Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-21

ally the peer of Wagner and List, as plan
list, conductor, composer. and litterateur,
his talent commanded worldwide recog-
milton.
His wit alone would have made him
famous.
i'm his Oftentimes scathing epigrams, if all
the bright things that he said had been
transferred to paper, they would have
filled Volumes Even as it is. their number
is innumerable, and still to-day, though he
died in 1894, they crop up continually in
the memoirs of musicians. who knew him
more or less intimately.
Although born an arlstOcrat he was
ardently republican in his beliefs and
tendencies, once exclaimng testify, No
politics, no diplomacy. no concessions,
above all no aristOcracy, except that OF
brains and TALENT" And he meant it.
Nothing ruffied him more than what APP
peared to him unnecessary display. In a
recital that he was giving, some one sent
a laurel wreath in the midst of the pro-
gram The moment he caught sight of it
on it's progress up the aisle, he jumped to
his feet, shouting. Take it outl Take it
clear out!" And they very promptly did.
After the recital some friends remon-
strated with him Think of the feelings
of the person who sent it, Think of the
regard of the public?"
II don't need the regard of the public"
he returned curtly. And as for friends,
there is no sense in their sending wreaths.
If they thoughtfully sent me some salt and
pepper with them, l might have them
served as salad as it is, they are useless"
AT another time he heard a young tenor,
without either voice or proper schooling.
but with wonderful assurance Of manner,
attempt to sing in concert.
stTO eip~ lilo fhof - saiJ Won RiiIOw
dryly. lone should be at least attache of
an embassy"
But Won Bulow's antipathy to singers,
no matter what their renown, if they did
not fulfil his ideals, is matter of history.
He it was who said, "a tenor is not man,
he is disease"
Composers came in for their share of his
irony as well, no matter what traditional
reverence they inspired in others. One
night, playing for some friends in private,
the piano stool was too low for COM
Portable command of the keyboard. Turn
ing to Pohl, the critic, he said gaily, Give
me something to sit on! Have you
Haydn's Seasons? No, l am still too
low" he added, when handed the score.
See if you can find Memberships Spring
Song"
Five languages Won Bulow spoke flu
entity, not only commanding great vo-
caDulary, put coming, sometimes, express
sions of his own. An instance of this is in
letter giving his views on the Knabe Pr
amos, of which he was an enthusiastically
ardent admirer. "As l met with frequent
opportunities of establishing comparisons
between Knabe Pianos and instruments
of rivalizing or would-rivalizing produc-
ers. dare now add that l declare them
the absolutely best in America"
In would-rivalizing he meant to convey
his opinion of the futility of all other eff
forts compared with the achievements
that went to make his favorite piano,
clinching his assertion with the concise
expression of one thoroughly versed in
English, not putting it as absolutely the
best, but. 1.-The absolutely best in Amer
lea" thus making his use of the word " alb
solutely" yet more sweeping
Pianists came in for their separate share
of his truth-speakng; even Anton Rubin
stein, his good friend, did not escape Il
WISH" he said meditatively. after con-
cert in which Rubinstein struck more than
the usual number of false notes for which
he was noted, - l wish that could accept
all my false notes as amiably as he does
But he added hastily, lit is much more
interesting to hear what he plays falsely
than what thousands play correctly"
At ono time IN his Inor no bod fbiS