A VIOLIN ROMANCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3250, 28 June 1916, Page 63

A VIOLIN ROMANCE.

ERNST'S STRADIVARIUS

Three wealthy musical enthusiasts were once discussing the merits of Madamo Norman-Neruda. when one of thera chanced to remark that it was a pity that she had not a violin worthy of her powers. "Ernst's violin is for sale," said another. " Suppose we were to buy it for her?"

'" Agreed !" was the swift response, and the famous Stradivarius with "which Ernst had moved so many hearts was bought for £7OO, and presented to this greatest of all women players, one of the generous donors being the Prince who afterwards became that most popular and tactful of monarchs, Edward VII. A romantic incident enough in itself, and bringing a lifelong thrill of joy to the lucky artiste: but there was a deeper romance hanging round that wonderful violin.

—Go ! Make a Name !

When Ernst was quite a young man, and playing upon a much poorer violin than that with which Ncruda had been presented, he fell in love with a young girl, beautiful, pure, and devoted to him, and would have married her: but her father sternly intervened.

"I like you," he said unkindly. "You arc worthy, and you play the violin divinely; but you are a nobody. Go away, * travel into other countries, as Paganini. did; make a name; then come oack here and you shall have my daughter." There were tears and protests, of course'; but Ernst had to obey, because marriage in that country without a father's consent was impossible. He went away, and travelled to all the great cities of Europe, and proved himself in some respects superior even to Paganini. He .secured that wonderful Cremona violin, and with it thrilled the world with his impassioned playing. In his hands it was a mere instrument; it seemed a human soul, pouring forth a strange tale of woe and hope, and eternal joy. " The world rose at him; and with their wild plaudits ringing in hi 3 ears, and his Stradivarius in the coach besido him, he after pome years presented himself before the father of hi* fair Madchen.

Something in the expression of the father's eves chilled his heart.

"Come here," said the father; and Ernst, unable to utter a word, followed him to a room above, where lay a coffin. covered with white flowers. "She is dead, but she loved you to the end," breathed the broken-hearted father. ,: I wish I had not sent you away."

A. Famous Elegie.

The two men clasped hands and parted, and Ernst composed on his violin that tender and pathetic Klegie which will tell his sad romance as long as violin players and the world exist. It is a song without words, in the minor key, which begins like a whisper cut of the land of dreams, with an accompaniment which marches along grim and inexorable as fate; then it merges into the brighter major key, and becomes an impassioned duet; and finally

leaves the soprano singing alone, gliding upward an<l upwards till it dies away on waiting of a pure soul up into heaven. Of the violin on which thN romance was composed Haweis wrote: "Here. too. was formed that wondrous violin which, in the hands of Ernst, and never since, drew tears and laughter from enchanted imilti tndos, until it was difficult to believe that the °nirits of the dead were not employing it-" pathetic vibrations to convey to mortals the expression of their infinite longings and ineffable aspirations. . . . Great, deep-souled, weird magician of the Cremona! T e"ii see thy pale, gaunt face oven now ! Thv Giemona should have been buried with thee. I see it every season in the concert-romi : Madame Norman-Xcriida plays it. i know she is an admirable artist. 1 do not hear thy Cremona; its voice has cone nnt with thee; its soul has passed ! i'.b thine."— From Chambers's Journal lor May. By William C. Honevman, r.utror of "The Violin and How to Master it."