Scan 92
Voice and violin: sketches, anecdotes, and reminiscences by T.L. Phipson, 1898
10 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 74. See the scan on archive.org.
1with a violinist of marvellous talent, compared to whom the best performers in the orchestra of his palace were a mere nothing. The name of this wonderful artist was Tomarissen. He was a young man of Arabian origin, born at Palermo, and a great favourite in his native town.
3The agent said he had used every endeavour to induce this violinist to visit Tunis, in order to delight the Bey by his playing, but that he had completely failed to procure his services.
5The fact was, nothing could induce Tomarissen to travel. Not only was he the first musician in Palermo, and made much of by all the inhabitants of that ancient city, but he was affianced to a beautiful girl of nineteen years of age, named Roxelana, whom he intended to marry as soon as he had saved a little money.
7But Tomarissen was very poor. His reputation was great, but his purse was small—and often empty. As he was very generous, his performances were frequently given away in aid of charities, or for other purposes, and he had only a few pupils. Nevertheless, he earned sufficient to live respectably, paid his rent and his taxes regularly, and enjoying as he did the fond affection of Roxelana, he lived at Palermo very contentedly.
9When the Bey of Tunis was made acquainted with the news, he determined at any cost to have this wonderful violin-player. He could not sleep
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