University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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Albert Augustus Stanley. + ROFESSOR ALBERT A. STANLEY was born on the twenty-'dfth of May, 1851, in the state of Rhode Island. When he was ive years old his family moved from Manville, his birthplace, to Slaterville, which is sixteen miles from Providence. Here he first attended school. He received instruction upon the piano from a Providence teacher, but prefer,-ed to practice upon the organ. The instrument which tl1e boy was permitted to use for this purpose was that upon which Professor Frieze had played at Slaterville when helping himself through Brown University. At the age of fourteen, young Stanley was organist in a Congregational venteen he was placed in charge of the large 01-gan in the Church of the Mediator, in Providence, and it soon became evident that he musical career. Wishing to give himself the best advant- ages in the way of a musical education, he availed himself of such advanced instruction as could be obtained at home and laid plans for a thorough course in Germany. In 1871 he went to Leipzig to enter the Royal Conservatory. Mr. Stanley remained in Leipzig four years, receiving instruction in both the theory and the practice of music from the distinguished men then con- nected with the Conservatory. He won the confidence and respect of his pro- f ssors who sent pupils to him. In this way it came about that he gave e a lessons in music in the very room which Schumann, when in Leipzig, had used church. At se was destined for a as a study. Returning to America in 1875, he accepted a position in a ladies' college as teacher of music. In December of the same year he married Miss Emma F. Bullock, of Randolph, Massachusetts, who, having been a friend of his youth, had become also the ideal of his manhood. After one year of pleasant work at Delaware, a very favorable otler came from Pro- vidence, to which he now returned, assuming the position of organist at Grace Church. In 1888 he was induced to leave Providence again to come to the University of Michigan as professor of music. Of Mr. Stanley's work at the University it is ditiicnlt to write. During the six years of his connection with the institution he has shown himself alike at Delaware, Ohio, 4 -17-

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a man of eminent ability and of a character singularly lovable. His musical attainments, as in very few men of so pronounced artistic temperament, are associated with rare intellectual balance and infinite patience with practical de- tails. Thus he not only is able to cherish high ideals and form large plans, but also carries out his designs with a tact and skill indicating a high order of executive ability. To Mr. Stanley's efforts and influence the remarkable development of musical interests at Ann Arbor during the past few years is directly due. The Choral Union, from a weak and uncertain membership, has become a strong organization. It is now, with its two hundred and eighty voices, the largest students' society of its kind in the world, and as a chorus is one of the best trained to be found anywhere. It has rendered with marked success not only Buck's f4Light of Asia and minor works by Max Bruch, Arthur Foote and others, but also Handel's Messiah, Gounod's f'Redemption,l' Mauzoni's Requiem, Berlioz's Damnation of Faust,l' and the first act of Wagner's HLohengrin. The concerts which Professor Stanley has given in connection with the Choral Union, or has brought to the city, have caused Ann Arbor to be reckoned in the first rank among the musical centers of the United States, as is shown by the prominent place accorded to its programs in the musical publications. Among the pianists who have played here in the past five years are Aus der Ohe, D'Albert, Bloomfield-Zeisler, Carreno, DePachmann, and Paderewski. Seine of the vocalists, several of whom have been at Ann Arbor more than once in the period mentioned, are Emma Juch, Hope Glenn, Mrs. Grenevra- Johnstone Bishop, Lillian Nordica, Max Heinrich, Heinrich Meyn, George L. Parker and Jules Jordan. Of orchestras, the Boston Symphony Orchestra has been here four times, Theodore Thomasls once, the Seidl orchestra once. The Boston Festival Orchestra, also, at the end of this year, will have been once in Ann Arbor, but for three performances. Besides these, Mr. Stanley has on nine occasions utilized an orchestra trained by himself, containing from thirty to sixty men. In all, during the five years, thirty-three concerts have been given, at an aggregate expense of 325,000 They have been so well attended that it has been possible to put the price of admission within the reach of all, at the almost nominal figure of 352.00 for a series of six concerts. The culture value of these concerts to the students of tl1e University and the citizens of Ann Arbor is incalculable. It is a frequent comment on the part of those who have lived here and have removed to the large cities, that one is apt to hear more really good music in Ann Arbor than in Boston, or Baltimore, or Chicago. -1S- . Q i i