The Glenwood post., 1918-07-20
NEW COMPOSITION
BY ALICE kILLIAN.

Il see that Mr.. Birdsong's new piece
Is being featured in the music stores,"
observed Mrs. Birdsongs caller. II
envy you the privilege of enjoying his
compositions so long before they reach
the clamoring public"
"Oh, my dear" exclaimed the wife
of Mr.. Birdsong. "please don't speak Of
those direful days preceding the ap-
pearance of a new one-or I'll burst !"
Surely, there's nothing unpleasant
about It," the caller apologized. "I Of
ten picture you sitting beneath the
piano lamp playing the new airs ten
derly, while Mr.. Birdsong leans back
In the shadowy big chair listening to
your Interpretation of the harmonies
that originated in his own SOUL"
"That sounds awfully nice and po-
etic and 1t would look good in a pic
ture Frame" said Mrs. Birdsong, $50
l hate to disillusion you. But you
might as well know that those har-
monies you speak of are born into the
world through painful esthetic tra-
vail"
"Tm surprised! His compositions
sound so exquisitely effortless. I sup
posed he dashed them off on Pull
man or anywhere-just like thatl"
my goodness! gasped Mrs. Bird
song. "You force me to tell the horrid
details. First, Mr.. Birdsong comes
home from trip. drops his grip,
kisses me briskly, snatches off his
coat and rushes to the plano. Listen
he says, how do you like this7 just
made 1t up last night
Il rave over 1t at first because like
the melody and at the end of the sew
enth day I rave because he won't stop
playing it.
"He pounds it out the instant he
jumps from the bed in the morning
and the last thing at night-about I a.
m.-he is playing it with the soft ped
al. He dIsregards meals. His soup
cools before he gets to it and he never
waits for dessert.
Sometimes he forgets and takes his
napkin along to the piano when he
thinks Of new strain to insert. And
he drags me along. too. whether I've
finished eating or not. You see, he
plays by ear strictly, while I studied
music. So he depends upon me to
write the notes on the manuscript pa
per for him.
'I'll think It's all done and ready to
send to the publisher, when he yells
frantically: Two minors should fol-
low each other. Change 1t here. Now
I'll play 1t. How do you like thatT
"Then he asks me to play It 80 that
he can get the effect. I do. Then he
blurts out: You can play the right
hand that way, exactly as want 1t,
but not the left. Can't you fake
bass7 want that r sharp played
With A. Is that the way you have
written it3 Get away a minutel I'll
get the doggone thngI See, now. isn't
that pretty harmony
"About that time he strikes fresh
chord Unexpectedly. What's thisT he
cries. Here, what's this? Play 1t in
the treble while hold this chord, and
play the treble with your left hand. 50
You can write down the chord with
your right hand
when I have done that obediently
he Announces: Now. we've got to
change that top note. Should 1t be G
or AZ After we change 1t he huns:
Ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta.' and decides II
will be too high for the ordinary voice
and tells me to transpose It 80 the
top note will be E.
II procure a clean sheet of manu-
script paper, and do 1t all over again.
Then he has brand new inspiration.
He thrusts his pencil behind his ear
and plays the new idea frantically.
That's the stuff!' he beams. DO you
get that? Doggone It'll There it is
See 1t! Doggone It'll knew I could
pick that up. That's the right change.
isn't it7 Wait a minute. Let's see
how do It,
II wait and listen. Then he says !:
How is the bass to this thing7 Maybe
that bottom note ought to be changed
tell him 1t Is correct according to the
rules of harmony. ...H
"T don't. care about the rules he
flares. My ear tells me how 1t ought
to go. Dad gum It'll 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 found
the place where left of he calls me
back to the plano and asks sweetly: ::
What are these notes here, my dear
I suppose I ought to learn how to read
music.'"
Cant he read musicf" The caller
was amazed. ....e. ...
He doesn't know one note from the
other. When the green and white proof
sheet comes back from the publisher I
have to 60 over 1t with him at least q
hundred times to make sure it's just
the wnv ho wanta TN