New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-03

Mr. sEID1. AS PUPIL AT THE LElPSIc
CONSERVATORY.
Copyright 1895 by A. Schuclcr)
less entertaining Moreover. when the mood was
on him be could talk by the hour. and then MS
niniscences Of the years spent in the house
hold q Wagner. or the story Of his experiences
while carving the gospel OF Wagner through
Europe were full Of fascination; but the TAXA
tive mood seldom came when crowd was
abou. him lie was Indifferent 10 the many and
fond y the few So his circle Of intimate friends
never grew large. IN spite Of the mulutudes " no
sr1ght his acquaintance. and though no COM
t,natior u circumstances could disturb his SELF
possession. he seemed 70 be most con'cnted and
comfortable when seated quietly with a single
friend Even under such circumstances ne
could sometimes cit for minutes AT time
without speaking himself or expecting
word from his companion. yet never show
a s,rn Of WEAKNESS or ennuL In this par
t;cular he was something Ike Schunann.
OF whom Il Is related that once he spent
an hour with a bright young woman. 70 whom
be was fondly attached, without speaking
word knowing his peculiarities. She. too. re
roajned silent. and was rewarded FOR her seir-
restraint when he departed by hearing him say
tina, the hour had been one in which they had
perfectly understood each other
Seidrs hero Wagner. was the very opposite
Of SchuInann in this particular and there Is
story which indicates that he must frequently
hare been amused at his pupils reticcnce Com
ing 10 a rehearsal at one time he found that
6eId had taken cold which had robbed MIN
completely Of his yoce-so that ne could give no
instructions 10 the musicians. Wagner laughed
immoderately. and with mock seriousness up
. tnflr tv& tor
much. which had now brought him TO the pass
where he could not talk at all.
His ep,stolary habits were Ike his converse
tonal. lie wrote as little as he talked. but as
the taklng fit sometimes seized him. so did the
writing fit Then he could devote hours to
letter which had the proportions and sometimes
the style u a formal essay. On such occasions
be So prone to drop into pulpit manner
that the writer once taxed him with 1t and
asked an explanation. He paused for a moment.
and then srniingly made sort OF half confess
Zion that he had once been destined for the
priesthood His Scrlptural illustrations and
-preachy" manner were relics which had cluns
to him from that early day. They were the only
academic traces about him. however. IL Is
doubtful II any Of his friends ever heard him
discuss question in the theory or history Of
music. How far his exact knowledge in the art
went may not be said but one thing is certain
1t embraced every measure OF Wagner's works.
He seldom spoke OF his conservatory days al
Leipsc and then generally In spirit OF afnuse-
ment. COrnllimented once by n friend on the
excellence u his pianoforte playing he said:
oh. made quite stir at n conservatory ex-
animation once with Mcndcssohns Rondo
Capriccioso.' ! TO be a pianist" That he
might have been trained into a virtuoso or
merit can easily be believed. for without paying
much regard to the graces Of pianoforte play
ing ne yet had remarkable command OF those
tone qualities which are helpful in EXPIRES
0Ve playing. He was always eloquent At the
panoforte, especially when playing excerpts
rom the lyric dramas Of Wagner. Then his
performances were peculiarly full and orches-
ua, fact due to the circumstance that he
never confined himself TO pianoforte arrange
"'eh's. but preferred to play from the orchestral
"ore. mat ne appreciated the Importance OF
swing consideration TO the ranging peculiari-
NeS or Instrumental media ne illustrated once
eh at 4 private rehearsal OF music for
o~nerian lecture at which he had intended to