The Minneapolis journal., 1903-12-02
A MUSICAL GIFT
Strange Subjective Powers Shown
by Mrs. Ellen Spencer
Of Chicago.
She Puzzles Everybody by Her Mar
vellous Performances at
the Piano.

Ignorant of even the simplest ele-
ments Of the art, a new musical Won
der has been disclosed to New York.
She who possesses the remarkable
gift Of improvising, at the piano, the
most difficult compositions, is Mrs.
Ellen McAllister Spencer Of Chicago.
She is the daughter of the late Judge
William King McAlister, who was for
twenty-five years senior judge of the
appellate court in that city.
Mrs. Spencer has an tnexhausdble
repertory, the ability to interpret any
theme, but is unable to memorize a
bar or to play by note; yet she is
able to sit for hours without fatigue
and play with perfect expression, tec-
nique and conformity to all the rules
of counterpoint which she has never
studied.
This strange power has never been
explained, nor has Mrs. Spencer any
idea whence it comes. AS a child,
Mrs. Spencer took a few music lessons,
but her instructor became discouraged
and said she could never become a
musician.
Twenty-Five years ago Mrs. Spencer,
then a young girl, with her sister and
several girl friends, was sitting at a
table in a darkened room. They had
their fingers joined, trying to see If
they could hear table rappings." 1t
was the prank Of young school girls,
and none of them regarded the matter
seriously.
Suddenly Mrs. spenoer's sisters fin
gers began to move and she had an
uncomfortable desire to play the pia-
no. Her friends urged her to try, but
she failed ignomfniously. Then Mrs.
Spencer seated herself at the plano.
She seemed possessed by some unseen
power and her fingers flew over the
keys, producing the most beautiful
harmonies. For three hours she sat
there, fearing lest she should lose the
strange power which she had so sud
denly acquired, while her companions
sat amazed at her performances.
Mrs. Spencer, while visiting Miss
Emma V. Pitkin, daughter Of the late
John r. Pikin, the founder Of East
New York and Woodhaven. at l29
New Jersey avenue, Brooklyn. gave q
recital.
One had only to suggest theme,
and the performer would interpret 1t
unhesitatingly on the piano. Her I'M
provising was classical and required
the most difficult lingering At times
there seemed a similarity to Colts
chalk's Last Hope" Beethoven's
Moonlight Sonata" Bach fugue, or
a "Nocturne" by Chopin. but this was
only in style and never in melody.
One of her selections resembled the
ancient music of Zarlino, the Italian
composer Of the sixteenth century.
"A Storm at Sea- was suggested, and
for twenty minutes the player held her
listeners spellbound with her interpre-
tation When asked to reproduce It,
she played something wholly differ.
ent, Interpreting the same heme and 8
third time produced a different com.
position on the same theme.
A classic waltz reminded one OF
Schumann and a heavy selection
brought to mind Mozart's Twelfth
Mass yet in none Of these did the
player take from any Of the grea
masters more than the movement.
Il do not know what 1t is, nor TIT
force that impels me" said Mrs
Spencer. II simply cannot help it.
seem to be not myself, and to have
no power to direct my thoughts. M!
fingers are guided, and I have no ides
what the harmony is to be any mor'
than you have, and when it is once
played it is lost to me forever. can
not memorize anything that I hav
heard, nor can I play anything b,
note.
Il am not believer in spiritualism
1t seems just gift from Cod