Omaha daily bee., 1906-05-27

60 Igeous spirit was his. His real
. -,.... ..owever, was toward music; he
dearly loved II, and the violin was his
chosen instrument. His father, meaning
to be kind, destined his son for sue
cessful business career, wherein a little
money would accrue. Therefore the be-
loved violin was put upon the shelf and
after much begging the flute, a less dan
gerous instrument, was put in its place
as a passer of time and comforter of soul.
Lanier made a pathetic struggle to be-
come a lawyer as his family wished, but
when he was 81 his genius finally assumed
absolute sway. Taking his flute and his
pen for sword and staff," he betook him
self north to Baltimore. He became first
flute in the Peabody Symphony concerts
and also lecturer in the Johns Hopkins
university. With everything before him
and the consciousness that the great
spark was within him, what a pathetic
tragedy that his body should give out.
When he was q his lungs became very
weak, and from THAI time on he was en-
gagged in constant warfare with con-
sumption. His frequent recuperation trips
the struggling way in which he ao-
complished his work, and the sweet sunny,
undaunted spirit. remind one of Stevenson
had loving. keenly appreciative COM
panion. who helped him in every possible
way, and to whom he conhded his Utmost
dreams. She cared for and encouraged
him to the end. He died in 1881. Just Al
years old.
Have you read the hymn TO "Sunrise?"
I reread 1t yesterday with the same thrill
up my back bone. To think It was PEN
ciled when Lanier was too feeble to raise
food TO his mouth, and with a fever tenn
perature of 104 degrees. 1t was his last
and greatest effort.
Most people know Laniers poems, but
few are now aware OF his intensely must
cal side. He was genius in two fields
Asger Hamerik, his director for six years
In the Peabody Symphony orchestra,
gives this description of bis musical per-
sonality;
TO him, as child in the cradle, music
was given, the heavenly gift to feel and
10 express himself in tones His human
nature was like an enchanted instrument,
a. magic hi, mute. or the lyre OF Apollo. need
beauty out into the world. II was Indeed
irersistable that he should turn with those
poeuc Feelings which transcend Language
20 the penetrating gentleness OF the fiute
or the INFINITE passion OF the violin for
there .sHo was an agreement q spiritual cor:
theirs. 80 that they mutually absorbed and
expressed each other In his hands the
nute no longer remained a mere material
instrument, but was transformed into 4
voice that set heavenly harmonies into
vibration. Its tones developed color
warmth and a low sweetness OF unspeak,
pure. but poetic-anegorie, as Il were
suggestive OF the depths and heights OF
| being and Of the delights which the earthly
| ear never hears and the earthly eye never
| sees, No doubt his arm faith In these
| lofty localities gave him the power Il
present them to our lamentations, and
| thus by the aid OF the higher language OF
| music to inspire others with that sense OF
beauty in which he constantly dwelt
| his conception OF music was not reached
/ by an analytic study OF note for note buI
| was intuiGve~ and spontaneous; like Z
| woman's reason, he felt IL so. because N
| felt II so, and his delicate perception re.
| ouired ne more logical form OF reasoning
His playing appealed alike 10 the music,
| ally learned and 70 the unlearned, for h,
| would magnetic the listener; but the artis
| felt In his performance the superiority OF
| the momentary living inspiration TO ali ths
| rules and shifts OF mere technical scholar
snip. his art was not only the art Of art
| i Will never forget the impression hs
made on me when he played the flute con.
/ certo OF Emil Hartman at a Peabody sym
/ phony concert In 1873; his tall handsome
| manly presence. his flute breathing nobi,
sorrows, noble joys, the orchestra softly
| responding. The audience was spell-bound
Such distinction, such refinement n,
stood. the master, the genius,
Lanier wrote one novel when he was Is
| In Il he says some very potent things: