An American Girl in Munich

obe

morning,

ee-tops in the Platz. It gets into one's blood, a morning like this, and the wildest dreams seem possible of fulfilment. I came home from

ear, and there are so many delightful things to tell you about that I don't know where to begin. However, the Conserv

er. What a rambling old building it is, and how replete with association! So many musicians have studied here at some time or other, although Rheinberger an

, Stavenhagen himself opened the door. I wonder if you heard him play when he was in America. He's a hands

of a German, and none of the unlovely ones. Besid

d. "I speak a lee-tle English, but," he went on in German, "per

o at the school. A little man, whose face, beard, and hair all seemed the same reddish color, was looking over a pile of letters in the corner of th

intricacies of a stretto, or cope with double counterpoint in the tenth, if not openly denied, was severely questioned. This carefully nourished conservatism has yielded considerably. The counterpoint class is now open to

ur Lesen class," said I, innocentl

If I had thrown a bombshell they could not have appeared more startled. The littl

the class. I am right, am I not, H

im and gazed at me as one might at a curious species of animal. I felt I ought

Herr Sekretariat?" i

stered, Herr Direktor," sol

was a

g quarters from score, Fr?u

s at times when one is inwardly much disturbed. Again there was a p

e a Fr?ulein never has joined the class

e gravity of his expression was wort

w at the equestrian statue in the Platz, unable to hide the smile at the corners of my mouth. Although conscious of my

decision. When my impatience had subsided to a

," he began, "but-but-well, you ma

approved German fashion, feeling as might th

did not like his conducting at all. It seemed to me extreme and even sensational. However, as I became accustomed to his extravagant methods, the earnestness and power of the man impressed me more and more. When it came to the Beethoven number he directed without score. He fairly swept the orchestra along, and his every gesture was pregnant with meaning. I could not help thinking of Gericke's stra

tell you how many times he came forward to bow his thanks amid the cries of "Bravo! Bravo!" He seemed to enjoy it all hugely and

He is a harmless young curate from the north of England; one of those men who have soft, gentle voices, Van Dyke beards, and always

not a beautiful concert? And so uplif

en symphony,

note, don't you think so? It seems to me he is at

name is except that it is very long and very unpronounceable. She is a dear little placid-faced woman of middle age, and he looks like one of Rap

niece of Frau von Waldfel, who declares they greatly resemble each other. I can just imagine her: younger

for dinner to be announced, I chanced to

onal composer, Sousa?

ormed him tha

y other composers of importanc

at American music has, as ye

nes

s furnishings and harmony of color betrays the artistic nature of its owner. An atmosphere of cigarette smoke hung about everything, and through the

y ease. Then he pulled forward a chair beside his own at the desk and bade me be sea

ooked up with devoted eyes at his master's face. "I call him Tasso. Tasso, l

ille watching him with pride. This introdu

day, only to find callers in the salon. They proved to be two New York girls, also music students. They are studying piano with Frau Langenhan-Hirzel, who is herself a pupil of Lescheticsky. Both are intensely enthusiastic over their work, and practise from five to six hours a day. After our coffee, Miss B-- offered to show me where her studio was, so, leaving her friend, who had a lesson, we walked down the Platz and up seven and ninety stairs to a tiny room under the eaves. It seems that Miss B-- is not allowed to practise in the pension where she lives, owing to the fact that three other students are singing, pla

effect of a forte." She played a crashing chord, and presto! the tiny, diamond panes of the win

ighed. "My nerves are g

don't know one half the tri

20, 10

ntervals-for the unfortunate king, you know. What do you think I paid for my seat? Only fifty-five cents-and sat, too, in the orchestra. At the Conservatory last week I received an oblong bit of paper, a sort of certificate, which states that I am pursuing a course of musical study here. On prese

y. The music is fascinating in the extreme, and some of it-the prayer of the two mites in the wood, for example, which brought the tears to my eyes-very beautiful. There is no interruption. The music continues even during the pauses between the three so-called pictures of the opera. At the beginning of the second picture, which is laid in a wood, Gret

Her aunt is immensely proud of her, although she treats her like a child. The chief cause of her pride seems to be that her niece is engaged-verlobt, as they say-to a German officer. You know it is considered the thing to marry into the army here, for it gives a woman at once the best social position, consequently all the young lieutenants are run after by diplomatic mammas and ambitious daughters, u

ch puzzles me a bit. I am sure it is not the result of a spoiled nature, for her patience with her aunt's querulousness belies that, but it seems rather the e

o'cl

ray masses against a background darker still? On an afternoon like this, surely you have thrilled in response to the piercing cry of trumpets, horns, and trombones, in the riotous masses of scarlet, violet, and gold which flood the heaven? It does not last long, this intoxicating draught of color and melody, for, as I watch, the clouds dissolve