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Chopin wrote of the C minor Sonata: "As a pupil I dedicated it to Elsner," and oh, the irony of criticism! it was praised by the critics because not so revolutionary as the Variations, op. 2. This, too, despite the larghetto in five-four time. The first movement is wheezing and all but lifeless. One asks in astonishment what Chopin is doing in this gallery. And it is technically difficult.
"From Zwyny and Elsner even the greatest ass must learn something," he is quoted as having said. Then there are the usual anecdotes one is tempted to call them the stock stories of the boyhood of any great composer. In infancy Chopin could not hear music without crying. Mozart was morbidly sensitive to the tones of a trumpet.
The newly published Fugue or fugato in A minor, in two voices, is from a manuscript in the possession of Natalie Janotha, who probably got it from the late Princess Czartoryska, a pupil of the composer. The composition is ineffective, and in spots ugly particularly in the stretta and is no doubt an exercise during the working years with Elsner.
Her name almost disappears from his correspondence. Time as well as other nails drove from his memory her image. If she was fickle, he was inconstant, and so let us waste no pity on this episode, over which lakes of tears have been shed and rivers of ink have been spilt. Chopin was accompanied by Elsner and a party of friends as far as Wola, a short distance from Warsaw.
The pulp is now washed with clean water, which leaches all the gold and silver out, and leaves the tailings ready for discharge, either in cars or sluiced away by water, if it is plentiful. "The chemical reaction of cyanide of potassium with gold is as follows, according to Elsner: 2Au + 4KCy + O + H2O = 2KAuCy2 + 2KHO. "That is, a double cyanide of gold and potassium is formed.
Then came his lessons with Joseph Elsner in composition, lessons of great value. Elsner saw the material he had to mould, and so deftly did he teach that his pupil's individuality was never checked, never warped. For Elsner Chopin entertained love and reverence; to him he wrote from Paris asking his advice in the matter of studying with Kalkbrenner, and this advice he took seriously.
He enlarged the musical vocabulary, he re-created and enriched technique and diction, and to him the musician of to-day owes a debt that should never be forgotten. "He is of the race of eagles," said his teacher, Elsner. "Let all who aspire follow him in his flights toward regions sublime." He will always be remembered as the creator of orchestral piano-playing and of the symphonic poem.
He then begged Chopin to study three years with him only three! but Elsner in an earnest letter dissuaded his pupil from making any experiments that might hurt his originality of style. Chopin actually attended the class of Kalkbrenner but soon quit, for he had nothing to learn of the pompous, penurious pianist.
Among the Polish composers of the second half of the last century and the beginning of the present whose polonaises enjoyed in their day, and partly enjoy still, a high reputation, are especially notable Kozlowski, Kamienski, Elsner, Deszczynski, Bracicki, Wanski, Prince Oginski, Kurpinski, and Dobrzynski.
We noticed Baron Elsner speaking to several officials, and we heard the word "Americanski," which had so often opened hearts and doors to us, for Russia honestly likes America, and presently the Baron said, in a low tone, "When the Emperor passes out you may step down here; these soldiers will surround you, and you may photograph him." I could scarcely believe my ears.
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