KUNKEL'S MUSICAL REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1895. 73 NEED OF STRENGTH. FRANZ ONDRICEK. said, "Here, this is my second Wicniaw:oky!" Ondricek remained in France for the •following There is an organic relation between strength Franz Ondricek was born in Prague, where his two years, while he played in a number of the Pas- and singing, says a writer in the New ). ork .Aclve1·- father was a musician, and while quite young he Ideloup Concerts in Parts, as well as in all the repre­ tiset. 'l'he mere production of song demands but was compelled to assist his father to earn a. living sentative concerts in Bordeaux, Lyons, Marseilles, the exertion; of singing and acting together de- for his family. In his seventh year he was advanc- Brussels. Nizza, and other French cities. Later be mands an expenditure of vital force almost as great, ed sufficiently to play violin concertos, principally played for the London Philharmonic ::iociety, wht>re if not equal to, the hardest physit allabor. There Ithose by De Beriot. In his fourteen til year he was Ihe achieved an enormous succes!', so much so that be are many parts in grand opera, and even light op- admitted to the Conservatory, where he made won- has played with that society almost every season for era, which are simply exhausting to a weak or derful progress. He not only studied music, but the last ten years. sickly man or woman. 'l'h is is a reason why EO was also instructed in literary branches. .Aftt'r three After his London succel:>S Ondricek was beard in many charming vocalists, who are simpiy superb years Ondricek received the first prize for his the leading German ciLies, such as Vienna. Berlin, in parlors or in small social circles, make such mature rendition of the Beethoven Concerto. .At a Dresden, Stuttgart, Frankfort, Leipzig, Hamburg, miserable failures when they go upon the concert subsequent concert he gave in Prague, Wieniawsky and was everywhere received by enthusiastic audi­ platform or the stage. They have not the requisite was present and heard him play the Concerto by ences. In Italy the artist's success was so p1 onounc- strength for the work ed that he has been they undertake. They compelled to make an seldom realize this fact, annual tour in that but draw upon their country the past eight will power or upon years. medicines to tide them Ondricek's repertoire over; and all goes well is enormous, com pris- for a brief while, until ing almost the whole of they break down and the violin literature, in- become wrecks. eluding a number of Nearly all of our compositions never great singers are people played by any other with a fine pbysieal artist. He is equally development, who take great in the rendition excellent care of their of the classic as in the bodies, and leave nnth- morlern brilliant com- ing undone to insure positions. He pI ay s their health and in- Ba.ch,Bt>ethoven,Spohr, crease their physical Mendelssohn, Dvorak, well-being. lf any Bruch, as wPll asErnst, young woman desires Paganini, Vieuxtemps. to join the musical stage Wieniawsky, Bazzini, as a profession. Fhe Lalo, etc .. and he is as should bear in mind often compared to Joa- that a prime necessity chim as to Sarasate. is a good physical con- Ondricek to day belongs dition. It is nnt neE>d- to the world's greatest ful to be an athlete. bnt violinist!'. He is a true she should be able to artist. Grand and no- take long walks and ble tone, positive purity enjoy them; to run, of intonation, warm play. jump an hour at a and i"ypathetic inter- time, without being preta.tion, individuality tired or worn out. I of conception, and might go even further, withal verve and tern- and say that every mu- perament are the sal- sica! aspirant should iPnt qualities of On- take a thorough cour!'lf' driPek's playing. in gymnastics. Even if Ondricek is honorary this is not necessary. it member of the Philbar- will do no harm, and monic Rociety of Lon- will tend to increase the don; of the Roy a l sweetnesl", volume and Academy of Arts in effectivene!'s of the Rome, and a number of singE>r. I am glad to other musical societies, see that in the colleges besides being the pos- this is being made a sessor of the Rou- regula.r feature. In man ian Order of the nearly all. to-day, the Star. the Swedish Gus- girls are trained physi- ta.v Wasa Order. and the cally as well as ment- Bulgarian Order" Pour a.Jly. la Merite." The same rule may be applied with great Rubinstein, when advantage to the mu­ once asked why he never sical training ot women. rai•ed his eyes from the It should be accompa­ keyboard when playing nied by a physical in public, replied that training at the same the habit dated from a time. 'fhis is too often painful experience he overlooked by bright had made when first he and ambitious young played in London. He girls who go to Europe had forgotten his sur­ to finish their musical roundings through con­ eduf'a.tion. You find centration in his work, them in E n g l an d . but of a sudden a desire France. Germanv and for companionship in Italy. 'They work bard; his artistic joy induced they put their whole him to raise his eyes; soul into their endeav­ they fell. by chance, ors; they economize, upon a stout. buxom and deny themselves familias in the front row. pleasures in order His mental ecstasy was to obtain the highest musical culture; and doin~ all Molique. The g1eat Belgian kissPd him on the fore­ greeted by the most exaggerated yawn, impos­ this they forget absolutely that superb mechamEm, head, and, after the playing of his •· Lt-gende," sible to imagine for the facial capacities of polite their own body. .As a result, something gives way, bounded upon the platform and said to him,'' You societv. It will not be difiicult to conceive the reac­ and they go home utterly heart-broken. 'Their can play this any time after me." This incident tion. 'From this date he determined. in E:elf-defensP, failure is erroneously charged to 0\'er-work, to induced a rich merchant from Prague to give young never again to raise his eyes while plnying in public. false methods of instruction, to bad climate, and to Ondricek the means to take a course at the Paris The question, ·'Which is the most musical city any and every cause save the true one. Conservatory of 1\lusic, where with difficulty he in the world?" has recently been decided in favor was acc<'pted, on account of prejudice against for­ of Frankfort-on-the-Main. Last year no less than For generations to come, the name of Dr. George eign artists. He continued his studies under Mas­ forty-six orchestral concerts were 'given tht'Je, none F. Root, America's great war-song writer, who died sart. While there he made the acquaintance of with less than seventy performers; besides tbE>E'e, suddenly at Bailey's Island, off Portland, Me., in Vienxtemps, who heard him play, and remarked to there were eight oratorio concerts on a grand scale, his 75th year, will hold a high place in the affec­ him. "Young man, you are to-day already a great eighteen on a smaller scale. fifteen chamber music tions of the partriotic, and will be remembered by artist; it is foolish of you to waste your time. " concert~, twenty-eight recitals, besides numerous the American people as the composer of the" Battle­ This was, however, not the case. .After his connec­ pupils' concerts. Cry of Freedom,"" Tramp, Tramp, Tramp, the Boys tion with the Paris Conservatory of Music for two are Marching,'' "John Brown's Body," "Rally years he received the first prize. During the com­ A very young Pole, M. Stanislas Melker, of War­ Round the Flag, Boys."" Marching Through Geor­ mencement exercises, Ondricek having finished saw, won the $1,000 Rubinstein prize for tbe best gia," and numerous other popular songs, playing his selection, Massart stepped forward and pianoforte concerts at Berlin tbis year. 74 KUNKEL'S MUSICAL REVIEW, OCTOBER, 18915. J SPIERING QUAUTETTE CONCERT. MR. H&RMAN Dnt&TEL, violoncello, when only ITALIAN COMPOSERS. five years of age began tbe study of music, with hia father as Instructor. In his native city of Berlin, On Tuesday. October 15th, the Spiering Quartette Germany. choosing the violoncello as his solo In­ There is a general impreuion that Italian com­ of Cnlcago will give a concert, under the auspices strument at the age of ten. After graduating at col­ posers live and die in poverty, and that the Govern­ of those mterest~d in the welfare of the Rebekah lege be entered tbe Royal Conservatory of Music. In ment is too poor to asalst them. Tbls fallacy Ia de­ Hospital. This Quartette is beaded by the eminent Berlin, and upon the conclusion of his studies ac­ nied In a recent leUer, for the writer says that a young violinist, ~lr. Theodore Spiering, so well cepted the position of solo violoncelllst In Hamburg. stllJulated sum, and not royalties, Is paid in advance iLnd favorably known to all music lovers in this city. Later be filled the same position in Dresden, where for the performance of each work : .. Tbe tum de­ 'J'be other gentlemen In this quat·tette are worthy be played In quartette with tbe renowned Wllbelmj pends upon tbe value of the opera, the importamce ae!loci:Ltes oftbis promising artiz;t, and the quartette for an entire season.