Vera Barstow

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.

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

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 taught private students in Pasadena and also at the California State University, Long Beach. Among her students were Akira Endo,[16] Elizabeth Morgridge Mills,[17] Arlene Gattuso,[18] Stanley Ellison Plummer,[19] and Eric McCracken.[20] She also coached the string section of the Pasadena Symphony.[21] She announced her retirement in 1962,[22] but was still teaching in 1969.[23] 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.[24]

Personal life

Vera Barstow married William Pinkney Lawson; they had a daughter. Later she married John H. Meyers. She was widowed in 1935.[25] She died in 1975, aged 84 years.[26]

References
  1. "Elena Gerhardt and Vera Barstow" Cambridge Tribune (January 18, 1913): 7. via Cambridge Public Library
  2. "In the World of Music" Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (September 3, 1911): 9. via Newspapers.com
  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. 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. David M. Cummings, ed., International Who's who in Music and Musicians' Directory (Psychology Press 2000): 182. ISBN 9780948875533
  17. "Obituaries: Elizabeth M. Mills" Los Angeles Times (October 10, 1899).
  18. 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).
  19. "Stanley Ellison Plummer; Concert Violinist, University Teacher" Los Angeles Times (November 20, 2000).
  20. "Eric McCracken" About Us, North Carolina Symphony.
  21. Margaret Stovall, "Vera Barstow, Renowned Soloist, at 70 Knows of Batters and Bows" Pasadena Independent (April 7, 1962): 3. via Newspapers.com
  22. "Vera Barstow, Noted Musician, To Retire" Los Angeles Times (August 5, 1962): 224. via Newspapers.com
  23. Elise Emery, "Her Heart Entwined in Strings" Independent (September 30, 1969): 26. via Newspapers.com
  24. Sally Mosher, "Gala Concert to Honor Vera Barstow" Pasadena Independent (February 29, 1968): 20. via Newspapers.com
  25. "Decatur Woman's Son Dies in California" Decatur Herald (September 6, 1935): 3. via Newspapers.com
  26. Daniel Cariaga, "Vera Barstow, Violinist, Dies" Los Angeles Times (June 12, 1975): 96. via Newspapers.com
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