Evening star., 1915-02-14
LassaIIe Spier, Music Student,
Notes Slight Effects of
European War.
DAILY COURSE OF EVENTS
PRACTICALLY THE SAME
Says Theaters and Opera Houses Af'
ford Customary Entertainment.
Proceeds Donated to Relief.

is studying music in the German cap
ital. Several days ago Mr.. Spier re-
ceived a letter from his son telling
of some of the happenings in Berlin
since the outbreak of the war. espe-
cially the musical life of the city, in
which he is most interested.
Lassalle Spier is a graduate of the
Mckinley Manual Training School of
this city. He studied music under
Joseffy in New York several years,
and about two years ago went to Berlin
to complete his studies under Bur-
meister
In the letter he states:
The war has made but little change
in the course of Berlin events. The
daily life is practically the same; the
coffee houses are crowded in the aft
ernoon, as usual; the theaters and
Music, especially, is plentiful, and al
though most of the concerts are given
for charitable purposes, still one hears
the great artists play and sing, and
that satisfies the students require
ments.
Donated to Relief Work.
TO illustrate the many ways in which
the proceeds of concerts are utilized,
Will cite a few examples: Emil Sauer,
for instance, donated the proceeds Of
his recital to furnishing Hindenberg's
army with the necessities of a soldiers
life, such as woolen stockings and
other articles of clothing. cigars, ciga-
rettes. cognac and, perhaps. even
sausage. which is considered by SOL
dlers fighting in the barren wastes of
russia to be the finest of delicacies.
Busoni helped needy artists, of which
there are great number here. art al
ways being the first profession to
suffer in time Of war. Aside from the
great artists who give entire recitals,
there are concerts almost daily, in
which several artists work together
and thus offer a varied program; but,
no matter what concert it may be- the
proceeds are invariably turned over to
people who are in need of assistance,
There are some artists who will not
De able to play at all in Berlin this
season--those that are of Russian,
English or French nationality-be-
a recital here. Some of the prominent
artists thus affected are D'Albert.
Thevinne, Gabrilowitsch. Bauer, Mischa
Elman. fsaye and Martineau. Thevinne,
who lives in Berlin, has TO report
to the police every three days, not be-
cause he is thought to be a dangerous
man, but merely because all Russians
are required to keep the police inform
ed of their whereabouts.
Has Unpleasant Experience.
Il
as well as unpleasant, position shortly
after the war broke out. He is by
plrth a Russian. but having his home
in Vienna, he became a citizen by nat
uralizatfon of Austria hungary When
hostilities commenced he was spend
ing his vacation at Ostend. in Belgium
He was taken prisoner and transported
TO England. but, as England was the
any OF russia, Godowsky can only be
considered the victim of an unlucky
combination of circumstances Since
ne was taken to England l have heard
nothing about him. but l trust that
ne has been set free again.
The most important piano recital that
have heard here this season was that
gwen by Busoni several weeks ago
When he plays in Berlin the house is
always sold out and the people are just
as enthuslaslc about him as Americans
are over Paderewski. 1 have come to
believe that he Is the greatest living
pianist, for not only Is his PLAYING re-
markable, but he is a great conductor and
composer as well. and this is a degree
or versatility that few pjanjsts nos
sess His playing of Bach is a degree
snort or marvellous; i'll Beethoven he is
perhaps not quite SO at home but then.
again, in Chopin and Schumann compo.
sitions his manifold emotional and
formance perfect; in Liszt he is un-
equaled. What more can l say than that
Evidence of Popularity.
"As general rule the concert-goers
OF Berlin hear more music than thew can
asslmllate, but when a great artist like
busonl plays they are just as persistent
In their demand for encores as the most
enthusiastic American audience On this
occasion they applauded until the lights
were turned out and even afterward.
was fortunate to have a seat on the
stage On Berlin seats on the stage are
sold after all the other tickets are gomez
l say fortunate because 1 have always
found that one is enabled to make a
much better mental note of the fine
points in an artists playing when seated
near him.
After Busoni had given what proved
to be his last encore and would come
1orth no more. even in response to fren-
zled shouts down the steps into the
artlsts room. the remaining enthusiasts
reiuctantly dispersed. l. with u few
probably infinitely relieved. was smok-
ing big cigar with the utmost
relish. Having expressed my profound
appreciation of his brilliant performance.
l soon round myself engaged in CONVEX
satlon with some of the other artists
there. Especially delighted was I to
nave chat with Augusta Cottlow-one
Of our best American pianistes-about
oui great american composer, Edward
mcdowell. for she constantly plays his
compositions. and 1 intend doing the
same We had very interesting talk
,osether Thevinne was also there. so
that i felt myself to be in the so much
taiked-about musical atmosphtre. The
pest part about these little meetings is
mat they have an exhilaratine effect for
Gays and make study doubly Interesting.
Discusses Musical Atmosphere
"As to the everyday musical at.
mosphere of Berlin. it is hard to define
but 1t surely exists. l should saw that
its most important qualities are: First
the great distance from home; second.
the foreign language. customs and peo-
pie: third, the great number Of stu
dents: fourth. realization of the Sc
riousness of study. and fifth, the IA
cilities for concentrated work.
Then there is a great difference ba-
| tween the European and American at
mosphere.' Over here art is loved and
the artist respected: In America. the
former tmeaning American art) is nm
appreciated and the latter considered a
crank AS soon as we have a few more
| martyrs like Edward Mcdowell this
condition probably will change.
In the meantime, we American stu.
dents are doing our best to bring hack
| to our country. when we return, as much
Il