Miss Geraldine Morgan, Victorian violinist 1897 Journal

The photograph on this notebook originally appeared in "Peterson's" magazine in December of 1897, and was scanned out of the This Victorian Life private archive (www.ThisVictorianLife.com). The 19th-century magazine had this to say about the lady in the picture: "Miss Geraldine Morgan, who, as one of America's foremost women violinists, has been before the public for some years, always achieving artistic triumphs whenever appearing, is a young and very lively woman, full of genius. Miss Morgan has just put into execution the ideas she has entertained for some time relative to establishing a violin school in New York that will enable pupils who contemplate studying with the world's "Master of Masters," Joseph Joachim, the opportunity of a thorough preparation for the time to be spent abroad. Miss Morgan, who studied with the great master from early childhood up to the time of her debut, is regarded as the foremost representative in this country of Joachim's style and method. When very young she won the "Grand Mendelssohn Prize," which was a distinction never before bestowed upon an American. While in Berlin, this summer, Miss Morgan made a special study of ensemble playing, practicing every day at the house of Joachim with distinguished artists. She also had the opportunity of studying new works with Max Bruch and other eminent composers. In England, the land of some of her greatest triumphs, Miss Morgan played at the first Crystal Palace orchestral concert, for which she is also engaged next year. She was also heard at many musicales, notably at one given at the magnificent residence of the Earl of Leven, also at the house of Alma Tadema, the eminent artist, where her appearance created much enthusiasm. Miss Morgan's environments have been of the highest social and musical character. Her father, the late John P. Morgan, organist of Trinity Church at one time, was a most honored musician of the old school, and her mother has made for herself quite a distinguished name in the literary field; her brother, Paul, a 'cellist of renown, has also won much fame on his chosen instrument, which, by the way, was presented to him by admirers in Berlin. It is a genuine Gaspar da Salo of the year 1615. The instrument Miss Morgan uses is a famous Stradivarius, valued at five thousand dollars, loaned to her by Joachim for her European and American debuts, and since purchased for her by admiring friends." --The Peterson Magazine, December, 1897, pages 1212-1214.