Chopln's Funeral March.

Taranaki Herald, Volume L, Issue 12280, 12 June 1903, Page 3

Chopln's Funeral March.

A stai cling- istory is told of the onigin of Ohopin's "Marche Funebre/ 7 It appears in the current , nuxnjber oi the Paris World, and is "Told by Ziel,' in whose stiudio the scene took place : — "Late one summer's afternoon Chof^in and I sat talking- in my sfiolio. I spoke of mlusic and he of ptainting. Strange, is it not V Artists are very fond of exchanging views in this v/aj^. In one corner of the room stood a piano, and in another the complete skeleton of a mfan, with a largo white cloth, thrown ghost-iiJce, about it. T noticed that n6w and again Chopin's gaze would wartder, and, from my knowledge of ihe man, I knew t'lmt his thoughts were far away from me and his surrojunUings. More than that, I ,knew that he was com'iyosing. Presently he rose from his seat without a word, walked over to the skeleton, and removed the cloth. H>e then carried it to the piano, ( and, seating hinrself, took the hideous oibject upon his knees. A Rtrange picture of life and death ! Then, drawing the while cloth around himself ami the sikeloton he laid the lattor's finger.s over- his own and began to play. There was no hesitation in tin; slow, measiured flow of sound which he and the .skeleton conjm'cd up, As the music swelled in a louder strain / closed my eyes for there was something weird in tiuvt picture of man and skeleton seated at tihc piano, with the tihadows of evening- deepening aroriml them, anjd the ever-swelling mixl (>\er-.>oftening niusic filling- the air with mystery. Aiii'l I knew I was lislonincj to a composition which would live forever. The music ceased, ajicl. when I looked up, the piano chair was on^pty, and on tihe floor lay Chopin's* unconscious form, and bosiclo Jmn, s-maf^hefl all to pieces, v,;as tic skeleton J prized *to m;uch. The great composer had swooned, but his march was found,"