The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1909-07-18
IoHN McGHIE. the man behind


man. He is Draw piper turned
fnsouciant viennese; but he looks
no more like a fashion plate son Of
frivolitv than Scotch highban re-
sembles dew from the Danube. Nc
chic does not suggest the poet, for
he wears his hair short, and doesn't
sigh at all; he doesn't look like one
given 10 visions. He is quite too ma
terialIy a presence. He weighs about
zoo pounds. speaks with a wonder
fully delightful accent from Glas-
gov. and he's Scotch TO the backbone
Let me say that he appears TO be OF
that type OF man which is found at
the front whether you go TO South
Africa or 70 Greenland's icy mountains.
lie is a force.
had been told that this was Nc
Chie's first "trip out Of New York for
rusny seasons. and that he conldn
ret away from the eastern town be
cause the merry villagers of many q
ronoic opers needed him to waltz them
into artistic order. In short, that as
victor Herbert's righthand man-his
baton. so to say-McGhie found his time
sunioiently occupied IN directing or
ehestras and whipping musical plays
sn shape for the city that has the orig
final and only Broadway.
After a little conversation the rea-
son was plain 70 me. McGhie is
musician. and few real musicians have
level Scotch heads. There is compen-
kstinx element in nature which pro-
vides the poet or musician with no
executive brains. and the manager with
no poetry. NcGhie has both
He's raving mad over music, and
writes it with favility quite incom-
brehensible. But he has the manner
hf authority and his ancestors. no
6oubt. welded great TWO handed clay
t,,ores as deftIy as he chops off en-
bhatic measures with his baton Music
and common sense, melody and author
tty meet in his nature, and that sort
of man is uncommonIy met even in
New York
That's why he is out of the big city
SO rarely. This is a pleasure jaunt for
IL
= vacation. and it is nearly over, be
cause the musical director of "The
Merry Widow" company is expecting
with every knock on the door to re
eeive telegraphic summons TO come
hack where Henry ". Savage is get
ting another musieai piece ready for
the public.
IRON The Messiah" TO The Merry
widow" is long stretch in art.
isn't il? From the hallelujah chorus
TO the Maxim musical whirl represents
a long road with many turnings and
twistings on Mount Parnassus. The
Messiah was McGhie's first work in
his professional capacity. He was a
lad then, in the stronghold of pure
Presbyterianism. The Merry Widow"
is his last work. but he says he still
loves the classic and formal lowell
ness of Handel and grand opera is
his goal The Merry Widow" appears
10 be but a resting place on the road
10 greater things.
4 had been out for a bicycle ride, ="
said McGhie to me in his music Uttered
room at the St. James the other night
after the performance, land got home
about O'Clock. Oh. that was many
years ago, let US say Il. 1 was a lad
then. What plans for the future my
father had harbored for me 1 do not
know. and it doesn't matter. But I
had no thought of music as a pro-
<ession. But on this night a visitor
from the Choral union was there to
ask me to take the pianist's place. The
unhappy wretch had gone crazy and
fhen had killed himself So I stepped
into a dead mans shoes and played the
piano which he had exchanged. let US
hope. for a harp.
I had been fitting myself for this
snusicsl work without knowing 1t. My
father was grain merchant and pros
porous. His one passion was music.
With him. studied harmony and the
theory of music. Doctor Berry was
sny instructor in instrumental music
she pipe organ. Ny father was Cam
bridge man and justly laid claim to
culture.
For a youngster I became exceed
sngly busy at once. After being per-
snanently engaged as pianist of the
Choral choir in Glasgow. was elected
10 the position Of organist of the larg-
est church in the city-the Keivinside
free church. / was paid handsome
salary. At least. it was so regarded;
sel0o per year.
But I was telling you about play
ing The Messiah the first step on the
road TO The Merry Widow I was 1s
years old at the time. We attended
divine services at a little church near
where we lived. just outside of Glas-
cow I was very proud, though my
legs were too short TO reach the organ.
and yet we gave The Messiah, /
thought, with tremendous effect. Natu-
rally It was a volunteer choir, as well
as volunteer organist. In music.
Scotland is the home of the volunteer.
Very few Of the church singers get
paid Tor their trozble. Fl is considered