The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-04-28
Salen Boasts the
Possession of a
Musical Prodigy

Salem, Nest Virginia, BOASTS a
musical prodigy which for actual
sane accomplishment puts to shame
he years Of effort and talent of old
II musicians. This wonderful. little
prodigy is Ruth Kemper of that
thriving West Virginia town. Little
KUN IS now seven years of age and
shows promise of developing into a
nature artist on the violin. She is
perfectly normal child and likes
her play, as any other Juvenile her
lgc. She has been known to a very
few and heard by these few upon her
going each week to Pittsburg for
study with Luigi Won kunitz. who
VIII soon leave FOR permanent resi-
(enCe in Vienna '.... ~.
The life story Of Ruth Kemper
"eads Xix" chapter. from a fairy
oook, 50 full it is Of wcll~nigh unbe-
leVcable things, yet all the things
herein stated are vouched for not
only by her parcuts but by every one
~ Salem. Her mother was seen re-
Gently and tells in vivid language the
entertaining tale Of her daughter's
accom- Dlishments.
when Ruth was three and a half
Years DID," said Mrs. KemDer. "she
was able to play hymn correctly
Upon the piano. She played this
nymn with both hands, not cyactly
as 1T was written, but with her own
harmony. When she was four years
old we gave her piano lessons in Gin
rclnnati---.She-s studied -tcu Wccks, hut
rs the weather was too cold for her
10 go out we suspended her lessons
unCll the following spring. During
the winter she became anxious for q
small Vlolln. having seen one member
Oh the FAMILY play upon this instru-
ment. We thought she was too small
Sor 1T at that time, but she leased SO
mHch FOR 1T that VIC decided to get
her one. We gave her lessons that
March and continued them until May.
when she was actually able to play 4
piece in public in June. This piece
was Sonatina by Hpuptmann. She
llalso played with her piano teacher a
iuot from the opera Norma and a
little piece Of Beethoven's
Just after she began taking piano
lessons I found. she had absolute
pitch. This at the age Of four years.
She was also able to sing vocal music
at sight before she was 5, combining
THIS feat with that Of absolute pitch
She now confined her practice to Is.
or ~ minutes per day. When she
was we made arrangements to take
her TO Cleveland, Ohio, to study with
sol Marcosson, the famous violnist
but illness prevented the carrying
out Of our plans. During that sum
mer, when she was six, we spent a
month or SO at Chautauqlfa, where
she was brought to the attention Of
"1lllam Sherwood Of Chicago. EIe
pronounced her normal child with
wonderful talent She had ten VOL
in lessons under Marcosson and two
weeks study with a teacher in Ten
nessee. While in the South she play
ed in TWO recitals, one in the large
auditorium and one in public music
nan. where she gave compositions >of
Ischaikowski. Kohler and klassert.
Now, during this time she was able
to memorize five pages OF DisabelIi's
Snnatlnas In a week with from IS to
20 minutes daily practice.
lhen last May We took her to
P1ftsburg where she has been with
Mr.. Won Kunitz, who has taken a
wonderful interest in her. He re-
grets that it is impossible for her to
accompany him to Europe, but she is
eco young yet and it would not be
possible for us to go with her The
European work will Of course, come
later and in the meantime we are
thinking Of taking her to Boston the
first Of May. She is a natural child
and loves her recreation. She is also
vCrv healthy" y
Mr.. Won KunitZ said Of Ruth Kem-
NOR: "Although still within the
Foundation work she has shown such
unusual aptitude and special intui.
ton in her work that think it Is
safe to predict her to become a re-
markablc performer. on the violin in
m m f-of ,,l,