The Portland daily press., 1899-05-02
THE UNMUSICAI, GEAR.

The other day an anecdote went the
round of the press that the Gar Nicholas
had sung several songs at family party,
and had shown himself good tenor, OF
which he was very proud. The sessy was
pleasant enough, bat untrue. The muse
of music was not present at his birth.
The Lakalanzeiger tells us that musical
evenings at which celebrated artists take
part are very rare at the court of the
Gear now. The late Emperor was passion.
ately fond Of music, and was In his youth
an excellent performer on the cornet q
piston. Prof. Wurm had been teaching
him for ten years, and even today praises
the zeal and talent of his illustrious pu-
pill. W hen later ON he became SO much
occupied with government business, he
had to give up his favorite instrument,
as he had no time to practice. but we
won't give up music quite" he remarked
to Prof. Wurm. "Now 1 shall choose
the great sax tuba" He founded his own
brass band of about forty performers,
mostly officers, and begged the conductor
to treat them all sans facon. for certainly
otherwise nothing sensible would come
Of 1t. At the head of them sat the Gar.
his gigantic instrument slung around
him, and tootled bravely with the rest.
At court balls it amused him to conduct
personally some bars ofs.a waltz, especial
ly when his illustrious consort, who
loved dancing passionately, was enjoying
herself All at ones the music would
N "a daaA gtOn i'm the y1iddIa nf n
waltz. Everybody would LOOK up startled,
and only the Empress would Rlancs smil-
ingly at the gallery. She knew who the
rogue was who wanted to play her trick
again. Tho Dowager Empress. a bril-.
liant pianist, had inherited the talent
from her mother, the late Queen Of Dem
mark. and always zealously endeavored
to inspire her children with love for
music. There was no want OF excellent
masters in St. Petersburg at that time,
but alasi the young Grand Dukes and
Duchesses had little sympathy for their
mothers noble Intentions All had to
practice the piano. but they did so very
unwillingly. 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
Che latter q composition of the Bayreuh-
master as q surprise for papa. The wept
ding march from "Lohengrin" was
chosen, in the easiest Encouragement that
could be found. The appointed day ar
rived, 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 Nioklai Alexander
witch has become autocrat Of all the Rus
sias. But he has no special prediction
for music, and his charming young wife
will, in spite OF her knowledge of it.
never instil it into him. 1t is stated that
the Gear possesses sympathetic tenor
voice, and often surprises his intimate
friends, especially in Livadia, by his
songs, especially French romances, which
he sings with great feeling. But all these
are legends, as are all the statements that
he accompanies his own songs on the pi-
ano. His youns wife loves, and cult,
Yates with great intelligence, classical
music, and among modern composers es-
pscially Brahms London Daily News.