History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 22

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592

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HEBREW UNION COLLEGE.

The following account of the Hebrew Union College is taken from Mr. Kenny's "New Illustrated Cincinnati :" The Hebrew Union College on West Sixth street was founded in 1875, and permanently established in the city of Cincinnati. It is entirely supported by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The College provides free instruction to every one, irrespective of religious belief, who may wish to avail himself of its benefits, and it is hoped that the future rabbis and Sabbath- school teachers of American Israel may be selected from its graduates. The Bible is studied in the original language, translated into English and German, and read with commentaries in Aramean, Syriac, and Chaldean, and the students are intro- duced into the whole of that wonderful literature, the Talmud. In order to obtain a thorough, liberal, secular education, students of the College are required by its rules and regulations to be regular attendants at, or graduates from, high schools, colleges, and universities. Worthy poor students, a large number of them selected from the best inmates of the Jewish Orphan Asylums throughout the United States, have their boarding, clothing, books, and other necessities paid from the fund of the College, and from voluntary contributions, especially those subscribed by the

Jums truly Poli Rudolph Hoff

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Hebrew ladies of America. All students are placed with respectable families and watched over by the board. The nineteenth annual report, for 1892, says: "We find that the receipts from all sources, during the past seventeen months, have amounted to $30,969.80, and that the expenses for the same period, all told, have amounted to $26,591.99. The cost of properly maintaining the Hebrew Union Col- lege for seventeen months, with all its expenses in every direction, has only amounted to $22.804.01. It is questionable whether there exists a similar institu- tion of learning anywhere on this continent, which produces so much good at snch comparatively slight cost."

MUSIC IN CINCINNATI.

Music as a fine art, and as a branch of education, has received so much atten- tion in Cincinnati, and has been so long a favorite study and amusement of our people, that the city holds a pre-eminent rank on these accounts. The excellent singing in the public schools, the celebrated bands and choral societies, the far- famed May Music Festivals conducted by Theodore Thomas, the proud reputation of many individual singers and instrumental players, conductors, and composers, who were trained here, all join to make the Queen City a musical center, known and respected by all lovers of the divine art. The musical critic of the New York Tribune, H. E. Krehbiel, wrote, in 18SS, as follows: "There are more phases than one in which the musical culture of Cincinnati is an interesting subject of study. Eight years ago I spent a long time searching through the musty old newspapers in the file-room of the Gazette, and turning over all the historical data afforded by public and private libraries, in search for facts appertaining to the origin and growth of music in the Ohio Valley. To the discoveries made then I have often turned since with surprise at the vigor and fertility of its social soil in the early days of the State. Three years later, when I undertook a similar task in New York City, this surprise grew into amazement. " Mr. Krehbiel gives a summary of the growth and progress of music in Cincinnati, from the time of the Haydn Society, in 1819, to the great Centennial Festival of 1888. We have no space for even a bare outline of his survey, but must be content to furnish the reader with only a brief account of some of the music schools now flourishing in the city.

The College of Music .- The fifteenth academic year of the Cincinnati College of Music closed June 29, 1893, and at the annual commencement diplomas of gradu- ation were presented to twenty-one persons, and certificates to sixty-five. The College is known throughout the length and breadth of the land, and among its hundreds of pupils, studying the various branches of music, are found representatives of every State.

The College is an incorporation under the laws of the State of Ohio. Its objects are in the act of incorporation stated as follows: "To cultivate a taste for music, and, for that purpose, to organize a school of instruction and practice, in all branches of musical education; the establishing of an orchestra; the giving of concerts; the production and publication of musical works, and such other musical enterprizes as shall be conducive to the ends mentioned." The first session of the College began October 14, 1878. It is an eleemosynary institution handsomely endowed by Reuben R. Springer and a number of benevolent citizens of Cincinnati. Its entire income is devoted to instruction and cultivation in the art of music and collateral branches, such as dramatic action, modern languages and elocution. No stockholder can own more than one share of stock, which is valued at fifty dollars. This stock can not be transferred without it is first offered to the College trustees, and upon the death of the stockholder it reverts to the College, to be disposed of in its discretion. The board of trustees numbers fifteen, who are elected by the stockholders from their own body. At the first election they classify themselves by lot in five classes. One- fifth goes out each year, and their places are filled in turn by election of the stock-

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holders at each annual meeting. The officers of the College are annually elected by the board of trustees from their own body.

The value of the Springer endowment, comprizing stocks, building and equip- ment, is estimated at $306, 750. The buildings alone are valued at $150,000. The valuable buildings and land the College occupies adjoin the great Music Hall. Besides some forty rooms for purposes of instruction, the College has a large and beautiful concert hall-the Odeon-which has a seating capacity for 1,200 persons. The stage is thoroughly equipped for operatic and dramatic performance. An addi- tional hall has been erected with a seating capacity of about 400, with a large, new Roosevelt organ. In this new hall, named The Lyceum, the Saturday students' recitals, frequent professors' piano recitals, chamber concerts, annual examinations, orchestra classes, and organ recitals are held. Through the generosity of R. R. Springer there is a fund in the College, the interest of which is annually devoted to the distribution of prizes, consisting of gold medals. The Springer prize gold medals, ten in number, are presented to students who have been selected from those who have superior ability, have been in the College at least one year, have complied with the rules, attended obligatory classes, have been diligent and punctual, and have good character. Free scholarships are established for the purpose of assisting poor but talented young people who study music as a profession, and are conferred by the board of trustees upon the recommendation of the board of examiners. The scholarship for the voice has been established in memory of the first president of the College, George Ward Nichols, and the scholarship for the organ in honor of the present president, Peter Rudolph Neff.

In regard to the plan of education in the College, the catalogue states that: It is the object of the College of Music to educate the student upon a well-regulated and scientific plan of instruction. This plan includes instrumental and vocal instruc- tion, with that for theory and musical composition, and direction of chorus and orchestra.

There are two departments-an academic department and the general music school.

1. The academic department is the College of Music proper, which students can not enter for less than one academic year, from September 1st to June 30th. Its members will be required to pursue a definite course of study described in the fol- lowing pages. In order to be members of said department, students must begin the entire course of obligatory studies with the beginning of the year; but the official admission by the board of examiners can be delayed, though not later than the January examinations. To its members alone certificates and diplomas are awarded at the end of each scholastic year, after an examination by the board of examiners. This department embraces thorough instruction in all studies appertaining to each spe- cialty, and the more advanced education in solo and ensemble playing of orchestral instruments and the piano; in the study of the piano and organ, solo and chorus singing, and finally in the participation in musical performances, wherein the resources developed in the school are utilized.

2. The general music school, which serves as a preparatory department, is for general or special instruction, where any one may enter for a number of terms, receiving the valuable instruction which is afforded by the presence of a large number of excellent teachers (with the advantage of free admission to "lectures," "pupils' recitals," "chorus," and all free classes), with the best methods, exercises, text-books, and the discipline of a well-appointed school. The general music school gives to many thousands of persons, who have neither the means nor time for graduation, a certain amount of the best kind of musical instruction at low prices.

The College of Music was undoubtedly the outgrowth of an enthusiasm developed by the influence of a series of Saengerfests and May Music Festivals, which origin- ated in the German singing societies of Cincinnati and surrounding towns. A union

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of several of these societies was effected in June, 1849, when the German Saenger- bund of North America was formed. This organization held its Festivals or Saengerfests in Cincinnati in 1849, 1851, 1853, 1856, 1867, and 1879. The first of the celebrated May Festivals was held in May, 1873, the second in 1875, the third in 1878. These Festivals, managed by an association of which George Ward Nichols was president, were conducted by Theodore Thomas, and it was owing to their bril- liant success that Mr. Springer conceived the idea of founding a Music Hall and organizing a College of Music.

The first officers of the College were: President, George W. Nichols; treasurer, Peter Rudolph Neff; secretary, J. Burnet; other directors, R. R. Springer, John Shillito. Upon the death of Mr. Shillito, A. T. Goshorn was elected in his place. The number of directors was increased to seven, and Jacob D. Cox and William Worthington were chosen to complete the board. Theodore Thomas was called to the position of Musical Director of the new College, and he controlled its internal affairs until the end of the year 1879, when he retired.

George Ward Nichols died September 15, 1885, and he was succeeded in office by Pres. Peter Rudolph Neff. From his annual report, for 1893, in behalf of the trustees, to the stockholders of the College, we extract the following exceedingly interesting passage: "With the exception of Sunday, New Year's Day, Good Friday, Fourth of July, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas the College has been open daily. Consequently for three hundred and ten days of 1892 our work has been continuous and constant. In the department of the voice lessons are given by five professors and ten instructors; in the department of the piano there are eleven professors and nine instructors; in the department of the organ, two professors and one instructor; in the department of theory, four professors and two instructors; in the department of the violin, one professor with two assistants; in that of the cello, one professor and one assistant; in the bass viol, oboe, flute, cornet, French horn, trombone, bassoon, clarionet, guitar, mandolin and harp, one professor for each instrument. In the department of elocution, one professor and two assistants; in English literature, one professor; in the school for the opera and dramatic expression, one professor; cham- ber music and ensemble classes, one professor; sight-reading chorus classes, two professors; normal classes, two professors; prima vista piano classes, one professor; choral and oratorio department, two professors; orchestral department, one professor; history and esthetics of music, one professor; Italian, one professor; German, one professor; French, one professor. The board of examiners consists of sixteen professors. The duties of this board are to prepare a standard for the admission of students to the academic department, and to make the requisite examinations therefor. They also examine and pass upon the musical qualifications of candidates for free scholarship, certificates and diplomas of graduation, and the board of trustees grant these honors upon the recommendation of the board of examiners, unless there are good reasons for withholding them. The number of lessons given during the year 1892 was 49, 771.

" The capacities of the College buildings and of the Faculty are severely taxed to properly care for the students, who numbered nine hundred and seven for the academic year ending July 1, 1892. This year the number will probably be larger. Over seven thousand students have attended the College since its organization. Of this number, over one thousand are teaching, and it is within bounds to say that the income of these persons last year was not less than $1,000,000. As to the pecuniary value of a musical education, a few instances from our own experience may be inter- esting. The College has paid one of its eleves as large a sum of money for singing fifteen minutes as her vocal instruction cost her for a year. A young man who entered the College as a free scholar received a three years' engagement as a teacher in the College, at $3,000 per annum. A graduate of 1883 received, for singing and vocal teaching in a sister city, during the two years preceding her marriage, the sum of

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$5,000 per annum. Of those who have received our certificates or diplomas, twenty- two have found engagements as instructors in the College, and twenty-three others have been, or now are, regular members of the Faculty. Our first graduate has been, ever since his graduation, one of our honored and successful professors of the piano. The expenditures of the College, during its existence, have been over $1,250,000. Seven gold medallions have been granted in the department of elocu- tion and oratory. Eleven prizes in money, for best original musical compositions, have been presented; one hundred and thirty Springer gold medals have been distri- buted; two hundred and thirty seven certificates have been granted, and one hundred and eighteen diplomas."

Students board in the college dormitories which immediately adjoin the College, and are under the charge of a competent matron and steward. Parents can send their children direct to the office of the College with confidence that they will be provided with a suitable and comfortable home.

Cincinnati Conservatory of Music .- This institution was established in 1867. In the history of music in Cincinnati, the Conservatory of Music stands as the first organized school of art modeled after European conservatories. In a spirit of con- scientious ambition, the founder and present directress determined to offer an artistic education on a par with the best European schools. Three things are nec- essary for the perfect efficiency of a music school, a distinct consistent method in all the departments of art, a larger and varied faculty of musicians prepared both by natural gifts and by culture to present their specialties, and thorough, straight- forward business methods combining energy and foresight. In the case of the Cin- cinnati Conservatory of Music, we have a conspicuous illustration of the solid and brilliant success that crowns such a combination of excellencies as here indicated. Despite all the changes in the evolution of our city's musical history, the Cincinnati Conservatory has continued to grow, strengthen and spread.

The vocal department has always been under the immediate supervision of Miss Clara Baur herself; of her method of dealing with the human voice, it can be said with truth that she is, in the best sense of the words, artistic, original and consis- tent. Certain effects which are habitual with her students rank among the very highest known in the vocal art, and are too rare in these chaotic and spuriously dramatic days, such, for example, as steadiness of the breath current, approximat- ing the tone to that of the organ, distinctness of consonants by which the stamp of definite meaning is placed upon the phrases, and equality of scale from the lowest to the highest tone, may be mentioned. Her method is that of the old Italian mas- ters, who brought about the golden age of vocal art, modified as it must necessarily be to cope with the wider demands of modern composition and the changes of style which have been made from epoch to epoch. The piano department has always been equally consistent, having placed as its corner-stone, square and solid and based upon the bed-rock of eternal principles, a clear, technical system from which it has never deviated. The public can have only two criteria for deciding the meth- ods of a school. viz. : the students' concerts and the artists' concerts which it gives, in both which respects the Conservatory has been industrious and successful. The pupils' concerts of the Conservatory are of a high order of merit, showing judicious taste, catholicity in the selection of numbers, infinite patience in the development of technique, and a deep, poetic insight into the highest significance of music.

The harp is taught by the celebrated artist, Mrs. Louis Hosea; the violin has during a number of years been under the efficient direction of Jacob Bloom, and is in a state of artistic prosperity. In the early days of the Conservatory the pianist, H. G. Andres, was at the head of the piano department; but in 1883 a brilliant New York pianist, George McGrath, who had been six years in Europe as student and concert player, was engaged by the Conservatory. In 1889 Frederic Shailer Evans, also of New York, and fresh from a four-years' residence abroad, was added

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to the Faculty; and Theodore Bohlmann, who brings the strongest credentials from D'Albert, Bülow and Moszkowski, and has won reputation as a composer, became one of the corps of instructors in 1890. All the adjuncts, such as theory classes, elocution, languages, and lectures on history and æesthetics, which are implied in the name Conservatory, are thoroughly developed.

In its early days, the school was located on West Seventh street, near Vine; it was then changed to the corner of Eighth and Vine, and when that building became insufficient for its purposes, it was transferred to Fourth and Lawrence, where it has commodious quarters. In providing a boarding department for stu- dents from a distance, the Conservatory differs from all other schools in the city, and such a safeguard for young ladies pursuing a course of study at a distance from home can not be too highly estimated.

Cincinnati Music School .- This excellent school, founded by its present propri- etor, George Schneider, in 1880, is now located at Room 62, Pike building. Miss Emma Cranch, the well-known vocalist, now of Chicago, was for years at the head of the singing department. Since her departure the teaching in the school has been more than ever concentrated on theory and the practice of piano playing. No master in Cincinnati is more respected or more accomplished in his art than Mr. Schneider. He is a thorough musician and musical scholar, as well as teacher. A special feature of his school has been the piano recitals by Mr. Schneider (from six- teen to twenty every year), by which the pupils became familiar with a great part of the old and the modern piano literature.

ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI.

The Art School, formerly the School of Design, founded in the year 1869, now known as the Art Academy of Cincinnati, constitutes a department of the Museum under the administration of the Cincinnati Museum Association. The Academy building is the gift of David Sinton. It is adjacent to the Museum on an elevated position com- manding an extended view of the city and surrounding country. The Academy was liberally endowed in February, 1884, by Hon. Nicholas Longworth, in fulfillment of the desire of his father, the late Joseph Longworth, the first president of the Museum Association, and long a patron of art education. From a sketch of the "Art Museum and the Art Academy," prepared in 1888, by the director, Hon. A. T. Goshorn, we obtain the following particulars:

" The Cincinnati Museum Association was organized in the year 1880 as a result of the late Charles W. West's offer to give $150, 000 toward establishing an art museum in Cincinnati, on condition that other citizens should give as much more. The sub- scription within thirty days reached $166,500. In addition to the money thus pro- vided for the erection of the museum building, an endowment fund of $250,000 was secured, toward which Mr. West contributed another $150,000. This building, ded- icated on the seventeenth day of May, 1886, and covering an area of 17,227 square feet of ground surface, was erected at a cost of $330,000, and composes the centre and west wing of the building designed, of which the east wing remains to be con- structed. The Art Academy building. which stands north and west of the Museum, was completed in October, 1887. It is the gift of David Sinton. The Academy has an endowment fund distinct from that of the Museum, amounting to $397,000, given by the Hon. Nicholas Longworth, in accordance with the wish of his father, the late Joseph Longworth, a warm and active friend of the Museum and Academy, and the first president of the Cincinnati Museum Association. The Academy is the out- growth of the old School of Design, started in the year 1869 by the trustees of the McMicken University, and afterward continued as a department of the University of Cincinnati until the year 1884, when it was transferred to the Cincinnati Museum Association, the transfer being followed by Mr. Longworth's endowment. Twelve instructors are engaged in teaching and lecturing, and during the past year over four

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hundred students were in attendance. The regular session begins at the end of September, and continues into the following May. There are both day and night classes. The only charge is an enrollment fee of $10. This year a summer term of ten weeks has been added. The subjects in which instruction is given in the regular course, are drawing, from elementary ontline drawing to studies from life, painting in oil and water color, modelling, decorative design and wood-carving. Lectures are delivered on artistic anatomy, perspective, and occasionally other sub- jects. The students are admitted free to the Museum, and are encouraged in study- ing and copying the objects there."

From the ninth annual catalogue of the Academy, 1893-94, we learn that the school has courses of instruction in drawing, oil painting, original composition, sculp- ture, pen drawing, decorative design, water color painting, carving, illustration, anatomy, perspective, etching, china painting, and photography. The number of pupils enrolled for the academic year 1892-93 was 380. A certificate is given to students who have completed any prescribed course. Home and foreign scholar- ships and other prizes are awarded, to aid deserving students, to stimulate skill.

Prof. Thomas S. Noble, who has been principal of the Faculty ever since the organization of the Academy, thus expresses his general view of the utility of the work which he directs: "Training in the various directions embraced in the Art Academy, in the serious way in which it is gone about with ns, may be made to form a very important factor in general education; it tends to round out and render prac- tical the powers of observation, it enlightens regarding facts and reveals charms in the ordinary aspects of nature, it makes the common uncommon, the familiar resplend- ent. It gives direction to the powers of the mind gained by the study of other sub- jects. It confers upon the eye accuracy, to the hand nicety of touch and precision.

" The intelligent study of the arts of the past, architecture, sculpture and paint- ing, furnishes the mind with correct standards of taste, which cause it to reject what- ever is ugly or incongruous, this taste, extending to standards in ideas, becomes a guide in the selection of books, the choice friends, to personal manners and con- versation.

"The response that I made to Mr. Larz Anderson decided my being chosen to conduct the school. He asked me, ' What can an art training do for a country boy in Ohio?' 'Sir,' said I, 'he would plow a straighter furrow.' The systems and methods are largely personal; they are not copies of any other institution. I have endeavored to create a system as free from faults as I could devise."

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History of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, Ohio; their past and present, Part 22

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati Publication date: 1894 Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson Number of Pages: 1592

Author: Nelson, S.B., Cincinnati
Publication date: 1894
Publisher: Cincinnati : S. B. Nelson
Number of Pages: 1592