Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/87

Rh Lablache, the great bass singer, when he first heard her, could think of nothing more expressive of his admiration than to say "every note was a pearl."

Some time afterward, when they were both at a rehearsal, the young prima donna asked him to lend her his hat. He very politely did so, though not without secret wonder at her request.

She took it, and stepping to another part of the stage, placed the edge of the hat to her lips and sang several strains of melody; then returning to Lablache, she ordered him to fall on his knees and receive a royal present she had for him. He could do nothing but comply with the whim of the fair songstress.

She then told him that she was bestowing on him untold wealth, for, by his own saying, she was presenting him with a hatful of pearls.  

There is a great deal of mechanical as well as mental labor about musical composition. But musicians who compose a great deal become as expert in the quick transfer of their ideas to paper as do those who deal in words rather than notes. When spurred by necessity, remarkable speed in composition has been developed. Mendelssohn once had his pride slightly wounded, and the result was the composition of an overture in two days' time.

He had expected to write a romance and an overture for a performance of "Ruy Blas," but owing to other duties had only completed the romance. The music was to be played for the benefit of a charitable society. After sending the committee the romance music they soon called on him to express their thanks, and said "it was a great pity he had not written the overture, though they understood it could not be done in a hurry, and next year, if they might be allowed, they would give him longer notice." 