The Edison phonograph monthly (Jan-Dec 1916)

EDISON PHONOGRAPH MONTHLY, JULY, 1916 11 Who's Who Among August Blue WILL A. RHODES, Jr., Tenor Will A. Rhodes, Jr., whose splendid tenor voice is heard to advantage in a rendition of "Mary of Argyle," a famous old Scotch song, on the August Amberol list, is an American concert artist of wide renown. He specializes in concerts, recitals and oratorios, but has appeared in a number of operatic productions. At the present time Mr. Rhodes is connected with the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh in the capacity of tenor soloist. His church wrork, however, does not confine him closely and his engagements in concert and oratorio work are numerous. Among the organizations with which he has appeared recently are the Pittsburgh Festival Orchestra, Pittsburgh Male Choir, Irwin Ladies' Choral, New Brighton Choral, Orpheus Club and the Geneva College Choral. Charles Wakefield Cadman, the famous American composer, gave Mr. Rhodes a strong endorsement when he wrote the following letter to him: "I want to thank you for the splendid and musicianly work you did for me this spring. Every one of your appearances with me has been remarkably successful and noteworthy, and I could not have had my songs interpreted in more artistic fashion. I see no reason why your singing should not win for you many engagements in all parts of the country. Real tenors are scarce as hen's teeth nowadays, and you seem to fill the bill. I am sure that you will have every success. If I can further your work at any time, do not hesitate to call on me." ERNST ALBERT COUTURIER, Cornet Ernst Albert Couturier, who is conceded to be one of the greatest cornet players in the world, was born in New York City in 1869 of French and German parentage, and when three years of age displayed remarkable musical talent. He immediately was placed under the guidance of the very best instructors of New York and Boston. After taking a thorough course of piano and violin instruction — of which instruments he is a complete master — he took up the study of the cornet at the age of twelve. This soon became his favorite instrument and his course of study was marked by rapid progress, his instructors predicting his future one of the most brilliant ever enjoyed by a cornet virtuoso. He played under the renowned Patrick Gilmore in "Gilmore's Famous Band," and after the death of the founder of this organization succeeded to the position of director. For seven years he directed this world-famous concert military band, retiring only because his failing eyesight made it impossible for him to fulfill the duties required by the position he held as leader. As a thorough artist of the cornet he stands strictly alone, as his technic is unsurpassed by any cornetist of the day, performing as he does the most difficult numbers ever attempted. Edison Artists in the Amberol List A fine example of his finished work may be heard in his rendition of the Lullaby from "Jocelyn," an instrumental specialty included in the latest Blue Amberol list. JOHN F. BURCKHARDT, Bells John F. Burckhardt, one of the foremost bell soloists in the country, owes much of his mastery of the instrument to his study of the piano, on which he is an accomplished performer. The keyboards of a set of bells and the piano are identically the same, the only difference between the instruments lying in the manner of execution. Having gained familiarity with chords and other harmonic combinations by his piano study Mr. Burkhardt is capable of securing many unusual effects on the other less complicated instrument. The ability to read music with great rapidity was also gained from his study of the piano, and this, combined with the facility to execute the most difficult and involved passages, has made him predominant in his field. Mr. Burckhardt was born in Newark, X. J., on March 17, 1879, and he received his musical training in this country under Prof. Frederick Habersang. For twenty years he has been a prominent pianist in concert and theatre-orchestra work and he has played both piano and bells in many of the largest orchestras and finest theatres in this country. He now is pianist and bell soloist at the Edison Recording Laboratory and his work there has contributed largely to the excellence of many Edison records. GLEN ELLISON, Baritone Born in Glasgow, Scotland, this talented artist studied music for five years at the London Royal Academy, where he won a scholarship and eight medals. Although he had great success in grand opera both in England and Australia, his inclination led him into lighter opera and he was a musical comedy favorite in London for some time. His reputation in that country won him tempting offers from vaudeville producers in this country and he has appeared in the majority of the high class variety houses from NewYork to San Francisco, appearing in the East on the Keith circuit and in the West in Orpheum houses. He has made many Blue Amberol records and all of them have attained a great degree of popularity. On the August list he is represented by "Sing Us a Song of Bonny Scotland," a melodious and appealing song that he renders very effectively. R. S. Irvine, California manager for the Filers Music Company, which handles the Amberola line in several western cities, recently presented a reed organ to the United Presbyterian Church, of Stockton, Cal., of which he was a member at one time.