The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-24
$6.5OO
HOW GOUNOD WON.
The Composer of Faust" Tells of His
First Struggle.

New York Herald.
Shortly before his death Gounod wrote a
brief sketch of the manner in which he be-
came a musician, and this has just been
published for the first time by the Petit
Bleu, OF Paris. II is wholly from GOunod's
pen, and. as an photographic fragment.
Will surely prove OF much interest 70 all adj
mirers of the famous composer of Faust"
Il was thirteen years DID," he begins,
My mother. a poor widow, was obliged to
work hard for her living and had to trudge
through snow and sunshine in order TO OBJ
tain the means for her children's education.
i was continually worried over the thought
that she was sacrificing herself for me, and
! longed for the day when / could set her
however. in regard TO my future differed
from my own. She had destined me for a
entieing voice saying, You must be a mu-
sician.'
One day I told my mother about my
Are you in earnest?' she asked.
Yes; in dead earnest
and you will not go to the university
Where will you go. them
ITO the conservatory
seemed fated then that / was to remain at
the Harconrt school until had finished my
my footsteps at that time. l would have to
become a soldier. I could not look to my
mother for any help. She would rather that
i should do anything else than become a
My dear mother I finally said to her,
Il VIII stay at school. since you wish IL, but
one thing / am determined on. and that is
that ! will never sy PSe9me a solder -.
law wbyyc You mGIn ftdnra yHH Will not OBEY the
No. but I mean that the law will be a
dead letter so far as I am concerned
What do you mean"
~ mean that 1 will win the 'Prix de
tfomes which VIII free me from the neces-
My mother then abandoned the idea OF
trying to make me change my mind. She de-
cided. however. TO lay the matter before
Father .Pierson. my. school principal. The
jolly old gentleman summoned me and began
in a fatherly tone OF voice: SO, nv little feI-
low. we are going to spend our life among
Yes, Mr.. Person
But music. Is that a professionr
Rossini? Didn't they have a profession?
The good principal was somewhat taken
aback and replied hastily: oh, Mozart
thats a different matter altogether. He gave
proof OF genius when he was only your age.
But you! What, can you do? Let US see
paper paper joss. Josep %erf bsl he sc bee5n51n on q sheet % OF
childhood was past Then he handed me the
sheet. Come. let me have ome music for
these words I ran off and two hours later
composition.
You're a terrible fellow. Go ahead and sing
your little song now
Sing? Without a piano?'
nat do you want a piano for?'
To play an accompaniment. 1t is i'm
possible in any other way to set forth the
true of a work
oh, nonsense. / don't care a fig for
your harmony What / want to know IS
whether you have any ideas. any true mu-
steal temperament. Go ahead now
Il began TO sing. When / had finished 7
glanced timorousiy at my stern critic. Tears
STOOD IN his eyes. tears were rolling down his
cheeks. / saw that he was strangely moved
and i was not surprised 20 find myself the
next moment in his arms.
1t is beautiful. beautiful. nv bow he
said we will make something out of YOU.
You snail become a musician, for the real
fire is in you
I'm this way I gained a champion. Finally
my mother took me to Reiche, my first mu-
sic teacher. She was still troubled about me
and she whispered into Reiche's ear: Don't
let MIN have an easy time. Let him see the
dark side OF the musical profession. I will
bless you II you send him back to me a
music hater.'
"Reiche. however, could not please her in
snis way. After a year he was Obliged 10
say TO her I'm reply to her Inquiries: Ma
dame. you had better content yourself. Your
boy has talent. He knows what he wants
and nothing can discourage him. He knows
already as much as / do and there Is only
one thing which he does not know-namely
that he knows something
Il knew this also, however, for every one
VINO is not an ass possesses self-conscious-
ness. Three years later / won the 'Prix de
Rome and / had accomplished my hearts
desire-"