The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-06
MUSIC.
Miss Neuhaus's second Recital.

Schumann. Mendelssohn. Schubert, Cho-
pin and List, their lives and their work.
were sketched by Miss Estella Neuhaus at
the second of her series of lecture-recitals
at the home of Mrs. Hugh MCGOWAN yes
terday afternoon. The audience, which was
larger than Miss Neuhauss first. found
the recital a pleasantly instructive enter
talnment for a summer afternoon. Miss
Neuhaus shattered no idols-it was not her
purpose TO make her lecture other than, as
she said synthetical. She told how schu-
mann failed to build great fame for him
self because he lacked the material OF
technical ability Many of his compost
tons are too difficult for the usually dex-
ferrous performer But he was a fine, good
humored poet and, in the sonata Opus
q. which Miss Neuhaus played. his work
abounds in beautiful phrases and harmo-
niles.
Chopin was melancholy. but not morbid
~ sentimental. Miss Neuhaus said. He
wrote some compositions too heavy for
him, with his frail physique, 10 play salts
factorily TO himself. Certainly his polo
naises are not indicative of a weak per-
sOnality. Miss Neuhaus played one of the
balades and two movements of the second
concerto. OF Schubert she said that it was
remarkable how much work he did In his
few years. He died when he thirty
one and left LOO compositions. more than
half of which are songs. He was clear
minded, sympathetic and had high dra-
matte sense To illustrate Mendelssohn's
refined. fanciful method Miss Neuhaus
played an extract from "A Midsummer
Nights Dream"
Presenting that Miss Neuhaus Is an adj
mirer of List, il may be said that she
stated the merit of the "Abbe" in the con-
ventional Lisztian style. He was an un-
rivaled virtuoso. noble, generous man, a
great friend OF Wagner. She played one of
his Legends and so showed, as the List
sdmirer always shows. that the noble. gem
erous man was, so far as popular acquaint-
ance with him goes. lacking in the impulse
that does good and gets the admiration of
virile minds. The selection was st. Francis
and the Birds" Miss Neuhaus told the
story IL seems that St Francis thought il
would be a stroke of enterprise to tell the
birds 10 whom they owed food. water and
air 10 fly about in, anG. incidentally, to
warn them against the sin of ingratitude.
The birds gathered around him and he
preached TO them the advisability of
prasing their Maker constantly. When he
had finished the birds set up songs of
laudatiOn and flew away. north, south. east
and west. 10 carry the tidings.
Liszts tone narrative is almost identical
with Wagner's tritely descriptive style.
The birds are represented by soprano
organ-like chords. The effect makes IL
clear that St. Francis might have been
spending his energy 10 much more profta-
BILE purpose. Birds always have been of
regular habits, et-tempered. mfnding
their own business while men I'm ST Fran
cis's time as we'll as In the present need
wholesome advice. and furthermore are
engaged in rather more important affairs
than picking up insects and flying about
through the air. But II a man, whether a
musician or not. be entirely concerned in
exhibiting his own startling personality he
has little time or ability 10 devote TO his
proper share in the worlds work Miss
Neuhaus played the List number with
unusual skill in the delicate frilling