Daily Los Angeles herald., 1881-06-09
MUSIC ABROAD.
A Charm ing Litter from Miss Nsally Stevens
on Music and Musicians In Germany.

VI music anu 0uslclanb IN 1erWRuys
Very many Angelefios remember
with great pleasure the visit to Los
Angeles, some time ago, Of Miss
Neatly Stevens, the very accom-
plished niece of our townsman, Mr..
I. w. Lord. Her exquisite per-
formances upon the piano excited
the admiration of our people, as
we'll it might, the young lady hav.
ing even then won q very high
reputation In professional circles.
Residing abroad to avail herself of
Won Bulow's instructions, Miss
Stevens writes the following inter-
esting letter to the Omaha Herald
from Berlin:
You remember, perhaps, that I
came to Germany to study under
Won BulOw. At the time we
reached Germany, In July, 1879,
Bulow was enjoying his summer
vacation; but he had arranged that
l should visit Weimar and attend
the classes at LisZps until the sea.
son began in Hanover. where, you
know, he was royal kapelmeister.
This arrangement was, OF course, a
great delight to me, and after few
days of London sights, we went d.
rect to the famous little Saxon viii
lage go sacred to The memories of
Goethe and Schiller. Every stu.
dent writes about List, until one
Is quito weary of reading again
and again the catalogue of the old
MASTERS virtues and misdemeanors.
Yet cannot pass over my charm.
ing days at Weimar, though I will
confine myself to facts as strictly
as possible. My way to List was
made easy, as Bulow had spoken
to the master In my behalf. I did
not arrive until near the close OF
the season, yet had the opportu-
nifty. of attending the last five re-
citals. There were twenty-slx
young ladies and as many gentle.
men, who we're each probably "the
favorite pupil of Llszt" when they
returned to their respective homes.
There are among the number few
good artists and there were also q
goodly number of them very bad
players. Liszt is so amiable and
kind that he cannot refuse to re.
ceive many whose artistic merits
could not possibly give them o
place among his pupils. The old
master is q most charming and ele.
CANT host. He has a kind word for
every one, but one can easily tell
who his favorites are. Max Primer
is an immense favorite personally,
as we'll as in an artistic way. Liszt's
sign of approval is a quiet "bravo,"
aud his disapproval is generally
very forcibly expressed, but always
politely, in some cutting sarcasm.
His pupils sometimes succeed in
getting his technique, but his spir.
it Tor Geist, as the Germans say,)
escapes them, and they consequent.
ly bang in a fearful manner. List
will forgive technical deficiencies,
If pupil has got talent, yet it
seems to me sad mistake to go to
him Until ones fingers are reduced
to absolute submission. In listen
ing to SO much bad playing 1 could
not help feeling sorry for the grand
old master whose kindness and
hospitality gave him. patience to
devote 30 much Of his time and en-
ergy to young aspirants to fame.
He never receives remuneration in
any form, and few who have en-.
joyed the benefits of his criticisms
go away and talk about him in the
most uDgrateful manner.
I enjoyed the great honor of re-.
ceiving a call from Liszt. Mr.. Pin.
ner accompanied him. 1t was such
a happy surprise and Liezt was so
affsble and made us all SO merry
with his stories that mamma aud I
did not realize our distinction until
he had taken leave. My mother
and had called on him on our ar.
rival at Weimar, and I presume
Liszt had returned the call on Blu
lows account. 1t is not his custom
to pay visits, and we therefore APP
preciated his call more highly. l
will not weary you further with
List enthusiasm. Perhaps, as
fact, I might say that the List
classes occurred every "Wednesday
and Saturday, from 8 to JPN.
One Sunday there was a little
company at his house, to which we
were all invited. There was
Quartette OF stringed instruments.
They played from Liszt and Grieg.
A little Italian lady sang some of
Liszt's songs; the composer accom-.
panied. l cannot leave Weimar
"reminiscences without q fact about
Henselt, whom we saw while there.
He is a noble-looking old gentle.
man with gray beard and hair,
warm, round brown eyes, rather
large figure, and good natured
man altogether. His little fingers
are in some way deformed. Though
this Is not noticeable, yet he never
plays before any one. He allowed
US to sit outside the door and listen
to his music. He played his beau
tiful DdnEleid mach Sturaa;, also, q
second pianoforte arrangement for
the G-minor concerto of Mendels.
sohn, o young artist paul Toepfer)
playing the first, The tone he got
out of the piano was really wonder
full in Its fulness and dramatic eff.
feet. Liszt said that Henselt could
produce tones from the piano which
no other pianist could find and yet
Henselt would never play In pub
lilo.
In regard to my own experience
I found Bulow terribly irregular
and unreliable. But he does such
an immense amount of work and is
ill so much of the time that a stu.
dent cannot expect much Of him.
His illness is always. due to nerv-
GUS prostration, and II you desire to
keep In his good graoes you must
not mention his state of health. At
least was SO Informed, and never
IL i