Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-02-25

An Ambitious Amateur's Experience
with Professors Of Music and Act.

ing.
From Music
In the summer of 1875 after nv experience
with the Arcddaon being somewhat sick of Jour-
naiism, and not having yet determined to start
musical paper, bethought me that several
persons had declared at various times that | had
good voice, and that it was pity that did
not cultivate it. So made up my mind to be
singer and made straight for M. Agramonte
whose acquaintance had made, and whom
knew TO be refined and educated gentleman.
good musician. and a successful teacher. M
Agramonte heard me sing. and when had got
ten through, said quietly, but decidedly. 'sYOur
voice has the tenor timbre but not the tenor
compass do not think you will ever do any,
thing with it. although you have some fine
notes."
80 l went away discouraged; but meeting
LOUIS Engei who afterwards became nv musi-
cal editor. told him my trouble.
Let me hear you sing" said he
A., certainly, said l; andthereupon commenced
the same music L had made for NJ A gramonte
"A little thrOaty, but a fine voice. Baritone.
undoubtedly. Must sing that voice up." said
Engei, VINO then proceeded to sketch out to me
In glowing colOrs the life of an artist. how he
was feted and honored and made much of, till
my mead was turned sufficiently to pay him
handsome sum to undertake my musical educa-
tiOn.
l practised constantly, and made such pro-
gress, according to Mr.. Engel that he wrote
song for me entitled. not appropriately, 'Oh,
Lord, Hear My prayer!''
About this time | started nv old paper and
having soon after fallen out with Mr. Engei. INV
musical education came to an ABRUPT stop for
the time, and the Lord no longer heard nv
prayer daily.
Once more some friends spurred m b. on, and
told me ought not to neglect my voice. SO one
day paid visit to NJ. Moderate, an Italian mu-
stefan resident here whom l had met several
years before and of whom had heard glowing
accounts.
NJ. MODERATE heard me sing. and then sa:a:
''Io on hat a tine-a ton-a; l thInk-a heem bari
tone, but no sing-a right; sing-a all wrong-a:
mucf-a bad-a, very bad"
So l bowed myself out, feeling sorrowftl
enough. Here had | paid out already large
sum and worked hard for months, only to be
told that | was '.much-a bad-a,'' So for six
months | remained quiet till resolved once
more to make an effort. and then, if that failed.
to quit.
had about this time made the acquaintance
OF Mr.. Ernst Eberhard director of the Grand
Conservatory of Music of the city of New York.
This must be the very place." thought |, and
so duly made my appearance 1t was on this
occasion that met GotthOld Carberg as have
already told in the first issue Of my paper.
Cariberg tried my voice carefully for nearly
nan an hour in every possible way before he ut
q
''Iour voice is basso cantante.' which
should be sung down, and think that if you
VIII practise faithfully and stick to it, one day
you will have great chance"
Hereupon told him that Aeramonte had said
my voice was tenor, while EIircI and Noderati
had pronounced it to be baritone: whareupon.
with the abruptness which was characteristic OF
him. he said:
MY dear sir, they all know nothing about
From that day began a course of study with
Cafibefg. which continued for nearly two years
during which | endured the tortures of the
damned, for Carlberg one of the best fellows
that ever lived, taught by the old German
method; that is. he screamed. tore his hair
threw the book at my head every other minute.
constantly called God to witness that was an
ass, and he a greater one to try and teach me
anything, beWailed the hour of his birth. and the
cruel necessity of being the teacher of a ..stOck-
nsh, but privately told his wife that was do
ing wonders, and would one day be a great
man.
worked very hard four hours day, and soon
began to study roles in opera. My first effort
was 'MephistO."
What that effort cost me heaven only knows.
The sins OF the evil one may be many. but GER
tainly expiated some OF them in trying to repre-
sent him faithfully.
Cariberg used to say: 'You are a pretty devil
"a weak-vOiced, weak toned sniveller. who
sings through his nose. can't get out decent
note, swallows the sound. and chOkes a., il he
were singing with potato in his mouth. Ach
Gott Ach, Gott Du iieber. Himmel! shall /
ever make this stolid piece Of British beef I'M
derstand one note of musc:" and with that
away went the score at my head. while Carbers
sat at the piano with his head in his hands, the
picture OF utter, AFFECT. irrepressibe grief!
My next attempt was Marcel in the H,.que-
nots This part literally cost me tears, for Carl
berg lost control of himself entirely during its
progress One thing is certain. | came to thank
the good Catholics who fuslladed me in thu, fiji n
act. and often wished it was stern reality Yet
II anything could Out-HerOd Herod. if there was
a possibility for one pang to be added to my
agony. it was during the period that Commit
ted the role Of 'Bertram" in Roberto Il UiaroIO
to memory.
Scarcely lesson passed but that Carberg
broke note on the plano.
The bill for repairs was frightful
l had to buy new score weekly. while
Carlbeiy tore his hair out in SUCH handouts
that | began to fear that he would get bald
headed.
During the time that I was taking lessons
from Carlberg was making peculiar expert
ence in another direction: that u.s. was taking
lessons In acting and defamation from NJ De-
breuii Max Strakosch's old stage manager The
scene OF my gyrations was Tanlnany Hall.
times week and there strutted aud fi,med
rolled my eyes. and flung about my arms till, if
any one had seen me, they would have thought
was one of John Kelly's sachems gone stark.
staring mad.
] shall never forget how Debreul would say:
sven 'MephstO he retire to ze back of re gar
den he do not go out at once, but he turn and
he look at Marguerite and he contemplate her
so, as mooch as to say: re time will come ven |
shall have accomplish my purpose" And then
Debreuil would put on look that would have
made your hair stand on end, and was no doubt
diabO!ical enough.
One day he decided that must 90 through
my performance to the sound Of music. SO he
got friend-a young lady whose name wish
be my good angel. and 90 up
aoft in the gallery and play for me on an old tin
kettle of piano that stood there.
AS, the moment l opened my mouth to sing.
could not hear one note of what she played
the effect may be imagined, but cannot be
described.
Things went on thus for some time till the
terrible strain my voice was under began to tell
On it visibly. began to be painfully hoarse
About this time / was introduced to Mr..
James Steele Mackaye. professor of elocution.
morality, and gesticulation. He told me at
once that If continued as was doing | would
soon have no voice to speak with, much less one
to sing with.
So l rushed to a doctor. who confirmed what
Mr.. Mackaye had said. but advised me also to
consult some other teacher.
went, therefore, to Errani, the first Italian