The evening times., 1899-10-28
MUSIC AT THE CZAR'S COURT.
The Present Emperor Has Little
Taste for Melody.

(from the New lOrh SUM-
Musicians who go to Russia and are sue
cessful there rarely return without some
valuable evidence of their appreciation at
the Russian Court. Nine. Sembrich in
cludes in her famous collection of jewelry
some beautiful pieces presented to her by
the late Car. before whom she sang sew
eral times during her visits to Russia. She
has also a diamond and rubg pin given to
her By the present Emperor. There is no
such demand for the presence of musicians
at the Court of Russia now as there was
during the lifetime of the late Car. Mu-
sic is not one OF the arts that interest
Nicholas H. II was a clumsy fake, there
fore, which alleged that he was cult.yating
now fine tenor voice which he could al
ready use with considerable facility.
The present Emperor OF Russia cares
nothing about music and in this particular
is unlike most of his family His father
played well for an amateur on the cornet
and for ten years took lessons en- that in-
strument from a professor who 10 this day
praises the skill and industry CT his i'm
perial pupil The Gar even formed
brass band. consisting chiefly of officers,
and begged the conductor engaged for 1t
to treat all the members without cere-
mony. whatever their rank happened to be,
as he knew that they could be made prof.
Gent tIiA bN tIiS IiNeAA5. IL NLtS O-A--u tAAC
Gar PLAYED the saXa tuba. He was also
known TO take the baton from the conduc-
tors hand and lead the court band for a
while when the occasion was not too for
nal for such Z prank. He was also an ad-
mirer of Richard Wagner. although the
music of that composer is heard less today
in Russia than in any other European
country. Once to surprise the Gar on his
birthday. the Dowager Empress had her
oldest son learn the wedding march from
''Lohengrin' on the piano.
That was when, as young man. Nicho-
las was compelled to practice daily and
most unwillingly on the piano. The birth
day concert is said to have been COM
plete fasco. although the Czaroviteh had
the satisfaction when ii was over of know
ing that he had come out of the ordeal with
no less credit than his mother and sisters.
The present Czarina is an accomplished pi-
anist, Just as her mother-in law was be-
fore her. She is said to be especially fond
of Brahms music, but has never been able
to instill any love of music into her hus-
band. So the stories OF his French songs,
his well-trained tenor voice and his own
accompaniments which he plays on the pi-
ano are all fictitious
Among the Russians of royal blood who
are musicians is the Grand Duke Constan-
tine, who as Konstantin Romanow. or as
he is mere commonly indicated, K. R., Is
we'll known as a composer. He is said to
have come into the world while his father
was playing cello in the adjoining room
and this anecdote has of course been used
10 explain his later devotion to the art
His father was an expert performer on the
which scarcely seems suffi-
cient excuse, however, for his playing on it
at so critical time in the fortunes of the
family. His wife is also musician, and
she has composed symphonic piece called
THE Titan" The Grand Duchess Helene
Pawlowna founded the Conservatory in st.
and her grandchildren, Duke
George and the Princess Helene, of Sake
are more interested in music
than any other members of the Russian ar