The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1874-07-17
Wonderful Performance.

Mozart's first experience of a large organ
was in the monastery of a little town on the
/ banks of the Danube. He was then only
six years old, and in company with his
father had left his home in Salzburg and
started upon long course of travel All
day long they had been sailing down that
majestic river, past crumbling ruins,
frowning castles, cloisters hidden away
among the crags, towering cliffs, quiet vii
lagos nestled in sunny valleys, and here and
there a deep gorge that opened back from
the gliding river, its hollow distance blue
with tathOmless shadow; and its loneliness
and stiffness stirring the boys heart like
some dim and vast cathedral. The company
Of monks with whom they had been travel
ing that day We're at supper in the refectory
Of the cloister, when Father Mozart took
Noltgang into the chapel to see the organ.
And now as the boy gazed with something
of awe upon the great instrument, looming
pin the shadows of the great, empty church,
nis face lit up with serene satisfaction, and
every motion and attitude of the figure ex-
pressed a wonderful reverence. What tones
pipes? Tones, which, if once awakened
could give utterance to all that yoiceless
beauty which the days scenes had showed
him-life and death, present and past the
peaceful river and the deserted ruin; the
sunshine unfailing and the unfailing shadow
at its side. ''Father, > said the boy, ''explain
to me those pedals at the organs feet, and
let me play '..t.
Well pleased, the father complied Then
Wolfgang pushed aside the stool, and when
Father Mozart had filed the great bellows,
the elin org5lni5t stood upon the pedals, and
trod them though he had never needed TO
have their management explained. How the
deep tones woke the sombre stiffness of the
old church! The organ seemed some great
uncouth creature, roaring at very joy at the
careSses Of the marvellous child.
The monks, eating their supper in the
retectory, heard the tones and dropped knife
and fork in establishment The organist of
the brotherhood was amongst them; but
never had he played with such power and
freedom. They listened some grew pale;
others crossed themselves till the prior rose
up, summoned all his courage, and fastened
INTO the chapel. The others followed. but
when they looked up into the organ loft, 10!
there was no form of any organist to be seen,
though the deep tones still massed themselves
IN new harmonies, and made the stone arches
thrill with their power sit is the devil
hImself,' cried the first one of the monks.
Iawlng closer to one Of his companions, and
5IYing scared look over his shoulder into
the darkness of the aisle. ''It is a miracle!''
ana another. But when the oldest of their !
lumbar mounted the stairs to the organ front |
le stood petrifed with amazement. There |
TODD the tiny figure, treading from pedal |
o pedal, and at the same time clutcbino the |
,eys above with his little hand, gathering
'andtuls of those wonderful chords as Il
hey were violets, and lingilg them out into
he solemn gloom behind him. He heard
lothlng, saw nothing besides his ewes BEAM
d liked stars, and his whole face Tpbte5
With Impassioned joy. Louder and fuller
oSe the harmonies, streaming forth in swell
lg 6Iiiows, till at last they seemed to reach
sunny shore, on which they broke; and
hen whispering ripple of fainteSt melody
hgered moment in the air, like the las,
lurmer OF a wind harp, and all was still.