Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-06-02
LlaxT AND The oYpe,Ea


WA1gA lEnnao witch RneAAnAoA 0AA On.
ukaseA The 0Fsat Maestro.
When Ffanx Lisxt was staying ct th0I
Castle Basih Alexandris, in Nircssci.
hO expressed . wish to hear RoumAniAA |
0ypsy music. and his friendly host en-
gagged band Of Gypsies 10 come. They
were Gypsies from Jaffa and their |
leader was called Barbu LautAx. AM
the band wore . sort Of kaftans, which |
were belted girdlea. They also wore
caps Of sheep-skin and on their feet
they had sandals.
When they were brought into the hall, |
whore 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 ~
greeting. Then Barbu gave sign BY
pointing with the first fingers Of his ]
right hand, and Immediately there 10
sounded . strangely peculiar music
through the hall The instruments con-
sisted Of hddles, flutes and the cohsa,
the strings Of which were beaten with
drumstioks. At first they played .
national march. After IL was finished
the Roumanian Bojars, who were pres
emit full Of enthusiasm, threw gold
pieces into tho old mans cup, while
they called Drink, Barbu Lautar;
drink. master!'' And the old leader
sipped his vino, while he kept the COLA
pieces in his mouth.
After that followed Gypsy melody.
Tho whole melancholy Of the steppss
breathed from this piece. when sudden.
~ the song was interrupted BY . shrill
cry OF lamentation, then the Instrument
stormed away In . wild prestissimo.
like regiment Of cavalry passing over
to an attack.
List was completely enchanted by
the wonderful performance Of the mu-
steal vagabonds, Of whom mono knew
note. and when 1t the close all broke
out In applause, he, too, went up TO old
Bsrbu. threw gold pieces into his CUP
and drank to his health. Then he said:
"You have now made me acquainted
mine"
With these words the great virtuoso
seated himself At tho pianoforte, while
every one listened eagerly and ali netso
ceased. After short prelude the master
improvised . Hungarian march. whose
broad melody he adorned most wonder
fully with trills and ArpegRios. 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 dew
over the keys, and always again re-
sounded the vibrating melody Of tho
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 q note escaped him.
When the storm of applause had sub
sided. which had broken out by this inn
provisation, the old leader, too, went up
to Liszt with . glass Of champagne in
his hand and said: Nov it is my turn.
master, to beg you to drink with mol"
While the great artist knocked his
glass against the one held by the
Gypsy, he said: "Well, Barbu, what
say you to this melody?" 1T is pretty,
master" replied the old leader. II
would like to try to produce it, If you
will allow it."
Liszt smiled somewhat doubtfully.
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 mono of
the other ornamen tings 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 Liszt sprang up. clasped the
old follow stormily in his arms and
called out completely enraptured:
"Barbu. you are truly an artist Of God,
mercyl'-Ueber Land und Nicer.