The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-01-28
EDWARD BAXTER PERRY.

The Fine Recital Given by the Noted
Pianist at Metropolitan Hall Last
Evening.
The first entertainment in the must
cal series by the Young Mems Chris
tian Association was given at Metro
politan Hall last evening.
Edward Baxter Perry, the famous
Boston pianist, gave piano-forte
'lecture-recital." in which he was as
sisted by Mrs. G. w. Bryant and Prof.
Vernon Darnell. Miss Rosetta Ward
was the yiolinist selected to assist Mr..
Perry, but owing TO indisposition she
was unable to appear.
Mr.. Perry is totally blind, but no
one takes this into account when he is
playing the piano. This impeachment
seems only to add delicacy and sweet
ness to his touch. He himself says:
Some have one drawback, some an
other; one man may have small hands
to impede him; | do not see that blind
ness is much more OF an impeachment
than that. and / do not see why it
should excite more comment"
If blindness is drawback, he has
overcome it completely.
The audience was larger than usual,
and was thoroughly appreciatiye. And
II was discriminating audience, too
Mr. Perry before each number gave a
short lecture, explaining the origin of
the type and telling the story of the
piece. For all music tells in a better
way some story that has been bound
in the cruder phrase Of word-langu-
age.
The first number on the programme
last night was from Beethoyen-"In-
PRODUCTION and Rondo," Opus 50.
Four selections from Chopin, 'the
Tennyson Of The piaho-forte," follow
ed. Mr.. Perry gave a brief history Of
Chopin's life and work.
The first Chopin composition inter-
preted was the Ballade, Opus AZ. He
explained that all these ballads We're
derived directly from poems, and of
this class of poetry he had made an
especial study; he told the story OF
the poem on which the musical ballad
was founded.
The Nocturne, (Op %, No. y was the
second work of the Polish composer.
lie explained that the Nocturne was
night-piece,a composition full of the
night, with plaintive minor move
ment running through it allan affair
OF double strains, of violin effects. At
on of the Chopin 'fortnights" at
his Paris salon after a violinist had
rendered q nocturne that had moved
the company to tears. q lady guest ex-
pressed her regret that it was impos-
sible to produce these effects on the
piano-forte. Chopin, with half
scornful smile on his face, sat down at
the piano and improvised this beauti-
full nocturne, the nearest approach to
violin music of which the piano-forte
is capable.
Mr.. Perry then rendered the I'M
promptu Top. 29), the song that "iri'-
by'' sang when her audience was swept
away by the music.
The last of Chopin's works given
was his Polonaise COP. S. in hat),
the greatest of all his compositions IN
this grand movement peculiar TO his
own Poland Mr.. Perry told the origin
Of the Polonaise, q species OF march or
stately promenade which, while SUIT
ed to a great occasion of State. EN-
bodies the racial characteristics OF the
Poles. This polonaise is probably the
greatest work of it's kind, and the ef-
fects introduced are original, and of
some of them the grandeur is phenona-
email.
These four compositions were rem
dered in way which showed that the
Interpreter had caught the spirit OF the
composer and was in thorough SYM
nathy with him.
Mrs. Bryant and Prof. Darnell sans
cover the Heather" This duet called
forth round after round of applause
but they did respond to the recall. The
song was delightfully."- rendered, the
excellent voices blending in fine har-
mony.
Mr.. Perry next gave two of his own
COMPOSITIONS: "Die Lorelei," founded
on the German legend of the siren OF
the Rhine who lured men to death;
and 'The Portent," based or the
Scotch legend in George MeDonald's
popular novel. Both these compost
tions are effective, at times brilliant.
'The Portent' was enthusiastically
encored, and Mr.. Perry gave another
of his compositions one in AEolian