FAMOUS MUSICIANS
At the recent meeting of the Whakatane branch of the League .of Mothers; Mrs James gave an address on two notable composers, Franz Schubert and Chopin.
'.Franz Schubert was born at Vienna in 1797 and died in 1828. His parents were in very humble circumstances, and he was one of 119 children, so no individual or special attention was given to his education. But genius knows no bounds. Schubert entered upon music as a prince enters on his own dominions. He taught himself all the rudiments and began to compose music at eleven years of age. Church music, piano, overtures, symphonies and operattas, but we remember him best for his songs of which he composed no less than 500.' Notable among them are “The !Erl King,” “Ave Maria,” “Hark, Hark the Lark” and “Serehade.”
Some of Schubert’s songs were sold for the price of a meal. Poverty and innumerable disappointments were his portion and Schubert said: “My music is the product of my genius and my misery.” When he died this inscription was put on his tomb. “Music buried here a rich possession and yet fairer hopes.” Although Chopin has been dead 100 years his music is more widely sought and intensely loved than ever before. He was a Pole and his music breathes the romance commonly associated with his nation. It is deeply regretted that he was consumptive consequently had a hard struggle with his health. He was really a poet of the piano, his music so refined and so full of emotion and grace. Chopin was very young when he began to compose and play his compositions. He was modest and won all hearts.
Franz Liszt was one of his greatest friends, being younger by two years. Often they were asociated together in piano duets. A plain but clever woman whose bent was literature and music, played a tremendous part in Chopin’s life. This was Madame Dudevant, better known as George Sands. She it was who sacrificed herself to try and keep Chopin well' as she knew his worth to the world.
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 41, 16 June 1947, Page 3
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346FAMOUS MUSICIANS Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 11, Issue 41, 16 June 1947, Page 3
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