Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1890-04-21
WEIRD GYPSY MUSIC.
A PERFORMANCE BY RoUNASIAN
GYPsIEs FOR THE AMUSEMENT
OF FRANz LIST.

When Franz List was staying at
the Castle Basili Alexandris, In Mir
cesci, he expressed a wish to hear
Roumanian gypsy music, and his
friendly host engaged a hand Of
gypsies to come. They were gypsies
from Jafia and their leader was
called Barbu bautar. All the band
wore sort OF kaftans, which were
belted In by girdles. Thy also wore
caps Of sheeIslSin 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 q
greeting. Then Barbu gave a sign
by pointing with the iirst finger Of
his left hand, and Immediately there
resounded a strangely peculiar music
through the hall. The instruments
consisted OF fiddles, flutes and the
cobza, the strings Of which were
beaten with drumsticks. At first
they played a national march. After
II was flushed the Roumanian Be-
jars, who were present, fun Of en-
thusiasm, threw gold pieces into the
old mans cup, while they called,
"Drink, Barbu, Lautar; drink mas
teri" And the old leader slipped his
wine, while he kept the gold pieces
in his mouth.
After that followed gypsy mel
Ody. The whole melancholy Of
Strppes breathed from tits piece,
when suddenly the song was inter-
rupted by shrill cry OF lamenta-
ton, then the instrument stormed
away in n wild prestissimO, like a
regiment Of cavalry passing over to
an attack.
List was completely enchanted
by the wonderful performance OF
the musical vagab5nis, OF whom
none knew a note, and when at the
close all broke out in applause, he,
too, went up to old Barbu, threw
gold pieces into his cap apd drank
TO his health. Then he said. "Y0u
have now made me acquainted with
your music; you shall also hear
mine'.
With these words the great vir-
tuoso seated himself at the piano.
forte, while every one listened eag-
erly and all noise ceased. After a
short prelude the master improvised
n Hungarian march, whose broad
melody he adorned most wonder
fully with trills and arpeggios. He
seeIns TO intoxicate himself on the
tune and 20 feryet everything
around him. II was felt that he
sought TO give vent 10 his excite
ment which was called forth by the
pyPsy performance. With fantast-
ical swiftness his fingers flew over
the keys, and always again resound-
ed 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 n
! note escaped him.
When the storm OF applause had
subsidized which had broken out by
this improvisation, the old leader,
too, went TO List with n glass OF
champagne IN his hand and said:
'sNow il is my turn, master, to beg
you to drink with mel" While the
great artist knocked his glass against
the one held by the gypsy, he said:
s'Well, Barbu, what say you to this
melody?'' cit is pretty MASTER"
replied the old leader. | would like
to try to reproduce it, il you will
allow it,
List smiled somewhat doubtfully
but nodded an assent. Then Lauta
turned TO his orchestra, propped his
fiddle up 10 his chin and played the
Hungarian march. No trill, no
arpeggio, and none OF the ornament
tings OF the melody were wanting.
Note for note Barbu reproduced the
improvisation OF the piano player
on his violin. His orchestra ac-
companied him, all the members
keeping their eyes on tire old leader
and following the low bend which
his bow indicated, rs though led by
instinct
When the last sound had died
away List sprang up, claspcd the
old fellow stormily in his arms and
called out, completely enraptured:
"Barbu, you are truly an artist Of
Gods mercy!"-Er.