The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-06-27
LIST AND THE GYPsIEs.
weird Music Which Enchanted and Sur
prised the Great Maestro.

weird Music Which Enchanted and Sur
prised the Great Maestro.
When Franz List was staying at the
Castle Basili Alexandris, in Mircesci,
ne expressed wish to hear Roumanian
gypsy music, and his friendly host en-.
gagged a band of Gypsies to come. They
were Gypsies from Jaffa and their
leader was called Barbu Lautar. All
the band wore sort of kaftans, which
were belted girdles. They also wore
caps of sheep-skin and on their feet
they had sandals.
When they were brought into the hall,
where there was numerous company
assembled, each one laid his hand on his
heart and bowed deeply, upon which the
host had them served with champagne as
greeting. Then Barbu gave sign by
pointing with the first fingers of his
right hand, and Immediately there re-
sounded a strangely peculiar music
through the hall. The instruments con.
sisted of fiddles, flutes and the cobza,
the strings of which were beaten with
drumsticks. At first they played
national march. After it was finished
the Roumanian Bojars, who were pres
ent, full of enthusiasm, threw gold
pieces into the old mans cup, while
they called Drink, Barbu Lautar;
drink, master!" And the old leader
slipped his wine, while he kept the gold
pieces in his mouth,
After that followed Gypsy melody.
The whole melancholy of the steppes
breathed from this piece, when sudden
ly the song was interrupted by a shrill
cry of lamentation, then the instrument
stormed away in wild prestissimo,
like regiment of Scavalry passing over
to an attack.
List was completely enchanted by
the wonderful performance of the mu-
steal vagabonds, of whom none knew
note, and when at the close all broke
out in applause, he, too, went up to old
Barbu, threw gold pieces into his cup
and drank to his health. Then he said:
"You have now made me acquainted
with your music; you shall also hear
mine"
With these words the great virtuoso
seated himself at the pianoforte, while
every one listened eagerly and all noise
ceased After short prelude the master
improvised Hungarian march, whose
broad melody he adorned most wonder
fully with trills and arpeggios. He
seemed to intoxicate himself on the tune
and to forget every thing around him.
1t was felt that he sought to give vent
to his excitement, which was called
forth by the Gypsy performance. With
fantastical swiftness his fingers flew
over the keys, and always again re-
sounded the vibrating melody of the
march through the cascades of sounds.
The hearers seemed spell-bound, and
hardly dared to breathe. Old Barbu
stared with wide-open eyes at the player,
and not note escaped him.
When the storm of applause had sub.
sided, which had broken out by this i'm
provisation, the old leader, too, went up
to L1szt with glass of champagne in
his hand and said: 'Now it is my turn,
master, to beg you to drink with me!'
While the great artist knocked his
glass against the. one held nv the
Gypsy, he said: ''Well, Barbu, what
say you to this melody?" 'sIt is pretty,
MASTER" replied the old leader. 81
would like to try to produce it, if you
will allow it,"
List smiled somewhat doubtfullv.
but nodded an assent. Then Lautar
turned to his orchestra, propped
his fiddle up to his chin and
played the Hungarian march. No
trill, no arpeggio and none of
the other ornamentings of the
melody were wanting. Note for note
Barbu reproduced the improvisation of
the piano-player on his violion. His
orchestra accompanied him, all the
members keeping their eyes on their
old leader and following the blending
which his bow indicated as though led
by instinct. When the last sound had
died away List sprang up, clasped the
old fellow stormAy in his arms and
called out, completely enraptured:
"Barbu, you are truly an artist of Gods
mercy!"-Ueber Land und Nicer.