Prominent among the younger musicians of San Francisco in the 80's
were three talented children since become famous both in this country
and England, where they now reside. Their only teacher was their
mother, who was an English pianist of repute. They formed a concert
troupe in 1883 with Miss M. Hyde, accompanist and director.
Miss M. Hyde, _accompanist and director_.
Miss Lulu Joran, 16 years old, _piano virtuoso_.
Miss Pauline, 14 years old, _violin virtuoso_.
Miss Elsie, 12 years old, _piano virtuoso_.
Mrs. M.R. Blake, _soloist_.
It was most remarkable how these children interpreted the most
difficult masterpieces, and played them with art. Once at a special
concert in the Metropolitan temple, San Francisco, the youngest of
them, Miss Elsie, was seated at a Steinway grand piano, too small to
touch the pedals, (an adjustment had to be made) and with sixty of our
best musicians on the stage she played from memory the most difficult
concerto. All the children possessed the art of absolute pitch and
they were able with bandaged eyes to tell the notes of any chords that
were sounded. Miss Pauline was an excellent violinist besides
possessing a fine contralto voice which I had trained for the space of
a year and a half. She is, I am very proud to say, a most beautiful
singer in London today at the age of forty years. In 1910 I clipped
from one of the English papers the following: "Pauline Joran, one of
the most gifted young American opera singers now in Europe, made her
debut recently in Milan under Sonzogno, singing at the Teatro Lirico,
the role of Santuzza and Nedda with the greatest success. She has been
singing in Great Britain under Sir Augustus Harris and will be heard
here next season."
A teacher can be proud that her work of the foundation of tone
building resulted in such a successful finish. Pauline possessed the
talent and I could foresee the future if she had the proper means, for
she sang with taste and feeling. She accompanied the singer with
graceful interpretation on her violin and played the piano like an
artist. We traveled and sang together for two years and went to
Stockton, Sacramento, San Jose and all the smaller places around San
Francisco. The latter part of the eighties the Jorans returned to
London where they have remained ever since. In her girlish way Pauline
used to say, "Oh, dear auntie, when I am a great singer won't you be
glad and proud of me?" And so I am, and I hope all who have had the
same help will be as successful as this young pupil.