Scan 13
Musical Courier 1891-12-16: Vol 23 Iss 617, 1891
88 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 710. See the scan on archive.org.
1will it sound just like the opening of Wagner's "Meistersinger?"
3Speaking of the "Meistersinger" prelude reminds me of the extraordinary analytical performance it received at the hands of Mr. Nikisch the other night. Frankly, despite the fact that I heard more in the work than I ever did before in my life, I didn't like it. The colors were not painted so broadly and the impression of massiveness was absent. I saw too much of the anatomy and not enough of surface effects. Therein lies the difference twixt Seidl and Nikisch. Seidl makes another picture for me when he reads the prelude. There is less finish but more nature, more spontaneity, less virtuosity but more heart. In a word, more Wagner and less orchestral technic. I say this despite tradition, for tradition favors Nikisch's interpretation as being like Wagner's. It struck me more as being Von Bülow's, particularly the tempo of the woodwind episode.
5But then that woodwind! Was there ever anything so lusciously woody as the choir in the Boston Symphony Orchestra? Its fagotte has a tone as sarcastically lugubrious as William M. Evarts' nose.
7Speaking of Seidl, isn't the picture of him excellent in this week's issue? I see many Seidl heads, but they never do the worthy Kapellmeister justice. Either they look hopelessly "Dutch" (and he is a Hungarian, and don't you forget it—Eljen "Hunyadi Janos") or else they make him look as if he tried to be a jaunty American, and you know Seidl and jauntiness don't gee. The "old man's" face is a study that few have solved, for masculine as is the brow and forceful as is the expression the lower part of the face is feminine. "He looks like his mother," was the criticism of a man who saw him for the first time, and there is a curious "something" that hovers about the corners of the lips that defies reproduction in a photograph, though it has been admirably caught in the heroic bust of the great Wagner conductor done by Clio Hinton.
9Well, he has captured the conservative element after all, and as conductor of the Philharmonic Society he has made the success of his successful career. He isn't Thomas, Thomas is in Chicago; he isn't Nikisch, Nikisch is in Boston; he's just Anton Seidl, there are none like him; so here's to his health and a renewal of the old gubernatorial question that agitated the North and South Carolinas.
11What is this I hear about a young and fiery four eyed violin virtuoso whose devotion to a great coloratura soprano has been the theme of conversation in Pittsburgh? The theme would be well set off with double counterpoint, methinks.
13I found Paderewski in the artists' room off the Madison Square Garden concert room after one of his recitals week before last, busily writing his name for the benefit of the bevy of good looking autograph hunters who were storming the fortress of his personality with their beseechings and importunities. The great artist was amiability itself and refused no appeal, though it must have taxed his good nature to the utmost, as he had first played a most trying program, and his secretary, Mr. Hugo Goerlitz, was employed in putting tiny slips of court plasteron the tips of his technique bruised fingers.
15"Ah! The Musical Courier," said Paderewski smilingly, as his orange aureole of hair tumbled over his eyes, and then he was all animation and talked vigorously. He does not know whether he likes America or not, as he has only been around in Philadelphia. In this city he spends his time practicing the piano, sleeping, smoking cigarettes and appearing in public. Naturally I asked him if he admired the harbor and the Statue of Liberty, but received an evasive answer to the effect that the Steinway pianos are the best in the world. I realized that here was a votary of art for art's sake, one to whom the ordinary sights and scenes of life were not of paramount interest, so I tacked in another direction.
17"And the New York girls?" I queried. "They are all beautiful," he replied and lighted a fresh cigarette. Then I knew that a supreme mastery of the piano did not preclude diplomatic gifts of the highest order.
19Instead of Paderewski being a "study in old gold" he is a study in new greenbacks, for, while the globe is certainly infested with piano players, a pianist who can command a cool $1,000 a performance is as rare as a humming bird in sheol. In Warsaw, whence Thaddeus of novel fame emanated, Paderewski studied and played, first eager for the honors of a composer; but finding his fingers supple and his brain subtle he craved to play the rôle of the virtuoso, and aided by an iron will and that wonderful shade of hair he emerged later as a full fledged piano virtuoso, and has reaped glory, shekels and renown.
21The pecuniary side of the question has simply been record breaking, for his eleven last performances in London cleared over $12,000—a sum to make even a Patti reflect.
23Paderewski laughs like a boy, enjoys a game of billiards, is amazed at the technique of the American bartender, particularly at the same gentleman's artistic blending of a gin cocktail, and he is an excellent mimic to boot. Master of a half dozen languages he is also master of the wit of a half dozen nations, and he possesses the supple nature of the Slav—that nature which extorts so much from you and gives so little in return but amiability.
25His success in Boston has been immense. I firmly believe he hypnotizes his audiences.
27He has an imitator at Tony Pastor's—a gaunt, red haired individual with flute-like legs, who plays in a most extravagant manner.
29One of his tricks is to play the A minor arpeggio up the keyboard very rapidly, and fairly accurately at that, and when he reaches the last A on the piano to go rolling off the stool, turn flip-flaps and cart wheels with his hair all on end, and when he arrives at the footlights he screams, "Ladies and gentlemen, that discounts Paddywhiskers!"
31I heard several funny stories about Seidl lately. A lady went to his house with her daughter and asked the amiable conductor to try the girl's voice.
33He didn't know them at all, but the mother horrified him as they went by pressing a $1 bill into his hands for his services. He didn't take it.
35Another lady who wished to have her voice tried and not liking the pitch of Mr. Seidl's grand had the nerve and audacity to send a tuner to his house and have it tuned down before he was out of bed one morning. When she called at the hour assigned her Mr. Seidl seated himself at the piano and struck one chord and said "Hello!"
37"Oh, I've had the pitch lowered, Mr. Seidl; the high pitch didn't suit my voice," said the dame, very sweetly.
39Mr. Seidl softly said, "Goddamernerverung," by Wagner, of course.
41Here are two Wagner jokes, newly orchestrated: Punch contains a cartoon of a German talking to the hostess of a house about music. The lady observes: "I did not know you were a musician, Herr Müller." When the reply comes: "Ach, no Got vorbit, I am a Wagnerian."
43Mrs. Heyday (to orchestra leader at summer hotel): "What was that long, dreary thing you just played?"
45Leader: "Dot vos from Vogner." Mrs. Heyday: "It was not beautiful at all." Leader: "Id vas not intended to be."
47Did you notice the cough coda in the "Don Juan" of Strauss at the Nikisch concert? There was a pause—an impressive one—after a shrieking sforzando climax, and then somebody gave a discreet pulmonic cough. It sent a shiver over my technic.
49Considering that I try so hard to make you believe I hate music, the picture of my living room rather belies my assertions. Isn't it a lovely abode of harmony? And then the portrait of myself is wonderfully like. My chin, truly, has the diffidence of a poached egg, not to mention my rhythmic hair. It delights me to offer so lifelike a self presentment to my many admirers.
51I can't refrain from appropriating J. L. Ford's story from "Puck" several weeks ago. It is very clever. W. J. Henderson, of the "Times," who is jealous of Paderewski because I called his hair "old gold," for he claims the like color (I'm positively afraid to meet Sumner Salter, whom I also hear is devoured with jealousy of Paderewski's patent color)—well, Mr. Henderson wrote a very funny story in last week's "Puck," which I advise you to read. It is called "A Modern Hans Sach," and is decidedly a modern tranposition of the "Meistersinger." Here is Ford's story, with apologies to "Puck:"
53How a Fiddler Actually Played for a Benefit.
55High up in the very heart of the Helicon range, on a narrow grassy ledge which looks down on the fertile Grecian valley, the bandits stopped and unbound their prisoner.
57"Is it true," inquired the swarthy chief of the robbers "that you are Signor Tarrarum, the fiddler?"
59The prisoner's lip curled in haughty scorn, then a smile of pity crept over his face, and, taking the chieftain by the wrist, he led him to an open space among the trees; then, standing in the full blaze of the noon tide sun, he smote his breast with his right hand, and exclaimed in ringing tones:
61"I am Tarrarum, the only, the great, the matchless violinist!"
63"It is evident," rejoined the robber, "that you are a musician; but if you are the great Tarrarum, then prove it by taking your violin and giving us a sample of your skill."
65"Under the following conditions," rejoined the violinist. "First of all, you must announce my name in larger type than any of the others; and on the three sheet posters it must be in letters at least a foot high. I must have a carriage to and from the opera house; and, finally, you must deposit 20,000 drachmas before I put rosin on my bow."
67"But," exclaimed the astonished robber, "there will be no advertisements or posters, and there is not a carriage nearer than the one we took you out of two hours ago. You are merely to play for our benefit that you may regain your liberty."
69"What!" shrieked the violinist; "play for a benefit? Never! You forget, sir, that you are not dealing with an ordinary bandit, but with a musician—and a violinist at that."
71The robber's cheek grew dark with rage. "Away with him!" he cried. "Bind him to yon funeral pyre and apply the torch!"
73A score of willing hands seized the musician and bound him to the stake, while the chief himself stood ready with a blazing torch.
75"Remember," cried the undaunted Tarrarum in ringing tones, "that I die true to the principles of the Musical Union. I have not played at a benefit."
77At this moment one of the members of the band stepped forward and said to the chief: "Stay one moment! It is years since we have heard any good music, because the prices are so high that no ordinary bandit can afford to buy a ticket. I was a fiddler myself once—years ago—ere I repented of my evil ways and became a thief. I alone know how to break this man's haughty spirit."
79The chieftain stood one side, and his subordinate took from beneath his cloak a copy of the Daily Risotto and began to read:
81"At the concert last evening, Signor Trankadillo, Rome's favorite violinist, once more proved himself to be the matchless artist that he is—"
83"It's a lie!" shrieked the captive, writhing in agony; "the man is no artist! He cannot play! I alone am Rome's favorite violinist!"
85"Silence!" roared the chief. "Continue!"
87"Signor Trankadillo's rendition of the sonata in E flat was received with storms of enthusiasm, and he was twice recalled by the delighted populace."
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.