The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-02-25
cial request Of the Car, ard produce
there q series of Polish national operas
Ia Slaniuszka, IeIenSki and others.


there 4 series OF Polish national operas
IL Maniuszka, Zelensl1i and others.
In recent volume of personal recoi-
1ections of Brahms by two Of his friends
there are many interesting anecdotes of
the great composer that throw sidelisnts
on his character. An instance OF his re-
gard for Rossini IS told by Wid;nann. 'As
we passed through Pesaro. he insisted
that even If we did not make q halt,
we should at least Go honor to the mem
DRY of~Rossini by each of US singing some
air from II Barbiere;' and as we Glanced
to be in the carriage his proposal was
duly carried out AS is we'll known,
Brahms was a lifelong bachelor 1T
is my misfortune still to be unmarried
thank God!" he observed.
The Choir Music Journal is greatly ex-
cited over the latest fad in music"
judging by the following:
The insane craze for .rag-time'' music
and ..coon-songs" that has lately swept
over the country is to the cause of gocd
music among the classes what the hot
blasts OF the simeon are to healthful
vegetation The counters of the music
stores are loaded with this virulent poi
son, which, in the form of q malarious
epidemic. is finding its way into the homes
and brains OF the youth to such an extent
as to arouse ones suspicious OF their sani-
ty.
Thank the Lord. they have passed the
meridian of their popularity, and are now
on the Wane. SO that the cause of music
may again be permitted to enjoy sea-
son when It can inhale a few draushts
OF refreshing ozone from the more refined
science Of a sober, rejecting and regret
ting humanity.
In the meantime how shall the higher
functions of music be diSnfected against
the recurrence of this or some ssimlar
plague? 1t is to he sincerely hoped that
this country will be spared in the future
from such musical insanity as we have
suffered by this rag time-coon-song craze.
An amusing story, which contains some
clements OF iinprobahility. but is well
invented. if not true. is told by we!l-
known Viennese critic. Max kalheck.
1t tells how narrowly the late Johann
Strauss escaped being sent to Siberia.
1t was in q Russian city where Strauss.
always the gallant won the affections OF
the mayors daughter. Such adventures
were common enough with him. and gave
him no concern, but it was different
with the lady, and she 50 played her
cards that Strauss found himself. much
to his dismay, involved in a marriage
eliSIssSIneNl, WHICH was TO De lVtICENEC
precipita teiy by the wedding. Ttraus looked
in vain for way out Of his dilemma,
The wedding procession had already
started for the church, when it was
stopped by the Government Police,
Strauss taken from it's ranks as poll
teal prisoner and sent to Jail. There
was a short and summary trial. he was
found guilty, and sentenced to Transport
tation. When he reached his place OF
exile, however, it proved to be not ST.
teria, but Vienna. The coup had been
accomplished by the Austrian Ambasss,-
dor. who had left even Strauss in the
dark as to the means which he had nit
upon to extricate him from the nleshes
in which he had become involved by his
uncomfortable gallantry-New York Tri-
bune.
Signor N1ancinelN VIII conduct at the
Paris En- position the band sent there by
the city OF Rome. Other orchestras viii
be sent to Paris by Milan Bologna art;
Naples. MN. Toscanini. Martucci anu
Russonmandi are to be the conducSors
from the other cities. Sfs2or AIancine,h
will leave for Rome after the CoVent
Garden season to rehearse the orchestra,
which will first be heard late In August
Scribner's Magazine for February mas
an impossioned article on Chopin by Mr.
James Huneker which will doubtless APP
pear later on as a cnaptef IN LIS JUN.
Chopin is not only the poet OF the
piano, he is the poet of music. the niost
poetic of composers. Compared. with hin.
Bach seems a maker of solid, polyphonlc
prose: Beethoven a Scooper of stars.
master of growing storms, Mozart
spinner of gay tapestries. Schumann
divine stammerer. Schubert OF all the
composers resembles him in his lyric pro-
digality. Both were masters of melody.
but Chopin was the master workman OF
the two and polished. after beating ana
bending his theme fresh from the ffes
of his forge. Chopin invented many new
harmonic devices, he united the chord
that was restrained within the octave.
leading it into the dangerous but de-
zlectable land of extended harmonies.s And
Z how he cfiromaticized the prudish, rigid
garden OF German harmony, how hs.
moistened it with flashing. changefui
waters until 1t grew bold and brilliant
with prumisesi "A French theorist, AL
bert. Lavignac. calls Chopin product
of the German Romantic school. TINS
Il Is hitchIng the star to the wagon Chopin
influenced schumann; It can be proved
hundred times, and schuraann under
stood Chopin. else no could not nave
written the Chopin OF the Carnival
which quite out Chopins Chopin.
Charles Brphman has bought the Arnerf-s
can rights OF sir8Arthur Sullivan;s latest
comic opera, .Tho Rose ce Per11o 0e0fI
-. See.