Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1889-08-23
MUSICAL ANECDOTES.
Little Storie, About Popular Compose
and PerfoFme rS.

Little Stories About Popular Composers
and Performers.
An English book of musical anecdotes re-
Iates of Beethoven that W hen he was boy
and played the organ at Bonn a coXcomb,
who was one of the choir singers, was con-
tinually boasting of his powers and pro-
claimed the inability of any ayccompanlst to
discomfort him. Beethoven made a wager
with him that he would bring him to astand-
still While he was singing. Accordingly at
one of the services in Passion week, while the
singer was warbling in approved fashion,
Beethoven, by gradual and adroit modula-
ton, landed the singer on note from which
he could not rise higher, OF do anything but
leave Off Tie failure of the singer and his
confusion, too, were complete. Choking
with rage, he complained to the elector of
such conduct from O mere organist; but the
elector heard both sides of the tale, when he
warmly reprimanded each party to the suit,
adding that if one was more to blame than
the other that one was the singer, for his
meanness in complaining of his antagonist
after having himself been party to the
wager.
Neil Cow, the fiddler, was fond of his
whisky, and seldom went travelling without
frequent ''revivers." One morning he had
an appointment with noble patron at Dun
keld, but at the stated hour did not arrive at
the castle. The duke waited till he was
obliged to drive off to keep another appoint
ment. On the road he met the fiddler, stag
gering. "Ah, Neil,n said the patron, Sits
long road to Dunkeld this morning" ''Ah,
ma laird" said the fiddler, 'it's no the
length, but the breadth"
When Fischer, the oboe player, who was
remarkable for oddly, played concertos at
the grand concerts given fifty years ago at
the Rotunda in Berlin, noble lord who had
been enraptured with the talent he displayed
came to him and, after having complimented
him, gave him pressing invitation to sup
with him the following evening, adding:
you'll bring your oboe with your Fischer,
who was a little nettled at that sort of invi-
tation, hastily replied: My lord, my oboe
never sups."
Michael Kelly was pupil of Mozart but
the masters tuition only made moderate
vocalist and a third rate composer of Kelly.
He was a useful singer more than great
one, and as a composer prolific in quantity,
but slight and sketchy in quality. For some
years he made a good living out of his pro-
fessional duties, but things began to fiuctu-
ate, SO Kelly turned his eyes in another di-
rection, and finally embarked in business as
wine merchant. His friends joked about
this step, but none more SO than Sheridan,
who suggested that the inscription over the
door should read thus: "Michael Kelly, COM
poser of wine and importer of music"
Handels most faithful friend and admirer
of his music was George II, who more than
once advanced him sums of 81 900 to carry
on his unfortunate undertakings Lord
Chesterfield presents the above state of
things in few words An habitue met his
lordship coming out of Covent Garden the
atre one evening in the middle of a perform
ance. "What, my lord, said the diettante,
sis there not an oratorio?" EYES," replied
Lord G. "They are now performing, but l
thought it best to retire lest should disturb
the king in his privacy."-St. Louis Globe
Democrat