The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1876-04-06
The Won BuIow Concert.

Perhaps no opportunity of musical enjoy
ment in its highest meaning has ever been Of
fered to a Portland audience-so perfect, so
purely artistic as that which DR.. Won Blu
| lows concert will afford. The days of tech
meal display as the chief end of piano-forte
| music are past; but artists have learned that
perfect Interpretation of the great master
works requires power of wrist and finger, as
we'll as OF soul and brain-of which the self-con-
scious display of the bravoua school of half CEN
fury ago knew little 1t is when the artist is
lost In his art, that he is greatest. And it is
here that DR.. Won Bulow is exceptionally
great; composer, critic, as we'll as Uirtatoso, he
can create, or interpret truthfully. His care
full, scholarly and eminently practical editious
of the works of the early masters, prove how
sincere, how transformations and how profound
is his appreciation of them. A glance at one
of these editions-et US say for instance
Bach's so-called "Itallan Concord evidences
this perfection of comprehension. The ac-
cents, the staccato or legato marks, the number
less minute hints to the player that group in
to Ineligible and individual forms the intricate
measures; and, SO nearly as spirit may be ex-
pressed by written signs, faithfully transmit
the thought of the composer-this editing is
not the least of the works of the musician who
is perhaps more fully than any other, the ex-
ponent of the complex life of his ce injury. AS
a pianist, his interpretations ars found to
possess all the admirable qualities of his work
as musical editor and composer, adding to
them superb technique, whose unity, entire
freedom from affectation, and phenomenal en-.
durance, power, and energy, combined with
exceptional memory, and entire devotion to his
art-place him first among living pianists.
very brief sketch of the principal points of
his biography will be Of interest to our read
ers: Hans Guido Won Buow is the son of the
novelist, Baron E. Won Bulow, and was born
in Dresden the Sth January, 1880. He was the
pupil of Frederic Week, whose system of in.
struction, so natural, SO human We may say.
has given to the world many fine artists,
among them his daughter, Nine. Clara Schu
mann. In 1S4S the young Won Bulow went to
Leipsc, and later to Berlin, to study the law;
but although his talent promised him success
in the legal profession, bis devotion to music
was SO overmastering that, after consulting
List, he determined to become a musician.
Under the care of the great pianist, Won Bulow
made astonishing progress; and at the musical
festival at Ballenstadt, in June, 1852, which
was conducted by List, the debut of Won Bulow
took place. After a series of successes in vari
GUS cities, he settled in Berlin, remaining there
during the years 1856 9, when he went to Paris,
and was eagerly accepted as the worthy sue
cessor of List. In 1864 Won Bulow conducted
the Christian and Isolde" of Richard Wagner
at Munich In 1867 the art-loving King of
Bavaria commissioned him, with the aid Of
Wagner, to found school of music at Munich,
of which be was named first Kapezlmeister.
He is an ardent believer in the theories of
Wagner and gave himself freely to the work
of bis position to the detriment of his health,
which in 1S6971 be sought to reestablish by
two years stay in Florence. In 1878 he ap
peared in England, and was entirely success
full, receiving unstinted praise, and steadily
strengthening his hold upon the public, as con-
ductor and pianist. In October, 1876 be came
to America, appearing first in Boston, then in
New York and other principal cities. 1t is
said that he contemplates making his home in
this country-where indeed the fresh ambition,
the genuine aspirations as yet unvitiated by
false and narrow tradition, afford for him SUI
perb field. The sale of seats for the concert in
this city begins this morning at Hawes' music
store