Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-25
practiced the z. 5ae various expressions ofhead

practiced the q, 500 various expressions ofhead,
face. arms, and Torso faithfully.
If any one had seen me at 1t they would have
thought was trying to represent snake struck
by lightning.
1 think it was about this time that I received
call from John Howard, proprietor and paten-
tee of the Howard method Of singing. taught
by mail equally Us well as by personal appli-
cation.
Mr. Howard told me that the muscular action
of my throat, &C., was all wrong. and that what
wanted was to break up my muscles. and then
set to work to get them right. I never had an
opportunity to try his method, and know not of
its WORTH as. my voice having recovered a little.
went back to Errani and begged him. for pitys
sake, to let me vary the Delsarte system with a
few singing lessons
He consented. After had amused myself for
few minutes he said:
IF you sng-a Ikea Eat on re stage in Italy
ze public he throw-a rotten egg-a and dead-a
cat-a on re stage."
Utterly crestfallen, I consented to begin all
over again at the very Deg1nning-at the l, 2, 3
of the business.
While was taking lessons of Errani. Ferdi-
nand Quicken. the composer and accompanist.
well known, like Coriolanus of old, for his dan
gerOus stoutness." undertookto give me lessons
in private in the scales and soIfeggi.
When would come to Errani. after I had
been to Quicken he would say, 'sWhere-a did-a
you get-a that horrible style-a?"
And when l came to Quicken from Erran he
would say, ''Um gotteswien, aber das list elm
katzenjammer. das ist klein singen."
One day Errani said to me- Look sometimes
you make-a re note right. sometimes wrorg-a.
Now sing-a-ah, TAT is wrongl Try again! All.
Eat is wrong! Try again! Ali, Eat is right
You see ven you make him like Eat, he is right;
ven you no make him like Eat, he is wrong.''
'HOw am to make him so?" said I. meekly.
'Oh, Eat you must know yourself"
NV work now became so arduOna fhat 7 M
longer had time to take lessons from Errani.
who. If he did not prate much of theory thor
Oughly understands how to form the tones of
the voice, and. honor be it to him. never strained
my voice like the others. For months did not
sing note. till was introduced to Nine Cap
piani. a most amiable and accomplished LADY,
She gave me some good advice and couple of
lessons. andtold me must sing as if had glue
on my lips. The good creature meant of course.
that swallowed the sound and should bring it
forward to the lips.
After this came my catastrophe. and 1 sang
no more for two years.
Lately, however, plucked up enough cour-
Oge to go to Nine. Rachau one of the most
accomplished musicians We have, and pupil of
Rvarde.
She heard me sing. and smiling sweetlv. looked
up into my face and said: My dear man, YOU
cannot sing note property"
In my heart of hearts think she is right. l
cannot sing note properly.
And yet would like to know whether my
voice is tenor. baritone or bass: whether ought
to have reserve of air. to sing with. and
should lave my stomach 'harienedup:' whether
| ought to know the q. 5g2 expressions OF the
body; whether ought to sing with glue on my
lips and how on earth | am to know when
sing note properly OF not.
One thing is certain, have spent thousands OF
dollars. Years OF time, ard endured awOnies to
be told that am an ass and "a stock-fish -
that a.ng very bad-a," aud that if appeared
before an audience in Italy they would throw at
me re rotten esga and re deat:-a cat "a
JOHN {. FREUND.