The World's Great Men of Music eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 316 pages of information about The World's Great Men of Music.

The World's Great Men of Music eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 316 pages of information about The World's Great Men of Music.
from a distance.  It may have been a certain shyness and reticence that stood in the way, for he wrote home about a concert in the Singakademie:  “Spontini, Zelter and Felix Mendelssohn were all there, but I spoke to none of these gentlemen, as I did not think it becoming to introduce myself.”  Music and things connected with music, music-shops and piano factories, took up most of his time, as he declined to attend the meetings of the Congress.

“At the time of the Berlin visit,” writes Niecks, his biographer, “Chopin was a lively, well-educated, well-mannered youth, who walked through life, pleased with its motley garb, but as yet unconscious of the deeper truths, the immensities of joy and sadness, of love and hate, which lie beneath the surface.”

After a stay of two weeks in the Prussian capital, Professor Jarocki and Frederic started on their return to Poland.  During the journey they were obliged to halt an hour for fresh horses.  Chopin began to look about the little inn for some sort of amusement to while away the time.  He soon discovered in a corner, an old piano, which proved to be in tune.  Of course he lost no time, but sat down and began to improvise on Polish melodies.  Soon his fellow passengers of the stage-coach began to drop in one after another; at last came the post master with his wife and pretty daughter.  Even when the hour was up and the horses had been put to the chaise, they begged the young musician to go on and on.  Although he remonstrated, saying it was now time to go, they protested so convincingly that the boy sat down again and resumed his playing.  Afterwards wine was brought in and they all drank to the health of the young master.  Chopin gave them a mazurka for farewell, then the tall post master caught him up and carried him out to the coach, and all travelers started away in high spirits.

About the middle of July, 1829, Chopin with three young friends, started out for Vienna.  In those days an artist, in order to make himself and his work known, had to travel about the world and arrange concerts here and there, introduce himself to prominent people in each place and make them acquainted with his gifts.  The present journey had for its object Vienna, the city of Beethoven and Schubert and other great masters.

Of course the young musician carried many letters of introduction, both to publishers and influential persons, for whom he played.  Every one told him he ought to give a concert, that it would be a disgrace to parents, teachers and to himself not to appear in public.  At last Frederic overcame his hesitation.  In a letter home he writes; “I have made up my mind; they tell me I shall create a furore, that I am an artist of the first rank, worthy of a place beside Moscheles, Herz and Kalbrenner,” well-known musicians of the day.  One must forgive the nineteen year old boy, if he felt a little pride in being classed with these older and more famous musicians.

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The World's Great Men of Music from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.