Vera Barstow in 1917.
Vera Barstow in France during World War I, from a 1919 publication.

Vera Barstow (June 3, 1891 – June 10, 1975) was an American violinist and teacher. She made a three-month tour playing for troops in France during World War I.

Early life

Vera Barstow was born in Celina, Ohio, but described as being from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.[1] She trained in Europe.[2] Luigi von Kunits was one of her teachers.[3]

Career

Barstow had a busy performing schedule,[4] beginning with appearances in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, and New York in 1912–1913 season.[5] In 1916–1917 her tour of Canada was interrupted by an emergency surgery in Toronto.[6][7] Of her 1917 appearance in Texas with Leo Ornstein, a critic reported that "Miss Barstow was delightful in every way and unquestionably one of the greatest women violinists we have heard."[8]

In the spring of 1918, she toured Pennsylvania and Virginia, including a stop at Camp Lee with pianist Herma Menth, to play for American troops during World War I.[9] She and Menth played gave further concerts for troops at Ellis Island and Camp Upton, working with the Stage Women's War Relief Society and the Jewish War Relief Society.[10] She went to France to entertain the troops there for three months in 1918–1919.[11] She described appearances of the all-female "Musical Foursome"[12] at field hospitals and playing for German prisoners. "I have never seen so much mud in my life," she wrote.[13][14] She also fell ill in the 1918 flu pandemic while in France.[12]

Barstow made several recordings.[15] Later in life, Barstow moved to southern California, where she gave concerts with pianist Helena Lewyn in the 1920s,[16][17] and taught private students in Pasadena and also at the California State University, Long Beach. Among her students were Akira Endo,[18] Elizabeth Morgridge Mills,[19] Arlene Gattuso,[20] Stanley Ellison Plummer,[21] and Eric McCracken.[22] She also coached the string section of the Pasadena Symphony.[23] She announced her retirement in 1962,[24] but was still teaching in 1969.[25] Isaac Stern was among the musicians performing at a gala concert in her honor in 1968, in Pasadena, with proceeds to fund a scholarship named for Barstow.[26]

Personal life

Vera Barstow married William Pinkney Lawson; they had a daughter. Later she married John H. Meyers. She was widowed in 1935.[27] She died in 1975, aged 84 years.[28]

References

  1. ↑ "Elena Gerhardt and Vera Barstow" Cambridge Tribune (January 18, 1913): 7. via Cambridge Public Library Open access icon
  2. ↑ "In the World of Music" The Gazette Times, Pittsburgh (September 3, 1911): 9. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  3. ↑ "Vera Barstow at Beverly" The Violin World (August 15, 1916): 106.
  4. ↑ "Barstow Engaged and Re-Engaged" Musical Courier (March 22, 1917): 6.
  5. ↑ "Vera Barstow, Orchestra Soloist" The Violinist (October 1912): 38.
  6. ↑ "Vera Barstow and American Music" Musical Monitor (October 1917): 91.
  7. ↑ "Vera Barstow's Illness Postpones her Season" Musical Monitor (November 1917): 141.
  8. ↑ "Fort Worth, Tex." Musical Courier (March 15, 1917): 41.
  9. ↑ "Vera Barstow" Musical Monitor (June 1918): 508.
  10. ↑ "Vera Barstow and Herma Menth Play at Cantonments" Musical Monitor (August 1918): 589.
  11. ↑ "Vera Barstow Back from Work for the Overseas Service" Musical America (January 25, 1919): 11.
  12. 1 2 James William Evans, Gardner Ludwig Harding, Anita Parkhurst, Ethel Rundquist, Entertaining the American Army: The American Stage and Lyceum in the World War (Association Press 1921): 134-136.
  13. ↑ "Miss Barstow's Experiences" Musical America (December 14, 1918): 12.
  14. ↑ "Vera Barstow is Back from Playing for Our Men Abroad" Musical America (February 8, 1919): 11.
  15. ↑ "Vera Barstow's Records" Musical Courier (June 7, 1917): 18.
  16. ↑ "Hotel Concert Very Notable Entertainment". Coronado Eagle and Journal. February 1, 1927. p. 1. Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  17. ↑ "Concert Recital on KNX Wednesday Eve". San Pedro Daily News. September 21, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved October 20, 2022 – via California Digital Newspaper Collection.
  18. ↑ David M. Cummings, ed., International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory (Psychology Press 2000): 182. ISBN 9780948875533
  19. ↑ "Obituaries: Elizabeth M. Mills" Los Angeles Times (October 10, 1899).
  20. ↑ David Nigel Lloyd, "Can't We All Play In Tune? Violin Teacher Arlene Gattuso: Changing the World One Note at a Time" North State Parent (December 26, 2013).
  21. ↑ "Stanley Ellison Plummer; Concert Violinist, University Teacher" Los Angeles Times (November 20, 2000).
  22. ↑ "Eric McCracken" About Us, North Carolina Symphony.
  23. ↑ Margaret Stovall, "Vera Barstow, Renowned Soloist, at 70 Knows of Batters and Bows" Pasadena Independent (April 7, 1962): 3. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  24. ↑ "Vera Barstow, Noted Musician, To Retire" Los Angeles Times (August 5, 1962): 224. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  25. ↑ Elise Emery, "Her Heart Entwined in Strings" Independent (September 30, 1969): 26. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  26. ↑ Sally Mosher, "Gala Concert to Honor Vera Barstow" Pasadena Independent (February 29, 1968): 20. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  27. ↑ "Decatur Woman's Son Dies in California" Decatur Herald (September 6, 1935): 3. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
  28. ↑ Daniel Cariaga, "Vera Barstow, Violinist, Dies" Los Angeles Times (June 12, 1975): 96. via Newspapers.comOpen access icon
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