| Show Thorough Preparation THE composer Chopin's most talented pupil died at the age of thirteen His name was Filtsch and so promising a pianist was he that Chopin as well as other great masters who had heard him play predicted that he would eclipse them all Of him Liszt once said When the little one begins to travel I Ishall Ishall Ishall shall shut up my shop Chopin himself according to one of his biographers used to declare The boy Filtsch plays my E minor concerto better than 1 I do myself While the boy buy was studying this concerto to play at ata ata ata a private musicale his master never allowed him to practice more than one movement at a time Impatiently he asked leave to perform the whole II Not yet little one Chopin would answer in his caressing way wait until each movement is is perfect At last Filtsch received permission to play the whole concerto He burst into tears of joy at the great privilege ge He was a devoted Roman Catholic and not being allowed by the master to practice immediately before the hour of the ordeal he set about pre preparing par ing himself himself him him- himi 1 i self in what seemed to him the highest j way For two days he fasted prayed and read only religious books believing that his heart as well as his fingers should strike the purest harmony i Now the hour fasted for prayed for i wept for came In the presence of the 1 most select audience in Paris the lad of twelve began to play the wonderful concerto concerto concerto con con- certo by Chopin himself J Says Liszt 1 II Never was I so moved The little i ione one d did d wonders It was an impression for all the rest of ones one's life j jI I When the concert was over Chopin J said to Filtsch II We have yet to take a walk Their destination proved to be a J famous Parisian music shop where the J master presented to his young pupil the score of Beethoven's II Fidelio 1 1 j J II I I am in your debt you have given I me much pleas pleasure re today said Chopin i Receive my dear little friend this great master Read therein as long as you live and remember me sometimes Almost with delight the child kissed Chopin's hand and he is said to have treasured the mastel'S gift for the remainder of his short life This pretty story is one which history has treasured to remind us that consecration consecration consecration tion even unto prayer and fasting has contributed and may therefore yet contri contribute contribute con con- tri tribute bute to the highest worldly success u |
