The Washington times., 1901-11-10
ROYAL AMATEURS.
Many Women OF European Court.
Are Accomplished Musicinns


Amateur musicians have always played.
and still play, a most important part in
the history of music They have the
| power to improve the standard OF musical
| taste, or to lower IT. Though we seldom
! lind musical genius among them. yet
there are many who have risen above
mcdiccrity in musical matters.
An English writer in The Tattler''
gives an interesting description of the
musicians of the royal family and other
| titled people, as follows:
| Our late Queen was not only an excel
| lent pianist, but sang in Il most sympa-
| thetic manner, and was always the first
| 10 encourage the study of musical art in
| It's highest branches There would have
| been no Royal College Of Music but for
| the fndefatigable energy of King Edward.
| Queen Alexandra is musical enthusiast,
| she plays the pianoforte exceeding well.
and is a Mus. Doc of Dublin University.
Princess Henry of Battenberg is also
an admirable pianist. Her technique is
perfect, and she is an excellent sight
| reader. She has also appeared before the
| public as composer / remember a most
charming song of hers. called The Sunny
| Month of May" which was excee dinghy
| popular at one time.
been closely associated with the royal
| family, is another excellent pianist. 1
have heard of many musical mornings ut
Windsor Castle when Miss Cochrane and
Miss Janotha used TO play duets and trios
on two and three pianos with Princess
Henry of Batte4berg. On those occasions
the present Queen would sometimes act
as conductor
1t was their special delight to read new
compositions at sight. Brahms was 8.
great favorite, and those who have had
any acquaintance with the works of that
composer know well that they are not
easy to read.
Princess Christian is an enthusiastic
musician, and is noted for the great taste
she displays, both in pianoforte playing
and singing.
Countess Valda Gleichcn IS by far the
best amateur singer we have, and is al
ways in great demand at charity con-
certs.
Among other noted amateur singers
are Princess Henry of Pless. the Duchess
Of Westminster. and Lady Dudley.
OF amateur pianists l should say that
Mrs George Cornwallis-West is one of
our very best. She may be described as
good all-round musician, and often
plays in duets for two pianos with Miss
Janotha at charity concerts. Her tech
nlque is excellent. and she makes the pi-
anoforte sing under her touch. Having
made 4 study Of the art OF accompanying,
she never browns the voice, and always
knows when to give the necessary help to
make any phrase effective. She does not
care for the ordinary ballad, but prefers
songs Of n more classical type. Mrs.
Cornwallis-West plays upon Steinway
grand, and her drawing room is one of
the most artistic in London. There are
photographs of celebrities all around. l
noticed two of Lord Randolph Churchill,
one of Mr.. Winston Churchill in khaki,
two OF Queen Alexandra Zone signed Feb
ruary, bud, one large picture of the King.
and two charming photographs of the two
Orleans princesses. Henriette and Helene.
To complete the trio of the very best
amateur pianists, ! must mention Mrs.
Leslie and Mrs. Reginald Talbot, whose
playing is equal, If not superior, to that
of many professionals. John Oliver
Hobbies is also fine pianist.
How Is il that so few amateurs play the
organ In these. days the eXertion of
playing modern organ is not any more
than that of playing the pianoforte. Pneu-
matte action is introduced into all the
new instruments, and blowing is done by
water or electric power There is not the
slightest doubt that II is most fascinat-
:rS instrument to play, and that it can
give infinite pleasure. both - the perform
.ho are good organists, and who ocCa-
sionally play at their churches on Sun
day. They are the Warehouses OF Zet-
land. Lady Hilda Clements, Lady Gerard
and the Hon. Victoria Grosveu0r.
Miss Gertrude Smith daughter Of Sir
Thomas Smith. the eminent surgeon) is
another very able organist, and is capable
Of playing good choral service. In fact
she occasionally assists at St. Thomas
Church, Portman Spare. w. where there
is very fine organ recently erected by
walker X at
cost of 2l,500.
Musical composition has always been
n most fascinating subject for all who
dabble in the art. ! know several anna
teurs who pick out tunes on the piano.
forte and get professional to write them
down and harmonize them. The compo-
sitions thus produced are published cat
the composers expense) and sent round
TO friends and relations for approval. The
composer is hailed as a budding Sullivan
and congratulations are showered upon
him.
Now, 1t is quite possible for an amateur
to produce pleasing little dittles without
the aid of a reviser provided he or she
will only take the trouble to study lit
tie harmony; but to compose an original
song or pianoforte piece requires some
thing more than mere technical knowl-
edge. Originality cannot be learned like
geography or French verbs; it is a gift
which only few possess. Even among
our profe ssional musicians the original
composers can be counted upon one hand.
Sir Hubert Parry. who possesses great
originality a a composer. was "A one time
an amateur, and when at Eton passed the
examination for the degree of Mus. Bac.
at oxford. He did not make music his
profession until he left the university.
Among amateur composers none are
so well known as Lady Arthur Hill and
Lord Henry Somerset. Their songs have
become extremely popular not only in this
country. but in the colonies. Lady Arthur
HHTs best-known songs are In the
Cleaning and Time Was" Lord Henry
.1r.
His setting of There Is a Green Hill
is one of the best / have heard.