Marie Kunkel Zimmerman

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1890 sketch of Mamie Kunkel (later Marie Kunkel Zimmerman) from the front cover of The Musical Courier on October 2, 1889

Marie Kunkel Zimmerman, born Mamie Kunkel, (13 September 1864, Baltimore — 10 May 1953, Philadelphia) was an American soprano of the concert stage.[1] She began her performance life as a child actress opposite her father; the theatre manager, blackface minstrel show entertainer, actor, and singer-songwriter George Kunkel. She began performing as a soprano in the early 1880s. With her husband, the composer and concert singer Edward M. Zimmerman, she co-authored the suffragist anthem "Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song".[2][3]

Early Life and career as a child actress[edit]

Born Mamie R. Kunkel[4][5] on 13 September 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland[6] Marie Kunkel Zimmerman was the daughter of theatre manager, actor, and singer George Kunkel, Sr. and his wife Addie Kunkel.[4][5][7] Her mother was an actress known on the stage as Ada Proctor. Ada was born in Montreal, Canada, and her first marriage was to John Proctor, theatre manager of the Chestnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Ada married George Kunkel after her first husband's death. She had a son from her first marriage, the actor John Proctor, who was Mamie's half brother.[8] George and Ada also had a son, Mamie's brother George Kunkel Jr. (1866- 1937).[4][5] He had a career as a silent film actor and opera singer.[9][10]

Kunkel began her career on the stage as a child actress under the moniker "Little Mamie Kunkel" in performances with her father.[11] George Kunkel, Sr was a famous blackface performer of the 19th century and was closely associated with the role of Uncle Tom.[12][5] As early as 1873, Mamie was performing the role of Eva in her father's stage productions of Uncle Tom's Cabin.[11][13] She was still in the part when the production reached Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Theatre in January 1875 with her mother in the role of Topsy.[14] In 1880 she performed in a production of William Shakespeare's Macbeth at the Holliday Street Theater as part of a theatrical benefit.[15]

Music education and early singing career in Baltimore[edit]

Mamie's father, George Kunkel, Sr.

Mamie Kunkel was trained as a soprano at the Peabody Institute in the 1880s.[16] There she was a pupil of voice teacher, conductor, and violinist Edward Heimendahl. She later studied with Anton Seidl in New York.The Musical Courier described her as a dramatic soprano with a rich flexible voice.[17]

Kunkel began performing in concerts as a soprano as early as December 1881 when she was of the soprano soloist in a concert of Christmas music at the Protestant Episcopal Church of the Ascension in Baltimore.[18][19] Soon after, she achieved top ratings in music competitions in that city.[20] On June 3, 1883 she gave a recital at the Taylor Opera House in Trenton, New Jersey.[21] By November of that same year she was performing as a soloist at Baltimore's Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church, South at Madison Avenue & Preston St.[22]

In March 1884 Kunkel was the second soprano soloist in Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Oratorio Society of Baltimore and conductor Fritz Finke.[23] On April 11, 1884 she sang Margaret Mackay's hymn "Asleep in Jesus! blessed sleep" at the funeral service of the Reverend John Chester Backus.[24] Both she and her brother performed at a benefit concert to aid their ailing father alongside other Baltimore entertainers at Baltimore's YMCA on May 19, 1884.[25] She became a member of the opera company in residence at the Academy of Music in Baltimore, and in June 1884 portrayed the title role in Franz von Suppé's The Lovely Galatea (English translation by Willard G. Day) on tour with the company to Albaugh's Grand Opera House.[26] A review of her performance praised the quality of her singing, but felt her acting was "too tame".[27]

On January 25, 1885, Mamie's father died.[5] She collaborated with Willard G. Day on a series of public lecture-recitals at Baltimore's YMCA in 1885 in which she would sing a program of songs with thematic ties to particular people Day was lecturing on. For example she sang a program of Scandinavian songs in conjunction with a lecture on Hans Christian Andersen,[28] and gave a program of art songs using texts by Shakespeare when Day gave a lecture on 'The Bard'.[29] In October 1885 she gave a concert at the Concordia Opera House in conjunction with recitations given by the elocutionist Carrie Block.[30]

In 1886 Kunkel was a guest soloist with the Orpheus Quartette for concerts at Baltimore's YMCA.[31] The Orpheus Quartette was an all-male vocal ensemble that was founded by students at Princeton University in the late 1860s.[32] It became a professional group which toured widely in the United States over the next several decades, with new members replacing original singers periodically.[33] She performed in several more concerts of varying kinds at the YMCA through 1888.[34] She continued to work as a church vocalist for a variety of Baltimore churches from 1886-1887.[35][36] In September 1888 she was a guest soloist with the Harmonie Singing Association for their concert at Ford's Grand Opera House.[37]

In January 1889, Kunkel was the soprano soloist in Charles Gounod's La rédemption with the Oratorio Society of Baltimore.[38] A report in the Baltimore Sun on December 26, 1889 states that soprano was returning to Baltimore for a visit, and was now living in Philadelphia.[39]

Philadelphia soprano[edit]

Arrival in Philadelphia and a collaborative musical marriage[edit]

Front cover of 1915 sheet music for "Votes for Woman, Suffrage Rallying Song" by Edward M. and Marie Zimmerman. From the collection of the British Library.[3]

After moving to Philadelphia, Kunkel began performing publicly as either Marie Kunkel[40] or Marie R. Kunkel in 1889.[41] She made her Philadelphia concert debut[42] as Marie R. Kunkel on October 10, 1889 at St. George's Hall.[41][43] By 1890 she was working as the resident soprano soloist for Philadelphia's Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel.[40][44][45] She began appearing in chamber music concerts in the city in 1889 with musicians like pianist Maurits Leefson (1861-1926), violinist and composer Gustav Hille (1850 — ca.1925), and cellist Rudolph Hennig (1845-1904).[46][47][48]

In March and November 1890 Kunkel participated in concerts at the Philadelphia Musical Academy.[49][50] She performed in concert with violinist Max Weil (1869-1952) and pianist and composer Robert Tempest (1868-1955) in November 1890.[51][52] In February 1891 she performed in concert with the violinist Arthur Hartmann, then a child prodigy of 9 years of age, at St. George's Hall.[53] In May 1891 she was the guest soprano soloist in concerts with the Mendelssohn Club, beginning with performances of music by Adolf Jensen and Johannes Brahms at Musical Fund Hall in mid May,[54] and ending with a Memorial Day concert of patriotic music given at the Academy of Music, Philadelphia.[55] In March 1892 she starred in a concert version of the opera Melusina by Conradin Kreutzer.[56]

In September 1892 Kunkel's mother, Addie Kunkel Proctor, died in the Philadelphia home of her half brother, John Proctor.[8] On November 30, 1892 she married the bass, composer, and conductor Edward M. Zimmerman.[57][58] After this she was known as Marie Kunkel Zimmerman.[59]

Kunkel Zimmerman would frequently sing in concerts with her husband, both before and after their marriage. They were both featured vocal soloists in a concert given at the Music Teachers National Association's convention at Philadelphia's Musical Fund Hall in November 1889.[60] They sang together in a vocal quartet which performed in chamber music concerts sponsored by the Manuscript Music Society of Philadelphia at Musical Fund Hall in 1895 and 1897.[61][62]

In February 1896 the Zimmermans were soloists in Louis Spohr's God, Thou Art Great: Opus 98: a Sacred Cantata for Four Voices which was performed at the Drexel Institute (now Drexel University) in a memorial concert for the Philadelphia concert pianist and music teacher Charles H. Jarvis (1837-1895).[63] The following April they were the soprano and bass soloists in Joseph Haydn's The Creation at Philadelphia's Association Hall;[64] a work they repeated at that same theatre in May 1898.[65] In October 1898 the couple were part of the soloist quartet in the Philadelphia premiere of Liza Lehmann's song-cycle In a Persian garden at Witherspoon Hall.[66][67]

Together, the Zimmermans created the song "Votes for Women: Suffrage Rallying Song" (1915) which contained music by Marie and lyrics by Edward. It was dedicated to Anna Howard Shaw, President of the National American Woman Suffrage Association.[2] The song is part of the collections of the British Library[3] and Library of Congress, and is notable example of music used in the women's suffrage movement in the United States.[2]

Kunkel Zimmerman and her husband were both voice teachers in Philadelphia. They operated their own vocal studio together.

Rising concert singer[edit]

In April 1893 Kunkel Zimmerman sang the role of the Widow in Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Germantown choral society.[68] On May 17, 1893 she performed in the very first concert organized by the Manuscript Musical Society; performing the soprano solo in the cantata Delosain and Erato by Henry Gordon Thunder (1832-1881) at Musical Fund Hall with the Germania Orchestra being led by conductor William Gilchrist.[69][70] In February 1894 she gave a recital to raise money for charity at the Chestnut Street Theatre.[71][72]

In February 1895 Kunkel Zimmerman returned to Musical Fund Hall to perform in a concert with baritone Kirk Towns that was conducted by W. H. Neidlinger.[73] In March 1895 she performed excerpts from Jules Massenet's Hérodiade with the Mendelssohn Club.[74] She was a guest soloist with the Baltimore's Germania Männerchor in December 1895 for a concert celebrating the 125th anniversary of Beethoven's birth. With that choir she was the soprano soloist in Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, and later in the program she performed arias from The Marriage of Figaro and lieder by Robert Schumann.[75]

A December 1896 article in The Philadelphia Inquirer described Kunkel Zimmerman as Philadelphia's leading soprano, and soon after this she appeared in a series of concerts at the Academy of Music with the "Philadelphia Symphony Society" (precursor to the Philadelphia Orchestra).[76]

National concert soprano[edit]

c. 1900 photograph of Marie Kunkel Zimmerman by Frederick Gutekunst.

In April 1900 Kunkel Zimmerman was a soloist in Joseph Haydn's The Creation at the Brooklyn Academy of Music with the Brooklyn Oratorio Society and conductor Gustav Dannreuther.[77] In December 1900 she was the soprano soloist in George Frideric Handel's Messiah with the Handel and Haydn Society and the Boston Symphony Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Boston.[78] In 1901 she was the soprano soloist in Felix Mendelssohn's Elijah at The May Festival of the University of Michigan under conductor Albert Augustus Stanley (1851–1932).[79] S

Kunkel Zimmerman was a soloist in many concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra given between 1902-1907, including as the soprano soloist in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 for conductor Fritz Scheel's final performance with the orchestra on February 8, 1907.[80] The following July she was the soprano soloist in Arthur Sullivan's The Golden Legend with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO).[81] She had previously been the soprano soloist for the CSO's May 1906 performances of Joseph Haydn's The Creation.[82]

Later life[edit]

In 1917 Kunkel Zimmerman was appointed a co-director of The Department for the Relief of Deserving Musicians which was one of the three original branches of The Presser Foundation; a charity organization in Philadelphia established by the philanthropist and music publisher Theodore Presser.[83]

Marie Kunkel Zimmerman died in Philadelphia on May 12, 1953[84] at the age of 88.[1]

References[edit]

Citations[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Obituaries: Mrs. Marie Kunkel Zimmerman, 88, Concert Soprano of the Turn of the Century at Philadelphia, PA". Star Tribune. May 12, 1953. p. 19.
  2. ^ a b c Crew, p. 337
  3. ^ a b c "The Centenary of the Nineteenth Amendment and US women's right to vote". Americas and Oceania Collections blog. British Library. 26 August 2020.
  4. ^ a b c 1880 United States Federal Census for Mamie Kunkel, Maryland, Baltimore (Independent City), Baltimore, 059, 17-296J., C274, page number 7, Supervisor's District Number 1
  5. ^ a b c d e "An Old Time Minstrel Dead". Wheeling Daily Intelligencer. January 29, 1885. p. 7.
  6. ^ Marie Zimmerman in U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925, Passport Issue Date: 20 Jun 1921, Certificate Number 55950
  7. ^ "The Call Boys Corner". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 15, 1895. p. 18.
  8. ^ a b "Death of Mrs. Addie Kunkel Proctor". Baltimore Sun. September 7, 1892. p. 8.
  9. ^ Katchmer, p. 194-195
  10. ^ Simpson, p. 152
  11. ^ a b "Entertainments". Wilmington Daily Commercial Newspaper. May 12, 1873. p. 1.
  12. ^ Springarn, Chapter 3: Uncle Tom and Jim Crow
  13. ^ "Uncle Tom's Cabin". Wilmington Daily Commercial. May 15, 1873. p. 1.
  14. ^ "At the Chestnut". Philadelphia Inquirer. January 25, 1875. p. 3.
  15. ^ "Theatrical Benefit". Baltimore Sun. June 12, 1880. p. 1.
  16. ^ "Musical News". North's Philadelphia Musical Jouranl. Vol. III, no. 6. June 1888. p. 28.
  17. ^ "A New Dramatic Soprano—Miss Mamie Kunkel". The Musical Courier. XIX (10): 208. September 4, 1889.
  18. ^ "Christmas in the Churches". Baltimore Sun. December 24, 1881. p. 4.
  19. ^ "Christmas Observances: A Brilliant Festival in Baltimore". Baltimore Sun. December 26, 1881. p. 1.
  20. ^ Keefer, p. 218
  21. ^ "The Drama's Best Year". Trenton Times. June 7, 1883. p. 10.
  22. ^ "Church Improvements". Baltimore Sun. November 5, 1883. p. 4.
  23. ^ "The Open Rehearsal of the Oratorio". Baltimore Sun. March 7, 1884. p. 4.
  24. ^ "Funeral of Reverend Dr. Backus". Baltimore Sun. April 12, 1884. p. 4.
  25. ^ "A Benefit to George Kunkel". Baltimore Sun. May 20, 1884. p. 4.
  26. ^ "The Lovely Galatea". The Democratic Advocate. May 31, 1884. p. 2.
  27. ^ "The Lovely Galatea". The Democratic Advocate. June 14, 1884. p. 3.
  28. ^ "Brief Locals". Baltimore Sun. April 11, 1885. p. 4.
  29. ^ "Lecture on Shakespeare". Baltimore Sun. April 29, 1885. p. 5.
  30. ^ "Miss Carrie Block". Baltimore Sun. October 15, 1885. p. 1.
  31. ^ "The Orpheus Quartette". Baltimore Sun. March 2, 1886. p. 2.
  32. ^ "Music". The Nassau Herald, Class Day: 65. May 13, 1869.
  33. ^ Rice, p. 208
  34. ^ "Close of the Y.M.C.A. Concerts". Baltimore Sun. May 1, 1888. p. 4.
  35. ^ "Church Entertainment". Baltimore Sun. April 23, 1887. p. 4.
  36. ^ "Protestant Epicopal". Baltimore Sun. December 24, 1886. p. 5.
  37. ^ "Amusements: Harmonie Singing Association". Baltimore Sun. September 21, 1888. p. 3.
  38. ^ "The Oratorio Concert". Baltimore Sun. January 12, 1889. p. 6.
  39. ^ "Music In the Church". Baltimore Sun. December 26, 1889. p. 1.
  40. ^ a b "K.S.K.I. Concluding Entertainment". Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. May 23, 1890. p. 6.
  41. ^ a b "St. George's Hall". Philadelphia Times. October 5, 1889. p. 5.
  42. ^ "Concert of the Season". Philadelphia Times. October 6, 1889. p. 11.
  43. ^ "Coming Attractions". Philadelphia Times. October 6, 1889. p. 10.
  44. ^ Blumenberg, Marc A.; Floersheim, Otto, eds. (August 27, 1890). "Miss Kunkel's Visit". The Musical Courier. XXL (9).
  45. ^ "Baltimore City News". Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. September 18, 1891. p. 7.
  46. ^ "Out in Germantown". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 11, 1889. p. 6.
  47. ^ "State Music Teachers". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 15, 1889. p. 8.
  48. ^ "The Makers of Melody". Philadelphia Times. December 28, 1889. p. 2.
  49. ^ "Music of the Week". Philadelphia Times. March 16, 1890. p. 10.
  50. ^ "In the World of Music". Philadelphia Times. November 9, 1890. p. 13.
  51. ^ "Academy of Fine Arts". Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. November 14, 1890. p. 3.
  52. ^ "Mr. Max Weil's Concert". Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. November 28, 1890. p. 3.
  53. ^ "Master Hartmann's Concert". Philadelphia Jewish Exponent. February 13, 1891. p. 6.
  54. ^ "The Mendelssohn Club Concert". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 10, 1891. p. 12.
  55. ^ "Sons of America: The Patriotic Give a Grand Concert at the Academy of Music". Philadelphia Times. May 31, 1891. p. 4.
  56. ^ "Harmonie Concert and Ball". Philadelphia Times. March 15, 1892. p. 4.
  57. ^ "Marriages". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 11, 1892. p. 20.
  58. ^ Edward Moore Zimmerman in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Marriage Index, 1885-1951, Marriage License Number 56161
  59. ^ "E. M. Zimmerman; Was Known Here as Choirmaster, Teacher, and Composer". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 7, 1922. p. 27.
  60. ^ "An Interesting Concert". Philadelphia Inquirer. November 2, 1889. p. 4.
  61. ^ "Philadelphia". The Musical Courier. XXX (24): 7. June 5, 1895.
  62. ^ "May Musical Musings". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 9, 1897. p. 20.
  63. ^ "Among the Musicians". Philadelphia Times. February 3, 1896. p. 6.
  64. ^ "Society Between Seasons". Philadelphia Times. April 19, 1896. p. 23.
  65. ^ "News of the Musical World". Philadelphia Times. May 22, 1898. p. 30.
  66. ^ "Musical Notes". Philadelphia Inquirer. October 9, 1898. p. 27.
  67. ^ "In A Persian Garden: A Delightful Performance At Witherspoon Hall". Philadelphia Inquirer. November 2, 1898. p. 9.
  68. ^ "Will Sing Elijah". Philadelphia Times. April 16, 1893. p. 2.
  69. ^ "The Manuscript Club". Philadelphia Inquirer. May 18, 1893. p. 4.
  70. ^ "Philadelphia Music". Philadelphia Times. May 18, 1893. p. 2.
  71. ^ "Many Attend Charity Recital". Philadelphia Times. February 20, 1894. p. 6.
  72. ^ "Amusements". Philadelphia Times. February 17, 1894. p. 5.
  73. ^ "What is Going On In Music?". Philadelphia Times. February 17, 1895. p. 12.
  74. ^ "Mendelssohn Club Concert". Philadelphia Inquirer. March 8, 1895. p. 2.
  75. ^ "Beethoven Anniversary". Baltimore Sun. December 10, 1895. p. 10.
  76. ^ "The Music World". Philadelphia Inquirer. December 6, 1896. p. 20.
  77. ^ Year-book of the Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences 1899-1900. Brooklynn Institute. 1900. p. 264.
  78. ^ Anonymous (2024). Programme of the First Rehearsal and Concert with Historical and Descriptive Notes by William F. Apthorp. Outlook Verlag. ISBN 9783385468719.
  79. ^ Eighth Annual May Festival of the University of Michigan 1901. University School of Music, University of Michigan Press. 1901.
  80. ^ Wister, p. 77 & 227
  81. ^ American Guild of Organists (July 1907). "Spring Festivals". The New Music Review and Church Music Review. 6 (68). H. W. Gray & Co.: 538.
  82. ^ American Guild of Organists (June 1906). "Various Notes". The New Music Review and Church Music Review. 5 (55). H. W. Gray & Co.: 983.
  83. ^ "Give Fortune For the Betterment of Music Conditions". Musical America: 52. March 31, 1917.
  84. ^ Marie K Zimmerman in the Pennsylvania, U.S., Death Certificates, 1906-1970, Certificate Number 47901

Bibliography[edit]

  • Crew, Danny O. (2015). Suffragist Sheet Music: An Illustrated Catalogue of Published Music Associated with the Women's Rights and Suffrage Movement in America, 1795-1921, with Complete Lyrics. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476607443.
  • Keefer, Lubov Breit (1962). Baltimore's Music: The Haven of the American Composer. J. H. Furst Company.
  • Katchmer, George A. (2015). "Kunkel, George". A Biographical Dictionary of Silent Film Western Actors and Actresses. McFarland & Company. ISBN 9781476609058.
  • Rice, Edward Le Roy (1911). Monarchs of Minstrelsy, from "Daddy" Rice to Date. Kenny Publishing Company.
  • Simpson, Adrienne (1996). Opera's Farthest Frontier: A History of Professional Opera in New Zealand. Reed Publishing. ISBN 9780790005119.
  • Spingarn, Adena (2018). Uncle Tom: From Martyr to Traitor. Stanford University Press. ISBN 9781503606098.
  • Wister, Frances Anne (1925). Twenty-five Years of the Philadelphia Orchestra: 1900-1925. Edward Stein & Company.
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