Autobiography of Anton Rubinstein, 1829-1889 - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER X. Musical classes in the Michael Palace.--The teachers and scholars.--The Music School.--The Conservatory.--The first professors and the first graduating classes of pupils of both sexes.--Relations of society to the Conservatory, and its demands upon it.--Services rendered to Russia by the Conservatory. 1859-1867. MEANWHILE the "musical classes" of the Michael Palace were gradually developing into a conservator'.... By-laws were drawn up, and an establishment founded. It must be remembered that this was a time of ultra-patriotism.... In framing the by-laws we deemed it wiser to avoid foreign words, and consequently would not think of calling our school a " Conservatory," and therefore we called it the "Music School." Neither would our teachers bear the title of " professor," since that too is a foreign word, but must be called "instructors." The by-laws were presented and ratified in 1862, and the result proved that in our struggle to adhere to the vernacular, we had, to some extent, injured our position; for the title of professor in Russia indicates a far more honorable rank than that of instructor. However, in 1873, after the death of the Grand Duchess Helen, when the Grand Duke Constantin became the patron of the Conservatory, the by-laws were amended. The Music School was turned into a Conservatory, and the " instructors" into " professors." I was its first director, serving from Sept. 1,1862 to 1867. Gerke, Leschetizki, Dreischok,Davydov,Nissen-Salomon,Wieni awski,Schubcrth,Peterson,Weikman,Zabel, Chiardi, Zaremba, Villoing, Luft, Metzdorf, Voyachek, Cavalini, Fererro, Repetto, VanArk, Kross, Zeifert, Famintsin, Rubetz, Johanson, Czerny, and other musicians well known in Russia, were by turns professors and tutors of the...