Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1930-01-17

VBls1s tiny infant nestled
against the fear-fluttered heart
OF a humble mother OF Roncole.
Italy. who had fed with her child 70
the village church in quest OF sane.
tuary from a band OF raiding Cos
sacks.
That infant was Giuseppe Fortu-
nino Francesca Verdi. and the Incl.
dent is significant. For II shows the
tragically dramatic background
against which his early life was cast
and under the influence or which he
was later 10 weave operas rich
in romance and pulsing with the
play or Wild emotions, fierce pas
sions. fiery love and bitter struggle.
Born at Roncole, In the Duchy OF
Parma. on October 9. 1918. Verdi's
early years were spent In the midst
OF swift-moving and dramatic events
that seemed for u while 70 make
against the development OF such
genius as was his. The child OF
lowly parents. he was denied early
advantages that might have fur
thered his development in music.
But his gift would not down. II was
great enough TO overcome handlcaps.
When he was only ten years old
he was appointed organlst OF the
church-in which his mother had
found sanctuary for him as an IN.
sant--and his work soon attracted
widespread attention.
But this served the young genius
only rs a mea TO development. He
supplemented the musical gift that
thus expanded IN expression with
study and hard work. Helping him.
self by his own efforts and aided by
admirers in Eoncole. 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 hts teachers.
earnest application 10 his duties as
organist-h!s daily routine severely
taxed him from the small hours OF
morning untT1 well into the 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 20
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
for timely rescue by a peasant wo-
man who. happily for the world Of
music. CHANGED 10 be passing.
But the little Giuseppe was not
impressed by the mishap. He simply
shook himself and went his shiver-
ing-but zeaious-way about the Sc
rious business OF his musical devel.
opment.
How seriously he held that bust
ness is shown by another incident
that happened az about the same
time. One day. runs the narrative.
he found the major third and fifth
Of the key OF c or 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 or 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 IL into pieces.
Before he was twelve years old.
Giuseppe Verdi's creative power be-
gan to show itself. While he was
studying under Ferdinand Provisl. a
Philharmonic director OF distinction.
he played. IN the absence OF the reg
ular organlst. at a chapel mass one
morning Finding himself az a loss
for score guidance. he improvised
And he did this with such impressive
effect that. following the service. he
was asked by adniring hearers the
name Of the author OF the beautiful
composition TO which they had lis.
tened. On learning hat IL was his
own product. their admiration for his
execution grew into amazement ut
his creative genius.
And so did tn childhood or Gu.
seppi Verdi Civ promi9e Of the
greatness he was 20 achieve.
Giuseppe TcIoa tCCs corn dt Roncole,
Ttdly, on October 8. 1918 Hs died at
Milan on Janucry 81, 1904. HIS most
famoas rorks iHclude tho operas
| "OteIlo," an T~rorGtorc." "Rigoietto,"
LA Trdvidtd" ard aida.