Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-11
THE SICAL CZAR.
Ruler of All the Russians Does Not
Love the Art.
From the London News,

From the London News
The other day an anecdOte went the round
of the press that the Car Nicholas had
sung several songs at family party. and
had shown himself a good tenor, of which
he was very proud. The story was pleas
ant enough. but untrue. The muse of mu-
sic was not present at his birth. The Lok-
alanzeiger tells us that musical evenings at
which celebrated artists take part are very
rare at the court Of the car now. The
late emperor was passionately fond Of mu-
sic and was in his youth an excellent per-
former on the cornet a piston. Prof. Nurm
had been teaching him for ten years. and
even today praises the zeal and talent Of
his illustrious pupil When later on he be-
came so much occupied with government
business he had to give up his favorite in
strument, as he had no time TO practice.
But we won't give up music quite he re-
marked to Prof. Wurm. Now / shall
choose the great sax tuba" He founded
his own brass band of about forty perform
ers, mostly officers. and begged the con-
ductor 10 treat them all sans facon, for
certainly otherwise nothing sensible would
come of ii. At the head Of them sat the
car, his gigantic instrument slung around
him. and tootled bravely with the rest. At
court balls it amused him to conduct per
sonally some bars Of a waltz, especially
when his illuslrious consort, who loved
dancing passionatsly. was enjoying herself.
All at once the m;-sic would come to dead
stop IN the mluule OF a waltz. everybody
would look up startled, and only the en-
press would glance smilingly at the gallery.
She knew who the rogue was who wanted
to play her trick again.
The dowager empress, brilliant pianist,
had inherited the talent from her mother,
the late Queen OF Denmark, and always
zcalously endeavored to inspire her children
with love for music. There was no want
of excellent masters in st. Petersburg at
that Tina, but alasi the young grand dukes
and duchesses had little sympathy for their
mothers noble intentions. All had to prac-
tice the piano. but they did so very
willingly. AS the Gar Alexander was an
ardent admirer OF Richard Wagner, the
music master of the heir TO the throne gave
himself the greatest trouble to teach the
latter a composition of the Bayreuth mas
march from "Lohengrin'' was chosen, in
the easiest rearrangement that could be
found. The appointed day arrived, and the
performance began, but praise there was
none. 1t is whispered, indeed. that just the
reverse was the case. There was only one
consolation for the prince-that his sisters
and brothers did no better.
In the meantime Nikolai Alexandrovitch
has become autocrat of all the Russ.as.
But he has no special prediction for mu-
sic, and his charming young wife will, in
spite of her knowledge of IL, never instul IL
into him 1t is stated that the car pcs
sesses a sympathetic terror voice. and often
surprises his intimate friends, especially in
Livadia by his songs, especially French ro-
msnces, which he sings with great feeling.
But all these are legends as are all The
statements that he accompanies his own
songs on the piano. His young wife loves
and cultivates with great int diligence clas-
steal music. and among modern composers,
especially Brahms.