Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1880-05-08
CLARKSVILLE.

EDITORS CHRONICLE: During
the last year or two the growth and
improvement of GAINESVILLE has
been amazingly rapid, and we de-
sire to call the attention of our citi-
zens to certain circumstances con-
nected with our progress directly
interesting to the whole communi
ty. We are naturally proud of the
new and elegant public buildings
which seem to have sprung forth al
most spontaneously, so sudden has
been their appearance. The gene
raj business, too, of our city is rap
idly increasing so much so that we
hope soon to see skill and capital
attracted here to remain. Along
with the general progress, the tai
ent has sprung into life as did the
literature of Italy after the "dark
ages" for though our city has al
ways enjoyed reputation for much
talent and culture, we have never
known its influence so generally
diffused throughout society as at the
present. Certainly we have a right
to boast our educational advantages,
for both private and public, our
schools are not surpassed. But
above all is the musical taste N orr
community, which has attained so
high a degree of Improvement. For
this last do we owe our thanks to
Prof. and Mrs. Meininger, who
have done so much to bring out and
develop this talent. In society it
may be well said of them, that
they are "useful as well as Orna-
mental" They are both teachers
of the highest ability, as they have
shown by their wonderful perform
ance, and the almost magical i'm
provement in their pupils.
Prof. Meininger's compositions
bespeak him a scholar and a genius
of no common order, and those who
have had the pleasure of hearing
the skilful performance of his ac-
complished lady at the Academy
concerts will confess they have new
er heard her brilliant execution sur
passed. l do not believe it is mere
enthusiasm which prompts me to
say that Prof. Meininger stands to-
day the rival of the "grand old mas
ters," and ranks the peer of the
most distinguished composers of the
present day. Harmony seems to
be the field where he most loves to
dwell. Here he revels, and an I'M
learned amateur, to read some of
his music without hearing it, would
believe he had lost himself in the
labyrinth of thorough-bass. But to
hear it played by one practised in
the divine art dispels this idea and
establishes it as the highest musical
conception. In the delicious melo-
dy of some of his passages thoughts
seem to ripple which are too beau
tiful, too poetic, to be expressed in
words, swelling the heart with adj
miration and pleasure, thrilling
through every fibre, a great mag
netic wave seems to roll from the |
heart of the listener, melting his
very soul into music. A few pieces
with which he has kindly present
ed the writer, have the most diff
cult harmony possible, embracing
in. their arrangement the most ex-
quisite discords, the most varied
and without the slight
est offense to the ear. One of the
pieces mOdulates in almost every
known key, and SO smoothly that
an amateur listener would not de-
tect it. In a word, his music is in
the fullest sense scholarly, and as
for his ability to teach, his pupils
attest that better than volumes
could do, should they be written.
Certainly such an acquisition to our
society as Prof. and Mrs. Meinin-
ger is in the highest degree desira-
Die, and we hope we may be able
% keep them as permanent citizens
If GAINESVILLE. Parents who desire
or their children the best culture,
md the young ladies and gentle
men of this vicinity, who would
nave finished musical education.
hould not let such an opportunity
'scape them. Yours truly,
"