The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-01-20

Mrs. William CUssen perhaps more
than any musician I know. gives the
impression of vitality and natural
ness"
Usually a genius is marked by &C.
centricites and oddities that are only
permitted because of the fatal word,
| genius"
| Mrs. Gussen is normal and natural
to degree that Ia charming and her
wholesomeno is shown and her clev-
erness made manifest in many more
ways than fE her excellent musician
ship, which has rarely been equalled in
Birmingham and indeed l may say,
throughout the south.
| Mrs Gussen with her talented hus-
band, Mr.. Willialh Gussen, has long
since established her right to the posi-
! ton they hold in musical circles and
word from her concerning anything
that pertains to music is at once force
ful, reliable. intelligent and conscien-
tious like her work.
Knowing that for two years Mrs.
| Gussen had been a pupil of Herr Xaver
Scharwenka. and that this eminent ar
tjstss personality is a matter of inter-
est to the large number of people who
will attend his concert here this even
| ing under the auspices of the Music
Study club. it occurred to me that 1t
would be diverting and quite enter
tanning to chat with Mrs. Gussen about
this famous man.
| found her not only enthusiastic
when approached on the subject. but
characteristically clever in the little
many episodes that she related of her
experiences while in Berlin during her
acquaintance with Herr Scharwenka.
"The scharwenka influence in Bir-
mingham," said Mrs. Gussen, "is very
strong, naturally, since he has had
| two pupils who have made their mu-
| steal Affiliations with Birmingham
within the last few years, First Mr.
BENJAMIN Guck enberger, who was one
of Birmingham's musical pioneers, was
Scharwenka pupil, and l followed in
his steps, naturally wishing when
went abroad to study with my teach
| er's teacher"
rs there any particular character
istic that distinguishes Herr Scharwen-
| ka from lne lldJOiAlyl VI Sitot AHNSiN-
ians?n | asked.
| Particularly appealing is his very
| great kindness" was the reply 81
know of no more charming man, So
| cially than Herr Scharwenka. besides
his great gifts as pianist-composer
| His Sunday musicales, for instance
when his lovely wife, Frau Scharwenka
| is present are notable occasions in
Berlin. There he gathers about him
to meet his best pupils, the greatest
artists of the day. 1t was there that
| met Richard strauss and Mumpes-
dinck Frau Scharwenka is mos,
fluent linguist She is Finnish and II
is well known fact that the Films
have a wonderful talent for language
For instance, Herr. Scharwenka's pupils
are from all quarters of the globe
| speaking as many different languages
| Frau Scharwenka can always con-
verse charmingly with them. even to
| a little Japanese girl, whom l recall
none of us could talk WITH
| Herr Scharwenka's friendship with
| List, Carmen sylvia and many other
great people continued Mrs. Gussen
| 'is charmingly recorded in Amy Fay's
Music Study in Germany.' Also Miss
Traumerie A Weimer ldyl,' by Albert
| Morris Bagby. gives interesting incl
dents of his life. Both Amy Fay and
Miss Traumere. $50 named by Liszt
We're pupils of Scharwenka, as well as
Liszt's. Another book entitled Anton
Notenquetseher, by Alexander Mosz-
! kowski and illustrated by Philip Schar-
wonka brother of Navers, with whom
| by the way, / studied composition is
an attractive volume of satirica1 poems
| containing personal applications tc
many young composers and musicians
| And as a composer, Herr Scharwenka
ranks very high. as we'll MS pianist,
| doesn't hep | asked.
HE is one of the few great living pian-
| lists who have contributed valuable addi-
| tions TO musical literature" said Mrs.
Gussen. His opera, .Mataswintha, has
| been successfully performed in Berlin,
Wemer and New York, while his Nj minor
symphony and numerous chamber music
compositions, and Leder, have found
| wide recognition, but it is as n composer
| for the piano that Herr Scharwenka most
| interests u.s..
| Il don't suppose there is music pupil
| in the world who hasn't tried TO play his
| famous Polish Dance | ventured.
| More than 100000 copies of this fam
Gus composition have been sold,' said
Mrs Gussen proudly. and 1t las carried
the name of Scharwenka to every quarter
of the globe where music is loved. An odd
thing occurred in connection with it and
| it's great popularity. Herr Scharwenka
composed the Polish Dance when he was
only II wears old Twotyears later when