The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-06
The Eagles Studio
MUSIC Is Nor ALL THEY KNOW.


We sometimes hear p.olIe d.sc--s.ng
musical celebrities. and though wiling 20
give them credit for the marvellous skill
displayed at the Instrument. the wonder
full memory required TO meIrorize an en-
tire program. yet those same critics VIII
conclude by saying. We'll. IL was indeed
fine. but that's al they know" This is
not only unjust. but IL is not true. The
musical artists before the people today
are. with the exception OF a small minor
i;y well educated men and women /
Will mention for one. f. B. Perry. who
within the past month gave two piano
lecture recitsls In this city. This artist
is not Only : pianist and composer OF
note. but wieids as well faciie and
ready pen. His contributions in the liter
airy field are well known. and his de-
seiiptive powers are gems OF poetic i'm
agery. In Chicago We have Emil Leib-
ling, W. s 3. Mathews. both writers OF
no mean ability. L. Z. Elsen and b. J.
Lang of Boston are as we'll known for
their literary attachments as they arc
for their musical abilities. There are
only few; but there are many others
who can and do refute any such asser-
tion as the one referred TO in this article.
And as for the cid masters. history tells
US that Mozart. besides being fine pian-
list. organist and violirist. and the great
est composer OF his day. understood the
development Of art and literature. and
could read and speak In several lam
guages. Bach was the greatest ORGANISE
of his time. unsurpassed on the harpsi-
chord. n good Siolinist and singer. a fine
engraver. an expert tuner. well based In
literature and theology. and yolumiuous
composer of hig-ciass music in all forms.
most OF which Is "A marvel 10 those who
con appreciate the philosophy of art. \.
J. Goodrich In The Musician. also tells
US that Handel possessed fund of gen
eral information ana was intimately
acquainted with the peculiarlties OF all
known instruments. And besides the
great number OF composers which he pen
ned. he was famous as a performer and
sight-resder. Even III. democratic Be--
thoven found time amidst his absorbing
duties as composer TO acquaint himse
with political history. poetry and several
languages. He also studied the drama
as well as orchestral instruments. and
delved into the mysteries of oriental re-
ligions. Berlioz was classical scholor.
n learned critic, author. composer ard
conductor I.iszt knew nearly all mol
ern languages. and though a native OF
Hungary. his writings in French have
been acknowledged as valuable contTibu-
tions to French literature. lie was an
omnivorous reader. a past master of art.
and possessed more than mere smatte--
ing of science and theology. In addition
10 his transcendent ability as a virtuoso.
and his large contributions as composer.
Lszt knew the voice OF every Instrument
and was intimately acquainted with all
n close student Of law, Jurisprudence aGd
philosophy as well as art and literature:
he was the best of critics. and his writ
ings show refined literary style. origin
ality OF thought and rare generosity. Yer
di. Rubenstein. TscharkowsSy. Gounol.
all were well informed OF other matters
besides music. Saint Saens Is a great
scholar. besides being the most expert
musician of the age. Wagner knew al
most everything worth Knowing sbott
music-the nature and mechanism of at
instruments. theory and practice art. eyo-
luton. art. philosophy. history. literature
science. and. In fact. almost everything
which one might cnumerate. especially
If the subject has any bearing on music
or the drama.