Recollections Of Johannes Brahms (Paperback)

RECOLLECTIONS OF JOHANNES BRAHMS RECOLLECTIONS OF JOHANNES BRAHMS BY ALBERT DIETRICH AND J. V. WIDMANN Translated by DORA E. HECHT NEW YORK CHARLES SCRIBNERS SONS IS3-I57 FIFTH AVENUE 1899 TRANSLATORS PREFACE IT is now more than two years since the world was made the poorer by the death of that great musician, Johannes Brahms, and as yet nothing in the form of a biography has been published in England. This fact, together with the know ledge that nowhere has Brahms, the composer, more ardent admirers than in England, has encouraged the translator to venture to offer to the English public these two series of 1 Recollections which are the nearest approach to a biography as yet in existence. Professor Dietrich, as a member of the group of young musicians who gathered round Schumann at Dusseldorf, was on most intimate terms with Brahms during the years immediately following the latters introduction to the public. The letters carry us, with some regularity, from the vi TRANS LA TORS PREFA CJS year 1853 up to 1874 whereas Dr J. V. Widmann, an eminent Swiss litterateur, is en abled to give us some details of the later years of the musicians life 1886-97. Thus it will be seen that these two little works in nowise encroach upon one another on the contrary, the one seems to continue and complete the other. As these c Recollections have found great favour with the German-speaking lovers of Brahms, the translator trusts that, in spite of the disadvantages of translation, the book will give pleasure to the English admirers of the great composer. D. E. H. November 1899. CONTENTS ALBERT DIETRICHS RECOLLECTIONS CHAP. PAGE I. BRAHMS AND SCHUMANN ... I II. LABOR OMNIA VINCIT . . 30 III. VIENNA AND FAME.. . .51 J. V. WI MANJSTS RECOLLECTIONS CHAP. I. FIRST IMPRESSIONS . . . .89 II. AN OPERA .... 105 HI. THREE SUMMERS IN THUN . . .119 IV. IN ITALY ..... 146 V. THE LAST YEARS .... 183 RECOLLECTIONS OF JOHANNES BRAHMS BY ALBERT DIETRICH CHAPTER I BRAHMS AND SCHUMANN IN the autumn of 1851, having then attained my twenty-second year, I went to live at Dusseldorf in order to be near Schumann, for whom I had the deepest veneration. He and his wife received me with . great kindness, and soon became a daily visitor at their house. Warm sympathy with the aspirations of young musicians was a leading feature in Schumanns character, and this explains the enthusiasm with which, in 1853, he welcomed young Brahms to Dusseldorf. Joachim had recommended him most warmly, and had also drawn Schumanns attention to the works of the young genius. Soon after Brahmss arrival, in September of the same year, Schumann came up to me at a A 2 BRAHMS AND SCHUMANN practice of our choral society with an air of mystery, and with a happy smile said, One has come of whom we shall all hear great things, his name is Johannes Brahms l And then he led him up to me. The appear ance, as original as interesting, of the youthful, almost boyish-looking musician, with his high pitched voice and long, fair hair, made a most attractive impression upon me. I was particularly struck by the characteristic energy of the mouth, and the serious depths in his blue eyes. Brahms then twenty years of age was soon at home in Dusseldorf circles, especially amongst the artists and their families, and he was a frequent guest at the houses of Sohn, Lessing, Gude and Schirmer, 2 and also of the blind Fraulein Leser, an intimate friend of theSchumanns, at whose house many musical gatherings took place. His modest and winning manner soon gained all hearts. I have a particularly lively recollection of one evening-party which took place, soon after Brahmss arrival, at the house of the hospitable and music-loving family Euler. Brahms was asked to play, and executed Bachs Toccata in F major, and his own Scherzo in E flat minor with wonderful power and mastery 1 Neue Bahnen An enthusiastic essay about Brahms by Robert Schumann in the Neve Zeitschrift fur Musik...