Thomas Tapper

“ GRIEG
Have you ever thought that the beautiful ideas of great men sometimes outlive famous cities?
[Pg 12] What a lot of cities and countries we must visit in our thoughts, to see the great composers at their work. For example—
1. Grieg belongs to Norway.
2. Chopin to Warsaw and Paris.
3. Schubert to Vienna in Austria.
4. Bach to Thuringia in Saxony, Germany.
5. Handel to Germany and England.
6. Haydn to Hungary.
7. Beethoven to Germany and Vienna. (He was born at Bonn on the Rhine) .
8. Schumann to Germany.
9. Mendelssohn to Hamburg and Berlin, Germany. ”

“ Mendelssohn died two years before the death of Chopin. Both of these great composers kept busily at their work until the last year of their lives although neither of them was very strong.
F. MENDELSSOHN
[Pg 5] Here is a picture of little Chopin playing for a group of boyhood friends.
LITTLE CHOPIN PLAYING FOR HIS FRIENDS
Chopin was only nine years old when he first played in public. It is said that he created quite a sensation. But like all those who know that talent is something to be worked for, he did not stop studying just because his playing was pleasing to other people. ”

“ 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. ”

“ It will be a pleasant thing for us to see if we can arrange these names in order, beginning with the oldest, Bach and Handel, and coming down to the latest. By doing such things, time and time again, they begin to stick in the memory.
SOME FACTS ABOUT CHOPIN
When you have read this page and the next make a story about Chopin's life. Write it in your own words. When you are quite sure you cannot improve it, copy it on pages 15 and 16.
1. Frederic François Chopin was born in Poland.
2. His birthday was March 1, 1809.
[Pg 13] 3. He spent most of his life in the two cities of Warsaw and Paris. ”

“ 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. ”