The First Violin

verlorenen

r?ulein Sartorius, to whom, unpopular as she was, I noticed people constantly and almost instincti

uired who was t

hen he directs the best of the musical vereins-the clubs-societies, w

is

ts all the great concerts, and though he does not sing himself, yet he is one of the best

are thes

ed a verein-musik-verein. The chorus is chiefly composed of ladies and gentlemen-amateurs, you know-Dilettanten. The Herr Direktor is very

, hastily, remembering that C

call a r

s he was one of the amateurs who sung at these concerts, an

any one, particularly with su

n," said Miss

a. "I shall go, not to sing, but to listen. I can take Miss Wedderbur

obliged to you. Certai

after that time we set off for the Tonhal

e are shamefully late. Most of them only come to klats

h impressed. She told me that if I accepted I might even sing in the concert itself, as t

haupt-probe

id pupils. I always attend that. I like to hear him make sport of them,

found myself, with Anna, turning into a low-fronted building inscribed

he rittersaal. We don't go to the

t instrumentalists, and some stiff-looking Celli and Contrabassi kept watch from a wall. On the orchestra was already assembled a goodly number

eaned negligently against the rail, and held a conversation with a pretty young lady who seemed much pleased with his attention. It did not strike me at first that this was the terrible direktor of whom I had been hearing. He was young, had a sl

Dire

more ceremonious attitude, he descended from his estrade, and stood beside us, a little to one side, looking at u

r von Francius. Miss Wedderburn wishes to join the verein, if you th

pointed. The thing which most struck me then, at any rate, was a certain expression which, conquering all others, dominated them-at once a hardness and a hardihood w

what, mein Fr?u

pra

oprani sit over there, if y

alled out to the melancholy-looking young man,

had never heard of the "Verlorenes Paradies." It came upon me like a revelation. I sung my best, substituting do, re, mi, etc., for the German words. Once or twice, as He

sung in a ch

N

of music, and while the others stood looking on and whispering among themselves,

ut could find nothing. All in German, and all strange. Suddenly I came upon one entitled "Blute nur, liebes Herz," the sopran solo which I had hear

s," said I, sho

ery great joke were in agitation, and were much appreciated. Indeed I found that in general the jokes of the Her

could abstract myself upon occasion completely from my surroundings. I did so now. It was too beautiful, too grand. I remembered that afternoon at K?ln-the golden sunshine streaming through the painted windows, the flood of melody poured forth by the invisible singer; above all, I remembered

me as if I were some strange animal from a menagerie. The young gentlemen were whispering among themselves and taking sidelong glances at me. I scarcely heeded a

t song before, gn

once. I have not se

y, and turning once mo

mselves. "A chorus of damned souls," he proceeded, composedly, "would not sing in the same unruffled manner as a young lady who warbles, 'Spring is come-tra, la, la! Spring is come-lira, lira!' in her mamma's drawing-room. Try to imagine y

dge each other. Little enough of expression, if plenty of noise, was there in that magnificent and truly difficult passage, the cha

em. The power of the man struck me again. I began to like him better. At least I venerated his thorough understanding of what was to me a splendid mystery. No softening appeared in the master's eyes in answer to the rows of pretty appealing faces turned to him; no smile upon his contem

onceive what is happening! Put yourself back into those mythical times. Believe, for this evening, in the story of the forfeited Paradise. There is strife between the Blessed and the Damned; the obedient and the disobedient. There are thick c

tets verneint-if nothing more violent. His cool, scornful features were lighted up with some of the excitement which he could not drill into

rs, "try to forget what you are! Try to forget that none

w he is laughing at

it come out in your voices-you who sing the strains of the blessed ones, think of what

bei ihm ist

Wilhelm

r-only sing it, whatever it is. R

nennen es

nennen es

en nennen

sin

ation of his attitude, had their effect upon the crew of giggling, simpering girls and awkward, self-conscious young men. Some idea seemed vouchsafed

ddenly into the spirit of the music, and revealed me depths in my own heart at which I had never even guessed. Excited, with cheeks burning and my heart hot within me, I followed his words and his gestures, and grew so impatient of the dull stupidity of the others that tears came to my eyes. How could that young woman, in the midst of a sublime chorus, deliberatel

o the direktor, who was still n

I may join? Wi

crossed his face;

me this way with me. Pardon, Fr?ulein Stockhausen-anot

smile and an open score to ask him some question, greeted this very com

led Anna and me to a small inner room, wh

f you will be

derb

, though-your

tian name

to write it yourself, and the street and

omp

u been h

uite a

end to make

nths, pr

e any progress in music, y

pon other people h

not unpleasant; it lighted up the dark

four in the afternoon. I should like to have a little co

ntly dismissed us, he turned to

lent one. Anna certainly asked me s

ed properly. I ca

had a voice like t

e wh

ell you all about it to-m

rr von Francius is!" s

ery cl

t like him. Now I

er for a few min

excellen