The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1911-11-18


great comet. On the nights of October
21st and 22nd it seemed to the super
stitious peasants to hover bright and
portentous over the dwelling of Adam
List in the lonely little town of Raid
ing in Hungary On that night Franz
List was born.
His father, the eldest son of twenty
six children following in footsteps of
the grandfather, had been employed
as an official in the house of Count
Esterhazy In that great musical fam
lily Adam List had frequent opppor-
tunities of meeting distinguished
musicians. He taught himself to play
on many instruments, and was fire.
/ quently called upon to play as sub
stitute in the famous band. Later,
Haydn took a great interest in him
and all his leisure time was devoted
to music.
/ Franz's mother was of German
origin,-a beautiful woman, gentle and
gracious, and devoted to Franz, her
only child. OF her List wrote, with
honor and tender love | thank my
mother for her constant proofs of
goodness and attention. How could
help being a good son with such a
faithful, self-sacrifcing mother" From
her he received a genuine passion for
religion, and again and again through
out his glittering career the call of the
church came to him, with a yearning
for the seclusion of the monastery. 1t
was only logical step, therefore, that
led him towards the close of his life
to take holy orders and leave this
world in the character of a humble
Franciscan Friar
His musical genius early showed
itself At the age of five or six he
declared his ambition ito learn the
piano" and to grow like Beethoven.
Long before he could reach the pedals
or strike an octave he spent all his
, spare time at the piano, greatly pre-.
ferring this to outdoor play with his
, comrades. He began to compose
even before he could SPELL His pro
| gress was interrupted by strange
sort of fever. He grew so i'll that his
life was despaired of, and indeed the
village carpenter hearing rumors OF
his death began to make his coffin,
List prayed aloud to God to make
him well, and vowed that on his re,
b covery he would only make and play
, such music as would please God and
his parents.
With returning health came a fresh
, impulse to music, bringing grave prob
! lens to the parents who had so little
of the wherewithal necessary for their
| boys education. When eight years
: old he played before Count Esterhazy
in the presence of six noblemen. This
concert decided his future. The ladies
smothered him with caresses, and the
enthusiastic noblemen at once sub
scribed for him an annuity for siS
years for his musical education.
The father gave up his position
= and the little family went out from the
Hungarian village into an unknown
and untried world, trusting to the
genius and word of a little child Of
eight, who declared, 81 will be a mu
stefan and nothing else"
At Vienna the boy fell in with Car
Czerney, who gave him lessons during
I year and a half. Before long HI
was making a sensation in the must
: cal circles of that city.
> At the age of eleven List gave
concert in Vienna, at which Beethoven
was present. This, instead of stag
= gering him, inspired him to excel, anC
when he had finished, amid the storm
of applause which followed, Beethoven
:, stepped upon the platform and kisse,
y. him.
> From Vienna List went to Paris
a where he was DESTROYS of completin,
y his studies in the famous conservatoi
under Cherubini, but this surly die
4 tator put in force a certain bylaw
9 denying the privileges of the institu
tion to foreigners, and excluded Fran
4 List. This was a bitter disappoint
4 ment to the eager young student
v However, letters of introduction iron
s Austrian friends opened to him tn
!. most exclusive residences of Paris, an
4 the Little Lite" as the French calle
q him, became the idol of the salons.
s At twelve years of age he appeare
G in his first public concert in Paris
Upon this occasion the musicians O
d the orchestra were so absorbed /
|. watching him as he played a brillian
O cadenza that they forgot to come /
g at the proper place. This failure q
t theirs was worth a dozen successes t
y List. The French called him tn
e Eighth Wonder of the World"
e The next year Adam List, sendin