St. Landry democrat., 1889-08-17
A MUSICAL PRODIGY.
Passion of a Negro Boy for Classical
COMPOSITIONS.

WITH SCARCELY ANY TRAINING HE MAS
TIERS THE MOST DIFFICULT sCOREs-His
PHENOMENAL APPRECIATION OF THE
MOTIVE OF THE BEST MUSIC.
For a year or more the attaches of
Grunewald's establishment on Canal street
have been vastly entertained by the origi-
nal behavior of little negro boy, who
from time to time, has visited the store to
purchase music Invariably he went
through the same unique proceeding. He
had heard lady in the neighborhood play
ing something new he could not tell the
name, but in order to make his wish plain,
would beg permission to sit at the piano
moment, and by running over several bars
learn the title of the coveted composition,
and SO became possessed of his hearts de-
sire. At first no one noticed the ardent
little pianist, how greedily he seized upon
every available scrap of sheet music, nor
his rapturous manner of lingering around
the instrument whenever a clever per-
former was near. He said his name was
Edward Moore, and that he lived out On
Bienville street He was the son of
dressmaker, and loved music better than
anything on earth.
Finally day came when the enthusiast
visited the shop while half dozen artists
were present, illustrating the superiority
of their several masters and discussing
musical men and matters generally. The
hours passed and people came and went,
but that one small mulatto boy stayed On
as though spell. bound till dusk warned
him of the necessity of home and supper
Before departing, however, he drew lot
of change from his trousers pocket and
bought big roll of the classics as conso-
lation in part for leaving the enchanted
spot
The sequel of that afternoon has been
since related by his mother. The boy on
entering the house was met by perfect
storm of reproaches. "Where had he
been ?' "What in heavens name had be-
come of the money for which he had been
sent and on which depended the provisions
for the day ?' was he ill crazy or gone
to the devil ?' None of these, it appears,
for shame facedly, with evident reluctance
and the guilty air of one overtaken in
fault, the prodigal son told of the Canal
street snare that had caught his small foot
steps.
He expatiated upon the superb music
heard and last of all produced the bundle
of printed harmonies showing where the
trust funds had been swallowed up.
This was too much for his mothers pa
thence. Amid shower of rebukes she tore
the precious literature to tatters, vowed
she would forfeit her piano rent and return
the instrument which was running her
child. Worse than all she threatened to
destroy the meagre store of music treasured
up stairs, and to rid herself OF the whole
nuisance at one stroke.
At this point the child's endurance came
to an end. Pushing away he locked him
self in his room and utterly refused to
come out or be comforted until every hor-
rid menance was withdrawn.
1t was then, said the boys mother, she
saw it was no use to thwart the child any
further. He had always been like one wild
over music. When scrap of baby, not
more than four years old, a piano was
brought into the house that his elder
sister might take lessons. In an hour
he was playing Sweet Bye and Bye"
repeated anything and every thing his ears
heard.
Then came time when he hungered to
understand the printed characters the older
children studied, and before the family
realized it he had learned all the notes and
was picking out difficult pieces with mar
velous experiences and zeal
After the episode with the misGsppropri
ated funds, which happened but few
months ago. the boy was given musical
professor of his own color, and in six
weeks time had achieved what most stu
dents acquire in equal number of years.
| He devoured with avidity anything related
| to his passion, and soon his correct and
| brilliant rendition of the highest order of
music SO attracted Mr.. Grunewald that an
offer was made and accepted whereby the
child was secured as permanent attrac-
ton to the establishment.
Yesterday the store was visited and the
boy called upon to exhibit his phenomenal
talent. Edward came forward, a slim,
delicately built boy, who claims to be
twelve years old, and yet looks scarcely
nine. He is of bright copper color, with
well formed features for mulatto, and a
pleasant face, full of intelligence and ex-
preston. Considering the unusual amount
of notice lavished on him of late, nothing
is more remarkable than his extreme mod
esty. He is rather shy, and seems to avoid
instead of counting attention. Without
the slightest affectation the young prodigy
took his place before fine, sweet toned
instrument, and began Chopin's "Polonaise
Militaire," playing with infinite taste and
wonderful expression. His execution was
admirable, his style digni6ed and entirely
free of the weakness and uncertainty char
acteristic et caildren's music. "Recollec-
tions Of Home" by Mills followed, after
which he gave the great funeral marches
of Chopin and. Beethoven in remarkable
manner. The child's chief talent after his
phenomenal execution lies in his intellec
tual appreciation of the motive of the
music. He seems to grasp at once the
composers conception, of the work, and
strives valiantly with his slender bronze
fingers to draw harmonious sentiment and
passion from the keys.
Beethoven's "sonata Patbetique" he
executes expressively and we'll, also Mos
chowski's Chances" and the "Pasquinad'
of Gottschalk. His repertoire is extensive
and varied, including Sidney Smiths ar
rangement of s.Faust" and much Of the
best dance music The boy is highl!
contemptuous of what he terms frivolous
stuff, CHASING in this category majority
of the new light operas. His favoritt
composer is Chopin, and the little negro
never tires of studying that great masters
works.
When one considers the color, age ant
opportunities of this young mulatto, h
certainly takes rank as musical phe
nomenon. His talent is great, and the me
chanical skill is accompanied with an ardo
for artistic knowledge. Never does neV
sheet of music come into the store bu
what he forthwith seizes upon it ant
makes himself master of the composition
He studies faithfully, is painfully consciou
of any mistakes he may make, and seem
full of ambition to attain real eminence Il
, his profession. o. Tunes Democrat.
He Got Out of it Pretty Well.