March 2, 1918 MUSICAL AMERIC.l\ 5

Pupils9· Prodigies and His American '\t.. isit9 as Viewed by Auer

Venerable Celebrated Russian Violinist and Pedagogue Comes to Our Shores When War Prevents His Friends and Pupils from Visiting Him Abroad-Treating Every Pupil Individually, According to Latter's Natural Aptitude, This Master's Only Pedagogical Secret-Deplores Prejudice Shown to Prodigies-Believes Russia's Modern Com~ poser's Guarantee Country's Musical Future-To Remain for Present in New York Teaching Special Pupils

HE war .has thrown many a signifi­ lution, that Prof. Auer was granted a T cant personality on our shores, but special diplomatic passport to leave the scenes of sanguinary strife for tha rarely one so interesting as the eminent Scandinavian countries. There, in Chris­ Russian violinist and teacher, Professor tiania, he spent the summer surrounded Leopold Auer of Petrograd. Time has by many of his devoted pupils, repeat­ edly concertizing with Mme. Wanda . not passed unnoticed over the distin­ Stein, one of Russia's forell).ost pianists, guished artist since the writer of these throughout the three Scandinavian coun­ lines heard him play the Tschaikowsky tries, Sweden, Norway and Denmark. Concerto in the Berlin Philharmonic for But when then he decided to return to the first time in the. year 1896. Though Petrograd in the fall, as he had been in the habit of doing ever since the out­ being perforce more venerable to-day, he break of the. war, he received word that still re ~e mbles the celebrated virtuoso of in view of the great political disturb­ yore in more than one respect. Nothing ances in Russia the Petrograd Conserva­ but death .could ever make an impression tory would not be reopened ·for the pres­ ent. on the compelling temperament or the "It was then," says Prof. Auer, "that indomitable personality of this unique I decided to live up to the Mohammedan artist who holds the record of having proverb of going to the mountain which been the Imperial Court Yiolinist of could not come to me. For many years friends and pupils had urged me to .pay Pltutu 1.J11 llu1:n N,.,u,s Service three Russian Czars: Alexander II, America a visit. But I had ever found Professor Leopold Auer, the Celebrated Russian Violinist and Pedagogue, Who Alexander III, and the lately de­ such a triP dispensable, insomuch as my Arrived Last Week in America. (Photographed Especially for "Musical throned Nicholas II. The mental elas­ friends and pupils invariably made it a America") tiCity of the master, who speaks Eng­ point to come to me in Europe. But now, as Americans were prevented from that is to say, according to his funda­ lish, French, German and Russian with the famous Petrograd master to discuss coming to Europe, I thought it was my mental aptitude. Perhaps that is the this theme, the professor's interest was equal facility, is remarkable. He evince!! turn to come to the 'mountain,' recte, reason why none of my pupils really re­ fully aroused. · an interest and understanding for any America." sembles another. I don't think any­ topic that can be broached. When asked whether he attributed his one ever recognizes an Auer pupil by his Russia's Musical Future Prof. Auer, who arrived on the "Ber­ remarkable success as a teacher to his playing. Technically, of course, they gensfJord" at an Atlantic port on Monday "Throughout my long experience," said successes with his original pupils which must all be adequately trained; all must he, "I have been interested pre-eminent­ of last week was for forty years the head might have tended subsequently to at­ of the violin department of the Petro­ be equipped with a big technique, as an ly in everything representing youth in tract other especially talented pupils, or indispensable fundamental requisite. But music, and Russia, as the United States, grad Conservatory. This institute was whether he instructed according to some then when the repertoire is taken up, tl:e founded by none other than Anton Rubin­ is to be considered the youngest of the particular method which he had found artistic exposition of the chefs d'oeuvre countries musically. In America you stein. And it was on Rubinstein's initia­ especially efficient, Prof. Auer laughed tive that our most recent distinguished · is to be considered, the pupil's person­ have come to the front only rather r~­ outright. ality is conscientiously fostered, even cently with y our MacDowell (one of guest, Prof. Auer, was called to the Pet­ though he should evince a leaning con-· rogFad Conservatory to replace the re­ His Only Pedagogical Secret whose piano pieces, by the wa-", I tran­ trary to my own conviction. Yes, as long _;cribed for violin), your Parker, Chad­ nowned Wieniawski. "Yes, yes, I know," he exclaim ea. as this individuality in the pupil does wick, Foote, Loeffler, and others. And h In Russia When Revolution Came "Many, even specialists in violin peda­ not verge on the anti-esthetic, I even try the same way Russia has existed musi­ gogy, think that I owe my results t-. some to further his progress along the lines of cally virtually only for the las· seventy Auer remained in Russia for the first secret of teaching. Well, my only secret his original initiative. You see, I merely or seventy-five years. But during the three years of the war, that is, until tl:).e is that I always make it a point to study strive to assist nature, instead of dog­ last fifty years, with the advent of outbreak of the Revolution. And then it every one Of my pupils and never attempt matically forcing a pupil~s natural in­ Glinka, Russia in rap;d ·sequence has was only through the personal interven­ to interfere with the course for which he clinations into any particular system or manifested such extraordinary musical tion of Miliukoff, the first Russian Min­ or she seems to be predestined. In other channel that I may have found accepta­ phenomena as Rubinstein, Moussorgsky, ister of Foreign Affairs after the Revo- words, I trea~ every pupil individually, ble." Borodine, Rimsky-Korsakoff (at the pres­ In response to a request kindly to ent time with Tschaikowsky, Russia's specify the characteristics of this or the most popular opera composer) and then other of his pupils, Prof. Auer benignly more recently, Rachmat,inoff, Scriabine replied th:;~t he . could not do that as he and (with a humorous little chuckle) the had the s:;tme fondness for all of them. musical Bolshevik-Stravinsky! This Just like a father who, thou~h being imposing array of musical power should fully cognizant of his children's respec­ guarantee the musical future in store tive merits as well as their shortcomings, for Russia." he had the same affectionate regard for It is only natural that the advent of all of his pupils. In this connection, such a celebrity as Professor Leopold Prof: Auer confided that he had long Auer should have created something of a since made it a rule never to pass final stir, especially in violinistic circles. judgment on any of his pupils, but that Since his arrival in America he has been he left such an ultimate decision to the inundated with requests to grant violin­ public and press. ists a hearing. For the present the mas­ And then the inevitable question was ter is to remain in New York and con­ launched: "What is your opinion of fine his pedagogical activities to those prodigies?" of his professional pupils seeking his ad­ A Plea for Prodigies vice and a few other distinct taleLts. For the fall, Prof. Auer is planning to "Ah," renlied the venerable master, give a series of Beethoven sonata recitals "now you have hit upon a subiect in together with Mme. Wanda Stein in the which I have always been keenly in­ larger cities of the United State~. terested. For I deeply denlore the preiu­ 0. P. JACOB. dice which generally is shown prodi~es, both by the public and critics. If we Zoellne.rs Play in Philadelphia follow the history of music, we see a vast number of the greatest masters in PHILADELPHIA, PA., Feb. 21.-The music, like 'Mozart, Beethoven, Liszt, Philadelphia Chamber Music Association Rubinstein, d' Albert, Hofmann, Scria­ offered as its seventh attraction, on the bine, Wieniawski, and others, who, in afternoon of Feb, 17, the Zoellner Quar­ their tender childhood, were conspicuous tet. The latter plaS' " 4---~_'!J11hPl:S b~'­ as prodi!;ies. But please do not misun­ Sgambati, Napravnik and two Sketches derstand me. Far be it from me to as­ by Goossens. The association, although sert that every prodigy may be expected' in its first year of activity, has already to become a great master. No. I simply 950 member>o. The concerts, which are contend that a prodigy is to be considered called "mee~ings," are he!J Sunday after­ as an example of pronounced natnral noons in the ballroom of the Bellevue­ human predilection fa r musical art. The Stratford Hotel and have already mental artistic force and develoument, brought bfor . the music! public of Phila­ however, are not · to be exuected until delphia all the pro"'linent chamber music maturity. I aHl therefore of the opinion organizatioz• .; of the country. that every prodigy represents a musical · phenomenon deserving- to . be treated SEATTLE, WASH.-Montgomery Lynch, Photo by Bain Nt:tc~ ~ervice with the keenest interest rather than, as director o:i' the First Methodist Church Professor Auer with Two of His Pupils, Thelma Given, Left, and T.ascha Seidel, it is so frequently the case, with preju­ ci10ir, has been appointed musical direc­ dice, not to say with distrust.". Right, with Mme. Wanda Stein, Noted Russian Pianist, Who Is Auer's Asso­ tor for the Bremerton navy yard and When the sub;ect of Slavic music was the training camp at the University of ciate in Cor;certs. (Photographed Especially for "Musical America") broached, none being more qualified than Washington.

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