The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-10
GREAT PART OF POLISH PIANIST IN
COUNTRY's MUSICAL AFFAIRS.
Gratitude Expressed by His Founding
Prizes for announcement of
Composers of United states.

HTUTg !
romance. 1t has never had a parallel in
the history Of a visiting virtuosO in Amer
lea. The five visits were made within
eleven years When the first began Mr..
Paderewski was unknown even by name to
all or the American people except a few
students of the worlds musical affairs. 1t
was late in the year 1891 that his name
came 10 their notice through successes
achieved in London. On Nov Il Of that
year he gave his first American concert in
Carnegie Hall, which had been dedicated
six months before No one thought then OF
the use OF the vast audience room for re-
citals, not even Mr.. Paderewski or his man
ayers. In fact, the recital idea was still
in its infancy. the great virtuoso who had
preceded him. like Rubinstein and Won
Bulow, having other artists associated
with them TO give the interest OF variety
to their entertainments. Mr.. Paderewski
began with three orchestral concerts. At
the first he played his own concerto in A
minor and Saint-Saenss in c minor, put
ting in group of solo pieces between the
two.
At the second, on Nov. 10, ne played three
concertOs-BeethOven's in Il fiat, Schu-
mann's, in A minor, and LISTS Hungarian
Fantasia: at the third Chopin'S, in + minor
and Rubinstein's, in D minor. Then the
recitals began in the Music Hall of the
MadiSon-square Garden. In which room five
were given in rapid succession. BY TINS
time popular enthusiasm had grown 10 Sucn
dimensions that il was found necessary 10
change the scene back TO Carnegie Hail.
where he gave his sixth recital on Dec. 20
gave four recitals; he added another. his
eleventh, the next day. and then began a
series of ministrations which demonstrated
that he was willing to fOrego money get
ting on a large scale for the sake of pro-
viding pleasure for the music lovers who
were not wholly wrapped I'D in his solo
performances. He played at one OF Mr..
SeidPs popular concerts in the LenOx Ly-
ceum, and, though aisles were narrowed
so as 10 increase the seating capacity or
the room by two hundred, the popular nun
10 VN1uNra a
with Mr.. Seidls orchestra the next Sunday
night. Next he gave lift 10 the cultiva-
tion of chamber music by playing with the
New York Symphony String Quartet on
Sunday afternoon, March 20, i'm the tiny
chamber music room in Carnegie Hail.
Here he played the pianoforte part or
Brahms quartet in a, OPP. 26 and with Mr..
Adolf BrOdsky, the leader of the quartet,
his own sonata for pianOforte and violin IN
A minor, Op. 13. For a farewell he devoted
his services TO a philanthroplc object. A
concert was arranged for the benefit of the
Washington memorial arch fund. The late
William Steinway paid the cost of giving
the concert; Mr.. Higginson lent the serV-
ices of the Boston Symphony Orchestra;
Mr.. Nikisch gave his services as conductor
The concert took place on Sunday night
in Lent in the Metropolitan Opera House
Mr.. Paderewsld played his concerto, which
was received with such enthusiasm that
Its finale had 10 be repeated. A patriotic
spirit was aroused by the purpose OF the
concert; then WreathS, bound with the
Polish colors stands of the flags of the
United States and Poland, Mr. Parke Cod
win delivered a speech at the end of which
he presented still another wreath and
stand of cOlors to the pianist, and explained
that they were but an earnest of more
permanent souvenir OF the occasion which
was TO follow-an art work from the hands
of Augustus St. GaudenS. Thus the first
season ended, in which Mr.. Paderewsh
played six times with orchestra, eleven re-
citals. and in one chamber concert-eight-
cen times in all.
nnO
The next year Mr.. Paderewsh returned,
giving his first recital in Carnegie Hall
on Jan. @ 1893. He remained in this coun-
try until MAY 8. and played nine times in
New York Seven of his appearances were
in recitals, one with the Adamowski Quar-
tet, in the concert hall of the Madison
Square Hall (Beethovens Trio in B fiat.
Op. 81 was his concerted number), and
once in grand charity concert arranged
by Mr.. Steinway. This originally
projected as recital, but Mr.. Steinway
increased its dimensions by engaging an
orchestra. Under the direction of Mr..
Walter Damrosch, Mr.. Paderewsh played
his concerto in A minor. and under the di-
rection of Arthur Friedheim. LISTS Hun
garian Fantasia. These concerted works
he supplemented with a group of Chopin
pieces. Double the usual price of admission
was demanded, and various local charitable
institutions were benefciaries.
Mr.. Paderewski waited until the fall of
1894 before beginning his third American
tour. which proved to be the most extra
ordinary one ever known, unless. per-
chance, 1t was surpassed by his fourth.
He began his activities on Nov. A. 1895,
with an orchestral concert in Carnegie
Hall. at which he played Chopin's concerto
in minor I'm Mr. Burmester's version)
and introduced his own Polish Fantasia
This work was new, having been COM
posed In the interval between his return
to his home from America in May, 1893. and
his resumption OF concert work in the fall
of that year. 1t had its first public hear
ing at the Norwich festival on Oct. T. 1898.
His first recital took place on Nov 9, and
at the second, on Nov. Is, there began
form of popular demonstration which has
endured ever since-the rush toward the
stage of hundreds of women at the end
of the set programme to be close at hand
for the supplemental concert, which was
demanded. and which generally lasts half
an hour longer
At the third recital. on Dec. A. seats
and standing room being found insufficient,
extra chairs were placed on the stage. and
the pianist found himself surrounded nv
his audience. Early in January he started
on a memorable tour to the Pacific slope
going by the southern route and return
ing by the northern, playing at intervals
all the way. Before going he PLAYED with
the Symphony Society. and left New York
on a midnight train to take part the next
day in a concert given by the Boston Sym
phOny Orchestra for the benefit of the fam
ily of one of its double bass PLAYERS who
had died leaving wife and children in need
lie Joined the Adam0wski Quartet in an
other chamber music concert in the Car
negie Lyceum. He sailed for home on ADriI
p 1895, having given ninety-twO concerts
in America and taking in about a quarter
OF a million of dollars. On the eve of his
departure he handed Mr.. William Steinwav
a check for $4,000 as a fund the proceeds
of which were to be expended as prizes
for compositions by American comDoserS
In his letter he said:
Il take no pride in making this endou,-
ment. The amount is modest one and
my personality, in spite of all the success
is OF little Importance. | only hone that
it will prove to be useful. and that Iro1Ir
younger composers will not consider as a
gift, but as debt, this little encourage
land all the happiness 10 which an artist
can aspire.
FOURTH AND FIFTH SEASONS
He now permitted three and half years
to pass before returning to this country
He began his fourth tour on Dec u 1Sg9
and gave the four recitals which he had
planned as preliminary to another visit TO
the Pacific coast, varying them with a
New Years evening orchestra concert ~
certO and his own polish fantasia and a
chamber concert with the AdamOwski Quar-
tet in the large ballroom OF Sherrv's He
extended his Western trip southwark to
the City or Mexico, where he gave two re-
citals Or his return 10 New York he gave
two more recitals' the last of which. on
May r. 1900, was devoted exclusively 10
ChOpin's music His last act before sail
ing for home on MAY Is. was to re-establish
the prize fund which he had created for
American composers In 1896, which had
lapsed because OF the failure OF the trustees