Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-08-27
GREAT MUSICIANS.
Our Biographical Sketches Of csls-
hratsd Composers. a
The Life end tlben Of Jeschlm R.s, -
Reviewed by "E. A-w"-An
Entertaining Story.


joachim Raj, the we'll known composer.
His death was quite sudden and unexpcct-
ed. The day before, Saturday, he bed q
tended TO the arduous duties Of hh music
school. He had been quite chserfal
up to the last moment he Was
seen expressing his lively satisfacuen at
the progress Of the students and the bright
prospects Of the institution. 0aly three
months before another one. whose nsAne
is familiar to musicians all over the
suddenly died under similar circumstances.
Kullah and Raft were in many respects,
alike. They were self-made men. Upon,
the path Of their life they both encountered
formidable difficulties, which helped TO
bring out the original strength OF their
characters. Roth were designed for other
occupations than music, hut both found.in'
music their final haven OF rest and happi-
ness Rats parents originally resided In
where he received his edaca.
ton up to his 18th year. From thence the
family moved 10 Switzerland, where young
Raft was put to the Jesuit Lyceum, where
a thorough education Was impaired TO him:
His fzther was a Jealous Catholic and
wished the son TO become o priest. The
energy and iron industry Of the young mau
accomplished much while there. aud he oh
tanned u complete knowledge OF Latin,
Greek end Hebrew, which in after years
was of immense value To him. On finish
ing his course he received the most splendid
testimonials. Vet, a university education
was cruelty denied him The means were
wanting.
He had practised music early. and was
aware OF o great love for IL. Yet, he would
not say that this love indicated talent or
genius. He was too modest and cautious 10
make that conclusion. He wanted Ger.
tainty about Il through the judgment Of
some one whose name stood high in the
musical world. He thought OF Mendelssohn.
Yes, Mendelssohn should decide
whether there was music in him
or not. He sent some compositions
to him requesting his frank. decided Judge
ment. Mendelssohn examined the manu-
script and was highly pleased, Not eater:
ing into long parley about II with ian;
known music publisher. This determined
Rats career But his parents strenuously
opposed his decision, and his father with.
drew all support Then came fights with
adversely. then came gloom and poverty,
then came the real battle Of life, the com.
bat Of genius with daily bread. What Was
to be done? There Was no enc Tor counsel.
no one for guidance and instruction. Yes.
when we consider his high attainmcnts.
even then his accomplishments as q contra
pun,ist We must conclude that his days
had consisted in pcr>evering industry and
iron determination. In 1913 Iiszt visited
Switzerland and was to perform ut Basel.
This gave AN idea TO Raft lie must see and
hear Lisz, at whatever cost. lie wA poor,
hence he had TO walk all the way from Iu-
rich TO Basel very respectable distance.
Ii was raining; IL was pouring. No mat
ter. He must see List. II was one Of those
ideas which sometimes In life take such
firm hold upon MS that our whole future.
all our veal and woe Is conferred In It's &C.
complishmcnt. Who has not had an
experience OF such an idea when
life was overcast by clouds and
darkness, aud suddenly q bright star aP-
pears in the heavens. q star OF Brshlehcm,
that must b. followed through storm and
rain. through night and day. That star
will lead TO the blessed spot where saliva
ton awaits the striving soul.
Poor Raif wandered on and "n through
the rain. pelting his face mercilessly. lie
stopped at a tavern for cup OF coffee.
more he could not afford, and looking Ut
his time piece. he found that he had made
good time and could afford . nap. He was
very tired and soon fell asleep and forgot
suddenly awakening wax he dshhS 'H ": Hut
ror, that he had over slept and would be-
too late for the concert lie rushed out
fran tically. and the andante OF his walk
changed Ia allegro, the allegro 10 presto.
and the presto Ia prestissimo. IL wAs q
brilliant pedal passage. Finally he arrived
at Basel. half drowned. lie rushed 70 tho
Concert Hall. The performance had begun
and not o single ticket was 10 b. hsd.
There was not room for another person,
much less for q half drowned man from
Zurich. Oh horror. what was to I've donrr
By pertenacity and that sense Of fatality
which makes everything possible. he got
speech of Lists secretary. hut the secre-
tary said: 1T cannot be DONE III can"
SAYS Rail. with that tone and mein that
cannot be called wicked. In goes the scc-
rotary and tells List that there Was n man
outside who was drenched like . rooster tn
rain storm, and states he has walked Alb
the way from Zurich TO Basel, and that h6
must see and hear List. What shall doY
Bring him in 10 me, SAYS Liszt. with that
generous outburst OF feeling which II char
acteristic Of him. by oil means bring
him In at once shall get him q Jaace"
Raft We taken In and List gave him Q
place upon the stage. There he sat, ooa-
tented and happy, his umbrella between
his knees. creatingA small fish pond I'll
around him. lie heard, saw, and spoke 70
List, snd the meeting gave that direction
to his liie which he never abandoned. Iiszt
made him an offer TO accompany HIN 10
concert tour through Germany. IL wss sc.
cep,ed. Afterwards when parting from
Ii,a he received an invitation FROM Msu-
delssobn TO come 20 Leipzig and study under
his guidance But Mendelssohn died sud
denly In la7. by this time Ran bad also
became we'll known as writer. and bis
sn Shf t.aHo "a
valued. Next We fnd him at STUTTGART.
where Hans Won Bulpw introduced him
To the public by playing from memory one
of his COMPOSITIONS which he had only seen
for the firs, time few days before. 10th
composer and performer were rapturously
applaudtd. Next we find him In Hamburg,
then Of Weimar, with List. There he
found what he needed, . genial atmosphere
and IN appreciation calculated 10 Iesd
higher and higher. The little Saxon city
again developed unto life genius Whose
There be made most OF his hest works.
There he was taken into the best society:
there, among recollec,ions OF the immortal
Go e:he and Schiller, on the banks OF the
quiet lime, he lived life Of tranquil
activity. creating and enjoying. and
rosming ever higher. There be-
sI,o made the acquaintance d
his future wife. DORIS Oenart,
whose father stood high In litersturs snd
art. There at one time, when Berloiz, the
French composer, was fsted with Q grand
dinner, and being ignorant Of the German
sngusge, could not do the bonofs OF the
occasion, Raft arose and made IN elaborate
speech in Latin, which ws highly spprs-
cisted by the scholarly Freochmsn. aed
delighted him ever after. BneAgsd 10 Ms.
Genart. he followed her 70 Wessbsfien sod
there continued his work - compossr and
teacher. When his Pafriotie sDnpAsHy
received the highest price Of ytenns. ard
his fame was at the zenith DO quilted
teaching and devoted himssif 70
com posing exclusively. In 1877 be became
the director and msnsgef Of H0ch's sonses.
odter Of Music d Pfsnkfort % tbe Main.
There he lived till bis dsAth. hsny ssss
the bonors be Feceived from Pdncss
snd prominent societies. bat be bore tbs0
al nieekIy and bis fnodesty nsvss grsu bsss:
AZ his Conservatory all the modsfn md
older masters wers sssiduossly stnAisd I'D
played, except Rah. In conysssstioo -
vas 90 charming and st:rsctiye that be was
apt 10 be imposed on by his fneedA Ibe
number OF bis works amounted - noee
than two hundred They ere Ill cnaees. -
A TkR0 0iII hYiAR