When eight years of age he was placed at the music school at Liege, where in two years he gained the first prize in the preparatory classes. In 1864 he secured the gold medal, which is awarded only to pupils of extraordinary talent. [Illustration: MARTIN PIERRE JOSEPH MARSICK] He now entered the Brussels Conservatoire, where his expenses were met by a lady who was a musical enthusiast, and he studied for two years under Leonard, working at the same time in composition under Kufferath. In 1868 he went to Paris, where he studied for a season under Massart. In 1870 Marsick proceeded to Berlin, where, through the instrumentality of a government subvention, he was enabled to study under Joachim. After that he began to travel, and soon acquired a great reputation. He was said to equal, if not exceed, Sarasate in the wonderful celerity of his scales, and in lightness and certainty. His tone is not very full, but is sweet and clear. His playing is also marked by exceptional smoothness, scholarly phrasing, and graceful accentuation, but, in comparison with some of the other great players, he lacks breadth and passion. He appeals rather to the educated musician than to the general public, and for that reason many people were somewhat disappointed when he played in the United States in 1896. He was compared with Ysaye, a player of an entirely different stamp, and he suffered in popular estimation by the comparison. To this period also belong a number of excellent violinists whose names are seldom heard in America. Edmund Singer, a Hungarian, born in 1831, by dint of hard work and talent reached a high position. He became celebrated as a teacher, and was for years professor of violin at the conservatory in Stuttgart. He was also largely instrumental in the establishment of the Musical Artists' Society of that place. Ferdinand Laub was a virtuoso of high rank who was born in Prague in 1832. He succeeded Joachim at Weimar, but two years later became violin teacher at the Stern-Marx conservatory in Berlin, also concert-master of the royal orchestra and chamber virtuoso. Heinrich Karl de Ahna was an excellent artist, and was for some years second violin in the famous Joachim quartet. At the age of fourteen he had already made a successful concert tour, and become chamber virtuoso to the Duke of Coburg-Gotha. He then abandoned the musical profession and entered the army, fighting in the Italian campaign as lieutenant. After the war he returned to his profession, and became leader of the royal band in Berlin and professor at the Hochschule. He died in 1892. Russia also produced an excellent violinist, Wasil Wasilewic Besekirskij, who was born at Moscow, and after a career as virtuoso in the west of Europe returned to his native city. He is the composer of some good violin music and has formed some excellent pupils, of whom Gregorowitsch is perhaps best known.