New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
TEEUI IND TIE PIINO.

|
An interesting story IS now being extensively
circulated in reference to the celebrated com
poser Verdi, the point Of which is not ap-
parent to the general public. Very likely peo-
pie who take naturally to music have no dliii-
Guilty whatever in seeing the point. Ladies
and gentlemen who know all about pianos and
the habits Of geniuses that write operas and
cognate compositions may be amazed to learn
that anybody is in the dark about the point
II bchooves all such persons to be tolerant Of
the musical ignorance Of others, and g00d-na-
turedly to address themselves to the task Of
explaining the point for the benefit of whom
it may concern. Here is the story:
When Slgnor Verdi arrived at MontccatinI where he
Is spending his vacation this year. be found a fine
grand piano installed In the sitting room which had
been taken for him 1t was Open and, as delicate
compliment to his iusirlous guest the proprietor OF
the hotel had placed the of "Irova'or' on the
stand over the keyboard. The composer removed the
book closed the instrument, locked II. put the key
in his pocket, started for walk and flung the key
over the edgo Of deep ravinc
Now what the man that never had much ear
for music anyway would like to know is, what
made Verdi take on so. Had the gentemanIy
landlord-whoSe motto evidently is " We study
to Please"- picked out piano for that sitting
room which was manufactured by the we'll
known firm of John Doe S1 Co., while Verdi
has a decided preference for the instruments
made " the weIl-known firm of Richard Roo
81 Brother? Or was the piano ont Of tune
Or was the composer discompOsed because the
piano was not placed in his bedroom, so that
he could readily touch the notes during the
night watches in case he was restless? Or
does he prefer melodeon or an accordion
for his summer playing? Would he have kept
his temper if the piano had been shut instead
of open, prefering to lift the lid himself? Does
not Verdi like Nerdi'S II Tr0vatore"? Or
is he so partial to it as to resent the fact that
a mere landlord should presume to be ac-
quainted with it?
Such are the questions that spontaneously
occur to those outside of cultured musical cir
cles, as they read of the attitude which Verdi
assumed toward this unfortunate piano And
they are still more myStified at his conduct in
reference to the key. Why should he have
taken so unwarrantahe and so unnecessary
liberty with the landlords property? Why
could he not have been content to secrete the
key behind the clock Standing on the mantel
OF MS sllllnp -IOOIl, OT 10 niue IL uliuti NHC
carpet, or to mail it to the firm that made the
piano, Or to present ii as " a memento OF Verdi"
to the coored boy that brought up the ice
water at night? Why resort to n rayine' and
a deep ravinc at that for the hopeless en-
tombment of the key?
According TO so intelligent and accomplished
a poet as William Congreye,
Music hath charms to soothe the savage breast,
TO soften rocks or bend knoited oak.
1t is doubtful, however. if the landlord in
question can be persuaded that music can be
depended upon for effective missionary work.
He doubtless argues that if music was
heavenly maid' Of the sort represented by
Congreve his piano would not have received
such an awful snubbing at the hands Of the
iIustrious Verdi. Considering how exceeding
~ difficult it is 20 find Il key that has been
tossed reclllessly over the edge of "A deep ra-
vine, the landlord may be under the painful
necessity Of opening the instrument with an
axe or an ice-picll for his next guest that wants
to play. Can it be possible that music so0thes
savage breasts, softenS rocks and bends knotted
oaks, but has no ameliorating influence upon
the angry passions of Italian creators Of divine
operas But then. perhaps the story is not
true And then again, COngreye may have
been mistaken.