Directions for Binding

Enclosed in this envelope is the cord and the
needle with which to bind this book. Start in from
the outside as shown on the diagram here. Pass the
needle and thread through the center of the book,
leaving an end extend outside, then through to the
outside, about 2 inches from the center; then from
the outside to inside 2 inches from the center at the
other end of the book, bringing the thread finally
again through the center, and tie the two ends in a
knot, one each side of the cord on the outside.

THEO. PRESSER CO., Pub’s., Phila., Pa.

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

This book is one of a series known as the CHILD’S OWN
BOOK OF GREAT MUSICIANS, written by Thomas
Tapper, author of “Pictures from the Lives of the Great Composers
for Children,” “Music Talks with Children,” “First
Studies in Music Biography,” and others.

The sheet of illustrations included herewith is to be cut
apart by the child, and each illustration is to be inserted in its
proper place throughout the book, pasted in the space containing
the same number as will be found under each picture on the
sheet. It is not necessary to cover the entire back of a picture
with paste. Put it only on the corners and place neatly within
the lines you will find printed around each space. Use photographic
paste, if possible.

After this play-work is completed there will be found at
the back of the book blank pages upon which the child is to
write his own story of the great musician, based upon the facts
and questions found on the previous pages.

The book is then to be sewed by the child through the
center with the cord found in the enclosed envelope. The book
thus becomes the child’s own book.

This series will be found not only to furnish a pleasing and
interesting task for the children, but will teach them the main
facts with regard to the life of each of the great musicians—an
educational feature worth while.

This series of the Child’s Own Book of Great Musicians
includes at present a book on each of the following:

Printed in the U.S.A.

Copyright 1921, by Theo. Presser Co.
British Copyright Secured

BORN

DIED

[Pg 3]

The Story of a Boy Who Became a Great
Pianist and Teacher

This is the house in which was born a little boy
who became a famous pianist and a great teacher.
This house is in Raiding, in Hungary.

HOUSE IN WHICH FRANZ LISZT WAS BORN

Now-a-days there is a little tablet over the door,
which tells us that Franz Liszt was born in this house,
on the Twenty-second Day of
October, 1811.

JOSEPH HAYDN

Do you remember that once
upon a time Joseph Haydn lived
as court musician in the Esterhazy
family? He wore a tie wig
and a wonderful bright uniform;
for he was master of the music
in that great house.

[Pg 4]

Now, long after Joseph Haydn’s time, Adam
Liszt, father of Franz, lived with the Esterhazy’s.
He was the family steward, having charge of all the
property.

And, too, he loved music. So we may believe
that he told his little boy, Franz, about the great
master Haydn. For Adam Liszt was not only a
lover of music but he gave his son his first lessons in
piano playing. Liszt’s mother was of German blood.
She was born in lower Austria.

LISZT’S MOTHER AND FATHER

Little Franz practiced so faithfully and so eagerly,
I am sure, that when he was only nine years of age
he gave a concert in public. He played so well that
some good friends offered to send him to Vienna
where he could continue his studies.

And so the little boy left home and began the
studies that led him to become the greatest pianist
of his time. His piano teacher was a man of whom almost
everybody knows. Does he not have a round,
good-natured face? And does he not look kind? Well,
he could be severe when his pupil’s lessons did not
please him.

[Pg 5]

His name was Carl Czerny. Here is his picture.

CARL CZERNY

On New Year’s day of the year that little Franz
was eleven years old he played in public in Vienna.
It must have been a wonderful occasion. All the great
people were there; and among them was one who was
greatest of all, Beethoven.

BEETHOVEN

Then Adam Liszt thought his boy should go to
Paris. He wished him to become a student in the conservatory
there. But its director, Cherubini, refused
to admit Franz to the classes. So, like most of us,
he studied with a private teacher. Also, he traveled
to England and to all the countries of Europe, giving
concerts. His fame was becoming greater and his
[Pg 6]
playing was the delight of all who heard him. Here
are two pictures of Franz as a boy. He dressed differently
from boys of to-day. But do you not think
his face is a fine one? Full of light and life and eagerness?

LISZT AS A BOY

Franz was only sixteen years old when his father
died. They had been good comrades, had traveled
together and talked with one another about music
and musicians. The boy must have grieved keenly
over the loss of so good and kind a companion as his
father had been. But he went earnestly to work to
earn a living for his mother and himself. He knew
many famous people and we may be sure that everyone
helped him. Here are two of Franz’s friends of
that time.

VICTOR HUGO – F. CHOPIN

[Pg 7]

AT THE PIANO

I am sure you will like
to know how Liszt looked
as he sat at the piano. Here
he sits playing. You see he
had only a simple kind of
piano. But he mastered it
so thoroughly that he could
make people wonder at his
art. That is what we learn
from the lives of famous
people. They are always
true to their talent.

After Liszt had traveled
many years over Europe
(he never visited the United States), he became conductor
at the Court Theatre at Weimar. This new
music work interested him so much that he gave up
travel as a concert pianist. He helped many composers
by having their operas performed at the
Weimar Theatre. Some of the operas that had
their first performance there are now famous
indeed.

Among these were “Lohengrin,” “Tannhauser”
and “The Flying Dutchman” by Richard Wagner.

R. WAGNER – R. SCHUMANN – F. SCHUBERT

[Pg 8]

Then there were “Genoveva” and “Manfred” by
Robert Schumann. Also “Alfonzo and Estrella” by
Franz Schubert was given. It would have delighted
Schubert’s heart if he could have heard this; but he,
poor man, had died some years before.

Then Liszt did something else at Weimar that endeared
him to hosts of pianists. He held classes and
taught the secrets of his wonderful playing to those
who were talented and could understand. He was
the soul of generosity. When someone, who was
gifted but could not pay, came for advice, he gave it
freely. When concerts did not pay, he himself often
took the loss so that others should not suffer.

Is it not wonderful to think of a man, so loved by
the public, giving with such great generosity? Truly
it is better to give than to receive.

LISZT AND SOME FAMOUS PUPILS
S. Liebling – Rosenthal – Liszt – Dora – Peterson
Siloti – Ans der Ohe – Sauer – Gottschlag
Friedheim – Reisenauer

[Pg 9]
All good and wonderful things live on forever.
Even though Liszt moved from Weimar, spending
his last years in Budapest, Rome and elsewhere, he
was not idle. There was always a circle of people
about him. And always his full-hearted, generous
nature kept him at work for the good of others. He
reminds us of Beethoven who once said, “Composing
is a capital thing. For instance if a friend is in distress
and I have no money at hand to help him, I can sit
down and compose something which I can sell and
so relieve him.” It seems that Franz Liszt thought the
same for he was forever helping someone else.

We have already seen how Liszt looked as he sat
at the piano (see picture No. 12). This is Liszt at the
conductor’s stand. Do you see his baton and the score
on the desk? And the position of the left hand?
When Liszt conducted the orchestra the players
watched every movement of his hands and every look
of his eyes so as to play just as he desired.

LISZT AS CONDUCTOR

[Pg 10]Franz Liszt was kind to all people
who came to him. There was
one musician, however, for whom
he did a great deal. You know
him for he composed many operas.
One of them is called “Parsifal.”
Another is “The Flying Dutchman.”
Place his picture here and
write his name beneath.

Some day the operas of Richard
Wagner will give you great pleasure.
At first they were not liked by the public. Wagner
had few friends and his life was very hard. But
Franz Liszt believed in him and in his work. And so
he helped him.

At first Wagner did not like Liszt. He once said,
“I never repeated my first call on Liszt.” By this he
meant that he wished the acquaintance to end. When
Liszt realized that Wagner did not care to understand
him, he tried his best to keep the friendship secure.
Liszt never wished to misunderstand another human
being. So, it was not long before Wagner’s opinion of
Liszt changed, for he said, later, “Through the love
of this rarest friend I gained a real home for my art.”

LISZT’S HAND

There is one thing true for us all. We carry our
early thoughts along with us all through life. The
[Pg 11]
friends we make from youth and the thoughts we
think from youth are always at hand to bless us if we
have done wisely.

Once when little Franz was thirteen years old he
played before the English King, George IV. Sixty
years later we see him again, once more the guest of
the English people.

It is pleasant to think of Liszt meeting again and
again the friends of his boyhood. When he went to
England, on this occasion, he was quite an old man. As
he stepped out upon the stage to play, for the last time,
everybody, even the people outside of the hall, who
could not get in, shouted themselves hoarse. Those
within rose to greet him with tears and cheers that
are given only to the kings of the earth.

LISZT IN LATER LIFE

While we know of this artist chiefly as a great
pianist, we shall learn, as we grow older, that he was
a great composer as well. He wrote music for piano,
for orchestra, for the voice. There are symphonies,
masses, oratorios and cantatas. Once, as a boy, he
met Franz Schubert in Vienna. In later years he arranged
[Pg 12]
many of Schubert’s songs in a truly beautiful
way for the piano,—songs like the “Erl King,” “Thou
Art My Peace,” “Hark, Hark the Lark.”

So we may end by saying that Franz Liszt was a
great man who remained simple and big-hearted all
his life, and one whom the world loved for what he
did.

LISZT’S HAND WRITING

FACTS ABOUT FRANZ LISZT

Read these facts about Franz Liszt and try to
make a story about him, in your own language.

When your story is done, and you have improved
it all you can, copy it in pages 14, 15, and 16 of this
book.

1. Franz Liszt was born in Raiding, in Hungary.

2. His birthday is October 22, 1811.

3. His father was his first teacher.

4. He studied piano in Vienna with Carl Czerny.

5. Then he went to Paris.

6. Among Liszt’s boyhood friends were Beethoven,
Schubert and Chopin.

7. After many years as a concert pianist, Liszt
became opera conductor at Weimar.

[Pg 13]
8. He brought out many of the operas of Richard
Wagner.

9. He was a great teacher of piano, and many
people from Europe and from the United States
studied with him.

10. He composed many fine works.

11. Among them are arrangements of many of
Schubert’s songs.

12. Liszt died in Rome in 1886. He was seventy-five
years old.

13. Liszt wrote the life of his friend Frederic
Chopin.

14. It has been said that no musician ever lived
who did so much for others as Franz Liszt.

SOME QUESTIONS.

1. When and where was Franz Liszt born?

2. Who was his first teacher?

3. What was his father’s occupation? In what
family did he live?

4. Where was his mother born?

5. With whom did Franz study piano in Vienna?

6. What famous musician did he meet in Vienna?

7. Name two or three people whom he met in
Paris.

8. What great composer of opera did he assist?

9. Name some operas that Liszt produced at
Weimar.

10. In what Italian city did Liszt live?

11. Whose songs did he arrange for piano?

12. What great musician’s life was written by
Franz Liszt?

13. When and where did Franz Liszt die?

[Pg 14]

THE STORY OF FRANZ LISZT

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