Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1871-06-16
AUBER THE COMPOSER.

"Do you ever sing any of Auber's
music?" l asked young lady
friend few days ago.
"Auber?" she replied 81 never
heard of him. l sing only classical
music, by standard composers like
Mozart, Verdi, Schubert, Donizetti
and Meyerbeer."
"Whatv' said I, "never heard of
the immortal composer of Fra Dio-
colo, the Domino Noir, Wassaniel-
10 ?"
ooh! is he author ofthose operas?
l was not aware of the fact, or per-
haps l had forgotten it,"
And yet this very same young
lady has studied music from her
childhood!
In case there should be others like
her, who still ignore the fame and
name of one of the most prolific and
admired Of composers, l shall brief
ly repeat here what l told her of
his life and works.
Daniel Francois Esprit Auber was
born at Caen, in Normandy, Janu-
ary 20, 1882, while his parents were
on a visit there, and died in May,
1871, in the Goth year Of his age.
His death, being SO recent an occur
renee, must be known to nearly
every one, and so it is useless to say
anvthinp moro ahOut If
His father, though Of humble
origin and pretentions, was a man
Of some culture and considerable
taste. He was dealer in etchings
and engravings, and great admir-
cr of fine arts, so that his house was
frequently visited by the best artists
OF the day, as well as by many noted
musicians and dramatists. To this
fact was doubtless due young Dan
iel's early taste for music.
At a very early age, he began the
study of the piano and several other
musical instruments, but merely as
a pastime and an accomplishment.
One Of his teachers was the Tyro-
lese composer Ladurner, under
whose supervision he wrote one or
two airs, but these were only trials
Of his skill, and were never publish
ed.
When about twenty years old,
Auber was sent by his father to a
commercial house in London, to
learn business. He returned to his
native country in 1903, when hos
tilities were re-opened between
France and England by the rupture
Of the treaty of Amiens. While in
England he had not wholly given up
the study of music, and he brought
home with him several quartcttes Of
his own arrangement.
He became the intimate friend of
the celebrated violinist Lamare,
whose peculiar style of playing the
violoncello was attracting great
deal of attention. Lamare was de-
sirous of spreading his method, and
Of creating style of music adapted
to it, but, strange to say, lie had no
talent for harmony and composition,
and he was unable to write the musi-
cal phrases which ne so beautifully
and skilfully performed. Auber sup
piled this want. At Lamare's re-
quest, he wrote all the conceytos
which appeared under the violinist's
name, besides quite number which
remained unpublished. Many per-
sons bel eyed that these compost
tions were really by Lamare, but the
musical world Of France we'll knew
that they were the offsprings of
Aubcr's dawning talent. The style
of these comcertos was entirely new,
and created quite sensation.
Those who were acquainted with
Auber congratulated him on the
success Of his first efforts, and pre-
dicted brilliant career for him.
Auber composed few operettas
which were performed in private
houses by amateurs. Several of
these performances took place at the
residence of the Prince Of Chimay,
and were very favorably received
by the brilliant audiences gathered
there. w
But the young man saw that he
had much to learn still, and SO he
began a course Of musical studies
under the direction of the we'll
known composer, Cherubini, and in
1918. he made his debut before the
public with an opera in one act, en-.
titled LIE Sjour Militaire.
Like SO many other young work
crs, he was coldly received, and the