dinner, Vogler sent for two pianos of his, which were tuned alike, and also his wearisome engraved sonatas.  I had to play them, while he accompanied me on the other piano.  At his urgent request I sent for my sonatas also.  N. B.—­Before dinner he had scrambled through my sonata at sight, (the Litzau one which the young lady of the house plays.) He took the first part prestissimo—­the Andante allegro—­and the Rondo more prestissimo still.  He played great part of the bass very differently from the way in which it is written, inventing at times quite another harmony and melody.  It is impossible to do otherwise in playing at such a pace, for the eyes cannot see the notes, nor the hands get hold of them.  What merit is there in this?  The listeners (I mean those worthy of the name) can only say that they have seen music and piano-playing.  All this makes them hear, and think, and feel as little—­as he does.  You may easily believe that this was beyond all endurance, because I could not venture to say to him much too quick! besides, it is far easier to play a thing quickly than slowly; some notes may then be dropped without being observed.  But is this genuine music?  In rapid playing the right and left hands may be changed, and no one either see or hear it; but is this good? and in what does the art of reading prima vista consist?  In this—­to play the piece in the time in which it ought to be played, and to express all the notes and apoggiaturas, &c., with proper taste and feeling as written, so that it should give the impression of being composed by the person who plays it.  His fingering also is miserable; his left thumb is just like that of the late Adlgasser, all the runs downwards with the right hand he makes with the first finger and thumb!

91.

Mannheim, Feb. 2 1778.

I could no delay writing to you till the usual Saturday arrived, because it was so long since I had the pleasure of conversing with you by means of my pen.  The first thing I mean to write about is how my worthy friends and I got on at Kirchheim-Boland.  It was simply a holiday excursion, and nothing more.  On Friday morning at eight o’clock we drove away from here, after I had breakfasted with Herr Weber.  We had a capital covered coach which held four; at four o’clock we arrived at Kirchheim-Boland.  We immediately sent a list of our names to the palace.  Next morning early, Herr Concertmeister Rothfischer called on us.  He had been already described to me at Mannheim as a most honorable man, and such I find him to be.  In the evening we went to court, (this was on Saturday,) where Madlle.  Weber sang three airs.  I say nothing of her singing, but it is indeed admirable.  I wrote to you lately with regard to her merits; but I cannot finish this letter without writing further about her, as I have only recently known her well, so now first discover her great powers.  We dined afterwards at the officers’ table.  Next day we went some distance