Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1898-02-20
HAYDN AND GLUCK.
Paper Read Before the Woman's Musical
Club. February 1S, 1898.
BY MRS. FLORA WILLIAMS.


were both innovators, but unlike in dis
position. habits and circumstances. Both
born Of humble parents, GIuck had b
difficulty in securing an education and ul-
timately fortune, while Haydn suffered
every privation and hardship and finally
made an unfortunate marriage, while
Gluck was exceptionally happy in his
wife. 1t is natural to suppose that these
circumstances would have their effect
upon the dispositions of the two men, but
where Gluck was so irascible and over
bearing that the members of the orchestra
demanded extra pay when he was con
Quoting, on the other hand Haydn remain
ed to his death most genial kindly soul,
Overlooking with good fellowship and
cheerful TO a degree.
Christoph Wilibald Gluck was born in
1714 of humble parents, his father being
a forester. At the age of twelve he was
sent to d Jesuit college in Bohemia, where
his musical education was begun. His
favorite instruments were violin and eel
10, the latter, it is said, he played very
well When he reached his eighteenth
year, he left college and went to Prague.
where he remained four years, teaching
cello and singing. He often played dance
music at the village festivals and in this
manner continued to add to the scanty
allowance his father was able to give for
his maintenance. At this period he decid-
ed to devote his time entirely to music,
and having attracted attention in aristo-
cratic circles by his cello playing, he Sc
cured the protection of a prince, who seat
him to Italy, where he resumed his mus
cal studies under Sammartini, and this
is doubtless the reason that his earlier
works show the influence of the Italian
school.
When he was twenty-eight he composed
the opera "Artaxerxes," which was fol-
lowed by quite a number Of operas, all
written in the fiorid style Of the day.
In 1745 he was invited to London as COM
poser at the Kings Theatre Here he
produced several of his operas, which
were not well received probably because
the memory of Handlers finer operas lin
gered in the mind of the public Handel
himself was not pleased with the new
composer and remarked that he knew no
more of counterpart than his cook The
latter, by the way, became an excellent
bass singer, but the biographer adds, with
unconscious irony, but Of course knew
nothing Of composition
GIuck's sojourn in London proved to be
of great benefit in that it brOadened his
musical knowledge and led to his return
ing to Vienna in 1746, where he applied
himself assiduously to study. In 1852 he
gave to the world the opera 'Orfeo, y
which was the outcome of these years of
study and a new departure in opera COM
position. In it dramatic truth was made
the basis and the old traditions We're iss-
nored The critics, however, assailed IL
on every hand, and the composer had to
bear every variety of opprobrium. Sey-
era1 years later he produced "Alceste,"
and wrote quite a lengthy defense Of his
principles in a preface which is said to lie
one of the most interesting documents in
the history of music.
He continued his reform in later works,
all of which were on mythical subjects,
and was engaged in a tone drama at the
time of his death in 1854, at the age cf
seventy
Gluck 5 life was a happy one, notwith-
standing the affronts the refOrmer always
has TO endure. He was very happy in his
marriage, and at no time was he without
influential friends, and riches honors and
applause fell to his lot. The Inflated Ma
RE Antoinette was his friend and pupil.
At the time when Gluck made his an
pearance on the scene the opera had
deteriorated, and abuses had crept into
part writing also 1t is said that com
posers did not hesitate to use in the same
composition two poems upon quite differ
ent subjects. Indeed, even in different
languages, and in doing so argued. and
M Will haf in q in tYic1 CV
of the vocal work, the words could not
be heard. The famous dramatists Of the
period had enacted a code of laws for
the management Of the opera which no
one dared to question. They were sup
ported by the singers and the public who
made certain demands upon the composer
by which the opera became a mere vehicle
for virtuosity in singing, and everything
was sacrificed to show a beautiful voice
and fine execution to advantage. In vain
did truly artistic men protest against
this corrupt style. 1t required a great
master like Gluck. an iconoclast with the
courage of his convictions, to express
dramatic truth in the face of such re-
strictions, and to make Of the opera the
glorious art form it was intended to be.
In an obscure village about fifteen miles
from Vienna, was born in the year 1882,
Franz Joseph Haydn. His parents were
honest, industrious people, very fond OF
music, and their son early manifested q
keen sense of rythm which attracted the
attention of a cousin of his, named
Frankh, who offered to take the boy and
teach him as much as he could. This was
when Joseph was six years old AT tile
age Of eight he left his cousin and entered
a boy choir in Vienna. under the direction
of Reuter-. In return for his services Tic
received from the city board, lodging and
instruction in music and common
branches. Reuter- had no regard for the
boy and treated him with great severity
until at last. when Haydn was sixteen &c
sent him adrft In rags. without money
without friends. he walked. the streets OF
Vienna all night hopelessly. until in the
morning chance acquaintance gave him
shelter.
In the struggle for means IF livelihood
which now began, NJ managed to keer
his body and soul together BY playing a
dances, teaching few pupils, III fact
anything he could get to do: he even "a
the most mental labor, often acting in the
capacity of valet.
People are fond of talking of the good
old times" I wonder how our musicians
would enjoy being treated as they were
then. A composer was considered an in
ferior and held in less esteem in Germany
than a singer or player Musicians were
then required to wait upon the guests at
the table or assist in the kitchen Such
q state Of affairs seems impossible to IS
who hold the master mind that thought