Music in Emergencies

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 30, 2 August 1923, Page 45

Music in Emergencies

Musicians have sometimes been obliged to exercise their talents under very strange circumstances. The great Cherubini had one experience that he could never forget. . It was during the French Revolution. The streets of Paris were filled with a howling, struggling mob of men and women, who called themselves citizens and patriots, but to whom history has applied other names. It was a hazardous thing for any one not of that horrible crowd to be found in public; but Cherubini, having pressing business, rashly ventured forth. Excitement was at its height. The guillotine had just disposed of a good number of victims of the, popular hate, and the i Sanscullottcs were looking for an adequate way to express their impious joy. Finally, one of them espied Cherubini, whose musical genius had delighted kings and queens. Here was the very kind of man they wanted. “Come,” they cried—“come and lead the Carmagnole!” He appeared to hesitate. “Come on, 'citizen they repeated. “If you do not lead our band, we shall think you sympathise with those accursed aristocrats before whom you play.”- “I am in a hurry,” said Cherubini, “and I cannot go with you.” At that a suppressed cry of “The Royalist!” rang through the nondescript ranks; and no one knows how Cherubini might have fared if a friend in the same predicament had not come to his rescue. “Take this (pressing a violin into his hands), and play for these creatures, if you value your life.” Cherubini was at last roused to the seriousness of the situation, and yielded with an appearance of cheerfulness. All day he and his friend marched in advance of the hooting and frenzied mob, who were delirious with delight at having possession of the genius that had previously given pleasure to royalty. At night the two musicians mounted barrels and fiddled away, while the rioters feasted at a noisy banquet in one of the public squares. But they had saved their heads, and were no doubt thankful; for many men and women were giving up their lives at' the command of the Revolutionary tribunal, before which a mere verbal accusation was often sure condemnation. An anecdote of a similar character is related of Garcia, the celebrated vocalist. He happened to bo in Mexico, giving operatic performances, when war broke out. “My goodness,” he said to himself, “I must get out of this country while I can!” And forthwith he packed his trunks. But, although he escaped the soldiers, he fell into the hands of some roving brigands, who took from him his horse, his money, and even his clothes. The leader, who lost no time in searching the pockets, finding a piece of musical manuscript, exclaimed: “This fellow must bo a singer. Come, come, master singer, give us a song!” But Garcia, being led to a conspicuous place that all might hear, found that fright had taken his voice away, at which the highwaymen began to jeer. That angered the famous tenor, and, making a supreme effort, he sanoas probably he never did before or afterward. When he had finished, the leader then clapped him on the back and said: “It would-be cruel to rob such a singing-bird as you are. Take your things again, master singer; and one of my men shall escort you to the frontier. —Arc Maria. " '. "