The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1874-09-03
Paris cOre.pondence Neo Nork Kerald.

Paris Correspondence Neo York Herald.
=
Mr. Lang Is young American tenor of the
highest promise with voice capable of singing
both Light and heavy opera. / had the honor of
dining with him yesterday, and found him so
courteous, so obllging and so well informed that
yentured to inquire into the particulars Of his ca
reer as a musical student In Europe.
'The French are sometimes good singers" said
he, but they have not often fine voices Nine
Caryalho Is the only French soprano who has
made great reputation" .+r r4 b.
For some reason or other, whether II depends
upon modern habits and customs or any other
cause, do not know, but America and Germany
are the two countries which produce the greatest
number of fine voices. The French are great in,
strumentalsts, and must remind you that music
is a progressive art depending much upon mec-
hanism. A singer should perfectly understand,
for instance, the mechanism Of his own throat,
which In some respects resembles that Of an EO-
lian harp, and sound Is produced by two fine liga-
ments called vocal chords, placed In the lArynx."
A gentleman, who had kindly asked me To meet
Mr.. Lang, here pointed out that It was easy to sat
isfy ones self that music is progressive art by
comparing the songs and music Of civilized ma.
tiOns with those Of savage tribes, and noting the
immense difference between the bagpipe or the
tOmtom and modern instruments. Mr.. Lang said
that nothing could possibly be done In music
withouthard work and the absolute devotion Of
life time to the science of It. He said that study
and good health are indispensable TO a musical
artist because the TfA,1ral voice breaks down at
about forty; whereas the cultivated voice OF a
strong man remains unimpaired often TIL past
sixty; and people cannot adopt profession In
which their earnings would be likely to cease
about middle life Unless" added Mr.. Lang, "a
person has a phenomenal voice he should never
look TO music as the means Of earning liYeli-
hood, and not even then unless It Is cultivated
very near to perfection; musical incomes are not
high and people who eau earn 5000 year by
singing are quite exceptionally fortunate" 1
asked Mr.. Lang what advice he would glyeto
brother Of his who was coming to Europe as
musical student, and he replied:
81 think had better give you the experience
of a friend of mine, with the deduction / draw
from them" relate them as they were narrated
to me: ..,.. .'
BIOGRAPHY OF AN AMERICAN MUSICAL STUDENT Vi
Ny name Is Frank Meanwell, Of Cleveland,
Ohio, and learned very early in life that had a
fine tenor voice sang from childhood till the
natural change in my voice happened to me
about the age Of fifteen, as it happens to most
people. After the lapse Of year or q year anda
hall, the time which It generally takes for the
yoioe,tO recover its tone, was admitted to the
Cathedral choir, where sang the masses Of Mo-
zart and Haydn successfully for the space Of four
years i was then nineteen. A higher salary
called me to to the Flint Presbyterian Church in
Cleveland, where sang for two years. receiving
the congratulations of my friends and many
praisesi A suggestion from a musical friend of
high standing, that my voice was fDe enough to
pay for cultivation, determined me to save money
TO procure for myself the advantage Of Europe
an education in musical science By these means
1 Icollected $3.50, took a passage In the White
Star steamer Republic,p on the Doth Of May, 1872
and arrived at Liverpool ten days afterwards. /
proceeded to London, and, like all Americans
anxious to see the sights, l spent q fortnight in
the English capital Thence went to stuttgardt
to obtain information as to the German school Or
vDcaiizAtion. l should mention fliat had pecu-
liar advantages in this and several other respects
because belonged to a family Of Alsatian emf
grants, could speak both French and German. It
was In the summer season when arrived at
stuttgafdt and, therefore, was unable to com
mence my studies, because teachers and artists
were all taking their holidays. I asoertained,
however, through friends whom / met there that
the German school Of vocaliEatlon was only ct to
train phenomenal voices and singers Of very
strong constitutions. Moreover being desirouB
above all to acquire the Italian style Of singing
resolved TO spend the three summer months In re-
creation and preparing for my coming studies In
Italy. With this object l engaged an Italian
teacher In stuttgardt, paying him three guidens
or 81 25 lesson, and studied under him for two
months This teacher was Of no use whatever to
me- the money was thrown away. On my way to
Italy stopped in Switzerland and spent seven
weeks sight seeing with friends at my own ex-
pense. i'"
arrived at Milan on the Goth Of September,
having already exhaused $500 Of my savings and
/ went TO the American Consul, who gave me the
names Of several of the prominent Milan teach
ers. Upon very strong recommendations settled
to see signor Corsi the old aud Justly celebrated
baritone artist, On entering the studio Of that
musician l was kindly received, and shortly
stated the purport Of my visit, The signorwas in
company with his brother, who is tenor.
~Ars You anudcianf said the signor
"No; Iwant to commence the study Of my art
from the beginning. have sung all my life, but
have never taken lesson.H o.- -ftta
SThe signorthen entered into conversation with
his brother ina subdued voice, and asked me to
give him aapecimen of my vocal powers sung
with all confidence the aria from Martha" be-
ginning "M'apparitu ramoE" F ll.
"what else do you singl said the sisnor, when
had iinlshed.y trr ''f q li.t if !.
4 have sung Fra DiavOlo' with amateurs.g .
Asing the serenade Young Agnes said he.
The signor played the accompaniment in Do
and sung the serenade, taking the high DO in