St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-08-26
BRIGHT MUSICIAN.
Charles Pottgieser's Death Great
Loss.

1t is just week today that Mother
Earth received within her fold all that
was mortal of Charles Pottgieser. That
st. Paul has lost one of the most val
liable of members to the musical pro-
fession is now fully realized by all who
are devoteeS to the art. His absence
will leave a void that can scarce be
filled in moment. There are still
hundreds Of citizens of this city
who remember distinctly the
successful debut he made here at Tur-
ner hall Sunday, Jan. IL, 1885, having
just returned from abroad, where he
had concluded his studies. His rendl-
lions of the most difficult masterpieces
of'the piano repertoire were arevelatlon
to those who understood the piano, and
his return was hailed as matter for
congratulation for the city's musical
circles. He was a devoted student of
Beethoven, and few were his equal and
none his superior in the interpretation
of that masters wonderful creations.
His musical training was a series of
hard work and patient application. His
first teacher, Prof Frank Wood, still
resides in st. Paul, and deeply feels the
loss OF has most accomplished pupil.
For a number of years Prof. Wood, then
the leading teacher in st. Paul, taught
him all that he could. and then, realz-
ing that the scholar was possessed of
superior qualities, sent him to Boston,
where Carlyle Petersilea was then
in the heiShth of his success as
a teacher of the piano. In that
school, renowned as the best in the
country, Mr.. Pottgieger spent several
permitted to take his place on the pro-
grammes of that critical masters con-
certs. When he LETT there he had al
ready established reputation as an
artist i'll the most prominent musical
center of the United States. Seven
patient years at the school of Peter
silica were followed by trip to Eu-
rope. where at Berlin he found List
and Rubinsteln as masters, and before
whom he played, receiving their high
est appreciation.
The newspaper men of the city are
still under obligations for the frequent
appearances ne maze Ill their behalf.
Many were the musicales and concerts
in st. Paul which found him OH the
programme as one of the chief attrac
tons, and always did he earn we'll:
merited applause aud a cordial receo.
ton. He had many pupils while his
health permitted, but had to yield
finally to the insldiouS disease which
was making serious inroads upon his
health. During the past winter he
made a prolongfx trip to warmer
climates, visiting So, Antonio and other
Southern cities, but to 10 avail. He
returned to his native city only to find
here the sleep that knows no waking.
He was still in the prime of manhood at
the time OF his sudden death, which
came like shock to all who knew him
or of him. OF modest and retiring
disposition. and devoted to his art, he
made no general circle of intimate
friends. but those whom he chose as his
companions in the research of musical
culture will ever attest to his firm quail
ties and true noble manhood. There is
indeed vacant chair, and it will be
long time before st. Paul will produce
within her walls genius so bright as
was Charles Pottgieser. His longtime
friend, John Gehan. took especial pains
to look after the music on the occasion
of the funeral, and the favorite requiem
of the deceased was rendered in an i'm
preSSiye manner.