Music Notes

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 7967, 25 November 1911, Page 18

Music Notes

Persona! Characteristics of Great Composers.

IX tire "Politisch-Anthropologische Revue" Otto Hauser gives a great many interesting particulars concerning the outward appearance* of German musicians, which he founds upon portraits li*oni life painted by contemporaneous artists. . ..

His j udgmeut of Schubert is based upon a sketch by Moritz von Schwind. Schubert’s hair was brown with a reddish tinge, his eyes were gray, his complexion was remarkably delicate and rather pale; the shape of his skull indicates a racial origin from the Alps. Beethoven’s face was perhaps the one most like Schubert’s, but his hair and eyes wero decidedly darker. It is worth noting that Beethoven's eyes were said by some of his contemporaries to lie brown, while by others—and this is perhaps more ‘probable—they wore declared to be blue. No little stress is laid npon the fact that he boro a more sympathetic -expression than that- which generally appears in most of the portraits by which he is judged at the present day. His nose was small and slender, which also does not correspond with the common idea of him. His face was pitted with soars of smallpox, from which he suffered in early life. Carl Maria von Weber had brown hair and blue eyes, a slender and finely cut face; his nose was largo and curved. Robert Schumann had the same colour of hair and eves, but his ncse was less prominent. Richard Wagner was a rather dark blonde, but his eyes were light and bis complexion was fair, while his head was exceptionally large. Franz Liszt was a born Hungarian, but Hauser considered him in the light of a German; his eyes and hair were similar in. colour to Wagner's, but his whole appearance was better proportioned. In contrast to him Johannes Brahms was a very light blonde. In Bruckner the bird-liko typo of face and shrewd, "peasant" expression are the most prominent characteristics. for Richard Strauss, Hauser considers his ‘Alpine derivation, in part at. least, as entirely certain. Bach's features are bo well known that ho finds no need of going into particulars about them. His whole appearance indicates northern descent, especially the gleaming eye. Handel was also blue-eyed and fair, and one of the handsomest men among great composers. Glnck was as Well purely northern in appearance and posterity has an excellent idea of him from the fine portrait in the Vienna Museum. Mozart, whose father wandered from South Germany to Austria, was also northern in appearance. Hadyn, on the contrary, was a thorough Austrian in his looks; Ins hair was red and his eyes wore brown, while he had a high colour.

Origin of Some Popular Songs, It may be interesting to trace the origin of some of the better known ballads, which seem to have been written for all time. '‘Home, Sweet Home," was written by an American poet named Paine, the setting of the familiar - verses being by Sir Henry Bishop. "The Blue Bells of Scotland" was the work of Annie McVicar, afterwards Mrs Grant, the daughter of a Scottish officer in _ the British army. Although often claimed by onr friends beyond the Tweed as of Scottish origin, the music is that of an old English folk-song. "The Wcarin’ o’ the Green" exists in several versions, the best known being that written by JJion Bouoicault, and sung by Shaun the Post, in “Arrahna-Pogue.". “Rule, Britannia" was composed, by. Hr Thomas Arne, and was first heard in a masque written by Thompson and Mallet for the accession of George I. "Scots wha ha’o wi’ Wallace bled,” is said to have been written by Burns on a dark night while the poet was on a journey. The tune is “Hey, Tuttio, Tattie," an old march which is said to have animated Bruce’s men at Bannockburn, - That great and glorious battle was fought on June 25th, 1314; it secured the. independence of Scotland, fixed Bruce on the throne, procured a long period of peace, and rendered the valour of 'tho Scots famous throughout the whole'of Europe. "The Last-Rose of Summer’’ was written by Thomas Moore, to an ancient Irish air, which may be found in collections of Irish music at least two hundred years old. "Kathleen Mavourneen” was written by Mrs Crawford, an Irish lady, whoso songs about a hundred years ago were in great vogue. Tho composer- was William Nioholls Crouch, who died in America a few years ago,in.dire poverty. It is related that he onco'begged his way into a- concert' given by Titicns, that ho might ’ hear his own composition worthily sung. Much, uncertainty exists regarding the origin of "Auld Lang ■Syne." There are several versions of this universal favourite, the best known, commencing "Should auld acquaintance be forgot?” being by Burns, in respect of the second and third stanzas only; Ramsay wrote the remainder. —“Music.”

Beethoven's brother Johann was a very wealthy man, a landed proprietor in fact. Once Johann sent a New Year's card to Ludwig, which read: Johann van Beethoven. Land Proprietor. Ludwig sent his card by return mail with the following inscription: Ludwig van Beethoven, Brain Proprietor. Once John Field, the great Irish pian-ist-composer was annoyed by a lady in Russia, who persisted in asking him useless questions. One question • was too much. She asked: "Are you a fatalist or a Calvanist?" "No, madam," he replied, with true Irish ‘ wit, "only a pianist." Her© is a rather gruesome epigram attributed to Auber. - The French composer was some years the senior of Rossini. 'However he attended the funeral of Rossini, and commented with grim humour: "This is the. last time I shall go to a cemetery as a dilettante. ’ The next time T shall bo a professional," This prophecy proved to be a fact. On© of the best evidences of the antiquity of the organ is the carving on an obelisk in Constantinople, which was erected by Theodosius, in 393. There were eight pipes shown. Those resembled large reeds. Two boys are seo standing on tho bellows. This was probably an error, as there were doubtless two bellows, but the skilL of the sculptor did not permit him to indicate the two bellows. The greatest triumph of a teacher does not consist in transforming his pupil into a likeness of himself, but in showing him the path to become his own individual self. —Elhert. The Pianola Company, Melbourne, sends along ' a couple of new songs. "Since Miss Gibbs Came to Town" tells tho story of a maid who has lost hex beaux through the visit to Australia of tho famous young Mary from Yorkshire. The music is by MV E. Naughton, and the words are from the pen of P. Foster. This song, a-s may be understood, since it is topical, has been sung with success at Australian music halls, among those who hare warbled it being the sisters Marlowe, Miss Ella Airlie, Miss Elsie McGuire, and the sisters Rowell. A lullaby, entitled "Baby, Good-Night," is composed and has been sung by Albert Rees and the words are by Tom Tilly. A pretty song it is, with a nice little "cuckoo" effect.