Page:A Dictionary of Music and Musicians vol 4.djvu/765

PIANOFORTE-PLAYING. 1886, and Brassin, 1884, whose birth is to be altered to 1836. Col. d, add date of death of C. V. Alkan, May 1888.

PIATTI,. Add day of birth, Jan. 8.

PICCINNI. P. 748a, l. 27 from bottom, for 17 read 27. P. 748b, l. 28, for Feb. 20 read Feb. 22; l. 19 from bottom, for Feb. 28 read Feb. 25.

PICCOLOMINI, The date of birth is 1836, as given by Pougin, Paloschi, and Mendel. Lines 5–6 of article, for Signors Mazzarelli and P. Romani read Signora Mazzarelli and Signor Pietro Romani. P. 751b, l. 6, for April 33 read April 30, and add that the occasion was the second performance of the opera, which had been produced on the 26th of the month. In 1884 a testimonial was set on foot for the artist, who was reported to be in reduced circumstances. ('Daily News,' March 21, 1884.)

PIETEREZ,, born at Bruges early in the 15th century, is the earliest known organ-builder in Belgium. He built an instrument in 1455 at Delft, which is still in the new church; but it has been so often restored that nothing remains of his work. [ V. de P. ]

PIETOSO, 'pitiful' or 'compassionate.' As a musical direction it indicates that the passage to which it refers is to be performed in a sympathetic style, with much feeling. Although the term appears in Brossard's Dictionary, where it is defined as 'd'une manière capable d'exciter de la pitié ou de la compassion,' it is not to be found in Beethoven's works, and the 'romantic' composers, in whose music it might be expected to occur frequently, seem to prefer other terms to indicate the same intention. 'Con duolo' is Weber's favourite equivalent, and most composers find 'espressivo' sufficiently definite. [ M. ]

PILGRIME VON MEKKA, DIE. Line 4 of article, add that it had been previously played at Schönbrunn with French words in 1764, that it was produced in German in Vienna in 1776, and in Paris, as 'Les Foux de Medina,' 1790.

PINSUTI,. Add date of death, March 10, 1888.

PIRATA, IL. Line 3, for in the autumn of, read on Oct. 27.

PISCHEK, See vol. iii. p. 54a.

PITTMAN, Add date of death, April 23, 1886.

PIXIS. Line 14 from end of article, for Dec. 21 read Dec. 20.

PIZZICATO. Add that early instances of the use of this effect are to be found in Handel's 'Agrippina,' 'Pastor Fido,' 'Terpsichore,' and in an air by Hasse, written for Mingotti in 1748.

PLAIN SONG. Add to references on p. 765b, and 766a, a reference to in Appendix, vol. iv. p. 655.

PLANTÉ,, born at Orthez in the Basses Pyrenees, March 2, 1839, appeared in Paris at a very early age as an infant prodigy, playing the piano with much success. In Dec. 1849 he entered Marmontel's class at the Conservatoire, and in the following year carried off the first prize. He was then before the public again as a performer, for some three years, during which time he played frequently at the chamber concerts given by Alard and Franchomme; in 1853 he returned to the Conservatoire to study harmony under Bazin. Here he obtained a second prize in 1855. It must be regarded as a fortunate circumstance that, at a party at which he was playing, the audience persisted in talking to an extent that highly offended Planté; whereupon he retired in great wrath to the Pyrenees, where he remained for nearly ten years, becoming familiar with the compositions of all schools, and counteracting the evils which necessarily accompany such a career as his had hitherto been. He did not reappear in Paris until 1872, when he devoted himself to playing on behalf of various charitable objects. A series of concerts given with Alard and Franchomme established his position, and thenceforth he has held a distinguished place among French pianists. He has undertaken many successful concert-tours on the Continent, and appeared in England in 1878. His playing is characterized by repose, maturity of style, and rare intelligence. He is Chevalier of the Legion d'honneur. (Pougin's supplement to Fétis.) [ M. ]

PLAYFORD, Add that he commenced business as a book publisher about 1648. His first musical publication was 'The English Dancing Master: or Plaine and easie rules for the dancing of Country Dances,' with the tune to each dance, bearing the date 1651, but really issued in or about Nov. 1650, which became very popular, and during the next 80 years, under the title of 'The Dancing Master,' ran through 18 editions. [ W. H. H. ]

Line 8 of article, for 1679 read 1681. Line 10, the date 1680 should probably be 1681, as in that year his house at Islington was advertised for sale, and it is not likely that he would have set up the house in Arundel Street before getting rid of his former residence. Line 12 from end of article, the date of Henry Purcell (the younger's) death should probably be 1703.

PLEYEL. P. 3b, correct date of birth to Dec. 18, 1788. (Pougin; Mendel's supplement.) Line 23 from bottom, after Moke add or Mooke. Add Berlioz in 1830 was violently in love with her, as an episode in his great passion for Miss Smithson; and her coolness after his departure for Rome nearly caused him to commit a frightful crime. See his Biography, chap. 34, and 'Lettres intimes,' xxvii–xxxiii. Also in M. Jullien's 'Hector Berlioz,' 1888.

PLEYEL & CO. Line 12 of article, add date of death of Henri Pape, Feb. 1887.