Music and Some Highly Musical PeopleTrotter, James M.
History
Music and Some Highly Musical People
Trotter, James M.
African American musicians -- Biography; African Americans -- Music
"... As for Mr. White, he showed himself so much superior,
that there ought to have been (so we think) created in his
favor an exceptional prize. He has played with an
extraordinary animation, not like a pupil, but like a
master,--like a great artist who commands his auditory. The
jury itself was electrified. In order to compete with that
young man, there ought to have been masters there."
It was at this brilliant concourse that Rossini, the great composer,
remarked of White, "Since the day he took an interest in him, and
protected the young artist, there was no festivity at the maestro's
without the violinist playing on his melodious instrument." Besides,
this letter from Rossini, addressed to White at the time of his
father's sickness, shows how much the master loved him:--
TO MR. WHITE. _Sir_,--Allow me to express to you all the
pleasure that I felt Sunday last at my friend Mr. David's.
The warmth of your execution, the feeling, the elegance, the
brilliancy of the school to which you belong, show qualities
in you as an artist of which the French school may be
proud. May it be, sir, that through my sympathetic wishes I
may bring you good fortune by finding again in good health
the one for whom you fear to-day! Accept my blessings. Sir,
I wish you a happy journey, and a speedy return.
G. ROSSINI.
In November, 1858, Mr. White was obliged to return to Havana, called
back to his dying father. He then left France; accounts of his success
in which, carried to the dying man, were a sweet consolation and
happiness,--thus to see, before dying, his son who was called to such
a brilliant career. After the death of his father, he started for
France again; not, however, without having first obtained great
success in different cities of Cuba, where he was received in triumph.
Gottschalk, the celebrated pianist, who was one of the first who had
advised White's family to send him to Paris, said that in all his life
he had never seen such a beautiful success, and such a deserved one.
After his return to Paris, White gave a great concert.
"L'Illustration" of the 4th of May, 1861, gives an account of that
evening's entertainment in the following terms:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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