The Worlds Great Men of Music | Page 8

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Finally the father, holding high the lantern in his hand and followed by
mother and the rest of the inmates, reached the garret, and there found
the lost child seated at his beloved spinet, quite lost to the material
world. There is no record of any angry outburst on the father's part and
it is likely little George was left in peace.
One day when the boy was seven years old, the father was about to start
for the castle of the Duke of Saxe-Weissenfels, to see his son, a
stepbrother of George, who was a valet de chambre to the Duke. Little
George begged to go too, for he knew there was music to be heard at
the castle. In spite of his father's refusal he made up his mind to go if he
had to run every step of the way. So watching his chance, he started to

run after the coach in which his father rode. The child had no idea it
was a distance of forty miles. He strove bravely to keep pace with the
horses, but the roads were rough and muddy. His strength beginning to
fail, he called out to the coachman to stop. His father, hearing the boy's
voice looked out of the window. Instead of scolding the little scamp
roundly, he was touched by his woebegone appearance, had him lifted
into the coach and carried on to Weissenfels.
George enjoyed himself hugely at the castle. The musicians were very
kind to him, and his delight could hardly be restrained when he was
allowed to try the beautiful organ in the chapel. The organist stood
behind him and arranged the stops, and the child put his fingers on the
keys that made the big pipes speak. During his stay, George had several
chances to play; one was on a Sunday at the close of the service. The
organist lifted him upon the bench and bade him play. Instead of the
Duke and all his people leaving the chapel, they stayed to listen. When
the music ceased the Duke asked: "Who is that child? Does anybody
know his name?" The organist was sent for, and then little George was
brought. The Duke patted him on the head, praised his playing and said
he was sure to become a good musician. The organist then remarked he
had heard the father disapproved of his musical studies. The Duke was
greatly astonished. He sent for the father and after speaking highly of
the boy's talent, said that to place any obstacle in the child's way would
be unworthy of the father's honorable profession.
And so it was settled that George Frederick should devote himself to
music. Frederick Zachau, organist of the cathedral at Halle, was the
teacher chosen to instruct the boy on the organ, harpsichord and violin.
He also taught him composition, and showed him how different
countries and composers differed in their ideas of musical style. Very
soon the boy was composing the regular weekly service for the church,
besides playing the organ whenever Zachau happened to be absent. At
that time the boy could not have been more than eight years old.
After three years' hard work his teacher told him he must seek another
master, as he could teach him nothing more. So the boy was sent to
Berlin, to continue his studies. Two of the prominent musicians there
were Ariosti and Buononcini; the former received the boy kindly and
gave him great encouragement; the other took a dislike to the little
fellow, and tried to injure him. Pretending to test his musicianship,

Buononcini composed a very difficult piece for the harpsichord and
asked him to play it at sight. This the boy did with ease and correctness.
The Elector was delighted with the little musician, offered him a place
at Court and even promised to send him to Italy to pursue his studies.
Both offers were refused and George returned to Halle and to his old
master, who was happy to have him back once more.
Not long after this the boy's father passed away, and as there was but
little money left for the mother, her son decided at once that he must
support himself and not deprive her of her small income. He acted as
deputy organist at the Cathedral and Castle of Halle, and a few years
later, when the post was vacant, secured it at a salary of less than forty
dollars a year and free lodging. George Frederick was now seventeen
and longed for a broader field. Knowing that he must leave Halle to
find it, he said good-by to his mother, and in January 1703, set out for
Hamburg to seek his fortune.
The Opera House Orchestra needed a supplementary violin. It was a
very small post,