The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-04-07
CANON FELLOWS HER FRIEND
FORMER STREET WAlF NOW
GREAT vIoLiNisT.


London, March 3O.-From AN itin-
Grant street musician, the daughter
Of a poor harpist, Miss Marie Hall
has become in one appearance the
foremost woman violinist in all Eu-
rope because Of her marvellous exc
cution and sympathetic playing.
"Kubelik in skirts" declared her au.
dience, for she, too, is a pupil of the
great master, Sevcik. Yet with all
her ability Miss Hall suffered many
disappointments while a child. She
was born in Newcastle-U pon-Tyne,
and when a mere child played in
the streets with her father. Even
under these adverse circumstances
her playing attracted attention. BY
dint of scraping and saving, friends
of her father managed to raise money
enough to send her to London that
she might enter the contest for the
Wesseley scholarship. She won the
scholarship with such remarkable
ease that it astonished the judges.
But although she had wen the most
coveted prize Of musicians, she was
compelled to relinquish it. Her father
had no money with which she could
live in London and pursue her studies.
During her thirteenth year her family
moved from Newcastle to Bristol and
Miss Hall went back to street fid.
ding.
Canon Fellowes and. a friend in
passing n night became impressed
with the playing of this frail child.
They stopped and, listening, learned
something about the child. They
took other friends interested in music
to hear the child play. Then, learn
ing OF the scholarship the child had
won and r%elinquished because Of a
lack Of money, they contributed
enough to send her to Birmingham
to be taught by Max Mossel.
For three years she studied under
him, when again the question of sup
port for the family at home arose and
she had to quit and return. Again
Canon Fellowes and her friends raj
lied about her, and she was sent to
learn with Kreuser.
While studying with Kreuser, Ku-
belik's advice was asked. He heard
her play and became enthusiastic.
"Take her at once to Prague and
let her be with Sevcik," he said.
To Prague she went. Before be-
ing entered as a pupil at the Conser-
vatorium she had to play Wieniaw-
Concerto. After playing five
bars with much skill and feeling, the
great Dvorak said: Il am pleased with
playing. I accept you"
Then, according to Miss Hall, began
the hardest work of her career. 81
had to attend lectures on harmony"
she said, land the history of music.
l had to begin working very early in
the morning to get through with it
at all. The lessons l most enjoyed,
after l had finished my course at the
yer my private ones.
For then l had "a lesson whenever the
professor had time, often as early
as 6 o'clock in the morning, and as
late as 10 O'Clock at night, when he
would insist upon seeing me home.
used to call my lessons his little
concerts
Sevcik pronounced Miss Hall the
most brilliant pupil he ever had. At
her first public appearance at Prague
she was recalled twenty-five times.
She was equally successful in Vienna,
at a concert given in aid of the Phil
orchestra.
"Now for the %unfeeling English"
Sevcik told. his pupil. To her Sevcik
confided his favorite violin, the same
with which Kubelik made his debut,
and with this Miss Hall played her
audience into the widest delight.
Like most of Sevcik's pupils, she has
little or nothing more to learn from
purely technical point of view. The
acknowledgements power and full
ness of tones-must come with ma
turity and experience.
Miss Hall is nov Is years old, slen-
der and frail looking, with waving
brown hair and blue eyes. Aside
from her music her chief interest
is in her vOunper brother a child Of