The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-04-25
Prof. DGRck's Experiences
! :. Before The Crowned Heads

nent pianists, but none whose playing has
been distinguished by such virtuosity as
Joseph II. Dencks,p said a well known
amateur of Birmingham yesterday.
Mr.. Denck has spent good deal of his
time in this city during the past few
years." continued the amateur, land has
many acquaintance here, but being man
of extreme modesty and reserve not many
of his friends have ever heard him talk
about himself or have any idea of his ca
reer as a musician. If he cared to do so
he could write book of "reminiscences that
would be accepted by almost any first class
publisher. For no American outside the
diplomatic circle has been in personal con-
tact with SO many European celebrities, in
Guiding crowned heads, as he. Maud Pow
ell, the violin virtuoso, has played several
times for English royalty, but it has SO
happened that Queen Victoria could never
be present on any of these occasions
Denck is. 1 believe, the only American
musician who ever played for her majesty
and, with the exception of United States
ministers or ambassadors who have been
accredited to the court of st. James, is the
only citizen of the United States who ever
had any conversation with her.
Mr.. Denck was born in Charleston, s.
c., little more than fifty years ago. His
father, a native of Vienna, was a music
teacher in Charleston. The subject of my
remarks was regarded as a musical
prodigy almost from infancy. He was a
boy wonder. When he was only years
old Camilla Urso, the famous vioinist Wis
tied Charleston and heard him perform on
the piano. She was then only II, but was
recognized as an artist; was remarkably
well matured. She advised Mr. Denck, the
senior-urged him-to pack up and take his
boy to Europe and place him under one of
the great masters. This advice was acted
upon. and father and son sailed soon after
wards. They settled in Dresden and there
remained for five years. Kraegen, the
court pianist, was the boys teacher, and
in due course of time he introduced his
gifted pupil to the court and also to Prince
Metternieh, the enthusiastic patron of
musical art Krebs, the father of Marie
Krebs. was kapellmester at Dresden, and
he, like Kraegen, took a lively interesrt in
the prodigy and made him ever welcome at
his freside. Denck became favorite of
Albert, the crown prince of Saxony, now
the king of Saxony, and his brother, Prince
George. For year or more he virtually
lived at court. The youthful genius was
taking vocal as well as plano lessons and
was in demand as the boy soprano. Prince
George often played his accomplishments
and often played duets with him.
when Denck was in his fourteenth year
and about to return to the United States the
crown prince gave him letters, bearing his
private seal, to the court of Hanover the
French court and the English court. In
Hanover he and his father had lodgings
near the palace. The king and queen re-
ceived the little musician informally and
most cordially. The queen he says was
as natural and human as any good middle
class housewife in Germany would have
been. After playing for the king and queen
he was invited to the family supper table
and was seated near the head of the table,
close to the queen. But at his youthful age
he did not appreciate the rare honor that
was done him. The queen asked him to come
next day and play for the two young
princeses who not having turned out, We're
not allowed to be present in the music room
on the occasion of his first visit. He tells
me that he played for the princesses, but
was SO mbarrassed-unusual thing for
him-that he played badly. He was invited
the third time to the palace to play for
Prince Esterhazy; and this time the royal
carriage was sent to bring him. He de-
scribes the prince as a military looking
young fellow In white uniform with agree
able manners
From Hanover Denck went to France,
but Jerome Bonaparte having recently died
the court was in mourning for six months
and he did not play there When in Paris
he met many noted artists. 1t was on this
visit that he made the acquaintance OF
Stephen Heller of etude fame. Heller was
quite friendly; said he desired to hear him
play but that he could not have him play
then as his piano had just been tuned.
Heller, smart man though he was, had
that absurd idea that a piano should not be
used until several hours aafter having been
tuned. Denck did not know any better
and accepted the distinguished gentle
mans explanation as all right. He did not
call again on Heller as his time was limit
ed but in later years, after he had De-
come familiar with the mechanism OF the
piano-forte, he often thought of Heller as
a fool to entertain any such notion as that
about a newly tuned instrument. One
might as we'll say violin should not be
used Just after it was tuned. The story
about the piano was started by some jack
leg tuner, who told the owner that the
instrument should not be touched for two
or three hours. so as to allow himself time
to get out of town.
CARRYING in London, Denck lost no time
IN sending the letter from Prince Albert of
Saxony to the English court 1t was on
Monday Usually many days. sometimes
weeks. elapse before reply comes. But
the day following he was commanded 10
take mart in a concert at st. James palace
In the presence of the court. Sir Julius Ben
edict composer and court musician. acting
"a master of ceremonies, took cnarSe OF
him Quite a number OF musicians played
and sang and the entertainment was ar
tistically excellent but characteristicaily
formal He found the etiquette at st. James
many times sitter than that In saxony or
Hanover When the concert hour mad ar
rived Queen Victoria and the prince. con-
sort and various members OF the tamiiy
and a train of attendants filed into the
music room and took their seats some dis
lance from the musicians. There was no
stage The room was very plain and the
walls were bare of pictures. But the floor
was made of inlaid wood, and was Wen
waxed. 1t was SO slippery indeed that the
piano stool was about to get away from
little Denck while he was playing, when
Sir julius came to the rescue and kept 1t
in place with his foot. Denck's piece that
evening was LISTS "reminiscences of
Lucia According to court regulations the
elder Denck who had escorted his son to
the palace had to wait with others in an
outer room until the time came for the
musicians to depart. After the perform
ance Prince Albert and the queen came
forward and the artists were then pre-
had q ORG