Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-24
NJ u S &c
BY HELEN FETTER.

! choose a given medium to expires:
ourselves muSically. But - By
whatever route we came to the de-
cision, most Of us have adhered
throughout our lives to selected
mode of musical expression, and
this because we believe in, this
particular form of artistic mani
Hesitation. . "a. :,
IF this is so, why not openly de-
clare and explain the manifold
reasons which have induced us to
! give preference to one form oi
Self-eXpreSSion rather than to an
other? Let our hearts dictate and
tell in OvertoneS, yet 'tonically,
what we think Of our chosen mode
! of musical expression, and why VIC
decided to make it. our LIES work
Let us SubStantiate the musical
and artistic characteristics and
advantages of our chosen gospel
because only by comparing differ
ent points Of view and bringing
them into juXtapoSition shall we
be able to get thorough insight
into the musical and artistic
depth of things that move and
rule the subtle and emotional
world" =
Prof. Leopold Auer, than whom
there probably is no greater liv-
ing authority on the violin and
music for that instrument, re-
spends to this letter of Mr.. Hof-
mann's Immediately in this issue.
He says, in part, in an article
which also includes a rather gen.
erouS and very entertaining sketch
of his, life and career:
II herewith state my opinions
and preferences concerning must
cal matters in general; also wish
to tell what my musical gospel was
and why chose the violin as my
artistic medium for self expires
sion. Having cheerfully consented
to cast light upon these questions,
hasten to declare, as an intro
ductory remark, that I did not be-
gin the study of my instrument
the violin-by choice.
MY father "a poor but am
bilious man, by trade a house
painter-took me one day to a vio-
linist who was a member of the
Catholic Church Orchestra in my
native town, requesting him to
ascertain whether or not / had
talent for music. This my father
did without consulting me at all.
The violiniSt looked me over and
presently placed a very small vio-
lin and bow in my hands. The
incident marked the beginning of
my studies.
"There are children who, in
their early years, 'betray pro-
nounced interest, sometimes even
love, for some particular instru-
ment, devoting all their spare time
to its cultivation without parental
urge or compulSion. I, personally,
have no recollection of having ex-
perienced a similar desire or craze
in my childhood. It seems to me,
however, that the lessons I took
produced favorable results. About
four years after started my
studies was sent to the National
C observatory of Budapest.
through the financial aid of
friends of the family, and later on
for further studies at the Vienna
Conservatory. It was. in the year
of 1853 and at the age of IS that
1 had to leave this latter inStitu-
ton because of lack of funds for
my support: Woefully unprepareG
for concert work and muSically
quite, immature, my father took
me on a concert tour in the expec-
tation of making a fortune out of
the venture. His high hopes were
doomed to failure.
an those days I had often the
opportunity of listening to the
playing of great masters, and real
lied more and more my musical
deficiencies. Therefore my trip to
the city Of Hanover, Germany,
was a very fortunate event in my
life. There, at the age of 16, I met
Joachim, became his pupil, and
for the first time during my short
existence I had the privilege OF
hearing the masterpieces of
chamber music, as well as those of
the violin solo literature, played by
Joachim as only Joachim could
play them. To me it was a
veritable revelation. My love
and enthusiasm for the true and
sublime in musical art dates from
these happy days. Through grad
ual artistic growth and conviction
I attained the rank of a real must
clan. The violin became my
spokesman"
Such stories provide food for
thought regarding the thorough
ness and length Of training requi-
site for students. Also they en-
phaSize the necessity for true in
Spiration such as the performance
of fine music by great artists gives
the young and eager student, even
when that student has a large
natural talent as it developed Leo
pold Auer possessed.