The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-26
EDOUARD REMENYI.
The Great Virtuoso Is in
the City.
Half Century of Violin-PIaying-
ViOlinist Talks Freely of
Himself.
One of the greatest artists in the musical

One OF the greatest artists in the musical
world is among us after long absence.
Edouard Remenyi. the violin vrtuoso,
arrived in San Francisco yesterday morn
ing. his last stage being from Sacramento.
Herr Remenyi is too we'll known in
musical circles to need much explanation;
but as possibly there are readers of THE
CALL who are not in constant touch with
the long-haired fraternity. it may be desir-
able to say something of this really remark
able old man.
Heis just 60 years old, and has gained a
position among violnists second to none.
An Hungarian of good birth, he early en-
braced the study of that beautiful instru-
ment. in the manipulation of which his
countrymen particularly excel.
He has been one Of the worlds leading
violinists for very many years, long before
the recollection of the present rising gener-
alton
He is a remarkable man in many ways,
the eccentricities of genius being particu-
larly noticeable in him.
At one time lie was remarkable in the
fact that he was an inceSsaut smoker of
cigarettes, then he suddenly altered his
tactics and became n complete abStainer
from tobacco In any form whatever.
About ten years ago the idea struck him
that he could get along just as well with
out meat. From that day he has been a
strict vegetarian. His objection to intoxi-
cants in any form dates from his earliest
day and he has never tasted alcohol in any
form.
His favorite bill of fare is piece of black
bread and n glass of cold water and at
party he once gave he served this menu to
his guests.
He has apartments at the Baldwin Hotel
and when CALL reporter called yesterday
afternoon he was in the .parlor going
through rehearsal with the lady who acts
as his accompanist. He was completely
bsOTDed IN his occupation and was waving
his hands and noddng his head In time
with the difficult passages in the music.
When he finished he signihed his readiness
to see the reporter at his room, and the
rehearsal being off his mind he was all
attention and courtesy.
He loves to talk of the strange places he
has visited, ana cheTiSheS particularly fond
and vivid recollections of the sunny, trop-
zeal Islands of the southern sea.
His ct recollection is that of Java. OF
that beautiful land lie is never tired of
talking. and would descant for hours upon
the palms, banana groves and cinnamon
trees of that beautiful equatorial island.
Il think the palm tree the most beautiful
form of vegetation on EARTH" he said.
Unlike other trees, which appear a con-
fused mass, the palm stands out in striking
individuality. The gentle tropical breeze
blowing through its leaves sounds like
He enthused for thirty minutes upon the
beauty Of the south until recalled by the
interviewer, who reminded him that it was
upon music that be was expected TO talk.
Recalled thus abruptly he said: "Ahl
music? Well, l am an old man and l have
spent my whole life at music, and | realize
that am but just beginning to learn what
IL is. My sentiments are conveyed in an
article which l have just written for a
leading musical journal, IN which | COM
meDce by saying that only those who know
what music is know that they do not know
it, This may sound paradOxical, but it is
fact.
II am 60 years old, and l commenced to
play in public at g. Thus l have spent over
half a century playing the violin, and l
fully realize that | am but on the threshold
of the great art.
"Music like the reincarnation of souls is
a matter of evolution. 1t consists Of three
things in its main nciples-rhythm,
melody and harmony.
First we have the untutored savage
beating on his tom-tom with regular rhym-
ing sound. That is rhythm. Then comes a
higher order of being, who slightly improves
upon the tOm-tom and produces an air,
That is melody, Then comes still higher
species OF man who combines the two, and
produces and adds harmony. Then we
have the first elements of music.
THE music once produced is formed into
several styles; the epic, rhetoric, lyric,
elegaic, humoriStiQue, idyllic, pastoral, etc.
I'm fact music utters the unutterable, and
expresses the very Hottest things in a gen.
eral outline, as is shown in Beethoven's
symphonies and Sebastian Bach's fugues
and religious music, In MoZarts Don Juan
In Schubert's heavenly melodies and In
Schumann's almost metaphysical express
sions TO proceed further with the imile"
Then turning TO a heap of violin cases he
selected oue and said "here is matchless
StTadivarius, which has history. IL was
made in 1927. 1t belonged to family of
French HuguenotS named Serrurier who
emgrated from France and settled in South
Africa. | bought it from them in 1888,
when passing through at that time. 1t had
not been played upon for 152 years. Its
mercantile value is $4,000. but from an ar
tistic point of view it is priceless
Yes; have held great positions among
musicians. | was solo vIolinist to her
Majesty Queen Victoria from 1854 TO 1860.
when quite boy, ami am at present solo
violinist 10 his Majesty Francis Joseph.
Emperor of Austria and King of Hungary"