New Topic Identification |
New Topic Identification |
New Topic Identification |
New Topic Identification |
New Topic Identification |
New Topic Identification |
Sat May 18
Cleaned house till I was dead with weariness; after luncheon took a cold plunge and that braced me up a bit for my lesson at Mrs. C.'s. She made me lean over the piano and relax completely and then sing without giving much voice. She thinks it is only by dropping completely the idea of the size of my voice for a while, that I will ever get the tiny pointed attack from which the full tone grows. Gave Millie a lesson at 5 and in the evening went down to hear the Conried Opera School girls (and men) in "Der Freisch\"{u}tz.'' Paula B. sang Agathe and I was amazed to hear how she has learned to handle her voice. It was rich and velvety, especially her mezza-voce. And Katherine Moran made a good showing. Her voice - which is not of a very sweet quality - carries well. On the whole they gave a good performance. The house was packed and we had to stand.
Sun May 19
A beautiful warm day. Mr. D called for Ella and me at church and we all had dinner "chez nous.'' I don't know what ails that man but he certainly is queer. He never makes an attempt to say anything interesting to me and when he does make a spontaneous remark it is to Ella -- Perhaps he is trying to make me jealous! No, he hasn't sense enough for that! Well he can do as he pleases! I have lost all interest in him. His "smite'' was evidently not a deep one. Ella and I went to Peabody's for supper. They are very nice people and I feel strongly inclined to go up to their Maine cottage with Ella. We had a pleasant evening. Ella and I sang and they liked my Bohemian songs very much. But I sang abominably, I know. My throat was closed as could be and every tone sounded pushed to me.
Mon May 20
Did harmony all morning, had an exam at one. Not a hard one. At two went to Mr. Collins' to do French. We are reading "Romanesques'' and it is simply delightful. Had a singing lesson. How I am ever to know what is right, I don't know. Miss Thursby seizes my belt and makes me take a deep breath between each phrase and then "just talk'' and that seems right. Then on Wednesday I go to Mrs. C's. she says -- take no breath consciously! Meaning, of course, use only as much as comes in naturally, and I do it and that seems right. Of course, the truth is, that it makes very little difference how you take it in just so that you give it out in the right way. In the evening, a rehearsal for the Op. class and oh it was interesting. The pupils have all improved and Mrs. Aldrich Mr. Jacobson Miss Rice and Miss Kerns have really remarkable talent. It looks oh! so easy to get up and let lovely sonnets pour from your lips.
Tue May 21
Skipped the Krehbiel lecture and stayed at home to practice instead. At 1.30 an Italian lesson, one of the most interesting we have ever had. We read part of Canto III of Dante's Inf. and I don't see why we did not start sooner, for you gain something worth knowing by reading such a thing. But I do not agree with Mr. Tapper that it is foolish to swim across a river when you can walk across a bridge - the bridge being translations of great masterpieces. After all, swimming is great fun and you gain, I am sure, a much deeper knowledge of the poet by struggling thro the original than by reading someone's interpretation in a translation - for it is just those things which cannot be translated which make the poem a masterpiece. Went to the Student's Club, where Miss De Bow - Graham, Connor and I sat and discussed singing; teachers and methods till you felt that the whole thing was hit or miss and that a really fine singer sings by inspiration, not perspiration.
Wed May 22
Memorized first three verses of Canto 3 and had a singing lesson with Miss Thursby on "Traviata'' Well I finally came to an understanding with her about breathing. I began to sing with the "fill your belt'' notion and she said it was bad. So I took no deep breath and and did what I do when Mrs. C says "Don't breath" and she said it was good. So there! Now if I can get them both working on the same lines perhaps I can get somewhere. The extreme high notes were very good and of course there is no reason why it should not all be alike. But oh! the time and patience necessary! And then when a girl like Miss Graham is gifted with a heavenly voice, perfectly placed, she can say "Oh it's so much work! I think I'll stop and go back to teaching!'' How curiously things are divided in this world!
Thurs May 23
Sang a great deal today and it was all very good. At one o'clock I went to church to practice with Miss Manly in the big church. It is well that we thought of rehearsing, for the sound of one's own voice is so different that I scarcely recognized it. In the first place it goes away from you and you feel nothing but the metallic ring in back of your teeth. Miss Manly said it sounded well and was very sweet about it all. Then went down to Inst. and had a fine lesson with Miss Thursby; sang straight up and down from low B$\flat$ to high D. with perfect ease. I was wishing Dr. Damrosch would come in then. If I could only have a few such days consecutively; and there is no reason why I should not.
\footnote{Emilie Manly, 64 W. 107 St, N. Y. C. Tel. 631 Riverside}
Fri May 24
Began by getting down town at 8.15 and buying a spring suit by 8.30. It takes Mila to do those stunts. Should have been at church for rehearsal at 9 but came late, as most all of them did. The funeral took place at 10. From eleven to twelve I practised, as it was the only moment I was home, all day. Ella gave a luncheon for Miss McGrew, Miss Manly, and myself. We had a jolly time and Miss McGrew proved very charming upon further acquaintance. At four Ella and I went to church and I sang for Leopold in church. He said, on the whole, that he would advise me to continue with the hope of becoming soloist; said the upper notes were tight but that could be cleared up by a good teacher. On the whole it was a satisfactory trial and I was pleased. At rehearsal in the evening he was very amiable and grinned at me several times.