Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-02

itouS in his use of English and being en-
ployed as musical critic of one of the great
dailies of New York city as well as a writ,
err upon musical topics for one of the most
successful weekles.
He has almost nothing in common with
the other two mentioned above excepting
the musical and literary talent. He is the
associate Of those who are members of the
social aristocracy of New York. He is re.
ceived with something of the distinction
which used to characterize the appearance
of the distinguished pianist. Chopin, in the
salons of the French artist ocracy. He is, in
the best sense of the word, n man of the
world and would be taken by those who
saw him, not knowing what his achieve
ments were, for young professional man,
perhaps lawyer, whose career already gave
promise of great success.
Victor Herbert cares nothing for social
pleasures. He is a man of splendid figure,
being nearly6 feet tall and of correspond
ing muscular proportions, black eyed, black
haired, brushing his hair straight up from
his broad forehead, and with round face
upon which there is always merry ex-
preston, his appearance suggesting in no
respect the Irish blood which is in him.
A few years ago Victor Herbert sang in
concerts. Then he devoted himself to the
violoncello, having now gained the repute
having been appointed by Herr Seidl the
assistant conductor of his noble orchestra.
Herbert's energy is extraordinary, for in
addition to the engagements which the
orchestra has made he has found time to
compose some exquisite music, recent
pOlonaise of his having caught the popular
favor almost greatly as did the 'Paderew-
ski Minuet" Besides that, Mr. Herbert has
recently written an opera which has been
greatly admired by Seidl and other musi-
clans and will be produced next season.
Notwithstanding the time entalled by
this work Mr.. Herbert has accepted the
post of leader of that great band which the
famous Gilmore created, SO that he is re-
ported to be making more money perhaps
than any other person whose vocation is
music excepting Mr.. de koven, and being
a young man still is in a fair way to make
a large fortune for himself, for he does not
inherit one characteristic of Samuel Lover,
which was an inability to care for money
Dvorak has set the musical critics and
cultivated lovers of music to talking with
great excitement and interest over recent
composition of his. The great composer
came to the United States two years ago
upon the invitation of Mrs. Thurber to ac-
cept the post of director of the conservatory
which she and her friends are in the matt
supporting lHlOuSu IHtlI teSllc lol AlneII-
can musical development, and he receives
for his service $4,000 Il year, with four
months vacation.
Dvorak had not been in the United States
very long before ne was impressed with
American folklore as it was suggested by
some of the rude camp meeting tunes, and
especially by the weird and plaintive mel
odies of the American negroes. And it
seemed to him that if the spirit of these
melodies was caught by a musician and
treated with skill, it would be possible
to compose great symphony which would
be regarded as really American in it's in
SEPARATIONS and suggestions.
His symphony was first produced few
weeks ago in New York and gained splen-
did popularity. Even those who have no
critical musical knowledge caught the fla
vor of American musical suggestion which
was in it, while the critics were unbounded
in their praise of its mastery composition.
1t is probable that Dvorak will write an
opera on these lines, and now that this
great master has set the example, showing
that Americans do not need to go to Eu-
rope for musical inspiration, it is probable
that there will be a swift and splendid de-
velopment of American musical compost
ton. E. j. EDWARDS.