Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1899-03-17
A CAFE ORCHESTRA.
Ne Was Small. but There Were DIM
cuIties In Conducting II.


cuIties In Conducting IL.
Two men were supping at west end
restaurant which serves music along
with broiled liver One Of the men was
youngish, the other elderly. The youn-
ger seemed to enjoy the music; the other
was annoyed by it because, he said II
interfered with conversation. There
was something in that
The orchestra consisted Of violin,
cute and piano. 1t was good music that
they played, some Of it quite classical,
and none altogether trashy. They played
fairly we'll, too, but their performance
had blemishes- The elderly man, having
got used to the ''noise, as he called II,
began to recognize some harmony in it.
and once actually laid down his knife
and fork and listened. Then from be-
ing denunciatory he became critical
"They are not bad, he said. but
they lack something.
Yes" replied the younger man.
''they lack sufficient bass They ought
70 have a cello or bass viOl "
"Or some OfhsS-N SOlhVV VI WIN"
bone
Il prefer the hute to the cornet for
40 small an orchestra. A trombone
would make your ears ache, for sure
and there's enough metal in the COM
bination anyhow. "
"Metali Wheref''
well, the tones of the piano are
produced from steel wires and the vio-
lin has a silver string.
"H'ml All right Let's have a cello
then.
Let's
Just then the little orchestra started
mp Hungarian dance, very pretty
movement and nicely adapted to the
three pieces. but il had evidently been
insufticiently rehearsed. The piano trip
ped along smoothly, but the violin
baked and wouldn't keep step. while
the flute was all in the air. 1t was real
" painful 1t sounded like broiled live
music. and the elderly man put both
hands TO his ears. The yOungish man
laughed.
.'The pianist is mad, he said.
So he was. He lifted his fingers high
and brought them down hard on the
KEYS and swung his head to point the
time till his long. black Hungarian
hair was tossed about like an eques-
TRANS or the name of a runaway steed.
But il was a runaway orchestra he was
irving to guide and it was no use.
The piece being ended the pianist
seized his score. turned and shook II IN
the face Of the violinist. raped it with
his knuckles. gesticulated violently with
head and hands, and then. returning
the score 10 its place on the piano. said
something in Magyar to the other mu-
ricians, which. being interpreted evil
IDENTIFY meant;
Now I'll show you how it ought to
be done.
And he played the theme through
with delicacy of touch and feeling
and an appreciation of the spirit Of the
movement that caused both the elderly
man and the youngish man to wonder
and admire The elderly man grew eX-
cited.
Give us a piano solo, he cried.
Other auditors took up the appeal
and called, piano soloI' But not one
of the musicians paid any attention
least of all the pianist and leader After
the next selection the violin and flute
players went away TO smoke cigarettes,
and the pianist remained in his seat.
The elderly man. who was now thor
oughly aroused TO the importance OF
cafe orchestra Of three pieces walked
over and interviewed the pianist. This
gentleman arose and spoke pleasantly.
1t was true, he acknowledged, that he
needed another instrument. and he
hoped TO have one next week but TO the