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Bans Balatka-Mr. G. 0. Stevens, formerly of Milwaukee, now of Chicago, has commenced to publish in “The Evening Messenger/’ a series of sketches of Northwestern musical celebrities. The first sketch is devoted to the gentleman whose name heads this article, who will be remembered as a recent resident of this city :This eminent musician was born, March 5th, 1825, in Hoffnungsthal, Moravia, and begun his musical career, as a choirist, inthe cathedral of t'lmutz.The young musician there laid the foundation of that eminence which he has since at tained. After a few years in that position, he removed to Vienna, one of the greatest musical cities of Europe, which gave birth to Franz Schubert, and other celebrated musicians. and where repose the immortal bones of Hayden- Mr Balatka studied under the best masters in that city, became a member of the musical societies, acquired a knowledge of several musical instruments, and qualified himself for that lofty position which he now holds as one of the most accomplished directors of the nge. In 1848, the revolution, which swept like an avalanche over a great portion of Europe was no respecter of the arts or persons, and, like many other men of genius, our artist thought it advisable to seek a fresh field for bis labors. He spent a short time in Dresden and Hamburg, from there he sailed for the United States, th* refuge for the oppressed of the world. He arrived in New York in June, 1849, and went direct to Milwaukee, Wisconsin.In this growing city of the west, music had made but little progress. In 1851, Mr. Balatka founded tlie musical society of that city. This society soon became popular, and has been the just pride, for many years’ of the citizens of the ‘fair white city.K Itnumberei nearly a hundred performers, vocal and instrumental. The male chorus was considered the finest on this continent. Among other celebrated works this society performed was the Opera of Norma, Der Freichutz, the Armorer, Czar and Zimmerman,* and others, also Haydn:s Creation, the Seasons, and the immortal Symphonies of Beethoven and Mozart. -Mr. B. presided over this society for ten years, and, despite all its various tempers and humors, kept it together by a passionate love of the art and the moral influence of his personal character. ..In 1860, Mr. Balatka removed to this city, he was at once engaged as musical director of the Philharmonic Society, which has, under his able direction become the most celebrated in the United States, with the exception perhaps of New York and Boston. On the reorganization of the Musical Union, he was appointed its musical director—a position he fills to the entire satisfaction of its members and the public generallyThe process of musical composition, indeed, is a matter of very difficult study, and it requires years of application to acquire familiarity with the laws of harmony in order to compose understanding^. There is no profession, perhaps, which demands so complete an abstraction of mind. Eminence in both composing and playing is sometimes united in one man—as in the case of Mr. Balatka, who is a successful author and at the same time a good performer on the con-tra-bass, violencello, violin, guitar and piano. He has composed some very fine pieces for orchestra—one of which is an elegy on the death of Douglas, performed several times in this city; it contains Borne masterly effects of instrumentation, displaying a thorough acquaintance with all the instruments of an orcheBtra; also some songs and ariaB equally beautiful and artistic. He gained the prize* of a silver goblet in Cincinnati in 1806. for the best chorus for male voices, open for competition to the whole United States.As a director, he is unrivalled. The orchestra is under good discipline. Not only does the eyes of its members never stray from their work, but their spirits never appear to tire under the influence of his £«-ton.Music ia indebted to his friendly exertions and gratefully records his name on the scroll of her favorite sons.
Newspaper Details
Daily Milwaukee News
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, US
Fri, Jan 29, 1864
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Gerald N.
WI, USA 26 Sep 2020
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