The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-04
IA MUSICAL PRODIGY.
Playing the Piano Perfectly at
Five Years Of Age.
Little Elsa Breidt Astonishcs Musicians
\. by Her Remarkable Performances
How Her Genius Was Discovered
by Uor Mother.

by Hor Mother.
Dressed in q light blue froclS, pretty
straw hat and tiny boots, from tho tops
of which hung golden tassels, was
gray-eyed Elsa Broidt, tho five-year-old
musical prodigy and daughter of Julius
Breidt, of 2510 Cottage Grove avenue.
says the Chicago Herald. She was
ready to play for party of musicians,
and as she ran up to the piano in her
homo she laughed merrily at her
mother, who was to assist her. Speak
Ing in German, Mrs. Brcidt asked tho
child to play something from Schumann.
The child at once dashed into "The
White Horseman," which she PLAYED in
perfect time and tune. The execution
OF the little hands was marvellous, and as
the child played piece after piece, final
~ closing her impromptu recital with
perfect little melody of her own COM
position, the musicians present wanted
to catch her up in their arms and hug
her. Then she played piano duets with
her mother, and after time Mr..
Breidt, tho matchmaker, came in, took
down his old violin, put on new string
or two, and then father and daughter
plunged into "The Boulanger March,"
the petite phenomenon playing most
perfect piano accompaniment to the air
from the fathers violin. The march
finished, the father spoke of tho save
Maria," and tho child, without word,
began the introduction to tho Bach
Gounod composition. Although it had
been many weeks since father and
child had played together, yet Elsa
never missed note or sounded o false
ono to tho end Of tho difficult accom-
paniment. She played the music exactly
as 1T is written and with wonderful tact
and expression.
Little Elsa has boon pettcd by Shcr-
wood and Lilly Lehman, raved over by
D'Albcrt and marvclcd at by all who
have seen and heard her. Only onco or
twice has she appeared in public, play
ing once for class of pupils from ono
of the musical colleges and again at ono
of Mr.. Shcrwood's rccitals. Tho latter
often visits her at her humble homo,
and D'Albert wants her to como at once
to his homo in Germany and receive a
thorough musical education.
when Elsa was two years old, I one
day found her singing the air was play
ing at the piano." said her mother. II
tried another and found that with little
effort she could follow any air. When
she was largo enough to sit alone on
the piano stool / would let err strike tho
keysand She Immediately learned to play
chords, and before she was three years
OF ago could carry parts Of airs correctly.
When thrco.and a half years old she was
playing accompaniment to her fathers
violin, and very soon learned to play the
accompaniment to tho Ave Maria which
you have just heard. Then l noticed if
played sentimental CT lively music it
affected her strangely. In fact, we can
not play pathetic airs, as the tears come
to her eyes and she is much agitated.
She is Strong and healthy and has never
been sick day. She is also very full of
life, and enjoys herself much as other
children do, but if anybody is playing,
wherever She is, she listens with mouth,
eyes and ears wide open. She will play
any ordinary composition almost abso-
lutely correct after having heard it
once.
I'VE never have to play a piece more
than twice for her to learn it, said Mrs.
Brcidt. 'Whilo she is taking every
note by ear she also closely watches
INC hanuS OIL the player. Sho docs not
seem to caro- for dance music. Wo have
not permitted her to practice much this
summer on account Of the heat, and we
never force her to do any thing.
cit has been about six months since
She began to compose or improvise,"
continued the mother. Gone day there
was terrible rain and thunderstorm,
and when it was over she went to tho
piano and played the widest sort of an
air, which she made up. She will
climb on to tho stool and begin singing
softly somc measure or strain that has
come into her head, and after humminr
it over several times she plays it.
That's the way she composcs her
pieces"
julius Breidt is fine-looking Ger
man, forty-three years old. lie has
lived in this city since he was five years
old, and has been matchmaker and
Jeweler since he was fourteen. Six
years ago he married Miss Bertha
Schoenfcld, a comely German girl, and
on May 2S, 1885, Elsa, the little musica,
genius, was born. She is their only
child.