HISTORY OF MAHAN'S MUSIC FESTIVALS IN CORTLAND, N. Y.

Cortland Opera House on Groton Avenue.

Mahan's Music Store on Court Street.

Lillian Blauvelt.

Cortland Evening Standard, Friday, June 4, 1897.

THE MUSIC FESTIVALS.

LIST OF ARTISTS DURING THE TWENTY-THREE YEARS.

The Festival is an Evolution and a Growth—Now One of the Established Features of Cortland Musical Life. Alexander Mahan, the Man Who is Responsible for Them all.

   Few of the younger generation of attendants  upon the annual music festivals in Cortland which always occur in the first week in June and which have become an established feature of the musical life of the place have much of an idea of the growth of these great events. It is known that this is the twenty-third annual festival, but to look back twenty-two years to the first one seems almost like a stretch of the imagination. Nearly a generation has passed since these festivals began. In the chorus of to-day are seen a comparatively few of the faces which were prominent in the early festivals. Some there are who still seem youthful, but they were more youthful then. Some are observed whose hair is now tinged with gray or which has even a silvery whiteness which would then rival the raven's wing. And the hair of Dr. Palmer, the conductor, has not escaped the touch of Father Time, though the ladies find the same charm in his manner, his stories are just as good, and he wields the baton with the same skill and precision as when he first made his appearance in Cortland in 1879.

   It was an experiment with Mr. Mahan when he-began these festivals (conventions they were called then). Festivals had been held in England and Germany for years and had become very popular and had accomplished wonders in the way of elevating the tone of music, and educating the musical taste. Mr. Mahan determined to accomplish something of this for Cortland county. And so he made arrangements for the holding of a musical convention in old Taylor hall. It was well advertised, and prominent musicians from surrounding counties were present. The conductor of this and the three succeeding conventions was Prof. L. O. Emerson of Boston. The array of artists was nothing like that in later years, but the festival was then in its experimental days. The stars came the first year from Syracuse and Norwich and they were indeed fine performers. Many now remember how Miss Charlotte McLane of Syracuse sang the solo in "Inflammatus" and Mrs. E. W. Capron of Norwich with her splendid alto voice carried her audience off its feet with her rich tones in the solo with chorus in "The Twilight Falls."

   The first year the chorus numbered 190 voices. The high water mark of the chorus was reached in 1885 when the new Opera House was used for the first time and when the entire oratorio "Creation" was sung. The chorus that year numbered 494.

   Festivals were not a financial success the first few years, but Mr. Mahan never faltered. He had faith in the people, and his anticipations have been more than realized in later years, for the festival has come to be the musical event of the year.

   A great array of talent and of famous artists has visited Cortland during these twenty-two years with their twenty-three festivals. Many people have had opportunities of hearing celebrated singers and performers which would not have been possible for them under any other circumstances. As many artists as appear in any single year could never be brought together in a single concert under other conditions, but the large sale of chorus tickets and the large audiences for four concerts yield a sum of money which warrants Mr. Mahan in paying the extremely high prices charged by many of his artists. Each year he has some new attraction and each year adds several names to the long list of stars that have appeared before Cortland audiences. Here in previous years have been heard such artists as Zelie de Lussan, Marie Stone, Emma Thursby, Clementine De Vere, Lillian Blauvelt, Emma Juch, Mrs. Alma Webster Powell, Lillian Carllsmith, D. M. Babcock, A. E. Stoddard, L. G. Gottschalk, Campanini Campanari, Rieger, Dr. Martin, Remenyi,  Henri Marteau, Maud Powell, Geraldine Morgan, Maude Morgan, Lachaume Florio and others.

   Of Dr. H. R. Palmer, the popular conductor, who is this season in Cortland for the sixteenth year, it may be said that he is a conductor and composer whose name is known to every American musician. His written works comprise more than thirty volumes, the aggregate sales of which exceed 1,000,000 copies. He has traveled extensively abroad, and has made himself thoroughly conversant with all the best European methods, which together with his long experience, renders him an instructor of rare attainments. As a theorist his position is undoubted. His "Theory of Music'' is acknowledged as a standard text book by the best American musicians. The honorary degree of Doctor of Music has been conferred upon him by two prominent American universities.

   A search through the files of The STANDARD for the past twenty-two years brings out the following list of names of people who among others have had prominent parts in the festivals through these years:

FIRST YEAR, 1875.

   Prof. L. O. Emerson of Boston, conductor.

   Mrs. W. B. Smith, Miss Mary E. Bouton,

   Miss Emily Webb, accompanists.

   Mrs. Charlotte McLane of Syracuse, soprano.

   Mrs. E. W. Capron of Norwich, contralto.

   Prof. T. H. Hinton of Syracuse, pianist.

SECOND YEAR, 1876.

   Prof. L. O. Emerson of Boston, conductor.

   Mrs. H. E. H. Carter of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Persis Bell of Boston, violin.

   Mrs. E. W. Capron of Norwich, contralto.

   Dr. John Sheerar of St. Albans, Vt., baritone.

   Frank Roraback of Syracuse, tenor.

   Prof. T. H. Hinton of Syracuse, pianist and accompanist.

   Prof. Henry Strauss of Boston, organist and accompanist.

THIRD YEAR, 1877.

   Prof. L. O. Emerson of Boston, conductor.

   Mrs. E. A. Humphrey Allen of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Addie J. Whitbread of Syracuse, contralto.

   Mendelssohn Quintet club of Boston.

   Prof. Henry Strauss of Boston, organist.

   Mrs. W. B. Smith, Miss Mary E. Bouton, Miss Emily Webb, accompanists.

FOURTH YEAR, 1878.

   Prof. I. O. Emerson of Boston, conductor.

   Mrs. E. Humphrey Allen of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Louise Linden of New York, saxophone.

   Miss L. P. Emerson of Boston, contralto.

   Miss Addie J. Whitbread of Syracuse, contralto.

   Mrs. Kate M. Wilson of Binghamton, soprano.

   J. F. Rudolphsen of Boston, baritone.

   C. W. Allen of Boston, violin.

   Herr Benno Scherek or New York, pianist and accompanist.

FIFTH YEAR, 1879.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Mrs. Anna Granger Dow of New York, soprano.

   Mrs. Kate M. Wilson of Binghamton, soprano.

   F. Edwards of New York, tenor.

   Walter Emerson of Boston, cornet.

   Dr. Wm. H. Schultze of Syracuse, violin.

   Mrs. E. F. Swart of Auburn, accompanist.

SIXTH YEAR, 1880.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Miss Marie Stone of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Addie J. Whitbread of Syracuse, contralto.

   Mr. A. E. Stoddard of New York, baritone.

   Mr. F. Edwards of New York, tenor.

   Miss Maud Morgan of New York, harp.

   Mr. Charles Werner of New York, violoncello.

   Mr. Frank Gilder of New York, piano.

   Mrs. E. F. Swart of Auburn, accompanist.

SEVENTH YEAR, 1881.

   Dr. H. K. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Miss Hattie Sims of Brooklyn, soprano.

   Mr. A. E. Stoddard of New York, baritone.

   Mr. Frank Gilder of New York, piano.

   New York Philharmonic club (six pieces).

   Mrs. E. F. Swart of Auburn, accompanist.

EIGHTH YEAR, 1882.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Miss Emma S. Howe of New York, soprano.

   Mr. L. G. Gottschalk of New York, baritone.

   New York Philharmonic Club (six pieces).

   Mrs. E. F. Swart of Auburn, accompanist.

NINTH YEAR, 1883.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Mrs. F. P. Whitney of Boston, soprano.

   Meigs Sisters of New York, vocal quartet.

   New York Philharmonic club (six pieces).

   Mr. Frank Gilder of New York, piano.

   Mrs. E. F. Swart of Auburn, accompanist.

TENTH YEAR, 1884.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Mlle. Zelie de Lussan of New York, soprano.

   Meigs Sisters of New York, vocal quartet.

   Mr. Edward Mollenhauer, violin.

   Mr. Charles Werner, violoncello.

   Mr. Frank Gilder, piano.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard of Boston, accompanist.

ELEVENTH YEAR, 1885.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Mrs. Juvia C. Hull of New York, soprano.

   Mrs. Adeline Louise Nellis of Boston, soprano.

   Mr. Fred W. Jameson of New York, tenor.

   Mr. D. M. Babcock of Boston, bass.

   Prof. C. L. Schaick's orchestra of Rochester (twenty pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

TWELFTH YEAR, 1886.

   Mr. C. Mortimer Wiske of New York, conductor.

   Miss Emma Thursby, soprano.

   Lotus Glee club of Boston.

   Wiske's Quintet club of New York.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

THIRTEENTH YEAR, 1887.

   Mr. Carl Zerrahn of Boston, conductor.

   Mlle. Zelie de Lussan of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Helen D. Campbell, contralto.

   Lotus Glee club.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

FOURTEENTH YEAR, 1888.

   Mr. Carl Zerrahn of Boston, conductor.

   Miss Jessamime Hallenbeck, soprano.

   Miss Hattie J. Clapper, contralto.

   Mr. William Courtney, tenor.

   Mr. Perry Averill, bass.

   Miss Lillian Carli Smith, contralto.

   Prof. C. L. Schaick's orchestra of Rochester (twenty pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Danna Shepard, accompanist.

FIFTEENTH YEAR, 1889.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer of New York, conductor.

   Mrs. Theodore J. Toedt (Ella Earle), soprano.

   Mr. Theodore J. Toedt, tenor.

   Mundell Sisters' vocal quartet.

   Ricca Venetian Mandolin quintet.

   Mr. Charles D. Kellogg, whistler.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

SIXTEENTH YEAR, 1890.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Miss Minnie E. Stevens of Boston, soprano.

   Miss Lillian Carllsmith of Boston, contralto.

   Mr. Thomas Impett of Troy, tenor.

   Dr. Carl Martin of New York, bass.

   Charles F. Higgins Concert Co. of New York (five pieces).

   Dickinson & Beman's festival orchestra of Binghamton (fourteen pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

SEVENTEENTH YEAR. 1891.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Signorina Clementine DeVere of New York, soprano.

   Mme. Christine Hollis-Walter of New York, soprano.

   Hatton Male quartet.

   Mr. John C. Bostelmann, violin.

   Dickinson & Beman's Festival orchestra (fourteen pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

EIGHTEENTH YEAR, 1892.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Mme. Clementine DeVere-Sapio of New York, soprano.

   Miss Lillian Carllsmith of Boston, contralto.

   Signor Italo Campanini, tenor.

   The Misses Keyes of Rochester.

   Mr. S. R. Racklyeft of Binghamton, baritone.

   Mr. W. C. Burgess, tenor.

   Dickinson & Beman's Festival orchestra (fourteen pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

NINETEENTH YEAR, 1893.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Mme. Clementine DeVere-Sapio, soprano.

   Mrs. Clara Dutton Thompson, contralto.

   Mr. A. S. Thompson, baritone.

   The Misses Keyes of Rochester.

   Mr. Wm. H. Rieger, tenor.

   Miss Maude Powell, violin.

   Dickinson &. Beman's Festival orchestra (fourteen pieces).

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

TWENTIETH YEAR, 1894.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Lillian Blauvelt. soprano.

   Mrs. Mabel Ine Burleigh, soprano.

   Mme. Rosa Linde, contralto.

   Mr. Henri Marteau, violin.

   Mrs. Pauline Glidden Chapman, cornet.

   Mrs. Anna Doll Gilbert, contralto.

   Mr. Aime Laehaume, piano.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

TWENTY-FIRST YEAR, 1895.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Lillian Blauvelt, soprano.

   The Misses Keyes.

   Guiseppi Campanari, baritone.

   Edouard Remenyi, violin.

   Caryl Florio, pianist and accompanist.

   Darby's Festival orchestra.

TWENTY-SECOND YEAR, 1896.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Miss Emma Juch, soprano.

   Mrs. Alma Webster Powell, soprano.

   Geraldlne Morgan, violin.

   Prof. Conrad Becker, violin.

   Emit K. Winkler, violoncellist.

   Dr. George A. Parker, piano.

   Caryl Florio, pianist and accompanist.

TWENTY-THIRD YEAR, 1897.

   Dr. H. R. Palmer, conductor.

   Mlle. Alice Yerlet, soprano.

   Miss Louise St. John Westervelt, soprano.

   Miss Zora Horlocker, contralto.

   Mr. George O. Bowen, tenor.

   Mr. George H. Downing, baritone.

   Miss Dora Valesca Becker, violin.

   Miss Lillian Littlehales. violoncellist.

   Mrs. Martha Dana Shepard, accompanist.

George Conable Dead.

   The community was shocked this morning at the news of the sudden death of Mr. George Conable, who for the past 43 years has lived just outside of the village corporation of Cortland on the McGrawville road, and who has been known far and wide as one of the best farmers and most respected citizens of Cortland county. Mr. Conable had been ill but two days. Thursday he was busy upon his farm and had his brother, Mr. Fred Conable, assisting him in putting a new sill under his barn. The two brothers have lived side by side for years and were always helping each other. The work was completed about the middle of the afternoon and then the brother went home. Shortly after noon Mr. Conable was seized with a violent attack of bowel trouble. He grew rapidly worse and Dr. White was summoned and was with him some hours and was called again in the night, but yesterday he was thought to be much better, and was believed to be on the road to rapid recovery. During the night his wife noticed that he was cold and tried various methods to add to his warmth. Finally becoming alarmed she sent for the doctor, but before his arrival life had departed. Heart failure was said to be the final cause of death.

   Mr. Conable would have been 68 years old upon the 28th of this month. With his brother he moved from Fabius to Cortland in 1854 and the two purchased the farm now owned by Mr. Fred Conable. For twenty years the two brothers were partners in the farming business, but shortly after coming to Cortland they bought the Miller farm adjoining the one already purchased and soon after separated their interests, Mr. George Conable taking the new farm more recently purchased. But for about forty years they have lived side by side, ever ready to help each other.

   Mr. Conable was twice married. His first wife was Miss Ruby Stafford, and their marriage occurred in October, 1859. Four children were born to them, two of whom died in infancy, but two daughters survive, Miss Lena R. Conable, who is teaching in Summit. N. J., and Miss Nellie L. Conable, who is teaching at Herkimer, N. Y. Mrs. Conable died March 2, 1891, and two years ago last fall Mr. Conable was married to Mrs. Addie Bouton of Cortland who survives him. Mr. Conable had been for years a trustee in the First M. E. church and one of the pillars of the church. He was a director of the First National Bank of Homer, and an excellent citizen.

   The time of the funeral has not yet been decided upon.

Vital Statistics for May.

   Health Officer W. J. Moore submits the following report of vital statistics for the month of May:

   Deaths 12, males 6, females 6; social condition—single 4, married 3, widowed 5; nativity—United States 12; ages—under five years 2, between five and ten 1, between twenty and thirty 1, between forty and fifty 1, between sixty and seventy 3, between seventy and eighty 2, between eighty and ninety 2; causes of death—consumption 1, cancer l, Bright's disease 1, disease of the brain 3, heart disease 1, old age 2, premature birth 2, euremia 1; births 13, males 6, females 7; marriages 5.

BREVITIES.

   —The case of The People against William H. Hill was discontinued in Justice Dowd's court this morning, the complainant M. L. Decker not appearing.

   —On next Monday afternoon, June 7, a regular meeting of the board of managers of the Hospital association will be held at the hospital, beginning at 3 o'clock.

   —Mr. Will C. Hodge, inspirational speaker, will lecture in Good Templars' hall, Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, also on Sunday evening at 7:30. All are cordially invited.

   —New display advertisements to-day are—Bacon, Chappell & Co., Gloves, page 7; McCarthy & Co., Ladies' Suits, page 7; Rosenbloom & Sons, Parlor Suits, page 4; I. Whiteson, Last Chance, page 4.

   —Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. Blair of 28 1/2 Greenbush-st. celebrated the twenty-fifth anniversary of their marriage Wednesday evening by entertaining about twenty invited guests at their home.

   —The young ladies of the Corlonor fraternity at the Normal [School] went to Tully this afternoon where to-night they present the comedy, "The Oxford Affair," under the auspices of the Tully Union school. They were chaperoned by Miss Alger of the normal faculty.