Frances Densmore: A New Woman, But Not Without Complication

Author: Frances Densmore

Recipient: not specified

Date: undated

Location: Frances Theresa Densmore Letters 1884-86, Letter No. 1, Record Group 30/156, Oberlin College Archives

Document Type: Typed Letter Copy

Fig 14: Oberlin Conservatory concert program, front. This is not from the concert Densmore wrote about in Letter No. 53, but includes the names of the Doolittle brothers, and is an example of what music was played at Oberlin.
Fig 14: Oberlin Conservatory concert program, front. This is not from the concert Densmore wrote about in Letter No. 53, but includes the names of the Doolittle brothers, and is an example of what music was played at Oberlin.

Introduction

7 program back
Fig 15: Oberlin Conservatory concert program, back.

This letter describes Densmore’s engagement with music from other countries as represented by visiting groups at Oberlin College. Most significantly, Densmore mentioned music from Hungary and Germany. She explained the reception these groups received at Oberlin and her personal reactions to them. She additionally referenced multiple people from the Oberlin music community.

 

Transcription

7-1     Letter No. 43 <53>– in part

Friday a concert was given by a “Hungarian Band”, [sic] who were to play the native songs of their country, or words to that effect.  Have heard little of it except that the Doolittle Bros.1 arose and left when the performance was half over.  I guess it did not amount to much.  By the way, did I tell you that last Tues. eve Miss Alice Doolitt<l>e (an older sister) sang a German song composed by Mr. C. P. D.2 and was heartily applauded.  The song was a lovely thing and the singer exceedingly pretty but I do not enjoy the nes [sic] “ala [sic] Agnes Huntington”3 style yet.  Mr. Thome4 sang at Rehearsal too.  He has a tenor voice and sings very pleasingly and with much expression.  Have I told you that he has invited Miss Babcock and myself to sit at Mrs. Lord’s table next term?  He actually “hastened to secure my attendance” in less than a day after Mrs. L. told him I would be at the Hall, and kindly included Miss B. I think it will be very pleasant.

(The plans to return to the Hall show this was written in tha [sic] fall of 1885)
Transcribed by Leah Newman

1 Professor Frederick G. Doolittle of violin and Charles P. Doolittle, instructor of violoncello and harmony, and a lecturer on musical form. F. G. Doolittle once congratulated Densmore once on her performance, saying, “‘Miss D. I want to congratulate very much upon your playing at Rehearsal the other evening. You showed an amount of execution I did not suppose you possessed’- – or words to that effect, and after I thanked him, said still more in praise of it. If that had been all I had ever heard of the performance I should have felt more repaid for the labor expended, so high is my opinion of Prof. D’s musical taste” (Letter No. 3, Frances Theresa Densmore Letters 1884-86, Record Group 30/156, Oberlin College Archives).

2 C. P. Doolittle. He filled the vacancies of both Mayor Joseph Wolfe and Mayor O. F. Carter in 1910 and 1912, respectively.

3 Agnes Huntington-Cravath (1862-1953) was a famous opera performer of the time.

4 James Allen Thome, a student in the conservatory and seminary at this time. He earned an A.B. degree in 1883, and graduated from the seminary in 1886.