chicago Post
—Noted for her temperamental interpretations, she plays with excellent technical accuracy.  The Chopin Mazurka was thoroughly artistic.


Chicago Musical Leader and Concert Goer
—Musical temperament and true poetic instinct.  Her playing is full of grace and beauty and shows a rare depth of feeling.


Chautauqua (N. Y.) Assembly Herald
—It is not too much to say of Miss Kober to give her the highest praise for execution, insight, musical appreciation and understanding.





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DELIA MAY HENNEY, Soprano
MISS HENNEY was graduated from the Chicago Musical College two years ago, and has since continued to do post-graduate work in the same institution.  She scored signal success by winning a diamond medal for proficient work; later she was again presented with a diamond medal in recognition of her ability.  Daniel Prothero, director of the Arion Club, of Milwaukee, says of Miss Henney: She sings beautifully and her tones are brought out with absolute correctness.  I think Miss Henney has a great future before her.


Milwaukee Evening Wisconsin
—At the concert of the Milwaukee Athletic Club Miss Henney won unstinted applause.  Perhaps her most pleasing numbers were Coquette, by Stern, and the Mad Song, from Hamlet, by Thomas.


Fond du Lac (Wis.) News
—Miss Henney possesses a wonderful voice, and she sang her way into the hearts of her audience last evening in a manner that will render the memory of the occasion a cherished one, even to those who may never be accorded the pleasure of hearing her again.  Her voice is a clear, sweet soprano of great range and power, and possessing the nameless quality of sympathy that first drew attention to Jenny Lind, and without which no singer can be ranked as truly great.  Her control is simply wonderful, and to all the other attributes necessary to success on the concert or operatic stage, she links a charming presence and a perfectly natural manner.





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Root Studio.
The Chicago Madrigal Club
ITS ORIGIN—The Chicago Madrigal Club owes its origin to Mr. D. A. Clippinger, who recognized that while Chicago had its great mixed chorus in the Apollo Club and its superb male chorus in the Mendelssohn Club, it had no society of mixed voices whose object was unaccompanied singing.  Musical literature is rich in madrigals and part songs of great beauty and offering a wide field in musical interpretation.

ITS AIM—The aim of the Chicago Madrigal Club is to produce the best madrigals, ancient and modern, in the best possible manner; to revive madrigal singing and to stimulate American composers to this style of writing.  The difficulties in unaccompanied singing are great.  The singers are not kept on the key by the accompaniment, but must rely on their sense of pitch.  The effect of this is to develop a keen sense of tonality and the ability to sing in tune.  Neither is there anything to cover up defects as in accompanied singing.  The singers must rely upon themselves and the composition must be perfectly learned.  This develops the habit of detail in study and is of the greatest value to the music student.  The effects in unaccompanied singing cannot be obtained by heavy, straightforward singing, but must come through perfect enunciation, phrasing, blending of tone, a correct conception of proportion, harmony and unity, tone color and artistic mingling of light and shade.

THE RESULT—That these have been secured by the Chicago Madrigal Club has been recognized by the musical public of Chicago and many other western cities.  The club was organized in 1901, with the hope that its efforts would attract the attention of musical people and that by the financial aid of an associate membership list it would be able to present its work to the public.

ITS PRIZE COMPETITION—To encourage American composers to write this form of musical composition, the Chicago Madrigal Club organized a competition in 1903 and offered a prize for the best madrigal setting of the words of Bret Harte's well-known poem, What the Chimney Sang. A jury composed of Messrs.  Emil Liebling, Frederick W. Root and D. A. Clippinger passed upon the large number of compositions offered anonymously, and the prize was awarded for a composition which was found to have been composed by Chicago's young but brilliant organist, Mr. Arthur Dunham.  The madrigal was first produced by the club at its second concert of last season, and then and wherever it has since been sung it has been most enthusiastically received.

In 1905 The W. W. Kimball Co. of Chicago, recognizing the beneficial effect of these competitions on American music, endowed The Chicago Madrigal Club with one hundred dollars per year to be used as a prize in these competitions.  It will be known as The W. W. Kimball Co. prize.





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BERTRAND ALAN ORR, Baritone
MR. BERTRAND ALAN ORR is one of the younger baritones of Chicago who has been coming rapidly to the front in the past two years.  His voice has an unusually rich, sympathic quality and ample power.  In concert, song recital and oratorio he has had marked success.  A good voice, stage presence, pleasing personality and musicianship combine to make him a very attractive singer.


Musical Leader
—The opening solo of the Prayer from Lohengrin was sung by Mr. Orr with magnificent breadth and in strictest accord with the sentiment intended, and the obligato for the same voice throughout was accomplished in excellent fashion, showing the voice to be one of unusual range and the musical knowledge of the singer to be adequate to the interpretation of very large works.


Dixon (Ill.) Sun
—Everyone agreed that Mr. Orr was superb.  His very manner charms his audience.  His voice is of unusual sweetness and is delicately cultured.  That the audience was pleased with his singing is putting it mildly.  Despite the fact that it was a critical audience his first number was enough to win their appreciation, which was most graciously bestowed.  His second number, Schumann's The Two Grenadiers, displayed the richness of his voice to good advantage, and the Irish Love Song was most dainty.  Mr. Orr is an artist and it is hoped that Dixon will be favored again.




THE CHICAGO MADRIGAL CLUB

Chicago Tribune
—The Chicago Madrigal Club gave the second concert in its present series—the fourth—in Music Hall last evening.  The subscribers were out in full force, and appreciation and approval of the work the sturdy little club offered were hearty and freely accorded.  Mr. Clippinger's singers are gaining most enjoyably in the mastery of the art to which they have devoted themselves, and they now accomplish much that is productive of true pleasure and satisfaction and which has musical value and artistic finish to commend it.  The technical side of their performance is being brought to a high degree of completeness, and they are beginning to acquire a goodly measure of freedom and ease in their handling of the interpretative.  Their singing last evening, for example, of My Lady Chlo, The Chafer and the Flower, and The Bugle Song had not only vocal virtues of distinct worth to win it approval, but spirit and good revealment of poetic and musical values to lend it value.


Adrain (Mich.) Daily Telegram
—The opening evening of this famous Adrain amusement organization, or more strictly speaking, mutual arrangement, was by the Chicago Madrigal Club, under direction of D. A. Clippenger.  It is composed of a number of Chicago ladies and gentlemen, who are excellent singers, and are under the most thorough training.  The effects produced by this excellent mixed chorus, with such wonderfully correct training, are certainly marvelous.  The heighth of excellence in shading, expression, etc., is reached, making such beautiful harmony that it cannot help but please, even if one's ear is not attuned to the finer grades of music.


Chicago Chronicle
—Music Hall was crowded with an enthusiastic audience last night at the first concert of the season of the Chicago Madrigal Club and enthusiasm was displayed from the opening number until the close of a long but in no wise tedious program.  The club, which is under the direction of D. A. Clippinger, has made considerable of a reputation heretofore by its artistic and refined work and the first concert of this season demonstrates that the organization is reaching more nearly to perfection every season.  The six numbers by the club were augmented by encores until they were doubled, and still the audience seemed unsatisfied.  The work of the organization is characterized by smoothness and sustained tone and by excellent control of volume.


Chicago Inter Ocean
—In Music Hall last evening the Chicago Madrigal Club presented a most interesting and worthy program.  Unaccompanied choral music is too much neglected in this country and the work of such a sterling organization as the Madrigal Club deserves all encouragement.  The club sings splendidly.  The voices blend in one full sonorous choral tone and the precision and certainty of their work at all times reflects great credit on the conductor, Mr. D. A. Clippinger.


Musical Leader and Concert Goer
—The Chicago Madrigal Club has supplied the element that Chicago needed to knit some of the vocal forces together, and so well welded is the organization that it is as much an integral part of the season's concerts as any of the older organizations.  D. A. Clippinger, who was the criginal promoter of the club, is also its musical director, and under his careful guidance The Madrigals are to be reckoned with some of the best musical organizations either east or west.  An admirable balance is maintained in the singing of the club and the program throughout is of notable excellence in arrangement and selection.  The a capella features of a chorus are especially attractive if well rehearsed and rehearsal is one of the Madrigal's strong claims to recognition.  There is a certainty about the attach, a sureness about the endings and an expressive interpretation that give the club real musical value, one that is of educational importance in creating a vocal environment.  Mr. Clippinger's work cannot be too highly commended.  He has not only gathered together an admirable body of voices but he has also trained them to sing intelligently and clearly, with just as keen a sense of vocal requirements as a soloist would have.




PRESS NOTICES

Grinnell (Ia.) Herald
—The opening numbers of the Y. M. C. A. lecture course were given yesterday afternoon and evening before fairly large audiences in the Congregational Church.  Both concerts were well suited to be the openers for a strong course and the organization proved a most excellent one.  Their voices blended beautifully and their enunciation was well-nigh perfect.  The club more than deserved every good thing promised and would be greatly welcomed here again.


Oklahoma City (Okla. Ter.) Oklahoman
—Seldom has a finer audience gathered in Oklahoma City than that which assembled at the First Methodist Church last night to hear the Chicago Madrigal Club.  The house was crowded.  The club presents a balance in harmony which is both aristic and natural.  Their music charms and rests.


Rock Island (Ill.) Times
—The lyceum course at Augustana was opened last evening by the able and well-known entertainers, the Chicago Madrigal Club, whose reputation had preceded them.  In anticipation of a pleasant evening, which was fully realized, a large and appreciative audience filled the auditorium and the numbers were received with liberal applause.  The concert was throughout most enjoyable, and credit must be given to Mr. Clippinger, the director, who is painstaking and able in his work.


Mt. Vernon (Ia.) Hawk-Eye
—The Chicago Madrigal Club presented a splendid program to a well filled auditorium, and their work will long be remembered as of the best.  The voices of twenty-four singers were splendidly modulated and thoroughly trained to artistic rendition in every respect.  Mr. Clippinger, the director of the club, needs no better commendation as to his marked ability than the hearing of a program given under his direction.


Arkansas City (Kan.) X-Rays
—The Chicago Madrigal Club was greeted with a packed house, and the audience was highly pleased with the excellent program.  Nearly every number was encored.


Waterloo (Ia.) Courier
—The concert given in Brown's Opera House last night by the Chicago Madrigal Club was without doubt one of the grandest musical entertainments ever given in Waterloo.  The result of years of training was plainly apparent in every number rendered.  It was indeed a strictly high-grade concert and delighted the most critical.  It has been suggested that the committee could do no better than to secure the Madrigals to open the course another season.


Newton (Kan.) Kansas-Republican
—The concert was a treat, and the superb work of the Chicago Madrigal Club offered as fine an entertainment of this kind as Newton has ever been privileged to enjoy.



PRESS NOTICES OF MISS KOBER

Mason City (Ia.) Globe-Gazette
—Miss Kober gave one of the finest interpretations of the Grieg Concerto ever rendered here; and Sherwood as well as other great pianists have been heard here.  She was supported by the orchestra, which made an unusual feature for the audience.  The encore was graciously given.


Clinton (Ia.) Daily Herald
—Power and admirable technique was revealed.


Kewanee (Ill.) Star-Courier
—A touch and expression that were the marvel of the audience.


Springfield (Ill.) Journal
—Has a broad command of the technique of the piano and illuminates her work vividly.


Washington (Pa.) Democrat
—A pianist of rare skill and plays with remarkable ease.


Galesburg (Ill.) Evening Mail
—One of the most genuinely enjoyable numbers of the matinee was the one given by Georgia Kober, pianist.  The soloist, who has a very attractive presence, was a favorite with the audience from her first appearance, and her playing subsequently but strengthened the feeling.  The Concertstûck, by Chaminade, was played with a perfection of technique and magnetic temperament that completely won her hearers.  With the brilliancy of tone was ever present a rich, sympathetic quality that continually added a charm to the presentation.


Chicago Musical Courier
—Distinctly a brilliant pianist—one who is thoroughly well poised and scholastic—a correct clean staccato.


Columbus (Ind.) Republican
—A finished pianist with a beautiful temperament.


Davenport (Ia.) Tribune
—An excellent pianist, with a thorough comprehension of the score.


Kalamazoo (Mich.) Gazette
—Possesses great strength, and was able to make the piano respond in a truly marvelous manner.


Chicago Chronicle
—Gave a brilliant and truly artistic interpretation of Godard's A minor Concerto.


Allentown (Pa.) Chronicle and News
—A finished performer.


St. John (N. B.) Telegraph
—Showed wonderful skill and art.


Grinnell (Ia.) Herald
—Miss Georgia Kober, pianist, scored the triumph of the evening in Grieg's tremendous Concerto in A minor, which is so familiar to Grinnell music lovers.  Miss Kober gave a remarkable performance.  She surmounted the technical difficulties of this tremendous composition with evident ease and gave it a strong and satisfying interpretation.  To a hearty encore she responded with a delicate, tuneful waltz unfamiliar to Grinnell ears, but which bore all the ear marks of one of the Moszkowski waltzes.  Miss Kober appeared here with the Redpath company four years ago.  It would be a great pleasure to hear her here in a recital program.

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