The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-05-02
CHoPLN,s "FUNERAL MARCH"
How II Was Co~mpoScd-ziem'a Recollections-
The skeleton ana the Artist.

The Skeleton ana tho Artist.
Very few people. I believe. and certainly
none OF those who heard the lugubrious concert
rendered lately in thu Catacombs of Paris,
know that Cnopin's Funeral March, was
ut first performed by-a skeleton. IL Is thanks
to the painter. Ziem. thai We are now cauaint-
ed with the fact. says one OF our Partisan con.
temporaries. On the first day of Sovem-
ber- Halloween OF last year. while accom-
panying Zlem TO his studio In Rue Lepic. I
noticed that he was drying some tears from
his eyes. just as he was crossing the threshold
OF his homo. In the artists heart tolled tho
knell Of the funeral march. that awful lam
~entation of the immortal Chopin. 1T is here
said Ziem. that this march was composed.
we were 'our at dinner. 80 Eue de la Tour
d'AuverGne. at Paul Chevaudier dc Naldrome's.
son of the peer of France. Besides the host,
the guests were Prince Edmond do PoliRnac.
Comte dc I.uire. and myself. Paul was n
painter of no little skill. and It was in his studio
that we spent the evening. l awaited myself
IF q moment. whom con S~ersation was beginning
to flag. to steal behind a screen. to take hold
of n skeleton-one like those frequently to he
found in an artists studio-a and l feiGned to DO
wrestling with this foe Of another world. Prince
de Poligrac enjoyed immensely the oddly of
my notion. In turn Le snAtcted the skeleton.
made It execute all kinds OF distortions and
CHASTITY postures: lastly causing 1t to sit down
in front of a plano. Standing by its side he
guided the fingers of the unexpected per-
former and made them run on tho keyboard.
WE had put out all the lights and ceased all
conversations so AS 10 relish fully this weird
music. which seemed to arise from some far
distant grave; We were there H. deep silence:
loud knocks. Was IL the advent OF spirits?
We did not know what to make of 4. when n
fapeimtner, vo do n Saf fo %saGa Gas!nT T., ,G Sars 81 o my
laughing. for we had recognized the voice OF
too long: we lighted the candles and Comte dc
Ludre explained TO Us about the three knocke.
Il was he WHIP VI : i' m,;b on ~ ne .ounEsi had struck
was replaced behind the screen.
Some time after that Chopin came hero look
ing rs George sand has so well depicted him,
his imagination haunted with legends OF tho
misty regions. besieged by unnamed phantoms.'
spectres which had been c%linging TO him,
threatening TO carry him 10 the lower region.
relating his nightmares reminded me of the
evening spenI ut Paul Chevandier's. ] told him
about II; he shuddered at my words and did not
raise hi eye. from n piano that / had bought
precisely. for bis use, Have YOU a skeloton;''
WAS WAS, ais i. , MoS,s and d had . Pspe' ,S but . ! prGmis"d
asked Paul Chevandier do valdrome and the
painter Ricard TO dinner. and during dessert
Paul sent his valet to get the skeleton and we
rohea fsed the scene tina: had so much fright
eh sW 9ns h hsd G BEEN mu a mere me re JOKE tHer then aT Msr Trans
formed now. through tne inspiration OF Chopin,
into something grand. awful. and painful.
Pallid. with immeasurably distended eyes,
Chopin. wrapped IN a Iona shroud. was hug
Ring. o. his painting heart. the spectre which
mad haunted him so often In his dreams. From
afar we cast on that union OF man and death
a light which caused the fantastic shadows
to culver. Suddenly we were all moved to the
very marrow OF our bones: in tEe deep silence
of the studio spread mournful notes. broad.
dull. depressed. deep-music unhearl until
now - and slowly the funeral march was deyel-
oping into life. enchanting us in It's diabolical
ring. The notes beginning TO whver. we ran to-
ward Chopin; under his shroud he was on the
verge OF collapsing." j. Z. DE B.