| Show WEIRD GYPSY MUSIC when franz liszt was staying at the castle basill basil alexandris in mir cesal he expressed a wish to hear doumanian Rou manian gypsy music and his friendly host engaged a band of gypsies to come they were gypsies from jaffa and their leader was called barbu batrou lautar all the band wore sort of kaftans kartans tans which were belted in by girdles thy also wore caps cape of sheepskin and on their feet they had sandals when they were brought into the hall where there was a numerous company assembled each one laid hl shand on his heart and bowed deeply upon which the host had bad them served with champagne as a greeting then barbu gave a sign by pointing with the first finger ol of his left hand band and immediately there re sounded a strangely peculiar music through the hall the instruments consisted of fiddles flutes and the cobda the strings of which were beaten with drumsticks drum sticks at first they played a national march after it was fi finished the doumanian Rou manian bojars who were present full of enthusiasm thusia sm threw gold pieces into the old mans cup while they called drink barbu lautar drink master and the old leader sipped his wine while he kept the gold pieces in his mouth after that followed a gypsy melody the whole melancholy of steppes breathed from t is piece when suddenly the song was interrupted by a shrill chy of lamentation then the instrument stormed away in a wild like a of cavalry pat parsing sling over to an attack liast was completely enchanted by the wonderful performance of the musical vagabonds of whom none knew a note and when at the close all ail broke out in applause he too went up to old barbu threw gold pieces into his cap avd and drank to his health then he said you have now DOW made me acquainted with your music you shall also hear mine with these words the great virtuoso seated himself at the pianoforte while every one listened eagerly and all noise ceased after a short prelude the master improvised a hungarian march whose broad melody be adorned most wonderfully with trills brills and arpeggios he seems to intoxicate himself on the tuno tune and to forget everything around him it was felt that he sought to give vent to his excitement which was called forth by the performance with fantastical ical swiftness his fingers flew over the keys and always again resound ed the vibrating melody of the march through the cascades of sounds the hearers seemed spellbound and hardly dared to breathe old barbu stared with wide open eyes at the player and not a note escaped him when the storm of applause had subsided which had broken out by this improvisation the old leader too went to liszt with a glass of champagne in his hand and said now it is my turn master to beg you to drink with mell mel while the great artist knocked his glass against the one held by the gypsy he said well barbu what say you to this melody it Is ia pretty master jl replied the old leader 1 would like to try to reproduce it if you will allow it liszt smiled somewhat doubt doubtfully fully but nodded an assent then lauta turned to bis orchestra propped his fiddle up to his eh chin n and played the hungarian march no trill no arpeggio and none of the ornament ti nga of the melody were wanting note for note barbu reproduced the improvisation of the piano player on his bis violin his orchestra accompanied compa nied him all the members keeping their eyes on the uld old leeder leader ano and following the low bend which his bow indicated as a though led toy by instinct I 1 when the last sound had died away liszt sprang up clasped the old fellow stormily in his bis arms and called out completely enraptured barbu you are truly an artist of gods mercyll mer mercy eyll ex |
