Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1872-09-05
A Musical "Reminiscences = Meyer.
A'W W beer as n Leader.

.. l."
A writer in the Tripod, who resembles
Charles Auchester' in his passion ate
fondtiess for music and for mn nsioal celeb,
rites, gives the following leaf from his
book of personal experiences:gf
! The "Hugueuots' was to be performed
| for. the FIRST time in Brunswick, Germany,
some time in the neighborhood of 1915,
and Meyefbeer was to conduct in per-
SON. 1ihad been present at all the pre-
liminary rehearsals, and the music had
taken such powerful hold on my youth
full imagination (as no music before nor
since), that when I heard within few
feet of me. on the eventful day, an in
ltrodnction = Herr Capellmeister
Meyerbeer," l looked around, and 10! /
beheld the (to me) demi-god and ideal
Of grandeur-the great man whom | had
pictured as an Apollo sixteen feet high,
with baton instead of club. There he
stood, little jew. mufiled8 up, and a
pearly dew.drop hanging on the end of
his nose, with sharp crack in his laugh,
so utterly unlike the duet of the fourth
act that / then refused, nor could / since
bring myself to accept, the real for the
ideal composer. Yet stood trembling
in his presence, examining with wonder
the man who wrote that marvellous
fourth act;nand when he invited me to
get out under his feet and not stand in
his way so, | felt gratifed that he no.
ticed a small boy like MT. but did not
He conducted the largest general re-
hearsal, sitting in an arm chair on the
stage, beating the time in a quiet, unos-
tentatious manner, lifting the baton hard
ly twoinches from his knee, but now and
then quick nervous motion of the baton,
which communicated itself to the or
chestra somewhat like an electric shock,
bringing instantly the f., made one feel
the force which he might let loose but
held subdued. The excitement was so
intense in the orchestra that when the
apparently unconcerned old man lifted
the baton higher, then the left hand, and
finally himself, rising slowly with the
cressendo, the musicians in several in
stances unconsciously half arose out of
their seats under the spell of the inspi-
ration! Once he raped on the foor,,
requesting one Of the first violins to
hold in littleand not let the music run
away with him; then, speaking to some
one behind the scenes, directing him to
remove that boy (pointing to me), be-
cause he keeps bowling in au unearthly
manner ii. e., in laudable endeavor to
keep my voice in unison with the first
yiolins, carrying the melody. My cup
Of happiness was full at being noticed
again, this time before the combined
chorus and orchestra; it was only after
contracting most solemly TO keep the
peace that was permitted to remain.
| must here mention that / was a sort
of fixture (not even ornamental, but
useless( in said orchestra, being tole-
rated there because | sustained flial re-
lations to the cornet Inglese; one of the
ID flutes was my uncle, and IcIaimed q
general friendship with the trombones,
being only at loggerheads with the first
violins on account of the above men
toned failing, whichlwas the result of
too much enthusiasm. My invariable |
place at every rehearsal and perform-
anee vas in the corner at the left and
next to the conductor desk, so when |
the evening came was in my place, and
had the best opportunities to observe the |
great % aster Of modern orchestration.
When he made his appearance in the |
orchestra a odeafening applause greeted |
him. which he acknowledged with
slight turn and inclination toward the
audience. while diyesting himself of has
cloak. out of the pocket of which he took |
his baton, q little black stick apparently |
Whitfield with askaifej be then stepped /
up TO his desk, and after blowing his
nose with q dreadful snort, lifted his
wand. and d deathlike silence prevailed
for nearly a quarter Of a minute.
watched the stick, and when It descendedf
and was checked by slight twiteh there
proceeded, seemingly out to the end of
il, the low rpmbling Of the long drums
another twiteh and rumbling again-this
repeated, and the grand old chorale be-
gan-to whisper It's way through the maze
of harmony, until 1t finally ssslled INTO
an anthem inexpressibly glorious when
played By such an orchestra.
All through the performance ! was too
much excited 10 remember much beyond
the figure before me, placid and ua-
losehel by the fre lof his Inatchless |
wendrous music with a
stoop in bis shoulders, heeYy eyebrows,
a nose which had Just
enough curve at the end to proclaim the
son OF Abraham, which latter, by the
way, has since risen In my estimation
6 !fY per cent. on account OF bis illus
tri6us children, Aeyefbeer and Mendels-
NH WI .0
After the performance, on my way