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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
small but very richly decorated room and given a
cushion to sit on, as a Japanese house never contains a
chair. In a row, sitting on their mats, were three little
girls taking a singing lesson. The oldest was not over
seven. They were going at their work in a business-
like manner. The teacher sat at one end of the row
and played the shamsen, every now and then nodding
her approval or frowning a disapproval, and scolding
when a mistake was made.
After the lesson was over my entertainers.offered to
and banjos sold here are all American, while all the
violins are made in Germany.
Though the trade in musical instruments will never
compare with America or that of any European nation
the day is not far distant when there will be quite a
demand for foreign instruments. One great trouble,
now, is that the Japanese, being such good imitators,
are trying to manufacture these instruments them-
selves. Not being thoroughly acquainted with the art,
a very singular degree of success is attained. There are
PADEREWSKI.
I
GNACE JAN P A D E R E W S K I is admittedly the
legitimate successor of Anton Rubinstein, and the
mantle of fame worn through four decades by the
illustrious Moldavian has fallen upon the shoulders of
this already world-famous Polish artist.
Even in the present days of juvenile prodigies and
phenomenal exhibitions of pianistic power, Paderewski
has appeared to astonish the general public, and to
charm music-lovers by the marvelous dexterity he dis-
plays upon the keyboard, and by the manifestations of
much rarer qualities—lifting him above the heads of all
his contemporaries—he has acquired in an unusally
short time, the highest position in the artistic world.
A JAPANESE MUSIC LESSON.
The more frequently the opportunity has been afforded
of hearing Paderewski, the greater admiration his per-
sing some pieces which the teacher said they had no important American inventions known in Japan but
formances have excited.
thoroughly learned. I looked at my watch as they what the Japanese try to imitate. An American or
In purely mechanical skill it seems impossible to ex-
European inventor has no protection whatever here,
were starting the song. It took them just thirty-five
ceed the limits of his amazing achievements. He has
minutes to finish. I learned that it was quite a short and any idea or invention that can be copied to any
his light and delicate moods as well as his dreamy and
number. Some songs occupy an hour or two. The advantage is eagerly sought for and used.
romantic humors which find expression in the perform-
Sheet music is very hard to sell, as the principal
men are not given to music so much as the women.
ance of the beautiful pianoforte works of his fellow-
Only a few theatrical men venture to have anything to music taught is from hymn books furnished by the
countryman, Frederic Chopin, interest in whose works
missionaries, who are also the teachers. Messrs. Kelly
do with it, and in some theatres one man sings a whole
increases year by year ; for fire and fineness of execu-
opera through, the troupe doing the acting. This some- & Walsh are the only importers of sheet music. They
tion nothing can surpass his playing of the master's
also represent the Mason & Hamlin piano.
times last from nine o'clock in the morning until ten
Scherzos and Fantasies ; for breadth of style and forci-
It is expected that the new musical college at Tokyo
o'clock at night.
ble delivery his performance of his own concerto in A
There is another class of musicians—the dancing will soon effect a vast change in the music now preva-
minor, together with the concertos of Rubinstein and
girls. These usually play some instrument while danc- lent in Japan. This institution, which is entirely new,
Beethoven is superb, while for sweep of hand, extra-
is being very liberally patronized, and great strides are
ing. The dance consists of keeping time with the
ordinary rapidity of finger and mastery over Liszt's
music by posturing the body. Dancing with the feet constantly being made towards proficiency in both in-
Rhapsodies and Fantasias he is practically unrivalled
strumental and vocal music.
is entirely unknown among the Japanese.
in the world ; there is yet to be considered the sur-
Japanese music, as produced among the natives on
In the homes of some of the high officials of the
passing beauties of those momentary fancies and
government may be found pianos and organs, and oc-
graceful touches, which, when the music admits of it,
casionally a Japanese lady who can play them. Usually
can only be imparted by the most gifted artists, but
these persons have been taught by missionaries at the
which adds so much charm to the composition itself.
schools conducted by them. The Japanese are very
In this delightful quality Paderewski excels any pianist
quick to learn this, as all other arts and sciences, and
I have heard ; in point of fact his playing never gives
as soon as they become educated up to the point at
me the idea of a studied performance, but seems to be
which they can appreciate music we may expect Japan
rather the outcome of inherent and spontaneous musi-
to produce some of the finest musicians in the world.
cal feeling. Of all living pianists he reminds me most
A Japanese is sure to excel in his particular work when
of Anton Rubinstein, but his manipulation is more
once he understands it. The day is not far distant when
delicate, far surer and clearer than that of the great
good musicians will be in demand in Japan as teachers
Moldavian. He never plays a fa'se note, and the fire
of music.
and musical impulse which animate Paderewski never
The trade in musical instruments in Japan is rather
infringe upon the borderland which divides enthusiasm
limited. This is due to several causes, the first, per-
from extravagance.
haps, being the poverty among the Japanese- Secondly,
Ignace Jan Paderewski first saw the light at Podolia,
Japanese houses are not built so as to be suitable for
a province of Russian Poland, on the 6th of November,
a piano or organ, being constructed of bamboo, pine
i860, and at the early age of three began to play the
and paper, and the floors, where they exist, being made
piano, At seven his father placed him under the cara
of mats. Thirdly, the European population is so small
of a local teacher, Pierre Sowinskt.and with this master
that the demand for these instruments is very limited.
the young Ignace remained for four years. In 1872 he
Yet there are some good instruments and excellent
went to Warsaw, where the foundation of his knowledge
musicians in the " settlements." Mr. Alexander Clark,
of harmony and counterpoint was acquired from Ro-
who has lived in Japan twenty-eight years,conducts the
guski, but he subsequently pursued this branch of his
largest music house in the Empire, and also supplies
studies under the late Frederick Kiel, the eminent
the government with instruments.
teacher and theorist of Berlin.
Mr. Clark is quite partial to American pianos and
Shortly after this date Paderewski undertook his
DANJAIURO, A FAMOUS JAPANESE MUSICIAN.
organs, and handles the American organs exclusively.
first tournde, which extended throughout Russia, Siberia,
He considers the American pianos by far the best and
the five principal native instruments, viz., crude drums, ,
Servia and Roumania, during the course of which he
most durable, but hitherto has been unable to intro- an instrument similar to the banjo, a kind of toy fife,
performed nothing but his own compositions. At
duce them extensively on account of their high prices and the nine and thirteen stringed harps, sounds very
eighteen years of age he was nominated Professor of
and the cost of landing.
The German piano, by discordant to one accustomed to listen to American or
European orchestras. Like all things primitive, these
Music to the Warsaw Conservatory, and it is no secret
reason of its cheapness, can be landed in Yokohama
now popular instruments will be laid aside and for-
that the money earned in this capacity was devoted to
for what the freight on an American piano would cost. gotten as the march of civilization winds its way
the acquisition of general knowledge after the hours
through this beautiful island of the Orientals ; and
The German goods are of very inferior quality, but
since anything that is manufactured in or that comes
when his musical duties had ceased. In 1884 he held a
something cheap is what the Japanese are looking for.
from America is considered superior by the Japanese
professorship at the Conservatory of Music in Stras-
They have taken quite a fancy to music boxes and
people, it would be well for American music houses
burg, but during that year he abandoned teaching and
other instruments that can be wound up and played
to strive for a trade which will soon be of much im-
resolved upon the more fascinating career of a pianistic
W. J. F.
without exertion or knowledge of music. The guitars portance.