Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-04-01
Am EcccnIric NInsicinn.


having piece of music arranged for various
voices, on the occasion of a school celebration,
wrote to us in regard to it, requesting our aid in
the matter. Meeting a professional musician,
and asking him where such musical work could
be done, he gave us the address of person, re-
marking; "The old gentleman who can arrange
your music for you is rather peculiar person.
He is wonderfully learned has talents beyond
that of an ordinary copyist, only he is little
queer"
Without losing moment we sought the adj
dress, the clue to which was paSsably tangled.
We knocked at the door, which was opened in a
momentby a singularly pleasant looking old man
OF fully seventy. Our business having been
briefly stated, we were requested to enter and
one of the two chairs in the room was placed at
our disposal The inventory of the room was
accomplished at glance. There were piano.
'ed, a table, two engravings of Beethoven and
Mozart, pot ol geranium, a violin case on the
moor, ana on the mantle piece coffee pot In
a tiny crate a small fire was smolderng, and
Dei%fe it Slumbered a dog. Everything was
scrupulously neat, indicative of dec0rous power
ty, redeemed by few stray lights of refined
taste.
"You wish then, sir, said theod gentleman
with the slightest possible German accent ''to
have some music arranged. Please state to me
the occasion OF this music. have Il good stock
of patriotic, national and convivial music; like
wise poetry, with very good music adapted to
the circumstances. ! charge nothing for the
| verses; they are thrown in"
THANK you, we replied. "Both the music
and the words have been decided on; all that is
wanted is that you should make a solo or so.
| and then chorus. Here is the score" and we
| handed him the roll of music. just then there
| came heavy thud from above
mat must be very annoying to YOU" we
| said, nyoluntary.
80, my circus friends. it was so ut first but
see my Old dog, there, even does not mind it
| now. That is the way they made their bread
They are exceedingly polite and honest people,
Sometimes am too ill to 90 out, and they at
tend TO my little purchases. There is a little
fellow, mere baby, the perfect embodiment of
grace; he keeps me company sometimes; it
amuses me to see him play with my little dor
All the noise they make is nothing like the dis
cordant sounds | hear from beow-a perfect
cacouhany OF bad notes. Even my poor dog
howls at it. Here, Finette, show this gentleman
what you know about music" The dog came
to his master.
"Do you like MozartP he said. The dog
Jumped up and gave quick bark. "And Beet
hovenF The dog gave way to even a greater
canine exhibition of pleasure. "Now, what
| about Wagner" The dog complacently wagged
his tail. mot quite accustomed to him vet,
and too old to appreciate the music of the flu
| ture But what about Verdi, the grand Italian
maestroP Finette simply lay down and refused
| to give any token Of applause. "And Often
| bach| Fnete rolled over and gave low howl
indicative of pain,
81 will now look at your music said the old
| gentleman, producing a heavy pair of silver
spectaces and placing them on his nose, after
opening the piano. He struck two or three
chords with an assured and distinct touch, then
seemed rather absorbed with the words than
| with the music. Then, pausing for a moment
| he said very deliberately "rhese are very. very
bad verses. Did YOU make them?'
There was bad kind of blunness about him.
Joined to apparently so much conviction, that
NO a. n nA rrat NOT,
"No,' we replied~ Though your Judgment
| may be trtie severe"
"No. | am always right. The words are
wretched for singing. Verses that cannot be
| sung are mostly shocking things. You will ex-
cuse me, but if the god of poetry had biz ruIer
he would rap the person who made these verses
| over the fingers. The music is good, quite good
| far too good for the words. II will be like n
miserable rider astride noble steed. They may
| reach Parnassus, but maybe the horses knees
will be broken. What bad poetry" Evidently
| the copyist was getting excited "You will
want a single yoice-a soprano, next, chorus
| lis it for men or women? For both you say?
| Young peope9 YOu say yes? Then they will
| screech. The god of music says no voices are
| good until they are mature, no more than green
| apples are good to cat. There will be five parts
| "a solo, piano accompaniment. Ii will cost
| So You will pay me S5 now and the rest
| when II is finished"
| willingly" we said, placing the amount on
| the piano. Try and make it simple and inn
| posing"
"Simpc and imposngl Why, my friend
those two words describe the acme of art
| Those men, he pointed to his engrayinrs
Beethoven and Mozart, there the little dog
| jumped and barked), alone could do that Stop
! ---one other man besides" Here he commenced
! playing with exceeding skill grand HARMONY
| As he played, his words came too like a recita-
tive, he said, 81 heard this music once in n bean.
| uiul garden Fountains were splashing, the
| setting sun was shining through The trees, the
roses were sending forth their last perfumes, and
| the nightingales were singing. Grand people
were walking up and down the grassy lawns.
| Suddenly an orchestra hidden in a grove greeted
| real prince and his bride. They had only been
married that morning. They had tears of joy in
their eyes, and had tears in mine, too. They
| asked, "who make this delicious music?" Then
little man with great big eyes and pale (ace
came forward and bow, and say; at is my con.
| gratulatiOns, the heartfelt wishes of your de.
| voted cdpet meister." ut was Webre." Here
he suddenly paused in the middle of musical
sentence, aud hastily closed the piano.
Your music Is admirable. Do you not com.
| poseP" we asked.
"Composel ltis too late. All do is TO exist
| In the "reminiscences Of those who have gone
before me- ! live by copying music, Some.
| times get music TO arrange. People. amateurs
| teachers come here with their compositions.
| Young lady in Madison avenue think she make
waltz, Music teacher say splendid, what
geniusl We must arrange that--all the other
young ladies viii be jealous. That music teacher
come to me straight, ! take young lady's little
piece of butter and spread 1t over ever 50 much
bread, sometimes | hardly know il myself
suppose do the same us drawing master with
pupils sketches, But business is very dull, so
bad tnat can hardly live by 1t. | am getting
too old"
We yentured to say that perhaps he might
lind occupation in arranging band music. eyes"
be replied, II can still make good military music
that is better than II used TO be In New York
sometimes, though even now my airs are played
The German authorities were right when they
passed law in Saxony--that was years ago,
~ the good old tunes when ifa band or an organ
played false they put them In Jail for IT, have
had some severe trials. There came to me once