New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-02-27

Of the Man and the MuSCiAn by 1tLhAt0so
by Genevieve Seymour lincoln. limo. PIP S0l
The Century Company
These "reminiscences of the distinguished mu-
stefan L,eschetizky gathered BY his
sister-in-law partly from his own talk and
partly from his diaries. The volume In It's
easy. chatty. discursive way. gives US suf-
hciently accurate picture Of the rather eccentric
man and the clever musician; and it includes
numerous anecdotes Of an entertaining nature
The old pianist remembers, as he looks back to
his youth that his sensitiveness to musical i'm
pressions began when he was three years old
Playing under the windows OF the room inswhich
his father the Bohemian musician. was giving
lessons the little boy began to feel a tormenting
desire TO reproduce the melodies he had heard
How TO do 50 when Papa Leschetizky regularly
locked up the piano. that It might not be
pounded on by little hngers7 The instrument
was an old fashioned upright clavecin." says
his SON 'and I discovered that by drawing the
green silk curtains that protected the lower
mechanism I could work the hammers from
below and make the strings respond Seated on
the floor under the keyboard, thus made my
debut and earned my first applause fo- my
mothers heart was filed with Joy at recognizing
the airs that her little 'Dorcio' soon learned to
pick out in this novel fashion" The reluctant
father was persuaded to begin his eager boys
musical education. and after a period Of severe
discipline he made his debut at the age Of nine.
He had a little later some lessons from Czerny.
the pupil Of Beethoven; and he recalls a reward
bestowed upon him by his master for an uncom-
monty good performance Of a Beethoven sonata.
For long time had had something my
mind which worried me considerably. and 1
was determined to clear up the matter. The
story / had heard had often been the theme Of
sarcastic comment from my companions. de-
lighted TO attack me in my most vulnerable
point by casting aspersions on the master
venerated. To me IL seemed incredible. So.
after a moments hesitation, I went on boldly:
Il beg Of you one favor, only this-tel me the
truth. Is * a fact that your master-Bee-
thOven-ever boxed your ears2" 1t was Czerny's
turn 10 hesitate. He stood a moment gazing at
me silently, the look Of surprise merging into
one Of embarrassment. Then, smiling sud
denly, he answered: 1t is true and IL is not.
This is what happened 1 was playing Bee
thoven sonata The master ordered me TO make
a cadence, which endeavored to do. My az
tempt was evidently inadequate. tried again,
with no better success: this time X was too
short Finally 1 let my fingers run in three
octaves OF brilliant passage work At that mo-
ment I felt a violent shock. Beethoven had
eripped my shoulder with all HIS strength and
was screaming, That's too muchr For weeks
] suffered severe pain IN the spot where the
iron hand had borne down upon me-" This in
terview comforted me, and went away,
much relieved in my mind.
At fourteen Leschetizky was supporting him
being older than himself. and from that time on
his career was one OF success. A witty youth,
he won a popularity outside Of his professional
career both IN Vienna and St Petersburg He
tells with gusto many stories Of his experiences
in both places. In the Russian capital he had
among his pupils a little girl who was accus-
toned to show her liking for her teacher by
giving him fruit and sweetmeats after the les
son One day on leaving the baroness's house
he tried 10 get rid OF enormous orange thus
bestowed. and went along abstractedly peeling
/ It. Turning to salute the mother and daughter
on the balcony. he stood for moment with his
hat in hand. the orange peel in the other;
and he reused from his abstraction TO find that
he had thrown his hat into the Neva and care
! fully placed the orange peel his head" So
/ great was HIS absence Of mind that on his first
visit TO B0low Cwho was not at homo he actu-
! ally forgot his own name. until he had reached
/ the foot OF the staircase on his way out when
he shouted "LeschetizkyF' The servant who
afterward described TO Buiow the caller OF wild
appearance and dishevelled hair began her ac-
count with AN idiot named Leschetizky called
| to-day"
| There is no absence Of mind perceptible in
Countess Potocka's description of her brother
in-law's methods as a teacher:
When he conceives an aversion he will do or
say anything TO justify II. Certain personaii-
ties AFFECT him pleasantly others unpleasantly,
and I'm the latter case master and pupil are
both v1otimx. On the other hand. his methods
find their justification In the necessity, or at
least expeoiency, OF trying the pupils metal;
/ FOR as he has said. IF they cannot bear with
/ me, how win they face the world7" Any in
/ visible eavesdropper is forced 20 smothered
Laughter at Herr Professors sallies often OF
too personal and singing nature to amuse
the victim but always TO the point and full of
Wit And II is interesting TO follow the apt
comparisons. the plastic explanations and the
exciting little drama enacted In the studio
the lightning flashes. the often hasty retreat of
me unfortunate pupil the laundering rage OF
the old man, SO quickly smoofhed, and so
prompt TO regret his harshness which he often
expiates by a sleepless night Of remorse.