The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-18

sing in peace twice afterward and the re-
suit was that 1 was engaged for the bal
ance Of the season. a year later they
received my temperance with cheers.
But shall never forget how easily |
might have been wrecked at this point
had ] given way to the despair / felt at
my first reception there"
This trait was manifested early In the
life of Alvarez. although he possibly did
not fully realize the value of his possess
sion until the time of the incident quoted
Ills mother. who has accompanied him on
his American tour. relates many incidents
OF MS battle to conquer the violin Al
varez manifested strong musical inclina-
lions at a very early age and was over
Joyed when at I years he was given a
violin. He learned rapidly. but the strik-
ing characteristic OF his work was his de-
termination 10 master the difficult pas
sages- Later. he took up the cornet and
as performer on this instrument at the
age of is he Joined the army and became
a member OF the regimental band Two
years later he resolved TO enter the com
petition for the grade OF bandmaster. As
lis regiment was located In the country at
that time he was transferred TO the
Caserne du Chateau q Eau. on the place
de la RepubIique. In Paris. These exam
nations are held at THE Conservatory of
Music and are most exacting Here the
conservatory is under the control OF the
government and the instructors are con-
sidered officers OF the state Two tests
are required of students engaged In the
first part OF the competition.
Each man Is given a solo for his instru-
ment a week previous. and this he is 10
play TO the best Of hs ability. with ali
the expression and dellcacy possible Next
he must play at sight. from manuscript
selection written especially for his ex-
animation In the latter test a profess
sional pianist accompanies the student
AT the time that Alvarez appeared in this
competition, Ambrose Thomas was con-
Quoting the examination. The young man
played his obligatory selection without
incident and was then handed the I'M
familiar piece, which he was to play at
sight lie started In on the task and was
JUST fairly launched in the air when the
plano stopped. Alvarez continued on
alone. The pianist broke into the accom-
paniment again az the wrong place. ana
after Playing a few bars noticed his mis-
take and again stopped Alvarez had by
this time caught the spirit of the compo-
sition and unaided by the accompanist.
he had finished the reading Ambrose
Thomas divided his time during the next
few minutes praisng the student for his
playing and presence OF mind and de-
nounctng the action OF the accompanied.
which he declared an outrage, as the un-
expected errors might have ruined the
future of the young man. He called TO an
assistant 10 post the name Of the accom-
PIANIST so that he could not be engaged to
play al any future competition. where a
more disastrous result might ensue by
reason OF his incompetency. one who is
not familiar with the severity of these
tests can hardly appreciate the situation.
as II is well known that many good mu-
scians fan at playing at sight through
sheer "a h
desire to play perfectly. If student
makes a few mistakes he usually goes 10
pieces and retires from the test very much
disheartened. What might have been bad
luck turned to be very good luck for Al
varez. for the incident gained him extra
notice and attention Having been thus
successful, Alvarez continued with the
second part Of the contest. open only to
those who PASS the Instrumental test In
this each student is given a melody and
required 10 write the parts for four male
voices. An additional and more laborious
task IL to take another melody and write
for IL the full parts of all OF the seventeen
Instruments comprising a military band.
Alvarez was one of the eighteen out OF
100 competitors who finally were success
fu In passing all examinations. Two
months later he was appointed band
master. After three years OF this work
he left the regiment TO accept more profit
able engagements as a cornet player in
Paris
While thus engaged he occupied rooms
with an old schoolmate. who was also a
musician AS Alvarez was In the habit of
humming over songs In their rooms or oc-
casiunaly singing part OF n popular air,
the friend became very enthusiasts over
the quality of his voice, and often i'm
portuned him 20 have II developed. At this
time Alvarez had had little belief in his
capahility as a singer. and he thought
that his friends regard for him was re-
sponsible for the high opinion OF his voice
Beside, his throat was not very strong, and