Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-10-11
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Wife Doe. The Work


Il see that Mr. Blrdsongs new
piece is being featured in the music
store" observed Mrs. Birdsong's cal
Ter. u envy you the privilege OF EN-
JOY his compositions 50 long before
they reach the clamoring public
oh. my dear, exclaimed the wife
VI Mr.. Blgdsong, please don't speak
OF those direiul days preceding the
appearance OF new one or III
burst"
surely. there's nothing unpleasant
about it," the caller apologlzed. Il
often picture You sitting beneath the
vlano lamp playing the ne" airs ten
derry. While Mr., Brdsons leans back
IN the shadowy big chair listening 10
your Interpretation OF the harmonies
that originated in his own soul"
THAT sounds awfully nice and poet.
IL and 1t would look good in picture
frame said Mrs. Birdsong, so hate
to dislllusion you But YOU might as
Wei know that those harmonies you
speak OF are born into the world thru
painful aesthetic travail.
I'm surprised, His compositions
sound 50 exquiste,y eilortiess, 1 sup
posed he dashed them OF on full-
man or anywhere-just like that"
Ny goodness gasped Mrs. Bird
song. You force ME to tell the nor
rid details. First, Nj. Blrdsong comes
home from uip, drops his grip, ks-
SEES ne byiskly, snatChes off his coat
and PUSHES TO the piano. Listen he
says. how do like this? just made
il up last night
Il rave over il al first because
like the melody and at the end Of the
seventh day rave because he wont
stop playing it.
HE rounds it out the instant he
jumps / ON tie bed in tie morning
and the last nins al nis.l- about
y. m.--he is ltaYnS it ". h the soft
pedal. He disregards meals, HIS soup
coois before he gets it and he never
waits for dessert.
sSometimes he foreets and takes
his napkin along to the piano when
And he drags me along, too, whether
I've finished eating or not. You see,
he plays by ear strictly, while | stu
died music. So he depends upon me
to write the notes on the manuscript
paper tor him.
IN think it's all done and ready
to send to the publisher, when he
yells trantically. Two minors should
follow each other. Change ii here,
Now III play it. How do you like
that
Then he asks ME to play il SO that
he can get the effect. | 40. Then he
blurts out You can play the right
hand that way, exactly as | want it,
but not the lett. Can't YOU take a
bass? | want that + sharp played with
A. Is that the way you have written
II? Get away minute. III get the
doggone thing. See, now. isn't that
pretty harmony"
About that time, he strikes a fresh
chord Unexpectedly. What's this?' he
cries. Here, what's this? Play it in
the treble while | hold this chord, and
play the treble with your left hand, so
you can write down the chord with
your right hand
When have done tina: obediently
he announces: Now, we've got to
change that top note. Should it be
@ or A?' After we change it he huns
'Ta-ta-ta ta-ta-ta, and decides il
will be too high for the ordinary voice
and tells me to transposc ii SO the
top note will be Il.
Il procure clean sheet Of manu-
script paper, and do it all over
again Then he has brand new in
splration He thrusts his pencil be
hind his ear and plays the new idea
frantically. That's the stuff he
beams. DO you get that? Doggone it.
There it is.
Il wait and listen. Then he says:
How is the bass to this thingA Maybe
that bottom note ought to be changed
| tell him it is correct according tc
the rules Of harmony.
L don't care about the rules he
flares. My ear tells me how 1t ought
to go. Dad gum it. take liberties
with the piano that nobody else
does
about that time | slip over to the
table and take up the book | had be
gun reading one quiet night while Mr.
Birdsong was away Before I've lounc
the place where ! left off he calls me
back to the piano and asks sweetly
What are these notes here, my DEAR
suppose ought to learn how TO reaC
music
Cant he read music?' The caller
was amazed.
He doesn't know one note from thu
other When the green and white
proof sheet comes back from the pub
Usher ! have to go over 1t with him a
least IA hundred times to make sure