HOW GOUNOD BECAME A MUSICIAN.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIII, Issue XIX, 4 November 1899, Page 823

HOW GOUNOD BECAME A MUSICIAN.

Shortly before his death Gounod wrote a brief sketch of the manner in which he became a musician, and this has just been published for the first time by the Petit Bleu, of Paris. It is wholly from Gounod's pen, and, as an autobiographic fragment, will surely prove of much interest to all admirers of the famous composer of “Faust.”

“I was thirteen years old,” he begins, “and was a pupil at the Harcourt School. My mother, a poor widow, was obliged to work hard for her living and had to trudge through snow and sunshine in order to obtain the means for her children’s education. I was continually worried over the thought that she was sacrificing herself for me, and I longed for the day when I could set her free from her unworthy labour. Her views, however. in regard to my future differed from mine. She had destined me for a university career, whereas I ever

heard an enticing voice saying—‘You must be a musician.’

“One day- I told my mother about mv heart’s desire.

“‘Are you in earnest?’ she asked. “‘Yes; in dead earnest.* “‘Ami you will not go to the unii ersity ?* “‘Where will you go. then?' “‘To the Conservatory.* EARLY AMBITION. “It was now her turn to say ‘Never.' It seemed fated then that "1 was to remain at the Harcourt School until 1 had finished my studies, and that, if misfortunes still dogged my footsteps at that time, I would have to become a soldier. I could not loos to my mother for any help. She would rather that I should do anything else than become a vagabond musician. “‘My dear mother,’ I finally said to her. ‘I will stay at school.’ since you wish it. but one thing I am determined on, and that is that I will never become a soldier.' “‘Do you mean that you will not obey the law. which calls for military service?’ ‘“No. hut I mean that the law will be a dead letter so far as I am concerned.’ “‘What do you mean?' ‘“I mean that I will win the “Prix de Rome," which will free me from the necessity of becoming a soldier.’ A FRIEND IN NEED. "My mother then abandoned the idea of trying to make me change my mind. She decided, however, to lay the matter before Father Pierson, my school principal. The jolly old gentleman summoned me and began in a fatherly- tone of voice:—‘So, my little fellow, we are going to spend our life among musicians?’

“ ‘Yes, Mr Pierson.' ‘“But music! Is that a profes sion?’

“ ‘What about Mozart, Meyerbeer. Weber. Rossini? Didn't they have a profession?’

"The good principal was somewhat taken aback and replied hastily: •Oh. Mozart—that's a different matter altogether. He gave proof of genius when he was only your age. But you! What can you do? Let us see." With these words he scribbled on a sheet of paper Joseph's ballad, beginning. ‘When my childhood was passed.’ Then he handed me the sheet. ‘Come, let me have some music for these words.' I ran <>IT and two hours later I came back to him with my first musical composition. “ ‘Good gracious!' said the old gentleman. ‘You’re a terrible fellow. Go ahead and sing your little song now.’

“‘Sing? Without a piano?' “ ‘What do you want a piano for?' “‘To play an accompaniment. It is impossible in any other way to set forth the true harmony- of a work.' “ ‘Oh. nonsense! I don’t care a fig for your harmony. What I want to know is whether you have any ideas, any true musical temperament. Go ahead now.’ HIS FIRST SUCCESS. "1 began to sing. When 1 had finished, 1 glanced timorously at my stern critic. Tears stood in his eyes, tears were rolling down his cheeks. 1 saw that he was strangely moved, and 1 was not surprised to find myself the next moment in his arms. “‘lt is beautiful, beautiful, my boy,’ he said. ‘We will make something out of you. You shall become a musician, for the real fire is in you.’ “In this way I gained a champion. Finally, my mother took me to Reiche, my first music teacher. She was still troubled about me and she whispered into Reiche’s ear: ‘Don't let him have an easy time. Let him see the dark side of the musical profession. 1 will bless you if you send him back to me a music hater.’ "Reiche. however, could not please her in this way. After a year he was obliged to say to her in reply to her inquiries:—‘Madame, yon had better content yourself. Your boy has talent. He knows what he wants and nothing can discourage him. He knows already as much as I do. and there is only one thing which he does not know, namely, that he knows something.’ “I knew this also. however, for every one who is not an ass possesses self-eonseiousness. Three years later I won the ‘Prix de Rome.' and I had accomplished my heart's desire."