Piano and Song | Page 7

not hesitate to invent and
industriously to circulate the most absurd reports about it, instead of
inquiring into what I have already published about teaching, and
comparing it with the management which, with their own children, has
led only to senseless thrumming.

CHAPTER II.
AN EVENING ENTERTAINMENT AT HERR ZACH'S.
DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.
HERR ZACH, _formerly a flute-player, not very wealthy._ HIS WIFE,
_of the family of Tz. (rather sharp-tempered)._ STOCK, _her son, 17
years old (is studying the piano thoroughly)._ MR. BUFFALO,
_music-master of the family._ DOMINIE, _piano-teacher (rather
gruff)._ CECILIA, _his daughter, 13 years old (shy)._
ZACH (_to Dominie_). I regret that I was unable to attend the concert
yesterday. I was formerly musical myself and played on the flute. Your
daughter, I believe, plays pretty well.
DOMINIE. Well, yes! perhaps something more than pretty well. We
are in earnest about music.

MADAME, of the Tz. family (_envious because Cecilia received
applause for her public performance yesterday, and because Mr.
Buffalo had been unable to bring out Stock,--all in one breath_). When
did your daughter begin to play? Just how old is she now? Does she
like playing? They say you are very strict, and tie your daughters to the
piano-stool. How many hours a day do you make her practise? Don't
you make her exert herself too much? Has she talent? Isn't she sickly?
DOMINIE. Don't you think she looks in good health, madam,--tall and
strong for her years?
MADAME, of the Tz. family. But perhaps she might look more
cheerful, if she was not obliged to play on the piano so much.
DOMINIE (_bowing_). I can't exactly say.
ZACH (_suddenly interrupting, and holding Dominie by the
button-hole_). They say you torment and ill-treat your daughters
dreadfully; that the eldest was obliged to practise day and night. Well,
you shall hear my Stock play this evening, who, some time, by the
grace of God, is to take the place of Thalberg in the world. Now give
me your opinion freely (of course, I was only to praise): we should like
very much to hear what you think about his playing, though perhaps Mr.
Buffalo may not agree with you.
(_Mr. Buffalo is looking through the music-case and picking out all the
Etudes, by listening to which Dominie is to earn his supper._)
DOMINIE (_resigned and foreseeing that he shall be bored_). I have
heard a great deal of the industry of your son, Stock. What are you
studying now, Mr. Stock?
STOCK (_in proud self-consciousness, rather Sophomoric_). I play six
hours a day, two hours scales with both hands together, and four hours
Etudes. I have already gone through the first book of Clementi and four
books of Cramer. Now I am in the Gradus ad Parnassum: I have
already studied the right fingering for it.

DOMINIE. Indeed, you are very much in earnest: that speaks well for
you, and for Mr. Buffalo. But what pieces are you studying with the
Etudes? Hummel, Mendelssohn, Chopin, or Schumann?
STOCK (_contemptuously_). Mr. Buffalo can't bear Chopin and
Schumann. Mr. Buffalo lately played through Schumann's
"Kinderscenen," that people are making such a talk about. My mamma,
who is also musical, and used to sing when papa played the flute, said,
"What ridiculous little things are those? Are they waltzes for children?
and then the babyish names for them! He may play such stuff to his
wife, but not to us."
DOMINIE. Well, these "Kinderscenen" are curious little bits for
grown-up men's hands. Your mother is right, they are too short: there
certainly ought to be more of them. But they are not waltzes!
STOCK. Indeed, I am not allowed to play waltzes at all. My teacher is
very thorough: first, I shall have to dig through all the Gradus ad
Parnassum; and then he is going to undertake a concerto of Beethoven's
with me, and will write the proper fingering over it. I shall play that in
public; and then, as he and my aunt say, "I shall be the death of you
all."
MR. BUFFALO (_who has overheard him, steps up_). Now, Herr
Dominie, how do you like my method? Perhaps you have a different
one? Nevertheless, that shan't prevent our being good friends. Certainly,
if any thing is to be accomplished in these times, it is necessary to keep
at work,--that is my doctrine. But Stock, here, has unusual patience and
perseverance. He has worked through all Cramer's 96 Etudes in
succession without grumbling. He was wretched enough over them; but
his papa bought him a saddle-horse to ride round on every day, and he
revived in the fresh air.
(_Herr Zach with his wife and an old aunt are playing cards in the
further room._)
DOMINIE. But do you not combine the study of musical pieces with
the study