Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1838-02-22
Nh Miscellaneous.
v%IUIfNlsr..

Gallighanie's Messenger, published at Paris,
furnishes tltc following interesting account ola
new musical wonder, in the shape of Monsieur
Mareppe's automaton violin player, which was
not long since exhibited before the Royal Con-
scrvatory at Puris-and caused much admiration.
On entering the saloon, l saw a well dressed
handsome figure of u man, apparently between
40 and so, standing with n violin in his hand, rs
il contemplating Il piece of music, which lay on
a desk before him-and had ! not gone to see un
autolnaton, l sl,omld have believed the object
before me endowed with life and reason, SO per-
fectly natural and easy were the attitudes and ex-
preston of countenancc Of the figure. | had
but little time for observation before the Orches-
ira was filled by musicians, and on the leader
taking his seat, the figure Instantly raised itself
erect, b,.wcd with much elegance two or three
times, and then turning to the leader. nodded.
ns if to say, he was ready. and placed his violin
to his shoulder. At the given signal he raised
his bow, and applying 1t to the instrument, pro.
duced q IH Faganini. one of tho most thrilling and
extraordinary tlourishes l ever heard-in which
scarcely n scmi-tone within the compass of the
instrument was Onitted-and this executed with
Il degree of rapidity and clearness perfectly RS
tonisliins. The orchestra then played Il short
symphony, in which the aIton,aton occasionally
joined in Il beautiful style. He then played IL
most brilliant fantasia in T. natural with accompa-
n%iIicnts, including IL movement allegro mollO on
the fourth string solo, which was perfectly indie
scribnble. The tones produced were like any
thing hut n viOlln-the expression beyond con-
ccption. l felt as if lifted from my seat, and
burst into tears-in which prcdicamcnt I saw
most persons i'll the room.
Suddenly he struck into n cadenZa, in which
the harnonies double and single, a~rpegios OH the
four strings, md saltOs, for which PaganiDi was
so Justly celebrated, were introduced with the
greatest effect; and after n close shake of 6 bars
DURATION, commenced the coda, a presstissima
movement, played in three parts throughout
This part oftlie performance was perfectly magi-
cal. have heard the great Italian. haveleard
tho still ereater Norwegian. l have heard the best
Ofmuaic. but / never heard such sounds rs then
sdluted my car. Ii commenced p p p, rising bv
n gradual crescendo to n pitch almost beyond be-
lief; and then by n gradual m0tendo and calendo
died away, leaving the audience absolutely en-
chantcd. Monsieur Marcppe' who ia n player
Of 40 mean ORDER, then stepped mp midst the
most deafening accln,nntions and stated thatemu
lated by the example Of Vancauson's flute player,
he had conceived the project Of cODstnlcting this
figure, which had cost him many years
of study and labor before he could bring it TO
completion. lie then showed to the company
the interior of the figure. which was completely
filled with small cranks, by which the motions are
giventO the several parts ofthe automaton at the
will of the conductor, who has the whole ma
chine so perfectly under control, that Monsieur
Mareppe proposes that the mi shall per-
form any piece of Emusic that shall he laid before
him within n fortnight. He also showed that
to n certain extent the figure was self acting, as
on winding upn string, several Ofthe most heau-
tifnl airs were played, among which were mel
cor PIN 'Partant pour Ia Syrie,' Weber, g last
| Waltz and LA ci d'arcm In MANA ali with
[ splendid embellishments But the chief d'oeu-
vrc is the inanncrin which the figure is made TO
obey the direction of the conductor, whereby
tits endowed with n sort, of semi-rcason.