New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-11-27
ECCENTRIC MUSICIANS.
Queer Habits of Certain Men Who
attained Fame.

ATTAINED Fame.
Perhaps the most eccentric man who ever lived
was the great composer Beethoven He was
certainly the eccentric musician says ].
F. Rowbotham In The Strand Magazine"
"One OF his eccentricties so out for
walks usually In the pouring rain.
After playing the piano for hours at a stretch !
his favorite diversion OF afternoon-his hands |
often became hot. He delighted to cool them by
the simple expedient OF taking his water jug and
pouring cold water them till the basin was
full. This would have been well enough had he not
sometimes forgotten that the basin was a highly |
necessary item in this pastime When intoxicated |
with musical inspiration he often seized the water
jug and walked about the room. pouring the fluid
frst on one hand, then the other ignoring the
fact or existence OF a basin altogether
Wagner was also full OF eccentricities One OF
his most extraordinary was to have his grave con-
structed during his lifetime in the back garden OF
his house. at convenient distance OF and suff-
GENTLY concealed that If he were in the mood
he might go and have look at it.
For pure eccentricty Haydn. perhaps. stands
next to Beethoven in the history of musicians In
order to compose his hearts satisfaction Haydn
found it necessary to be up with the lark. the
assumption that while the birds singing
musical ideas most freely 10 his mind. He
first satisfied himself that every article In the
study. every knickknack. was in its proper place
and in perfect order, and then he sat down to
write. But the extraordinary thing we have
for the purpose of prosecuting his studies ne in
variably donned full court dress with bobwig
sword. hat and rufies. In other attire could he
pen line-so he averred- He must. moreover
have his finger a particular ring which he great
ly prized-otherwise. such was his idgety nature.
not musical idea would come into his head.
"Meyerbeer cOurted inspiration by a different
method The fresh morning air the songs OF birds
nothing to his saturnine spirit. But the
rumblng of thunder. the flashing OF lightning the
MA ~ raj Id N
inspire him with rush of musical thoughts For the
purpose OF enjoying this peculiar accompaniment
and of inspiration to the full Meyerbeer had
a chamber constructed for himself the top OF his
house. where he could expose himself without re-
straint to the fury Of the elements with nothing
but glass partition to shield him from the
weather.
THE italian composer Donizetti courted inspira-
ton by another means quite eccentric but in
fnitely more Injurious. He accustomed to
immune himself in a room with a quantity Of
music paper pen and Ink and three four coffee
pots full of coffee. He began imbibing when
he began to write. and continued till the supply
exhausted. Then he ordered in more and
when that finished another supply. The
amount Of coffee which he drank was fabulous
yet he deemed it entirely necessary for his IN
spration. As the result OF such extraordinary
habit the handsome man contracted the yell
low colored complexion which are apt 10 asso-
ciate with Chinese or Hindoo. his lips gen
orally jet black, his nervous system broke down.
and this brought in its train the premature decay
OF his faculties.
The eccentricity OF Rossni was OF a very dit-
ferent type to this He wrote great deal OF
music in bedperhaps most of II. IT his habit
to have a roll of music paper and pencil always
lying table by his bedside at night. that IN
the morning. without disturbing himself IN the
least. and while still comfortably tucked up in the
bedclothes. he might, undertake the composition OF
an opera.
zone day after writing a beautiful duet In this
manner. and almost completing it, the sheet of
music unfortunately rolled of the bed and contin-
ued its dance to some distance on the floor. quite
beyond the composers reach. What to be
done? To get up and fetch it would totally disar-
range the bedclothes and spoil his comfort for the
rest OF the morning. He resolved, therefore rather
than disturb himself. TO write a duet altogeth-
er; and having forgotten exactly how the first
went. he invented entirely melody for the
second. In this way the opera OF I'll Turco in
Italia has two duets for situation. and the
singers always choose the they like best.
THE eccentrcities of List sprang from Iazi-
ness bad habits. but from pure caprice vanity.
He one OF the vainest men alive. and the slave
OF thousand caprices He would only play the
piano when he was in the mood. and IL pressed TO
do so against his will he often became grossly
insulting to his entertainers. even to his
manager
"Once, at Rome he had been invited to a large
dinner party at the house OF an American woman
who prided herself on her musical taste and en-
thusiasul. After dinner. when several amateur per
formers had exhibited their skill. List very
politely requested TO play moroccan. But. not be-
ing in the humOr. he refused. The hostess pressed
The composer became Obstinate-then rude. At last
he strobe TO the plano, and. dashing off brilliant
cascade OF notes, hurried out OF the with the
remark There madam. I have paid for my din
ner.'
The eccentricities OF Schumann were nurnberless
and they were aided. moreover by a very peculiar
temperament and an unfortunate addiction the
bottle. 10 which in later life he gave way.
I'm order 10 increase the power OF his fingers for
panoforte playing he made a series OF the strangest
experiments with his digits. One OF these TO
fasten long piece OF string TO a beam in the
roof. at the lower end OF which ring which
his middle finger went through The object OF the
string and the ring either 20 raise undue
heights TO strengthen the Arser. we know not
which However. by a persistent application of
this engine. the unfortunate composer contrived 10
MAIN his finger hopelessly and unfit himself for
for concert playing-the very opposite result
TO that which he intended
IDIoeVNcRASIES OE COOKS