Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-17
Days of
Famous People
Giuseppe Verdi, Whose Mu.
steal Genius Asserted IL.
self in Boyhood.
BY NJ. III. TILLTTT.

1919 q Tiny INFANT nestled
against the fear-fluttered heart
OF a humble mother Of Roncole.
Italy. who had fled with her child 70
the village church IN quest Of sane
tuary from a band OF raiding Cos
sacks.
That infant was Giuseppe Fortu.
nlno Francesca Verdi. and the inci.
dent IS significant. For IL shows the
tragically dramatic background
against which his early life was cast
and under the Influence OF which he
was later TO weave operas rich
In and pulsing with the
play OF wild emotions. fierce pas
! sions. fiery love and bitter struggle.
Born at Roncole, in the Duchy OF
Parma. on October 3. 1913. Verdi's
early years were spent In this midst
or swift-moving and dramatic eventn
that seemed for q while 10 make
against the development or such
genius a. was his. The child OF
lowly parents, he was denied early
advantages that might nave fur
thered his development in music.
But his gift would not down. II was
great enough 10 overcome handicaps.
"AtAA A0 was OAAAg N0A gCaA5 O44
he was appointed organist or the
church-in which his mother had
found sanctuary for him as an In.
tant-and his work oon attracted
, widespread attention.
But this served the young genius
only as a mean 10 development. He
supplemented the musical gift that
thus expanded IN expression with
study and hard work. Helping him
self by his wi efforts and aided by
admirers In Roncole. he pursued mu-
steal studies at the nearby town Of
Busseto.
II was hard work FOR the little lad
this preparation for great achieve
ment. Strenuous toll at home. in
tensive study under his teachers.
earnest application 20 his duties as
organist-his daily routine severely
taxed him from the small hours Of
morning untn well into tho night.
In those strenuous days he nearly
lost his life. Once-as the incident
Is narrated-in the gray dawn OF a
Winter morning. he was hurrying TO
his work as organist at an early
service. But the sleep was still in
his eyes and he fell into a canal.
where he would have drowned but
] lux LlfTltiN ItE[uG w a DCaE1IlL WI
man who. happily for the world OF
music. CHANGED TO be passing.
But the little Giuseppe was not
impressed by the mishap. He simply
shook himself and went his SILVER
ing-but zealous-way about the Sc
rious business OF his musical devel-
opment.
How seriously he held that busi.
ness is shown by another incident
that happened at about the same
time. One day. runs the narrative.
he found the major third and fifth
Of the key OF c on a spinet that was
provided for him. and obtained from
them an effect that greatly delighted
him. On the next day he tried 10
find them. but they proved elusive
and he could not locate them on the
keys. To the little musician they
were vital things-and his failure
maddened him. The instrument that
baffled his quest for that which his
musical genius demanded became an
evil thing that invited destruction.
So the little Giuseppe promptly pro-
ceeded 10 smash It into pieces.
Before he was twelve years old.
Giuseppe Verdi's creative power be-
Gan TO show itself. While he was
studying under Ferdinand Provisi. a
Philharmonic director OF distinction.
he played. in the absence OF the reg
ular organist. at a chapel mass one
morning Finding himself at a loss
for score guidance. he improvised
And he did this with such impressive
effect that. following the service. he
was asked by admiring hearers the
name Of the author OF the beautiful
composition to which they had lis.
tened. On learning that II was his
own product. their admiration for his
execution grew into amaZement At
his creative genius.
And 80 did III, chllunood OF Giu-
seppi Verdi civ promise OF the
greatness he was 20 achieve
Ciusep pL sela - tcGs DOTa az Roacole.
Tfary. on October 3. 1913 He died az
Milan on January 81. 1901. hts most
a0telfo.D All Troratore." "Ri0oIetto,"
ia T~rdrfctd" and aldo.