CO

CO
CD
CO

'

'.

:.y':

Ill

II

''-'

9
'

After a drawing hy A. Duval.

Property of F. Rie>.

Bngravtd by Rotkmlet

& Jutms,

Dnsdtn.

FREDERIC CHOPIN
HIS

LIFE

V\auT-vs.y

AND LETTERS
BY

MORITZ) KARASOWSKI.

TRANSLATED BY

EMILY HILL.

SECOND EDITION REVISED AND FURTHER LETTERS ADDEDWRITTEN DURING THE COMPOSER'S SOJOURN IN ENGLAND
AND SCOTLAND, 1848-9. WITH PORTRAITS AND A
FACSIMILE OF THE ORIGINAL AUTOGRAPH
MANUSCRIPT OF THE PRELUDE IN
E MINOR, OP. 28, NO. 4.

IN

TWO VOLUMES. VOL

I.

LONDON
y
CHARING
CROSS
ROAD.
WILLIAM REEVES, 83,
:

MCMVI

C 5^K313

'Chopin

is

and remains the boldest and proudest poetic

spirit of the

age."

ROBERT SCHUMANN

New and

Revittd Edition,

l'.MHl.

HERMANN SCHOLTZ.

To
Our

frequent

taught

me

to respect

great master,

on

conversations

and

Chopin

you as an admirer of

as a true

and

peter of his glorious productions.

have
this

faithful interIt is to

you,

therefore, that I dedicate this work, which, without

vanity, I
,

may

and devotion
Accept

it

call a

to his

monument

raised with care

memory.

as a proof of

my

sincere friendship

and appreciative esteem for your

talents.

Moritz Karasowski.
Dresden.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.
THE

original issue of Moritz Karasowski's Life

Chopin met with so much

success that a second edition was published in

and

Letters of Frederic

the following year.

but

interesting,

This contained several very

previously

unpublished

written during the composer's sojourn in

and Scotland in 1848-9.

modes of expression and
detail were also

made.

letters

England

Various alterations in
corrections in matters of

The

revised edition thus

afforded a record of yet greater value and completeness,

interesting

and

Moritz Karasowski's work in

is

from

this

trustworthy
its

as

original form.

was
It

second edition that the present Eng-

lish translation

has been prepared.

The autograph

portrait has been reproduced,

and some other portraits have been added which

do not appear in either of the German versions,

Translator's Preface.

vi

but which,

it is

deemed, will increase the value of

the book.

In the revision of the work Moritz Karasowski

did not in any

way alter

view either

his point of

in

his presentment of the character or his apprecia-

tion of the genius of the master.

It

has been said that as a pianist Chopin had

neither

predecessor

nor

successor.

The

same

might be applied to him as a composer. As far

as any artist whether artist in words, in colours,
or in tones

ever

stands alone, Chopin can lay

claim to that position by his independence and

originality.

was

Supreme

in

delicacy and finish,

his distinctive achievement to

greatness in the smallest forms.

it

have attained

PREFACE.

SEVERAL

years of friendship with the family

of Frederic Chopin have enabled

access to his letters

the public.

Just as

first series (letters

and

had

me

to

have

them before

finished transcribing the

of his youth) and was on the

arranging the second

chronologically

point of

to place

(Paris correspondence) the insurrection of

1863

broke out in Poland, and the sympathy aroused

by the

political condition of the

Fatherland dim-

inished public interest in

its

productions.

deemed

therefore

literary
it

postpone the publication of Chopin's

When
letters, I

and

artistic

advisable to
letters.

gave back to his family the original

did not dream that in a few months they

would be destroyed.

How

this

in the proper place, explain.

happened

shall,

The loss is a great

number of letters

and irreparable one, for the

from Paris, during a most brilliant and interesting epoch, was by no means inconsiderable.

Preface.

viii

In

compliance with the wishes of many

Chopin's friends and admirers,

to sketch his career

me by
which

have undertaken

from the materials afforded

his one surviving sister,

I

of

from

his letters

Warsaw, and from some

published in

other letters to his friends.

In this work, which contains full particulars

about Chopin's youth,

have corrected the erron-

eous dates and mis-statements which have found

their

way

periodicals

into

all

the

and books.

If

German
I

and French

should succeed in

presenting the reader with a life-like portrait of

the immortal

of

my

artist, it will

be the highest reward

labour of love.

The Author.

CONTENTS.
TAGE

Dedication

iii

Translator's Preface

Author's Preface

x"

List of Illustrations

CHAPTER

I.

Nicholas Chopin's Family and Friends.

Elsner

CHAPTER

vii

Zwyny.
1

II.

Frederic's Childhood. His First Appearance in

Improvisations. Polish National
Public.
18

Songs

CHAPTER

III.

Chopin's Early Manhood. His First Journey.

His Relations with Prince Anton Radziwill

CHAPTER

35

IV.

The Journey to Berlin. Chopin's Letters.

Incident of the Return to Warsaw

An
.

43

Contents,

CHAPTER

V.

Tour to Vienna, Prague, Teplitz, Dresden

CHAPTER

64

VI.

The Influence .of this Tour on Chopin. Farewell

Concert in Warsaw. Chopin Leaves his
Native City

97

^APTER
Chopin's Stay in Breslau, Dresden, Prague,
Vienna, Munich and Stuttgart. The Work
of Destruction in Warsaw

....

CHAPTER

159

VIII.

Chopin Intends to Receive Instruction FROM KALKBRENNER. THINKS OF

Going to America. Failure of Plans. He
Determines to Return to Warsaw. Soiree
at the Rothschild's

Stay in Paris.

CHAPTER

IX.

Further Stay in Paris. Tour to Aix-La-Chapelle,

Carlsbad, Marienbad, Dresden and Leipzic.
Visits to Mendelssohn and Schumann
.

CHAPTER

CHAPTER

XI.

Moscheles and Liszt.

as a Pianoforte Teacher

261

X.

Chopin's Acquaintance with George Sand. His

Life among his Friends. Winter Sojourn in
the Island of Majorca

Return to Paris.

229

Chopin

285

Contents.

xi
PAGE

CHAPTER

XII.

Domestic Sorrows. Breach with George Sand.

Journey to England.
Return to Paris.
Chopin's Illness and Death
.

CHAPTER
Chopin as a

326

XIII.

Man

CHAPTER

071

XIV.

Chopin as a Composer

386

APPENDIX.
List op Chopin's Compositions in the Order of
their Opus Numbers

411

Errata

422

Alphabetical Ini:ex of Names

423

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Portrait, from a Drawing by A. Duval.

Portrait by Ary Scheffer.

Portrait from an Oil Painting.
Portrait Published by Schuberth.

Chopin's Grave (Frontispiece to Vol.

2).

Portrait by Winterhalter.
Portrait from Bruckmann Collection.

Medallion of Chopin.
Facsimile of Prelude, Op.

28,

No.

4.

LIFE OF CHOPIN

CHAPTER

I.

NICHOLAS CHOPIN'S FAMILY AND FBIENDS.

ZWYNY. ELSNEB.

IN

the year 1787

unwonted
centred

Warsaw was

excitement.

upon the

Diet,

All
that

in

state

thoughts

of

were

was shortly

to

assemble for the purpose of preserving the Polish

nation from the miseries incident to anarchy, for

upholding the power of the

State,

remodelling

old and defective laws, and framing new ones in

harmony with the requirements of the

times.

radical reform of the effete Constitution

considered by the State

by the old

officials,

the clergy

was
and

nobility, to be absolutely necessary.

LIFE

CHOPIN.

OB'

was imperative that the Nation should be strong

enough to protect itself against hostile foreign
influences and to render impossible a repetition
of the dismemberment of 1772. To these ends
an adequate standing army must be organized,
It

and, for the purpose of raising the status of the

citizens, special privileges

classes,

patriots

and the
were

granted to the trading

serfs emancipated.

making

of

desirous

Indeed, the
all

classes

politically equal.

The

election

undertaken in a

of

members for the Diet was

of true patriotic zeal, and

spirit

all Warsaw was

astir with the preparations.
Many of the noblest families removed to the

capital.

Foreign ambassadors attended the pal-

ace to ascertain the intentions of

Augustus respecting
quired by the people.

the

King Stanislas

thorough reforms

The chariots of

re-

the highest

Wojewoden, and Kastellane,

frequently accompanied by outriders in their gorgeous national costume, and carriges filled with

official functionaries,

elegantly dressed ladies, rolled along the streets;

while everywhere there prevailed a bustle and

excitement long

unknown

The whole nation was

a brighter future. The
peaceful

revolution

by

in

Warsaw.

inspired by the hope of

nobility were to aid

voluntarily

their privileges in favour of a

renouncing

younger generation.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

The

future of the nation

glowing

was viewed

in the

most

Notwithstanding the recent par-

light.

which had rent the very

tition

heart

of

the

and narrowly circumscribed its boundaries, every patriot believed that Poland would
now rise from the degradation caused by long
years of anarchy, and, strengthened with new
country,

energy, defy every danger.

No wonder

the inhabitants of the capital wit-

nessed the preparations for this important Diet

with enthusiasm, or that the streets were thronged

Members of the aristocracy, famous

for their patriotism and willing self-sacrifice for
the good both of the people and the State, were
universally greeted with genuine esteem and

with people.

affection.

Among

the crowds which thronged the chief

thoroughfares was a young Frenchman, just arrived

from

own

country.
Everything that
met his eye from the dress of the burgher to the
gorgeous apparel of the rich noble, who at that
his

time generally wore the picturesque national cos-

tume

arrested his attention, and appeared to him

unusually interesting and original. This stranger

was Nicholas Chopin, father of the renowned

pianist and tone-poet.
Nicholas Chopin was born at Nancy, in Lorraine, April 17th, i;;o.

The duchies of Lorraine

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

and Bar passed,

as

is

well-known, by the Peace

of Vienna, in 1735, into the possession of the

King of Poland,
science

friend

to

art,

Nancy, the

and by

staunch

made great efforts for the spread

culture among his people; he founded,

and

of general
at

Stanislas Leszczynski.

Leszczynski,

Stanislas

still-existing "

and mild

his just

Academie

rule

won

Stanislai,"

the undivided

Nicholas

esteem and affection of his subjects.

Chopin was born when the remembrance of this

and philosopher was still in its first freshIt had long been the desire of Chopin, and
ness.
prince

many

other educated Lorrainers,

thing of

the

history

of

country of the exiled monarch

own

who knew some-

Poland,

to

visit

who had

the

ruled

become acquainted
with a nation which, despite its own needs, was
ever ready to assist the wants of others.
their

An

little

land,

and

to

opportunity soon presented

fulfilment

Lacynska,

of

Chopin's wishes.

who met

itself

The

for the

Starostin

Nicholas Chopin at Nancy,

and was prepossessed by his highly cultured mind

and amiable manners, offered him the appointment of tutor to her two children, which he readily
accepted. Bidding adieu to his family and
friends, he followed the Starostin, and arrived in

Warsaw during
During

the political agitation of 1787.

his residence with the Starostin

Lacyn-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

and at the village of Czerniejow,

became acquainted with
Frenchman
the young
many important official personages, some of whom
ska, in the city,

played a prominent part in the Diet.

He soon perceived that to study the manners

and customs of the people required a thorough

knowledge of the language, and in that acquisiThe distion he quickly made good progress.
bemuch,
him
interested
Diet
cussions in the
cause they revealed the many wrongs inflicted on
a nation which, under the sceptre of the Jagellons,

had been among the most powerful and

distin-

guished.

Nicholas Chopin,

also,

witnessed some import-

ant political celebrations in Warsaw.

clamation of the new Constitution of

May,
sion

made
upon him*
79 1,

With

pro-

the

3rd

a deep and permanent impres-

exception

the

The

of

few

obstinately

prejudiced aristocrats, the results of the Diet were

received

by the whole nation with unexampled

enthusiasm.

The joy

of the people of

was unbounded, and everyone hoped

*

Speaking of

this

Warsaw

for a return

new Constitution, Fox

said,

"It

is

a work, in which every friend to reasonable liberty must

Burke exclaimed: "Humanand glory when it considers the change

be sincerely interested."
ity
in

must

rejoice

Poland."

Translator's Note.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

of the golden age of Poland, as the reign of

Sigismund August II. has been rightly called.

As Nicholas Chopin moved entirely in Polish
circles, which he found very congenial, he began
to regard

Poland as

his second home,

and

heartily

sympathised with the memorable movement which

promised brighter fortunes to the land of the

Sarmatians.

The

recollection of this period never

faded from his memory, and he would often describe to his family the rapture

of the people

who thought

and enthusiasm

future well-being

its

assured by a firm government, the strengthening

of the monarchy, the equality of

the law,

all classes

before

and a standing army of 100,000 men.

Unfortunately these bright hopes were but short

lived.

Jealous neighbours, to whose interests the

re-organization

and

strengthening

were inimical, foreswore

its

of

downfall.

to all principles of justice, for

Poland
Contrary

Poland had not

in

meddled in her affairs, Russia

take up arms, under the pretext of

the smallest degree

was the

first to

opposing the Jacobite tenets of the Constitution

and of restoring to the nobles the power taken

from them by the people.

The

lust

of power and

the corruptibility of certain magnates were used

by the Russian government for its own iniquitous

ends, and the good laws decreed by the quadrennial Diet never came into operation.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Frederick William

II.,*

of Prussia although

he professed friendship for Poland, praised the

Constitution,

through his

an offensive

and on March 29th, 1790, concluded,

ambassador in Warsaw, Lucchesini,
and defensive alliance, guaranteeing
independence

the national

enter into a mutual

did

not hesitate to

engagement with Russia for

a second partition of Poland, by which he re-

an area of 1,100 square

ceived, in the year 1793,

besides

miles,

time until

its

Dantzic and
total

Thorn.

From

annihilation, one misfortune

When

after another beset the sorely tried nation.

the

weak and

this

vacillating

King

Stanislas Augustus

not only deserted his people, because they de-

fended

May

of

their

independence and the Constitution

3rd, but even joined the

the great Polish families, one

for

by

Russian party,

one, left

Warsaw

more secure abodes.

Nicholas Chopin, having lost his appointment

with the Starostin Lacynska resolved to leave
the country

Warsaw.

in

illness,

however, forced him to remain

He, therefore, witnessed, in

1794,

In a letter to the King of Poland, dated May 23rd.

"I congratulate myself on having had it in my

he said,

and independence of the

most pleasing cares will be
to support and draw closer the bond which unites us."

power

to maintain the liberty

Polish nation, and one of

my

Translatoi's Xote.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

was the hero,

by the Prussians.

the revolution of which Kosciuszko

and

also the seige of the capital

Brave by nature, and zealous for the independence

of Poland, Nicholas Chopin entered the ranks of

and took an active part in

He had attained the

the National Guards,

the defence of the country.

position of captain at the time of the defeat of

the Polish

was

army at Maciejowice, when Kosciuszko

wounded and taken prisoner, and

severely

overwhelming forces were marching on the suburb

of Praga. Nicholas Chopin was ordered thither
with his company, and his death would have been
inevitable had he not been relieved from his post
by another company a few hours before the

occupation.
It is

notorious that, after the capture of Praga,

November

5th,

1794,

Suwarow ordered

to kill all the inhabitants, old men,

children not excepted.

fell

More than

women, and

12,000 persons

victims to the conqueror's cruelty.

partition of Poland,

his troops

The

third

which was accomplished

the following year, gave the death blow to

in
its

political existence.
Poland disappeared from the
rank of nations, and figured only on the map

of

Europe

other States.

in

fragments,

Warsaw

incorporated

with

alone was under Prussian

supremacy.
After

passing

through

this

stormy

period,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Nicholas Chopin once more resolved to return to

France; but was again seized by a severe

illness,

which forbade him undergoing the fatigue and

delay which the long journey at that time inHe, therefore, remained in Warsaw, and

volved.

supported himself by giving lessons in French.

When

why he had abandoned the idea of

returning to his own country, he used to reply
" I have twice made the attempt, but was preasked

vented both times by a severe

cost

me my

dence that

life; it

illness,

which almost

seems to be the will of Provi-

should stay in Poland, and

will-

ingly submit."

In the beginning of the nineteenth century

find Nicholas

Chopin established

the Countess Skarbek, at

son.

He

met and

Mademoiselle

amiable

whom,

there

in

1806,

Kuyawy,
fell

in

Justine

he married.

in the

we

house of

as tutor to her

love with

the

Krzyzanowska,

Their union was

blessed with three daughters and one son.

Count

Frederic Skarbek was god-father to the

latter,

and

name,

gave

him

his

own

baptismal

Frederic."

While little Frederic's parents were rejoicing

growth and development, the political condition of Poland again changed.
The formation
of the Grand Duchy of Warsaw, by Napoleon I.,
in the year 1807, on the basis of the Peace of
in his

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

10
Tilsit,

aroused the Poles from the political death

which they had sunk after the last parof their country. Raised by the successful

sleep into
tition

conqueror to the importance of an actual capital,

Warsaw became

the centre of action, animating

and concentrating all the powers of the newlymade Duchy. Thither everyone eagerly repaired.
With impetuous haste a government was organized, a soldiery formed, and new schools were
established.
Following the general example,
Nicholas Chopin returned with his family to Warsaw, where he would be able to work with greater
advantage both to himself and to the country of
his adoption.
On October ist, 1810, he was appointed Professor of French at the newly-established

Lyceum, where he continued

for twenty-one years, that

is,

by the Russian government.

181

2,

until

On

in active
its

work

overthrow

January

ist,

he entered on similar duties at the School of

and Engineering. When the kingdom

Poland was restored, by the Congress of
Vienna, Nicholas Chopin undertook the professorship of French at the Military Elementary School.
Artillery

of

Fresh misfortunes were in store for the country.

The

insurrection of November 29th, 1830, which

had awakened among Polish patriots hopes of
deliverance from Russian domination, ended in
total discomfiture.
The most intelligent portion

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Ii

the nation and the representatives of the

government emigrated, the army was disbanded,
the university, the Lyceum and other educational
Nicholas Chopin
establishments were closed.

of

was

member of

the

Examining Committee for

candidates for appointments in the public schools,

and

finally

Roman
The
out

became professor

Academy

at the

for

Catholic Clergy.
strenuous exertions undertaken by Chopin,

of

love

for

his

adopted

had

country,

gradually undermined his strength;

he, therefore,

accepted a pension, and retired from public

His integrity and noble-mindedness,

life.

his dignity

under adverse fortune, and the blameless purity

of his

life,

caused him to be highly respected

the country

he had

made

his

The

own.

in

best

Polish families were anxious to entrust the training of their sons to his care, and to place them in

a household universally esteemed, so that for some

years Nicholas Chopin had the charge of a considerable

with his

number of youths who were educated

own son

Frederic.

The prolonged

ab-

sence of this much-loved son beclouded the last

years of his

family

life.

Amid

the devoted care of his

Nicholas Chopin died,

May

3rd,

1844,

aged seventy-four.
Justine Chopin,

who had

shared

all

her hus-

band's joys and troubles, was of an exceedingly

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

12

gentle disposition, and excelled in all

The fame of

virtues.

Domestic peace

render her in the least haughty.

was her highest happiness.

her with severe trials

band she

lost

womanly

her son Frederic did not

Providence

afflicted

after the death of her hus-

two charming daughters, and then

her only and dearly loved son, the last moments

of whose

life

motherly

care.

she was unable to soothe by her

But these

with touching patience.

afflictions

were borne

In extreme old age she

lived in the house of her one surviving daughter

her last days were devoted almost entirely

prayer.

She died October

1st,

to

1861.

Louisa, the eldest child, born April 6th, 1807,

received a very careful education, and soon became a great help to her parents. She was
distinguished by unusual intellectual gifts, industry, and a very agreeable manner.
In conjunction with her sister, Isabella, she wrote some
books on the best means for the elevation of the
working classes. After her marriage with Professor Jedrzejewicz, in 1832, she devoted herself

to the education of her children,

attention to literature.
tirely lay aside her pen,

in various journals,

and gave

less

not, however, en-

but wrote and published,

papers and articles on the

education of the young.

1855.

She did

She died October

29th,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Nicholas Chopin's second daughter,

Isabella,

married the Inspector of Schools, Anton Barcinski,

who afterwards became

Director of Steam-

boats.

Emily, the youngest daughter, a very attractive

girl,

whom

of

the highest hopes were entertained,

died in her fourteenth year, April

Educated beyond her

and

happy

witty, she possessed the

diffusing cheerfulness.

beloved,

and her

ioth,

1827.

years, unceasingly bright

She was,

gift of

always

therefore,

much

wit, affectionate flattery, or droll

mimicry, often prevailed with her parents

when

and even of her

the influence of her elder sisters

brother had not succeeded.

The

writings

of Clementine Tanska had

deeply impressed
of her

life to

her, that she

become an

made

authoress.

it

so

the aim

She, therefore,

zealously studied her mother tongue, which she

soon succeeded in mastering.

Some poems which

she wrote for special occasions were exquisite in

form and

full of music.

Isabella were

engaged

the tales of the

Emily and her

sister

in translating into Polish

German

writer,

Salzmann; but

Emily's early death, unfortunately, prevented the

completion of the work.
her poetical effusions as

Judging from such of

still

remain,

it

may

be

assumed, that had she lived, Emily would have

attained as brilliant a position in Polish literature

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

14

as her brother has in music.

She suffered from an

incurable complaint of the chest, and, in her last

moments, seeing the suffering and despair of the

relatives
il

Wie

around

her, she

bitter ist des

Sieht er wie

um

repeated

trie

lines

Menschen Loos auf Erden,

sein Leid, die Seinen traurig warden."

Thus, at the early age of fourteen, passed away

this

talented

whose premature

girl,

intellectual

development was so remarkable.

Let us mention some of the habitues of the

household who, besides

its

gifted inmates, must

have had a favourable influence on the develop-

ment of young Frederic.

One

of Nicholas Chopin's oldest friends was

and

his colleague

superior, the

famous

Dr. Samuel Bogumil von Linde,

philologist,

who earned

the

gratitude of the whole nation by the compilation

of his valuable Polish dictionary, which

is,

in fact,

a comparative study of the Slavonic languages.

Frederic

Chopin

Madame von

Linde,

often

played

duets

who was an unusually

with
well

educated woman, and a remarkable pianist for her

time.

To

her Chopin dedicated his

work, Rondo, op.

first

I.

first

published

This composition was the

instalment of the rare treasures with which he

has enriched the literature of music.

Another of Nicholas Chopin's colleagues was

OF CHOPIN.

LIFE

Waclaw Alexander

Maciejowski, celebrated for

and Slavonic law. His

works are much valued by students, and have been
his researches in history

translated into several languages.

Among

others

who were from

Nicholas Chopin's guests were

an able
to

writer, pupil of Nicholas,

Chopin;

Frederic

University,

poet

aesthetics; Julius Kolberg,

and god-father

Professors

the

Brodzinski,

time to time

Count Skarbek.

and

of

student

the

of

an engineer, father of

the ethnologist Oskar, the indefatigable collector

of folk songs

Jarocki, a learned zoologist

Anton

Brodowski, a celebrated historical and portrait

painter;

Anton

technic school

Barcinski, Professor at the Polysince

teacher in the host's

1823,

and afterwards his son-in-law; Jawurek,

musician; and last of all, Chopin's two
talented
a
masters, Zywny and Eisner.
Adalbert Zywny, born in Bohemia, in 1756,
came to Poland in the reign of Stanislas
pension,

Augustus.

His

first

appointment was that of

music teacher in the house of Prince Casimir

Sapieha; then he settled in
the piano.

He

Warsaw

as teacher of

died in 1840.

Joseph Xaver Eisner was born June 29th, 1769,

at Grottkau, in Silesia. His father, who was an
instrument maker, wished him to study medicine*
but Joseph preferred to devote himself to music.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Maar, band-master at Breslau, gave him his first

In I/Q2, Eisner went

instruction in counterpoint.

and
Lem-

to Poland, holding the post of band-master

composer

at the

National Theatre,

berg and then in Warsaw.

In

at

first

18 15,

after

the

proclamation of the institution of the new king-

dom by

was entrusted

the Congress of Vienna, he

with the establishment of a school for organists,

and six years after with the direction of the
Conservatoire.

Besides
Bruder,"

the
"

Der

German

"

operas,

Verkleidete

Die

Seltenen

and

Sultan,"

"II

Flauto Magico," which Eisner composed at Lemberg, he wrote twenty-seven

Polish operas and

melodramas, a great number of

quartets,

string

several ecclesiastical works,

torio

"

Das Leiden Christi

performed
received.

cantatas,

Warsaw,

among which
"

and

was

the ora-

several

times

very

favourably

wealth of melody, no

less than' its

in
Its

arias,

and three symphonies besides

technical working, renders this one of the chief,

and, perhaps, the most successful of Eisner's compositions.

He

also

rendered

great

services

to

Poland, as teacher and director at the Conserva-

He

number of
talented young men, who afterwards became excellent musicians, and otherwise promoted the
toire.

trained

considerable

cultivation of music in the noblest manner.

He

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

died April 18th, 1854.

raised by public
Warsaw.

magnificent monument,

subscription, adorns his

tomb

in

Titled landowners were also included in the

circle

of

them

had

Nicholas

been

Chopin's
his

friends.

pupils,

or

had

acquainted with him through their sons.

years,

when

Frederic's rare

and

Most of
become
In later

brilliant talents

were more fully developed, his father counted

among
artists,

elite

savants,

poets,

and

who

con-

of the aristocracy,

an honour to become acquainted with

interesting and highly esteemed family and

sidered
this

his guests not only

but the
it

delighted in admiring the young artist for

whom

was already prophesied. These

were bright and happy days passed by Chopin in

a glorious future

his father's house.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

l8

CHAPTER

II.

FBEDEBIC'S CHILDHOOD. HIS FIliST

APPEARANCE IN PUBLIC.
IMPROVISATIONS. POLISH NATIONAL SONGS.

ON

March ist, 1809* Frederic Francois

Chopin was born, at Zelazowa Wola, a village six miles from Warsaw, belonging to

Count Skarbek.f
In his earliest years Frederic was so very sensi* All

the foreign biographers of Chopin have mistaken

his monument at Pere la

engraven instead of 1809, an
error which ought to have been rectified long ago.

the date of his birth.

Chaise, in Paris, 1810

Even on
is

Madlle. Janotha, in her translation

Greater Works,

of Chopin's
by Jean Kleczynski, claims that the

correct date of Chopin's birth

28th., 1810,

Note.]

is

is

Feb. 22nd., 1810; April

the date of his christening. [Translator's

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

music that he wept whenever he heard it,

and was with difficulty comforted. This power-

tive to

was not a painful one; for Frederic

such a decided love for the piano,
showed
soon
ful influence

that

his

parents

obtained

teacher,

Zywny,

Albert

Frederic was so young,

for

him,

well-known and excel-

selecting as his master the

lent

instruction

of

Warsaw.

As

his elder sister shared the

music lessons.

Zywny was

the

and only

first

of

director

Frederic's precocious musical talents, for the child

compose before he even knew how to

He would request his
master to write down what he improvised,
and these first thoughts were afterwards frequently altered and improved upon by the gifted
began

to

commit

his ideas to paper.

boy.

In a few years Frederick

made such

progress in

pianoforte playing as to excite wonder in

Warsaw drawing

On

rooms.

all

the occasion of a

public concert, for the benefit of the poor, Febru-

ary

24th,

18 18,

Julius

adjutant to Kosciuszko

Ursin Miemcewicz,

himself

statesman, poet, historian,

and

late

a distinguished

political writer

and other high personages, invited the co-operawho had not quite completed
his ninth year.
Such a request could not be
refused, and thus Chopin's first step in his artistic
tion of the virtuoso,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

20

was

career

before

for

charitable

performance

the

Gyrowetz's pianoforte Concerto),

Shortly

object.

was

(he
"

to

play

Fritzchen,"* as

he was called at home, was placed on a chair to be

suitably dressed for his

The

first

appearance before a

was delighted with

his jacket, and especially with the handsome
After the concert, his mother, who had
collar.
not been present, asked, as she embraced him,
" what did the public like best ? "
He naively
large assembly.

answered
at

my

"

Oh,

child

mamma, everybody looked

only

showing that he was not vain

collar," thus

of his playing.

From

that evening the flower of the aristocracy

vied with each other in patronizing the marvellous

boy,

whom

salons.
ski,

they regarded as an ornament of their

We merely

mention the Princes Czartory-

Sapieha, Czetwertynski, Lubecki, Radziwill,

Counts Skarbek, Wolicki, Pruszak, Hussarzewski,

Lempicki.

duced

him

The

Princess

Czetwertynski

the Princess Lowicka,

to

happy wife of the

Grand

Prince

intro-

the un-

Constantin

Pawlowicz.

Accustomed in his father's house to good

society, and now having the entree of the first
salons in the capital, refined surroundings became
*

Polish:

"Frycek."

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

21

Frederic a second nature, and gave him the

to

impress of

life-long

gentleman.

He

always

had an aversion to coarse people, and avoided

anyone who lacked good manners.
Catalini,
when passing through Warsaw,
became acquainted with the youthful virtuoso,
and was delighted with his artistic pianoforte

As

playing.

a grateful recognition of the enjoy-

ment he had afforded her, she presented him with

a gold watch, on the back of which was inscribed

"
:

Chopin,

Donne par Madame

age

de

dix

Catalini a Frederic
Frederic's

ans."

earliest

compositions were Dances, Polonaises, Mazurkas,

Waltzes; then he accomplished a March, which he

ventured to dedicate to the Grand Prince Constantine.

This violent man, the terror of those

around him, received the ten years' old

accepted
desired

the

dedication

Frederic

to

very

play

the

artist;

graciously,
piece

he

and
him.

to

Fortunately for the young composer the Prince

liked

it,

and hs walked up and down while

it

was

being played, smiling and beating time with the

Fie had the March* scored,
was often performed at the military parade,
the Saxon Square.

utmost complacency.

and
in

it

This

March was afterwards published

but without the composer's name.

in

Warsaw,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

22

Frederic occasionally improvised in the draw-

ing room of the Grand Princess.

up

Noticing his

and gazing at the

ceiling, the Prince said to him
Why do you
always look at the ceiling, boy ? do you see notes
up there ? " Chopin made no reply, but he remembered the speech long afterwards.
habit of casting

his eyes

From contemporary

we

observers

what perseverance he laboured

to

technical difficulties of the pianoforte.

by the good
unable to play

Impressed

of an extended chord, but

effect
it

with

learn

overcome the

with his small hand, he endeav-

oured to produce the desired expansion by a

mechanical contrivance of his

own manufacture,

which he kept between his fingers even during the

night.

He was not

led to use this aid

by a

desire

of fame or of forestalling others in inventing and

surmounting new

difficulties,

but because he per-

slurred and a
These chords became a charac-

ceived the difference between a

detached chord.
teristic feature in

they

were

Chopin's compositions.

thought

almost

impracticable,

players grew accustomed to them, and

pianist finds

them unsuited

At

first

but

now no

to the capacities of the

hand.

his

father

counterpoint, as far

uncommon

talent for comhad him instructed in

as was compatible with his

Perceiving Frederic's
position,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

23

preparation for the

Warsaw Lyceum,

as yet entertained

the idea of

Nicholas Chopin

artist.

made

not having

making him an
a most fortunate

become

choice in asking his

friend,

Frederic's instructor.

Eisner soon discerned the

Eisner,

to

originality of the youth's creative powers,

much

counsel and guidance

velopment.

and

his

assisted in their de-

Teacher and pupil were united

till

death in a pure and faithful friendship, such as

only the noblest minds can

remarked

feel.

When

people

to Eisner, as they frequently did, that

Frederic under-rated and set aside the customary

rules

and universal laws of music, and

only to the dictates of his

own

listened

fancy, the worthy

of the Conservatoire would reply

Leave him alone, he does not follow the common

director
"

way because

his talents are

uncommon; he does

not adhere to the old method because he has one

of his own, and his works will reveal an originality hitherto

unknown."

entirely fulfilled.

less

This prophecy has been

discerning teacher might

have hindered and repressed his pupil's

efforts,

and so quenched

nights.

the desire

Frederic excelled in

all

for

loftier

branches of study, and his

astonished friends formed the most brilliant expectations for his future.

Extraordinary vivacity

of temperament prompted him to incessant activity,

and sharpened

his innate, irrepressible

and

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

24

What

humour.

versatile

innumerable tricks he

was continually playing on his sisters, schoolfellows, and even on persons of riper years
His
youngest sister, Emily, was an active assistant in
!

these merry pranks.

The birthdays

of

and intimate

parents

his

friends were frequently celebrated by theatrical

representations, in

which Frederic usually took the

most active

The eminent dramatic artist of

who acted as manager

part.

that time, Albert Piasecki,

at these representations, considered that Chopin,

on account of
declamation,

his

and

mind, excellent

presence of

capacity

rapid

for

changes, was born to be a great actor.

often astonished

indeed,

acting,
seurs.

He

good connois-

frequently saved a piece by impro-

own and

vising his

facial

Frederic's

other parts,

when one of

the

players forgot his role, or the prompter failed to

assist.

It

is

improvisation

renown.

well

known

that Chopin's gift of

contributed

greatly

to

his

later

Master as he was of musical technique,

thanks to the excellent training of Eisner, he was

able to improvise endlessly on any given theme,
to

wander

marvellous

into graceful variations,

effects

from the keys.

and conjure
In these im-

provisations Chopin showed himself in riper years

as

a true poet,

that his

and

it

is

easy to understand

most ardent admirers were poets

who

felt

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

themselves

inspired

new

to

25

by

creations

his

playing.

When

Emily

Frederic was fifteen, and

eleven,

they wrote in honour of their father's birthday,

a one-act comedy, in verse, entitled
take;

Frederic,

and Emily took the principal

parts, the

the

among

others were divided

comedy
but

The Mis-

Rogue."

or,

Isabella

Imaginary

"
:

is

too ephemeral

the boarders.

The

and naive for quotation,

displayed the intelligence of the youthful

it

authors, and their command of language.

In the
same year (1824) Frederic entered the. fourth class

Lyceum, and although he frequently indulged in his harmless and always witty pranks,
he was one of the best and most talented pupils.
at the

He

used to exercise his talent for caricature by

portraying one or other of the masters.

One day

he caricatured the director, Mons. Liiide, to the

life,

but unfortunately the drawing

This worthy man,

director's hands.

fell into

the

who was

in-

dulgent to everyone, and especially to the young,

returned the paper to Chopin, without a word,

having written on

He

spent his

village

of

first

"

the likeness

is

well drawn."

holidays in Mazovia, at the

Szafarnia,

Dziewanowski

warm and

it,

estate,

which

belonged

to

the

where he soon formed a

lasting friendship with the children of

this distinguished

family.

To any boy

brought

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

26

up

in

country

city,
is

stay

weeks

of several

a time full of freedom

the

in

and delight;

and how infinitely greater would be the enjoyment to a gifted boy like Chopin when, unburdened by school exercises, he could wander
through wood and meadow, dreaming of fairies
and wood-nymphs. Frederic, who was not at all
fond of long, fatiguing walks, loved to lie under
a tree, and indulge in beautiful day-dreams. Instead of an ordinary holiday correspondence

occurred to him to bring out a

under the

title

lished in the capital.

Frederic, collected
little

Courier, a paper then pub-

Among

the memorials of

by the family,

are

two numbers

At

journd, lor the year 1824.

beginning of the
15th,

it

periodical

of the Kurjer Szafarski, on the

model of the Warsaw

of this

little

first

number we read

"

On

the

July

M. Pichon (a name Frederic assumed) ap-

peared at the musical assembly at Szafarnia, at

which
little:

were

present

several

persons,

big

and

he played Kalkbrenner's Concerto, but this

did not produce such a furore, especially among

the youthful hearers, as the song which the

gentleman rendered."

It is also

narrated in this

many Jews were at that

neighbouring village of Oborow

journal that a great

in

the

property of M. Romocki) to buy grain.

invited

some of them

same

to his room,,

time
(the

Frederic

and played

to

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

2J

them a kind of Jewish wedding March, called

" Majufes."
His performance excited such enthusiasm

among

not only

his guests that they

began to dance, but earnestly begged him to come

to an approaching Jewish marriage, and give

them some more of

exquisite

his

music.

"

He

plays," said the delighted Israelites, " like a born

Jew."*

The remainder of

news of the Kurjer

the

Szafarski consisted of humorous descriptions of

the daily events of the village.

of the condition of Poland

is

strange glimpse

afforded by the fact,

that according to a custom, which even

now

pre-

Warsaw, each issue of this journal was

examined by the government censor, whose business it was to write on every number, " lawful
for circulation."
The office was at that time
held by Mile. Louise Dziewanowska, daughter of
vails in

the proprietor of Szafarnia.

would be impossible to enumerate all the

and harmless mystifications which this
famous man indulged in during the happy days
It

jokes

of

boyhood,

his

merry

linger

but

tricks,

with

for

will

the

affectionate

mention

sake

those

interest

of

few

over his

of

who
early

years.
*

This story

in his

is

given by Wladislaus Casimir Wojcicki

work entitled " Cmentarz Powazkowski."

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

28

Mons. Romocki, the proprietor of Oborow, once

sold his wheat to a Jewish dealer.

Hearing of

the purchase, Frederic wrote a letter in the Polo-

Jewish

and

style,

purporting to come from the buyer,

stating that, after mature consideration, he

found he should be a
therefore, declined

loser

by the bargain, and,

The

writing was abomin-

it.

able, the spelling full of blunders,

tion succeeded so well

that

but the decep-

Romocki was

in

He sent for the Jew instantly,

and would probably have soundly belaboured the
unfortunate trader had not Frederic confessed his
frightful rage.

Romocki laughed at
was on his guard against being
again by Frederic.

mischievous trick in time.

the joke, and

taken in

Between 1820 and 1830 there was a Protestant

named Tetzner, who preached

German and Polish alternately,

pastor in Warsaw,

every

Sunday

and from

in

his defective

knowledge of the language

proclaimed the truths of the gospel in very broken

Polish.

Being led to his church from

curiosity,

Frederic was at once struck by the droll speech

of

the

wrongly

preacher,

and carefully noticed every

pronounced

word.

When- he reached

home, he constructed a kind of pulpit with tables

and
the

chairs,

family,

put

on

delivered

wig,

and,

discourse

summoning
in

imitation

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
of

the

pastor's

ludicrous

that

broken
his

Polish,

29
which was

were

hearers

in

fits

so

of

laughter.
If his father's pupils

the house, Frederic

made

had only

much

noise in

to place himself at

the piano to produce instant

One day when

too

and

perfect quiet.

Professor Chopin was out there

was a frightful uproar. Barcinski, the master

present, was at his wits' end, when Frederic,
happily, entered the room* Without deliberation he requested the roisterers to sit down, called
in those who were making a noise outside, and
promised to improvise an interesting story on the
All were
piano, if they would be quite quiet.
instantly as still as death, and Frederic sat down
to the instrument and extinguished the lights, t

He

described

how

robbers approached a house,

mounted by ladders to the windows, but were

frightened away by a noise within. Without delay they fled on the wings of the wind into a
deep, dark wood, where they fell asleep under
*

One

of these pupils, Casimir

owner, who

is still

Wodzynski, a property

living, often tells this story.

Chopin generally improvised in the dark, frequently

mind is undisturbed by outward
impressions. Then he would bury himself in the theme
heart and soul, and develop from it tone-pictures full of
lofty inspiration and fairy-like poetry.
f

at night, as then the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

30
the starry sky.

as

if

that his hearers

young
his

He

had actually

artist noiselessly crept

mother and

light.

themselves

with

sleepers,

rest, till

he found

fallen asleep.

The

out of the room, to

and asked them to follow

the family had amused

sisters,

him with a

and

played more and more softly,

trying to lull children to

When

various

the

Frederic sat

postures

down again

of

the

to the piano,

struck a thrilling chord, at which they all

sprang up in a

fright.

hearty laugh was the

finale of this musical joke.

Further on in his

life

we meet with

companion

picture to this story, which affords us an excellent

example of Frederic's talent for improvisation,

profound knowledge of counterpoint, and mastery
over all technical difficulties. Like many gifted
and accomplished musicians, he showed an especial preference for the organ as offering wide
scope for the freest improvisation. It was customary for the students of the Warsaw University
to assemble about eleven in the morning on Sundays and feast days for service at the Wizytek
Church, at which artists and dilettanti performed vocal masses with and without orchestral
accompaniments.

Chopin sometimes sat in the choir and played

One day when the celebrant had sung
the " Oremus," Frederic improvised, in a most
the organ.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

on the motive of the portion of

the mass already performed, working out the fundamental thought with most interesting combinaskilful manner,

and contrapuntal devices. The choristers

and band, spell-bound by the magic power of his
fancy, left their desks, and surrounded the player,
listening with rapt attention, as if they had been
The
in the concert room rather than the church.

tions

priest,

at

patiently

the altar,

awaited the con-

clusion, but the sacristan rushed angrily into the

choir,

exclaiming

"

what the d

are

you

doing?

The priest has twice intoned Per omnia

scecula

sceculorum, the ministrant has rung re-

peatedly,
superior

and

who

you keep on playing.

still

sent

me

Chopin awoke from

out of all

is

his

reverie,

and

The

patience."
his

hands

lay motionless on the keys.

Although his wonderful improvisations generally cost him but little trouble, he spared no
pains when preparing a work for publication.
When absorbed by an idea he would brood over
it
for hours and days in perfect silence and
solitude.

Chopin often worked far on into the night;

sometimes when the
asleep,

rest

of the household were

he would spring out of bed, rush to his

and strike a few chords, developing some

immatured thought, or resolving some imperfect
piano,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

32

Then he would

harmony.

lie

down, but only

and do the same thing again, daylight

rise

The

quently finding him thus occupied.

by

whom

Frederic was

could not understand

their

much

such proceedings,
said, "

young gentleman's mind

When on

is

fre-

servants,

beloved, but

heads compassionately, and

to

who

shook

The poor

affected."

an excursion with his father to the

suburbs or spending his holidays in the country,

he always listened

attentively

to

the

song of

and the tune of the peasant fiddler,

fixing in his memory and delighting to idealise
the original and expressive melodies.
He often
asked who was the creator of the beautiful melothe reaper,

dies interwoven

in

the Mazurkas,

Cracoviennes,

and Polonaises, and how the Polish peasants

learned to sing and play the violin with such
purity.
No one could give him any information.
Indeed both the words and melodies of these
songs are the creation of several minds.
less,

An

art-

spontaneous melody, poured forth by one

person,

finally

altered, and perhaps improved, by

and so passes from mouth to mouth till

is

another,

it

becomes a possession of

Slavonic

folk-songs

Romance

and

differ

Germanic;

all the people.

greatly

they

are

from

the

historical

records of the feelings, customs, and character of

the people.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Chopin was born and bred

music-loving

liarly

izes the

in Mazovia, a pecu-

province.

"The

Polish writer says:

Slavonic above

33

distinguished

love of song character-

all

other races; the rudest

peasant coulu be allured to the end of the world

by

national

his

songs."

The Mazovians have

for music that

such an intense love

about the commonest

affairs

of

life,

they sing

readily per-

ceiving their pleasing or pathetic phases.

the

great

Christmas

festivals

men

Mazovian

Easter,

women walk

and

During
and

Whitsuntide,

about

the

singing and playing appro-

villages,

and everywhere they are warmly

gladly listened to, and not sparingly

priate dances,
received,

Nearly

rewarded.

all

these songs originated in

the cottage, their composers were

neither

read nor

write,

men who could

and whose names

will

always remain unknown.

Perception of the poetry of

human

life

and

sensibility to the beauties of nature are evidently

innate in the Polish character; they are susceptibilities

daily

which neither prosaic work, the cares of

life,

nor even the burden of more than a

century of national suffering have had power to

blunt.

In his childhood Chopin had imbedded these

folk-songs in his memory, and, impressed by their

peculiar

beauty,

he

frequently

interwove

some

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

34

especial favorite into his

own

compositions.

He

first

gave the national dance tune a truly beauti-

ful

and

perfect

form by adorning it with

and poetical arabesques.

interesting harmonies

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

CHAPTER

35

III.

CHOPIN'S EABLY MANHOOD. HIS FIRST

JOURNEY. HIS RELATIONS WITH PRINCE
ANTON RADZIWILL.

THE

year

artistic

found Frederic's

1825
circle

numbers and

influence,

social

and

increasing

in

and the fame of

his

continually

extraordinary musical talents spreading far and

wide.

His great popularity was shown by the

fact that the only strikingly successful concerts

were those in which he took part. His marvellous

playing at two grand concerts, given for char-

on
awakened un-

itable objects, in the hall of the Conservatoire,

May

27th,

and June

10th,

1825,

bounded enthusiasm. As the best pianist in the

capital, Chopin was summoned to play before the
Emperor, Alexander I., who, during his stay in
Warsaw, was desirous of hearing the newly-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

36
invented

Aelomelodicon*

The instrument was

placed in the Protestant Church, for the sake of

heightening the tone by

its

being heard under the

enormous dome of that building. In token of his

admiration of the wonderful performance of the
talented youth, then little more than a boy, the

Emperor presented him with a valuable diamond

ring.

The same year saw

printed

first

Madame von

work,
Linde.

the publication of Chopin's

the

Rondo

dedicated

to

Neither this nor the follow-

Rondo a la Masur," op. 5, also published in

Warsaw, made him famous abroad, but in his own
ing

city

"

he was already regarded as a popular and

rapidly maturing

artist.

Looking

at

their

son'

merely as a distinguished dilettante, his parents

had not made music his chief study, but when

they saw that Frederic was by nature designed for
a great musician, they put no hindrances in his
way, and left him to the undisturbed enjoyment
of his piano and his poetic dreams.
Everywhere he was warmly welcomed: in the
drawing-rooms of the aristocracy, by his comrades
at the Conservatoire, or the Lyceum, of which he
was considered the chief ornament, and where he
formed some life-long friendships.
*

Among

Brunner and Hoffmann were the inventors.

these

";

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

we may mention Titus Woyciechowski,

friends

whom

37

he

dedicated

his

"

Variations,

to
;

op.

Alexander Rembielinski;* Wilhelm von Kolberg;

Johann Matuszynski, Stanislas Kozmian, now
of

President

the

Scientific

Society

at

Posen;

Eustachius Marylski; Dominicus Magnuszewski

and Stephan Witwicki, both poets of talent

Celinski; Hube, and Julius Fontana.f
Frederic excited no jealousy among his fellow
students at the Conservatoire, for his talents as

and composer were so pre-eminent that

bowed before him as their master. Kind
and affable by disposition he had also an innate

pianist

they

all

Alexander Rembielinski, an excellent pianist, who

died young.
t

Julius Fontana, pianist and composer, was born in

and educated with Chopin at the Conunder Eisner. In 1830 he entered the army
and soon became a lieutenant of artillery. After the
insurrection he emigrated to France some years later
settled in America, but in 1850 returned to Paris, where
he died in 1870. He was an almost daily guest of
Chopin's, and knew exactly what compositions were published at that time the facts that he gives in the preface to his edition of Chopin's works are, therefore,

Warsaw,

in 1810,

servatoire,

(Waltzes,

smaller

compositions,

Studies, Caprices, Fantasias) which he wrote

and published
Melodies "

many

Besides

trustworthy.

in Paris,

(London),

"

he published "Polish National

Comments on Polish Ortho-

graphy " (Leipsic, 1866); and "Popular

(Posen, 1869.)

Astronomy"

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

3#
grace, while,

from

his education

and refined

sur-

roundings, he possessed, even in early youth, the

grown-up person. These qualities won

the esteem and affection of all who knew him,
and no one was offended by his practical jokes,
tact of a

mimicries, or caricatures.

The

activity of the

and the

strain

constitution.

young

was

artist

intense,

undoubtedly injured his delicate

Frederic's

having

parents

been

advised by the physicians to send their youngest

daughter, Emily, to

thought

might

it

well to

try the

Bad

let

whey

Reinerz, in Silesia, they

him accompany her

cure.

ginning of the holidays of

Louise,

that he

Accordingly, at the bethe mother,

1826,

Emily, and Frederic went to the then

much frequented spring. During their visit a

poor widow, who had vainly been seeking help
from the healing stream, died, leaving two young
children,

under the care of a faithful nurse, but

without sufficient means for the funeral and the

journey home.

made

Hearing of

need,

their

the noblest use of his talents.

He

Chopin
arranged

a concert for the benefit of the poor children, and

had the

satisfaction of obtaining a

By

his masterly playing he

of

the

connoisseurs;

esteem of

all

by

won

his

generous minds.

good sum.

the admiration

benevolence,
Fie

the

became the

object of the most courteous attentions.

few

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

39

days after the concert Frederic and his family

left Reinerz,

and spent the

rest

of the summer at

the village of Strzyzewo, part of the estate of

Madame von

Wiesiolowska,

sister

Count

to

Skarbek, his god- father.

Anton Radziwill, a wealthy nobleman,

family, and
the Prussian Royal
Governor of the Duchy of Posen, had his summer
Prince

related

to

residence in the neighbouring village, Antonin.

passionate lover of music, a keen connoisseur,

and

thoroughly

composer,

trained

had

he

obtained some celebrity by his music to the

first

part of Goethe's Faust, which, by Royal command, was for several years performed annually
in his honour at the Berlin Academy for Singing.
He had a very agreeable tenor voice, and also
played the violoncello well. His house in Posen

was the rendezvous

parties

the

for

for the best artists,

performance of

and quartet

the

Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and other

music of
classical

masters were held in his salons nearly every week,

the Prince himself playing the violoncello.
Frederic,

who was

then 17 years of age, having

availed himself of an invitation to Antonin, the

Prince

took

charmed with

great

fancy

his playing.

Prince Radziwill went to

to

him, and was

In May, 1829,

Warsaw

when

as representa-

tive of the Prussian court, at the coronation

of the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

40

Emperor Nicholas, he visited Frederic at his

and was very pressing m. inviting
him to his establishment in Posen. There was no
further personal intercourse between this magnate
and our artist, yet writers, ignorant of the facts,
father's house,

have represented the Prince as Chopin's benefactor,

and as having supplied the means for his

Franz Liszt was the first to promul-

education.

gate this error in his book, entitled

Chopin,"

written

French,

"

Francois

shortly

after the
master's death, in which he says, " supplementing

the limited

in

means of the family, the Prince

be-

stowed on Frederic the inestimable gift of a good

and complete education.

Antoine

Kozuchowski,

cultivated

Through a
the

mind enabled him

friend,

M.

whose own

Prince,

to understand the

requirements of an artistic career, paid Chopin's

educational expenses from his entry at the

School
this

till

time

the completion of his studies.

until

death

the

Kozuchowski held the

High
From

Chopin,

of

M.

closest relations of friend-

is not a word of truth in

was probably misled by a
Polish emigrant, Franz Grzymala. This man had
been a deputy at the Diet, and was a clever author
and journalist; he died in Paris in 87 1, the day
after the capitulation. Not having made Chopin's

ship with him."

this statement.

There

Liszt

acquaintance until his residence in Paris,

it

does

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

not appear, from what he told Liszt, that he could

have possessed any accurate information about

his parents

and

his early life.

who had known Chopin from

Julius Fontana,

childhood, entered

a protest against Liszt's assertion, so also did the

parents of the great

artist,

who were

sadly pained

to read that Prince Radziwill had entirely pro-

vided

for

Professor

education.

Frederic's

at

Warsaw, and proprietor

of a flourishing pension, surely Nicholas Chopin
would have found means for the education of his
three large academies in

dearly loved and only son.

An

equally untrue report has been spread to the

effect that

to Italy at the expense

Chopin travelled

of Prince Radziwill.

In reality the expenses of

the journey were defrayed

by the

receipts of three

Warsaw.
money was

numerously attended concerts given in

The first time he asked his father for

when he had determined on going to Paris,
sojourn of eight
capital.

months

after a

in the beautiful Austrian

In his charming, child-like manner, he

lamented that he should be the cause of additional expenditure to his parents, to

whom

he thought, already cost quite enough.

sent

him the money, and an

His father

affectionate letter, ex-

him with means,

regular
mode
of subsistsome
he procured

pressing his willingness to supply

until

he had,

ence in Paris.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

42

As

mark of friendship and

respect for the

distinguished composer of the music to the

first

part of Goethe's Faust, Frederic dedicated to

him

his Trio,

composed

for pianoforte
in

and

violoncello, op.

Warsaw between

1827

and

8,

1829.

The letters in chapter 6 show what a favourite

young artist was with the Prince's family. Of

the

a subsidy from the Prince there could never have

been any question.

It is

only fair to Liszt to say

blame for the circulation of the

falsehood, than Grzymala and those who blindly
believed and promulgated so utterly false a
that he

is less

statement.

to

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

CHAPTER

43

IV.

THE JOURNEY TO BERLIN. AN INCIDENT OF

THE RETURN JOURNEY TO WARSAW.

IN

1827 Chopin passed his final examination

before leaving the Lyceum, and then went to
recruit

From

the

in

country

air

of

Strzyzewo.

there he took a short excursion to Dantzig,

where he wished to make the acquaintance of

Superintendent Linde, brother of his former
master.

This

last

examination had not been such

a brilliant success as former ones,

when every

pro-

motion to a higher class had been accompanied by

a special reward. This is accounted for by his
having, during the last year, devoted his chief
energies to music, a goodly pile of compositions,
finished or sketched in outline, being

study.

Eisner,

who was

found

in his

the keenest observer

most competent judge of Frederic's

and

artistic pro-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

44

and

gress,

let their

creative power, exhorted his parents to

son have his

own way, and

to

do

all

they

could to encourage his lofty flights of fancy.

The

now was how

question

to give the

young

composer better opportunities for hearing and

studying music than his native city

Although

first-rate artists

afforded.

occasionally gave con-

Warsaw, Frederic could only satisfy his

ardent desire of hearing the sublime works of the
classic masters, in the larger European centres of
life and
intelligence.
His parents, therefore,
resolved to send their beloved son to Vienna or

certs in

Berlin, if only for a

few weeks,

at the very first

One soon

favourable opportunity.

In

offered.

1828, Professor Jarocki having been invited

Alexander von Humboldt

to the Naturalists'

by

Con-

Nicholas Chopin was only too

gress,

at Berlin,

happy

to confide his son to the care of

one of his

was equally
pleased to have the company of an amiable and
talented young man like Chopin.
best

friends,

Thus he
to

visit

learn

artistic

while the

Professor

left his native

a large foreign
great

deal.

land for the

first

time

where he hoped to

city,

Unconscious of his own

importance he had no wish to appear

in

Berlin as a pianist or composer.

We

will

following

now
letters

let

him speak

which refer

for himself in the

to this journey.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

45

To Titus Woyciechowsky.
Warsaw, September

1828,

gt/z,

Dearest Titus,

You cannot think how I have been longing

news
of you and your mother, nor imagine my
for
joy when I received your letter. I was then at
Strzyzewo, where I spent the whole summer, but
could not reply immediately because I was so

Now

busy preparing to return to Warsaw.

writing like a lunatic, for "I really do not

what

am

about.

gress at Berlin

am

There

Berlin to-day!

is

actually

am

know
for

starting

to be a scientific con-

after the model of those held

which the King has
in

Switzerland and Bavaria

to

requested the University to invite the most cele-

brated European naturalists.

be

The

Alexander

renowned

the

president

von

is

to

Humboldt.

Professor Jarocki has received an invitation as a

zoologist,

Berlin

and

ex-student

anticipated,

and

is

it

ciates

as

member of

and

secretary

the

doctor

of

the

magnificent

is

reported that Spontini will

give a performance of his

Jarocki's friend

and

Something

University.

to

"

Cortez."

teacher, Lichtenstein, offi-

the

Academy of

Congress

he

Singing, and

is

is

on a

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

46

friendly footing with the director, Herr Zelter.

learn

from a good authority that

I shall

have an

opportunity, through Lichtenstein, of becoming

acquainted with

all

the best

musicians in the

Prussian capital, except Spontini, with

is

whom

he

not on good terms.

much pleased to meet the Prussian

Radziwill, who is a friend of Spontini. I

shall be

Prince

only intend spending a fortnight with Jarocki,

but this will give

good opera

me an

opportunity of hearing a

perfectly performed, which

is

worth a

great deal of trouble.

At Strzyzewo I arranged my Rondo in C major,

(my latest as you may remember) for two pianos.*
To-day I tried it with Ernemann, at Buchholtz's,t
and it came out pretty well. We intend to play
it some day at the " Ressource."
As to new compositions I have nothing besides the still unfinished Trio (G minor) which I began after your
departure.
The first Allegro I have already tried
with accompaniments.
It

seems to

fate

* It

as

the

me

that this Trio will meet the

Sonata and Variations.

same

Both are

appears as op. 73, in Fontana's collection of the

posthumous works.
f

Ernemann was a music

pianoforte maker, in Warsaw.

master, and Buchholtz a

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

already in Vienna; the former

47

have dedicated

to Eisner, as his pupil; to the latter I have

perhaps somewhat presumptuously

name.

am

sure

affixed

your

acted on the impulse of affection, and

you

not misconstrue

will

my

motives.

Skarbek has not yet returned, Jedrzejewicz will

remain some time longer in Paris*

He was

there

who wrote
make my ac-

introduced to the pianist Sowinski,!

me

to

to say that he should like to

quaintance, by correspondence, before he comes to

Warsaw. As he is assistant editor of Fetis's

Revue Musicale, he would be glad to be informed
about musical

Poland, or to receive

in

affairs

biographies of the foremost Polish composers and

artists

matters

in

which

have not the

least

mixed up, so I shall reply to

him from Berlin that what he wants is not at all
in my line, and that I do not feel competent to
intention of being

write

for

matured

Paris

journal,

requiring

able

and

criticism.

At the end of

this

month I shall be leaving

by diligence
just the same as ever; the

Berlin, a five days' journey

Everything here
*

Professor Joseph

is

Kalasanti Jedrzejewicz, Chopin's

future brother-in-law, born 1803, died in Warsaw, 1853.

f A
Paris.

composer,

pianist,

and

litterateur,

living

in

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

48
excellent

Zywny

is

the heart

and soul of

all our

parties.

must conclude, for my luggage is already

packed and sent to the diligence.
your mother's feet and hands. My
I kiss
parents and sisters send kind regards and sincerest wishes for the improvement of her health.
I

Take

pity

briefly.

on me, and write soon, however

shall value a single line.

Yours

FREDERIC.

Tuesday*

Berlin,

My

dearly beloved Parents and Sisters,

We

arrived safely in this great city about 3

Sunday afternoon, and went direct

o'clock on

from the post

to

where we are now.

me

to

and

"

Zum

He

is

Kronprinz,"

good and comfortable

arrived

Professor Jarocki

Herr Lichtenstein's, where

von Humboldt.
height,

It is

The day we

house.

took

the hotel

not

met Alex,

above the middle

his features cannot be called

hand-

some, but the prominent, broad brow, and the deep,

September 16th, 1828.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

49

penetrating eyes reveal the searching intellect of

the scholar,

who

nature as he

is

his

human

as great a student of

is

He

a traveller.

speaks French like

mother tongue; even you would have said

so,

dear Father.

Herr Lichtenstein promised to introduce me to

the leading musicians here and regretted that we
;

had not arrived a few days sooner

his

to

daughter perform at a matinee

have heard

Sunday,

last

with orchestral accompaniments.

for

I,

but,

my

part,

but

felt

disappointment,

little

whether rightly or wrongly,

know

not, for I

The

have neither seen nor heard the young lady.

day we arrived
"

The

Herr

there

was

performance

our

Interrupted

Sacrifice,"

but

Lichtenstein

prevented

me

of

visit

from

to

being

present.

Yesterday the savants had a grand dinner;

Herr von Humboldt did not occupy the

a very different looking person, whose
not at this

moment

doubt, some celebrity,

under

my

from making some

bach,

there

(I

can-

is,

no

could not refrain

caricatures,

which

The dinner

lasted

was not time

have written his name

portrait of him.

already classified.)
that

name

However, as he

recall.

but

chair,

for

me

to

have

so

long

hear Birn-

the much-praised violinist of nine years.

To-day

shall

dine

alone,

having made
E

my

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

50

who

excuses to Professor Jarocki,

readily

per-

ceived that, to a musician, the performance of

such a work as Spontini's

"

Ferdinand Cortez,"
must be more interesting than an interminable

among

dinner
alone,

Now

scientists.

am quite
my dear

and enjoying a chat with you,

ones.

There
coming

is

here.

Radziwill

is

rumour that the great Paganini is

I only hope it is true.
Prince
expected on the :>oth of this month.

be a great pleasure to me if he comes. I

have as yet seen nothing but the Zoological

It will

Collection, but

know

the city pretty well, for

wandered among the beautiful streets and bridges

for two whole days.
You shall have a verbal
description of

sion Berlin
city

did not, for

it

is

impres-

that of a straggling

double its
wanted to have

contain

We

street,

chief

but

am

very glad

as broad as our Leszno,*

is

needs ten times as

The

think,

large population.

stayed in the French

of the large and

also

castle.

makes upon me

which could,

present

as

these,

decidedly handsome

many

people as are in

it

we

and

to take

off its desolate appearance.

To-day

will be

Do

of Berlin.

my

first

not think

experience of the music

me

one-sided, dearest

long and wide street in Warsaw.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Papa, for saying that

would much

rather have

spent the morning at Schlesinger's than in labour-

ing through the thirteen rooms of the Zoological

Museum, but

cal education,
ing, as

came here for the sake of my musiand Schlesinger's library, containmost important musical works

does, the

it

of every age and country,

interest to

me

is,

of course, of more

than any other collection.

myself with the thought that

he can, as there

is

end of the long Frederic

but as there was not a single instrument

completed,
nately for
hotel,

to see

went to Kisting's piano-

forte manufactory, at the

Street,

not miss

something to be learnt every-

This morning

where.

shall

console

and that a young man ought

Schlesinger's,
all

had

me

which

my

there

is

The Prussian
;

gratification.

however,

less

agreeable than

had

reached the capital of the

Hohenzollerns in good health and

travelling

in our

my own

diligences are most uncomfort-

journey was

able, so the

Fortu-

good grand piano

play on every day, both to

and the landlord's

anticipated

long walk in vain.

spirits.

Our

companions were a German lawyer,

living in Posen,

who

tried to distinguish himself

by making coarse jokes; and a very fat farmer,

with

smattering

of

politeness

acquired

by

travelling.

At the

last stage

before Frank fort-on-the-Oder,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

52

German

Sapho

entered

the

diligence

and

poured forth a torrent of ridiculous, egotistical

Quite unwittingly the good lady
complaints.
amused me immensely, for it was as good as a
comedy, when she began to argue with the lawyer,

who, instead of laughing at

her, seriously contro-

verted everything she said.

The suburbs of Berlin on the

we approached are not pretty, but

side

by which

the scrupulous

and order which everywhere prevail

To-morrow I shall
are very pleasing to the eye.
the
other
visit the suburbs on
side.
The Congress will commence its sittings the
day after to-morrow, and Herr Lichtenstein has
promised me a ticket. In the evening Alex, von
Humboldt will receive the members at his house

cleanliness

me an

Professor Jarocki offered to procure

tion,

but

little, if

thanked him and said

invita-

should gain

any, intellectual advantage from such a

was not learned enough;

gathering, for which I

besides

the

professional

gentlemen might cast

questioning glances at a layman like me, and ask,

11

Is

Saul then

among

the prophets ?"

even at the dinner, that

my

fancied,

neighbour, Professor

Lehmann, a celebrated botanist from Hamburg,

looked at me rather curiously. I was astonished
at the strength of his small fist; he broke with

ease the large piece of white bread, to divide

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

which

He

was fain

to use both

53

hands and a

knife.

leaned over the table to talk to Professor

Jarocki,

and

in the excitement of the conversation

own

and began to drum upon

mine. A real savant, was he not? with the great
ungainly nose, too. All this time I was on thorns,
and as soon as he had finished with my plate, I
wiped off the marks of his fingers with my
mistook his

plate

serviette as fast as possible.

Marylski cannot have an atom of taste

if

he

thinks the Berlin ladies dress well; their clothes

are

handsome, no doubt, but alas for the beautiful

stuffs cut

up

for such clothes' pegs

Your ever fondly loving

FREDERIC.

Berlin,

As

September 20th, 1828.

am
if

well and happy, dear Parents and Sisters.

on purpose to honour me, a fresh piece is

brought out

at

the theatre every

day.

First

heard an oratorio at the Academy of Singing;

then at the Opera, " Ferdinand Cortez," "

monio Segreto," and Onslow's

I

"

II

Matri-

Der Hausirer."

greatly enjoyed all these performances, but

must confess that

was quite

carried

away by

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

54

Handel's

Ode on

"

With

Day

St. Cecilia's

my

nearly approaches

"

most

this

of sublime music.

ideal

"

and
Der

of Singing,

all

the exception of Signora Tibaldi (alto),

Fraulein von Schatzel,

and

Hausirer,"

at the

whom

the best singers are away.

pleased

me

been that

heard in

Fraulein von Schatzel

best in the Oratorio, but

was

" but,"

mood

in a better

The

for listening.

without a

Academy

Oratorio,

it

may have

that evening

however, was not

which, perhaps, will only be got

rid of in Paris.

have not called on Herr Lichtenstein

he

is

yet, for

so busy with preparations for the Congress,

that even Professor Jarocki can scarcely get a

word with him, but he has kindly procured me a

ticket of admission.
I was in such a capital place
that I could see and hear everything, and was
quite close to the Crown Prince.
Spontini, Zelter,
and Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy were also
there; but I did not speak to any of them, as I
did not think
is
I

it

proper to introduce myself.

said that Prince Radziwill will

It

come to-day;

shall find out after breakfast if this

is

really

true.

At the Singing Academy I observed the handsome Princess von Liegnitz, talking to a man in
a kind of livery, whose face I could not clearly
see.

asked

my

neighbour

if

he were a Royal

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

55

de chambre, and received for a reply, " Aye,

that is His Excellency Baron von Humboldt."
valet

You may imagine my

dear ones,

how thankful

had only uttered my question in a

whisper; but I assure you that the chamberlain's
was

tnat

uniform changes even the countenance, or

could

not have failed to recognise the great traveller,

who has ascended

the mighty Chimborazo.

Yes"

terday he was present at the performance of

Hausirer,"

or,

as the French call

Der

Le Colpor-

In the Royal box sat Prince Charles.

teur."

The day before yesterday we

library,

many

it,

"

which

is

visited the

Royal

very large, but does not contain

musical works.

was much

interested in

seeing an autograph letter of Kosciusko's, which

his biographer, Falkenstein, immediately copied,
letter by letter.
When he saw that we were Poles,
and could, therefore, read the letter without any
trouble, he begged Professor Jarocki to translate
it into German, while he wrote it down in his
pocket book. Falkenstein, an agreeable young
man, is secretary to the Dresden Library. I met,

also,

the editor of the Berlin Musical Gazette;

we were

and exchanged a few words.

fulfilment of my most
"
earnest wishes
Der Freischutz " is to be performed. I shall then be able to compare our
singers with the singers here.
To-day I am inintroduced,

To-morrow

will see the

:

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

56
vited to the

number of

grand dinner

The

at the drill hall.

caricatures increases.

Yours ever lovingly

FREDERIC.

September

Berlin, Saturday,

am

seen.

and have seen all that is to be

you again. In a week,

quite well,
I

shall soon be with

from the day

after to-morrow,

we

Lounging about agrees with me

terday

2Jth, 1828.

"

The

Interrupted

shall embrace.

capitally.

Sacrifice "

was

Yesper-

formed again, and Fraulein von Schatzel omitted

more than one chromatic scale. I quite fancied

myself in your midst* This "your" reminds
me of a Berlin caricature. t A Napoleon grenadier stands as a sentinel; he calls out, "qui vive,"
to a

woman

Wascherin

"

*
left

vache

is

about to reply,

"

die

(the laundress), but wishing to ex-

press herself in a
" la

She

passing.

more refined manner, she

" (the cow.)

reference to the

count

Warsaw

among

lady singers,

says,

the great

who

often

out or altered coloratures.

" your "

f In Polish
or " vache."

is

" wasz," pronounced " wasch "

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

my

events of

visit

5;

here the second dinner with

day before
and was really

the scientists, which took place the

the conclusion of the Congress,

very lively and entertaining.

Several very fair

convivial songs were sung, in which all the com-

pany joined more or

less

Zelter con-

heartily.

ducted, and a large golden cup, standing on a

red pedestal, in front of him, as a sign of his

exalted

much

musical

merits,

satisfaction.

day than

The

appeared

give

to

dishes were better that

usual, they say, " because the scientists

have been principally occupied during

tings

him

with

the

their sit-

improvement of meats,

sauces,

They make fun of these learned

gentlemen in like manner at the Konigstadt
Theatre.
In a play, in which some beer is drunk,
someone asks, " Why is beer so good now in Ber" Why, because the scientists are holding
lin ?"
soups,

&c."

their congress," is the answer.

But

it is

time to go to bed, as

early to-morrow.

We

shall

we

start off quite

spend two days in

Posen, on account of an invitation from the Arch-

bishop Wolicki.

my

tell

you,

see

you again.

Oh, how much

dearests,

and how glad

Your warmly

shall
I

have to

shall be to

affectionate

FREDERIC.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

58

and Chopin had, as companions, on their return from Berlin, two gentlemen, whose wearisome talk about politics, in which
Chopin never took any interest, and still more
Professor Jarocki

smoking, (almost unendurable to

their incessant

him) made them very disagreeable.

When

the gentlemen announced that he always

from morning

one of

smoked

and would rather die than

Frederic and the Professor went

to night,

give up his pipe,

outside the diligence to enjoy the fresh

air.

At the little town of Zullichau, finding they

had an hour to wait for horses, Professor Jarocki
proposed a walk through the place. This did
not take long, and as the horses were not ready
when they returned, the Professor sat down to a
meal

the

post-house being also a restaurant

drawn by a magnet, went into

and saw oh, wonder of wonders

but Frederic, as
the next room,

if

grand piano.

see

through the open door, laughed to himself

when

his

Professor Jarocki,

young friend opened

who could

the instrument,

which had a very unpromising exterior; Chopin

also looked at

it

with some misgivings; but when

he had struck a few chords he exclaimed, in joyful

surprise,

"

Santa

Caecilia,

the piano

is

in

tune."

Only
is,

the impassioned musician

after sitting for several

days

knows what

it

in a diligence,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

59

suddenly, and quite unexpectedly, to have an opportunity of playing on a good instrument.

Regardless

began

of

surroundings

his

our

artist

Attracted by the

to improvise con amore.

up and stood
Chopin called out to

music, one of the travellers got

behind the player's

chair.

"

Professor Jarocki, in Polish,

whether

my

Now we

shall see

be a connoisseur or not."

listener

Frederic began his Fantasia on Polish Songs of

which the
veller,

sketch had been

first

made; the

tra-

a German, stood like one petrified, capti-

vated by this music, so

new and bewitching; his

movement of
hand he had forgotten

eyes mechanically followed every

the

delicate

pianist's

everything, even his beloved pipe, which went out

unheeded.

and

at the

The

other travellers stepped in softly

same time the

buxom wife appeared

tall

postmaster and his

door with their

two pretty daughters behind them. Frederic, unmindful of his audience, and absorbed in converse
at the side

with his muse, had lost

all

thought of where he

was, and that he must soon be on his way.

More and more tender and expressive became

his playing; the fairies

moonlight melodies

was

listening

arabesques

in

rapt attention

sparkling

stentorian

seemed to be singing

voice,

their

with bowed head everyone

from

which

his

made

to

the elegant

when
windows

fingers,

the

60

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
called

rattle,

out,

"

The

horses

ready,

are

gentlemen."
"

Confounded

disturber," roared the postmaster,

while the triplet of ladies cast angry glances at

Chopin sprang from

the postilion.

exclaimed with one voice

that glorious piece,
all

his seat, but

who
Go on, dear sir, finish
which we should have heard

was immediately surrounded by

:

his audience,

"

"

through but for that tiresome man."

replied Chopin, consulting his watch,

"

But,"

we have

already been here some hours, and are due in

Posen shortly."
"

Stay and play, noble young

postmaster,

you
"

" I

will only

Do

wife,

What

be

will

artist," cried

give you couriers' horses

remain a

the
if

little longer."

persuaded,"

began the postmaster's

almost threatening him with an embrace.

could Frederic do but

sit

down again

to

the instrument?

When

he paused the servant appeared with

wine and glasses; the daughters of the host served

the artist

first,

then the other travellers, while the

postmaster gave a cheer for the

hymnias," as he expressed

One of

the

went close

trembling with emotion,

thoroughly

it,

in

company (probably
up to Chopin and
trained

" Sir,

musician;

"

darling Poly-

which
the

said,
I
I,

all united.

town cantor)
in

voice

am an

old and

.too,

play the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

and so know how to appreciate your masif Mozart had heard it he

would have grasped your hand and cried, Bravo."
piano,

performance;

terly

'

An
to

insignificant old

do

man

like

myself cannot dare

so."

The women,

in

gratitude,

their

filled

the

pockets of the carriage with the best eatables that

some good
The postmaster exclaimed, with tears of

the house contained, not forgetting

wine.
joy, "

As long

as

live I shall think

with enthusi-

asm of Frederic Chopin."

When

after

one

playing

more

Mazurka,

Frederic prepared to go, his gigantic host seized

him

in his arms,

The

and carried him

to the carriage.

postilion, still sulky over his scolding,

and

jealous because the pretty servant girl could not

take her eyes off the interesting virtuoso, whis-

pered to her

"

Things often go very unfairly

The young gentleman

this world.

is

in

carried into

the carriage by the master himself; the like of us

must climb laboriously on

to the

box by

ourselves,

though we are musical."

Long

years

afterwards Chopin would recall

It was like a good
commencement of his artistic

this episode with pleasure.

omen
career.
strels

to

him

He

at the

often related how, like the old min-

who went from town

to

town with

their

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

62

harps and received good cheer as their honor-

had played at Zullichau for cakes, fruit

and good wine; and assured his most intimate
friends that the highest praise lavished on him
by the Press had never given him more pleasure
than the naive homage of the smoker who, in his
eagerness to listen, let his pipe go out.
arium, he

In Posen our travellers visited, by invitation,

the Archbishop Wolicki, and paid their respects

Anton Radziwill.
kindest reception from

to Prince

the

how

They both met with

the Prince, who knew

to esteem such a learned

man

as Jarocki, but,

being a musician to the backbone, he was better

able to appreciate the rare talent of Chopin

he

re-

garded him as a kindred

he gladly recognized.
Radziwill's

spirit, whose superiority

Most of the day in Prince

house was devoted

sonatas of Mozart, Beethoven, and

performed
Klinghor.

to

music;

Hummel

the

were

by Chopin and the band-master,

But Frederic called forth most ad-

miration by his incomparable improvisation.

As soon
Posen,

as our travellers

Frederic's

ardent

had

left hospitable

yearning

to

see

his

family drew him to his father's house, and his

love of art

The

summoned him back

last miles

to his studies.

seemed endless, and, yielding

to

his pressing request, the Professor decided to take

post horses at Lowicz.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

63

On

October 6th Frederic reached at length his

much

desired goal, and the dear returning travel-

ler

was

sisters.

in the loving

arms of

his parents

and

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

64

CHAPTER

V.

JOUBNET TO VIENNA, PBAGUE, TEPLITZ,

CHOPIN'S PEBFOBMANCE AT TWO

DBESDEN.

CONCEBTS IN VIENNA.

ON

his return

more

Chopin was, of

course,

once

in a whirl of social engagements, as

appears from the following

letter to his in-

timate friend, Titus Woyciechowski

Warsaw, Saturday, December

My

dearest Friend,

Hitherto
but

now

sleepy as

have

have been delayed writing to you,

friendship triumphs over idleness, and,

I

this in

am,

take up

time for the

do not
pliments, good

ary.

2/th, 1828.

desire to

my

pen that you

1st

and

fill

my

may

the 4th of Januletter

with com-

wishes, or trite jokes, for

we both

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

understand

each

perfectly

other

and the laconic nature of

silence

65

whence

this epistle.

my
.

The score of my Rondo Cracovienne is ready.

The introduction is almost as funny as I am in

my

great coat,*

My

parents have just

and the trio is not quite finished.

had fitted up for me a little
room, leading by a staircase direct from the
entree; there will be an old secretaire in it, and I
That orphan child, the
shall make it my den.

Rondo for two pianos, has found a step-father in

Fontana (whom you may, perhaps, have seen here
he goes to the University); he has learnt
a month's study and a short time ago
it

alike,

"

after

we

tried

might sound.
might," for the instruments were not tuned

over at Buchholtz's to see

say

how

it

and our

fingers were

stiff,

it

so

we could have

no adequate impression of the effect of the work.

For a week past I have composed nothing of any
value.
I run from Ananias to Caiaphas; this
evening
there

was

at

Madame

went to a musical

Wizegerod's, and from

soiree at Mdlle. Kicka's.

You know how pleasant it is to be pressed to improvise when you are tired.
I seldom now have
such happy thoughts as when you were with me.

And
*

then the wretched instruments one meets with

very long winter overcoat, made by Boy,
he cut a very comical figure.

in

his friends said

which

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

66

found one either in

mechanism or tone anything approaching ours or

everywhere.

your

have

not

sister's.

The

Polish

opened

theatre

"

to-day, the

Geldhab," by Fredro

row, Auber's " Maurer

und Schlosser

Somebody

performed.

"

Rataplan

to

me

am

"

and to-mor"

are to be

or other said to

other day that you had written to him.

think

with

yesterday

The French have given

" Preciosa."

me

the

Do

not

angry with you for not having written

for so long;

know you

well enough,

and

do not think anything of a bit of paper; I should

much nonsense to-day, but

not have scribbled so

you that you still hold the same place

and that I am the same Fritz as ever.
You do not like being kissed, but you must put up

to remind
in

my

with

heart,

it

to-day.

your mother.

We

unite in best wishes to

all

Zywny

sends

warmest

remem-

brances.

Your
In

spite

of

all

these

FREDERIC.

distractions,

Frederic

studied with indefatigable zeal from one year's

end

to another; neither father nor teacher

had

ever been obliged to incite

for

even as

him to diligence,
a mere boy he had always shown

the

greatest

desire to

learn.

working almost beyond

As he seemed

to

be

his strength, his anxious

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
father resolved to send

made

having

him on another journey,

happy

the

67

discovery

that

his

Frederic had learned a good deal in Berlin.

This time (July 1829) our artist was to go with

his friends to Vienna, and highly de-

some of

was at first with the prospect, he

with some misgivings when his father
friends urged him to appear publicly

lighted as he

regarded

and

it

all his

as a pianist in that musical

With

the innate

city.

modesty which never

left

him

even after his greatest triumphs, he exclaimed,

""

Here

have been leniently judged by kind-

hearted compatriots
city

but what

am

to expect in a

which can boast of having heard a Haydn,

a Mozart, and a Beethoven

?"

And yet, even then, there was scarcely

of whom he needed to be apprehensive.

few months before

this

a rival

journey Frederic had

become acquainted with Hummel, who had stayed

some time in Warsaw, and given concerts there.

Hummel had
tour,

acquired,

by

his

very

successful

the reputation of being the greatest living

Chopin was acquainted with

pianist.

positions,

greatly

and thought very highly of them.

admired

his

classical

formed on the best models;

young

his

artist

style of

yet,

com-

He

playing,

exacting as the

was towards himself, he could

say,

LIFE OF CHOPIX.

68
without vanity,

was

desire

Frederic's chief

to him, and,

with

was

enter into the

to

with which the beautiful

life

Vienna abounded,
tact

he

not very inferior to the older master.

musical

new

execution,

technical

in

that,

the

city

to hear all he could that

when

possible, to

masters

of

his

come

art.

of

was

into con-

He

never

dreamed that the latter, dazzled by his extraordinary genius, would be the very people who
would press him to appear in public.
With a heart full of hope for himself and fervent blessings for his family, Chopin, in company
with his friends Celinski, Hube, and Franz Maciejowski (the last named a nephew of the famous
authority on Slavonic law), left his beloved
Warsaw.
After visiting Cracow, the old capital of the
Piasts

and the Jagellons, and Ojcow, the so-called

Polish Switzerland, the travellers arrived on July

31st at Vienna.

The following
letters

is

a literal transcription of the

Chopin wrote from that

city

Vienna, August

My

ist,

1829.

dearly loved Parents and Sisters,

We
spirits,

arrived here yesterday well

and

may

without discomfort.

and

in

good

say without fatigue, and so

We

took a private carriage

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
at Cracow,

We

69

which we were very comfortable.

in

were able to enjoy to perfection the pic-

turescme scenery of Galicia,

Upper

Silesia,

and

Moravia, for the clouds had been amiable enough

to lay the dust with a slight shower.

But before

speak of Vienna

about our journey to Ojcow.

must

tell

On Sunday

you

after-

noon we hired a four-horse country waggon, such

as they use at Cracow, which cost us four thalers.

We

dashed merrily and swiftly along to Ojcow,

intending to put up at Herr Indyk's house, which

tourists praise,

all

stayed.

dyk

and where Fraulein Tanska*

would have it, Herr In-

But, as ill-luck

lived

full

milet

outside

the town; our

coachman did not know the way, and drove us

into a little brook, as clear and silvery as those in
the fairy tales. Right and left were walls of rock,
and we did not
till

way out of the labyrinth

when two passing peasants

find our

nearly 9 o'clock,

good naturedly conducted us to Herr Indyk's.

Wearied and wet through, we at length reached
the wished for house, and were very kindly reAlthough not expecting visitors at so
ceived.
late an hour, Herr Indyk made no trouble about
giving us a room in the little house, built on pur*

Clementine Tanska, a famous Polish authoress for

the young.
f

About three English

miles.

[Translator's

Note.]

/O

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

pose for tourists.

Sister Isabella*,

Tanska had been

that Fraulein

in

do you know,
it

only a

little

clothes

and

while before

My

companions

changed

their

gathered round the stove, in which our host had,

meanwhile, lighted a

Wet above

fire.

the knees,

crouched in a corner, considering what

best do.

room
lowed

had

Seeing the mistress go into the next

for linen for our beds,

her,

instinctively fol-

and finding on the

table a pile of

woollen Cracow caps (they are double woven),

bought one, tore

it

sat before the fire

it,

red

wine.

thus escaped

laughed and talked a

venture, then

Frederic,

wrapped my feet in
and drank a small glass of

in half,

little

went to bed and

who had

severe

cold.

YVe

while over our adslept soundly.

a sharp eye

and a keen ear

for all around him, goes

on to describe the neighbourhood of Ojcow, the strangely-formed sand

rocks, the black grotto, and the King's grotto, in
which tradition says, that King Lokietekt took
*

Chopin's

second sister; she and her husband,

Barcinski, were

still

living in

Warsaw

M.

in 1878.

t A nickname given to this prince on account of his

extraordinarily small stature, in spite of which he was
one of the most able rulers. A thorough exploration of
the King's Grotto has recently been made by archaeologists, and the bones of prehistoric animals have been
discovered.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

refuge from his enemies, at the end of the 13th

Frederic was very enthusiastic over
century.

Ojcow and the neighbourhave had a special charm for him.

everything he saw, but

hood appear

He

to

gives an account, also, of the Vienna picture

gallery, to
visit.

We

which he had

unabridged, the following

give,

to his family

at first only paid a flying

letters

Vienna, August %th, 1829.

I

am

well

and

good

in

spirits.

Why,

do not

know, but the people here are astonished at me,

and I wonder at them for finding anything to

wonder

at in me.

am

indebted to good Eisner's

recommendation for my exceedingly

He did
friendly reception by Herr Haslinger.
not know how to make me sufficiently welcome;
letter

of

he showed

made

me

all

the musical novelties he had,

his son play to me,

introducing his wife,

spite of all his politeness

my

compositions.

but he said,
editions, that

and apologized for not

In
just gone out.

who had

he has not yet printed

did not ask him about them,

when showing me one of

my

week, in the same style, in Odeon.

tainly
*

his finest

Variations were to appear, next

had not expected.*

He

This

cer-

strongly advised

Chopin had sent Haslinger for publication, the

"La ci darem la mano," op. 2; and the

Variations on
Sonata, cp. 4.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

72

me

to play in public, although

it is

summer, and,

therefore, not a favourable time for concerts.

The

artists

am

here,

great deal

and lovers of music, who know that

left

do not know what

zigh, to

whom

informs

me

over,
I

would

consider that Vienna

if

lose

without giving a concert.

to

make

have

of

letters

it

all;

a
I

Schuppan-

of recommendation,

that although his quartet parties are

he will try to get a gathering before

I leave.

have only been once to old Herr Hussarzewski

he was quite enthusiastic about

invited me to dinner.
men were present, and

by previous

if

form

concert,

playing, and

Several Viennese gentle-

without exception, as

all,

recommended me

to per-

in public.

Stein offered to send

and begged me

whose pianos
posal.

my

to play
prefer,

me one

of his instruments,

on

my

it

made

has

Wiirfel* says that

at

if

concert; Graff,

the

same pro-

you have composed

anything new, and want to create a sensation, you

must, by all means, play
hetka, a journalist,

also advised

me

yourself.

whom

it

met

to give a concert.

Herr Bla-

at Haslinger's,

My

Variations

Wilhelm Wiirfel, born in Bohemia, was,

for

some

years, pianoforte teacher at the Warsaw Conservatoire.

In 1826, he became conductor at the Karthner Thor
Theatre, in Vienna, where lie died in 1832.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

73

have been much praised by those who have heard

them.

Haslinger thinks that the Viennese should hear

me

my own compositions. Everybody asme that the newspapers will be certain to

me a flattering notice. Wiirfel is of opinion

play

sures

give

my

as

that,

compositions are to appear now,

would be advisable
otherwise

the present

me

for

to

give

it

concert,

should have to come again, but that

would be the

best time as the Vien-

nese are longing for something new.

unpardonable

in

young musician

such an opportunity;

He

calls

to

neglect

ought to appear

it

in the

twofold capacity of pianist and composer, and

must not think too modestly of myself.

me

to play the Variations

first,

He wishes

then the

Rondo

Cracovienne, and, in conclusion, to improvise.

I

do not know

Stein

is

yet

how

it

will all be arranged.

very kind and amiable, but

one of

fer to use

should pre-

Graff's instruments.

Haslinger,

Rlahetka and Wiirfel approve

Wherever

show myself,

requests to play.

At the
of

me

choice.

am

besieged with

and Haslinger

is

going to

to Charles Czerny.

theatre,

Count

my

have no lack of acquaintances

in the musical world,

introduce

which

Gallenberg,

under the management

is
I

have

besides

some

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

74

music heard

second-rate
"

Blanche,"

Joseph in Egypt

"

have twice

listened,

seder's solos at the

Vienna

me

is

"

Academy

They

me

thinks
I

am

"

shall

an

to

May-

of Music.

and pleases

city,

Wiirfel has just

me

come

to Haslinger's.

have made up

To-

are trying to persuade

to spend the winter here.

in to take

Cro-

to be performed.

is

with admiration,

a handsome, lively

exceedingly.

P.S.

"

Cenerentola," and Meyerbeer's

Orchestra and chorus were excellent.

ciato."

day

La Dame

"

three operas,

make a

artist

of the

my

Blahetka

mind.

furore, for, as he puts

first

rank and worthy to

it,

be:

placed beside Moscheles, Herz, and Kalkbrenner."

Wiirfel

me

to such of his acquaintances as

have

interest or influence in matters musical.

He

and

declares

a concert.
this,

as

must not leave Vienna

Count Gallenberg

payment.

is

till

The

now

is

to

win

have given

very pleased with

shall play at his theatre,

principal object

the

and has -introduced

really very kind,

to Count Gallenberg; the bandmaster, Sey-

fried,

any

is

journalists stare at

as my
without

and

laurels

me
me

already;,

very demembers of the orchestra salute

when I walk in, arm in arm, with the:

ferentially

director of the Italian opera (which

is

now

closed)..

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

;>

Wiirfel has taken no end of trouble on

and

half,

will

was very kind

ticularly

my

be-

be present at the rehearsal.

He

am

par-

to

me

at

Warsaw, and

glad that he has such a pleasant recollecPeople here are surprised that

tion of Eisner.

Ernemann, and Czapek should

Kessler,

Warsaw with me

there too, but

I tell

give no lessons and only play from love of the

I

have decided on Graff's instrument, but

want

to offend Stein, so

shall

in

live

them that

art.

do not

thank him with

such an expression of obligation that he cannot

but forgive me.

I

hope for God's gracious

anxious,

my

Do

help.

not be

dearest ones.

Your fondly loving

FREDERIC.

Vienna, Wednesday, August

You know
from

my

of

last

my

intention,

letter.

o'clock in the evening,

nese

public

for

Opera House.
theatre

is

the

my

1829.

beloved ones,

Yesterday (Tuesday) at 7
I appeared before a Vienfirst

time, at

the

Imperial

Here, an evening concert in the

called a musical academy.

gratuitously,

\2tJ1,

As

played

Count Gallenberg expedited the

rangements for

my

appearance.

ar-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

;6

The following was

Overture,

My

programme

the

by Beethoven.

Variations.

Song, by Fraulein Veltheim*

My

A
The

Cracovienne.

Ballet, in conclusion.

orchestra accompanied so badly at the re-

was obliged to substitute a " Free

Fantasia for the Rondo.
Directly I appeared I was greeted with cries of

hearsal that

"

"

Bravo," and, after each variation, the audience

shouted this welcome word so lustily that

could

had such a
hearty recall, that I was obliged to come forward
twice to bow my acknowledgments.
I must confess that I was not quite satisfied myself with the
free fantasia; but the public must have been
pleased, for I was overwhelmed with applause.
not hear the tutti of the orchestra.

One reason for this may have been that the Germans know how to appreciate free improvisation.
I am now doubly obliged to Wiirfel, for without
his

support and encouragement

should never

have accomplished the daring enterprise which

has succeeded so well.

shall be able to relate

* Charlotte Veltheim was on of the most celebrated

bravura singers of her time (1821-1840), and a much
valued member of the Dresden Court Theatre. She was
a thorough musician, and played the piano very well.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

my

and

experiences

mouth

JJ

by

impressions

better than I can now.

word of

was not

hissed,

so don't be uneasy about

my

The newspapers have been

very favourable to

if

artistic reputation.

some of them should pick holes

prepared for

My

it.

in

me

me
am

compositions have received

Count Gallenberg's undivided approbation. The

theatrical manager, Herr Demar, was very kind
his best to encourage

and pleasant; he did

before

much

My

appeared, so

went

to

my

me

piano without

anxiety.

friends were scattered about the house that

they might hear the observations of the

critics,

and the various opinions of the public. Celinski

tell you that he heard nothing unfavourable.
Hube reports the most severe criticism, and that,

can

too,

from a lady

presence."

"

pity the youth has so little

If this is the only sort of

to receive I cannot complain.

My

blame

am

friends swear

they heard nothing but praise, and that, until the

audience spontaneously burst into applause, not

one of them had clapped or uttered a bravo.

manager was so pleased with

came up

after the concert,

and made some very

I

my Rondo

shook hands with me,

flattering remarks.

improvised on a subject from

Blanche," and, that

The

that he

"

La Dame

might have a Polish theme,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

78
chose

"

The public, to whom this kind

melody is quite unknown, seemed

Chmiel."*

of national
electrified.

My

friends in the pit say the people

began a regular dance on the benches.

Wertheim, although only arriving yesterday
with his wife from Carlsbad, went to the theatre;
he could not imagine how I came to play there.

He was

here just

now

me on my
saw Hummel who
He writes to him

to congratulate

good success. At Carlsbad he

remembered me very kindly.
to-day, and will inform him of
Haslinger

is

to print

my

my

works.

performance.
I

have kept

programme of

the concert.
It was most inbecome personally acquainted
with Gyrowetz, Lachner, Kreutzer, and Seyfried;
with May seder I have had a very long conversation.
There is an almost unanimous opinion that
the

teresting to

to

play too softly, or rather, too delicately for the

public here.
to the
I

me

am

That

is

drum beating

because they are accustomed

of their

own piano

virtuosi.

afraid the newspapers will say the same

thing, especially as the daughter of one of the

editors

drums dreadfully; but never mind, if it is

I would much rather they said I played

to be so,

too gently than too roughly.

* ' Chmiel" is a song in the mazurka measure, sung
by the Poles at marriage ceremonies at the moment when
the bride's sisters solemnly place the cap on her head.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Count

Dietrichstein,

one

had

personages

the

came on

to

the stage

a long talk with

me

in French,

nearest to the Emperor,

yesterday, and

of

79

complimented me and requested me to stay longer

Vienna.

in

The

execrated

orchestra

and were not

score,

badly

at all favourable to

moment of my

the

my

written

me up

to

improvisation; then, in concert

with the public, they applauded heartily, which

showed their good opinion of me. I do not yet

know what the other artists think; but what can
they have against me ? They see that I do not
play for pecuniary advantage.

So

my

performance, unexpected as

first

has passed

off

successfully.

one never succeeds

and according

in

Hube

it

was,

thinks that

anything by ordinary means

preconceived plans, but must

to

somewhat to chance. So I trusted to my

good fortune and allowed myself to be persuaded

trust

to give the concert.

so

much

again,

that

that

me up
world

have resolved to become a house painter

would be

am

newspapers cut

shall not venture before the

as easy as anything else,

should, at any rate,

I

If the

still

be an

and

artist

curious to hear what Herr Eisner will say

to all this.

ing at all?

Perhaps he disapproves of

But

was

so besieged

on

my

play-

all

sides

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

80
that

had no

and

escape,

committed a blunder by

my

do not seem

to

have

me

yes-

performance.

Nidecki* was particularly friendly to

terday; he looked through and corrected the orchestral parts,

applause
pianos.

and was

received.

I feel at least

sincerely pleased at the

played on one of Graff's

four years wiser and more

experienced.

You

my

must, indeed, have wondered at

last letter

with a strange

minded and took

the

first

seal.

and

best

my

sealing

was absentthat came to

hand.t
Adieu,

Your fondly loving

FREDERIC.

Thursday, August
If ever

longed to be with you

To-day

Lichnovski.
*

do

13th, 1829.

so now.

have become acquainted with Count

He

did not

Thomas Nidecki, one

know how

to praise

of the best pupils at the

me

War-

saw Lyceum, was sent to Vienna, in 1822, at the public

expense to complete his education. He became bandmaster at the Leopoldstadter Theatre. From 1841 he
was bandmaster at the Grand Theatre, in Warsaw, in
which city he died in 1852.
f

The

seal

" Madeira."

belonged to a waiter, and bore the word

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Si

enough, he was so delighted with

Wurfel took me
to

friend,

He was

to him.

whom

great

the

my

playing.

Beethoven's best

master

was much

indebted.

Everyone says that

have especially pleased

The Schwarzenbergs, Wrbnas,

the noblesse here.

and others were quite enthusiastic about the delicacy and elegance of my execution as you may
see by Count Dietrichstein's coming on the stage
seek me.
Countess Lichnovski and her
to
daughter, with whom I drank tea to-day, are quite
delighted that
cert
if I

am going

to give a second con-

on Tuesday. They invited me to visit them

passed through Vienna, on my way to Paris;

then they wished to give

me

a letter to a certain

Countess, sister to Count Lichnovski.

deal too

and

much

kindness.

Gyrowetz

have

great

Czerny, Schuppanzigh,
also

paid

me

many

compliments.

To-day a stranger looked

room,

and,

He

rushed up to me.
give

him

to

at

me

in the ante-

was Chopin,
said what pleasure it would

asking Celinski

if

become acquainted with such an

and exclaimed

"

You

really

artist,

delighted and en-

me the day before yesterday." It was

same gentleman who had sat beside Maciejowski and seemed so charmed with my improvisation on " Chmiel."

chanted
the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

82

Under no circumstances
cert

and
"

He

I
I

will

give a third con-

only give a second because

am

forced

to,

thought that people might say in Warsaw,

only gave one concert in Vienna, probably

he was not

much

To-day

liked."

house of one of the newspaper

was

critics,

who

well disposed towards me, and

favourable critique.

and pleasant Wiirfel

cannot

sure to write a

tell

you how kind

for the sake of obliging

Count Gallenberg, whose finances

(But this

flourishing.

very

is

I shall play gratuitously

is.

the second time also,

at the
is

is

a secret.)

are not

very

shall play

the Rondo, and then improvise.

For the

rest, I

am

in

good

not without the society of

is

one in the

ballet,

debut, and brought

Please give
to
is

health,

and

all

my

me

to spare.

up

to Eisner,

that

my

and beg him

my

time

have scarcely a moment

wish to thank M. Skarbek, who was

one of the foremost in persuading

concert; this

at

eau sucree.

news

pardon me for not writing to him, but

really so filled

am

countrymen; there

who took charge of me

my

and

eat

Vienna pleases me much, and

drink well.

is,

indeed, the artist's

Your

me

first

to give a

step in

life.

ever affectionate
.

FREDERIC.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

83

Vienna, August igth, 1829.

If

on the

able,

my

hearty.

first

occasion the public were favour-

reception,

was

was still more

came on the stage

yesterday,

when

greeted,

The

with three long rounds of applause.

much

ence was

larger than at the

audi-

concert.

first

The financial manager whose name I cannot remember thanked me for the receipts, and said

that the house could not have been so full

count of the ballet,

ac-

had been given

that

for

on

several times.

The

profession praise

my

Rondo, one and

from the bandmaster, Lachner,

I

know

have pleased the ladies and the musi-

Gyrowetz,

cians.
"

who

sat next

called

Celinski,

and made a tremendous

Bravo,"

all,

to the piano-tuner.

The

noise.

only people not satisfied were the out-and-out

Germans.

Yesterday, one of them,

come from the

I was sitting

how he
pretty,"

at.

"

liked the performance.

was

"

his answer.

to talk of

But the

just

The

ballet

concert,

is

what

Instead of replying he

something

conclude that he recognized

back was towards him.

him from the

who had

to eat at the table

His acquaintances asked him

of that?" they asked.

began

down

theatre, sat

restraint of

else,

me,

although

my

bound

to relieve

presence,

and went

felt

my

from which

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

84
to bed,

The man has

"

saying to myself,

not been

born yet who does everything right."*

I

am

glad to be able to say that

As

increases.

must spend
Schuppanzigh

for

answered that

the sake of

had made
must come again

should gladly return

further

improving myself, to

replied, " that for such a reason

should never need to come, for

had nothing

This opinion was confirmed by

to learn."

These

the others.

visits.

said, yesterday, that as I

which the Baron

more

popularity

the forenoon in farewell

all

such a short stay in Vienna

soon.

my

depart at 9 o'clock this evening,

are,

indeed, mere compliments,

For

but one does not listen to them unwillingly.

the future

any

shall not at

rate be regarded as

a student.

Blahetka

tells

me

what he most wonders

that

could learn

at is that I

it

all in

Warsaw.

an-

swered that the greatest donkey must learn something with Messrs.
It is

firm

Zwyny and Eisner.

me that I cannot

very unfortunate for

what

opinions in the press.

in the
I

con-

have told you by sending you the

I

know

that the critique

hands of the Editor of the paper

to

is

which

have subscribed, and which Bauerlet will send

*

An

old Polish proverb.

t The " Wiener Theater Zeitung "

Adolph Bauerle, from 1828 to 1848, was

published

by

to every artist

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
to

Warsaw.

85

expect they waited for

my

second

This paper

performance before giving a notice.

comes out twice a week, Tuesdays and Saturdays

possibly therefore you

may read what is

me before I do.

favour-

able or the contrary about

I

have on

my

and the poetichave a great deal to talk

side the scholarly

We

ally-minded.

shall

would have written of something quite

different, but my head is so full of yesterday that

over.

it is

quite impossible to collect

finances are
I

still

have just paid

my

have packed up, but

to Haslinger's,

opposite the theatre, where

and then

am

to

to the cafe

meet Gyrowetz,

Lachner, Kreutzer, Sey fried, and others.

nights and a day

My

farewell visits to Schup-

his compositions.

must go again

thoughts.

Czerny was warmer than

panzigh and Czerny.

any of

my

in the best order.

we

coach goes at nine.

shall be at
It

In two

Prague; the mail

will be an agreeable jour-

ney with such pleasant companions.

Your

FREDERIC.

an important and dreaded publication. There were

then but few papers devoted to art matters, and this
journal was to be found in the clubs and coffee-houses of
every town in Germany. Whoever was praised by the
" Wiener Theater Zeitnng," was a made man.
Bauerle
was the composer also of " Staberl, Staberl's Wedding
Day," " Aline, Queen of Golconda, or, Vienna in another quarter of the world," and "The false Catalini,"
pieces which were performed an immense number of times.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

86

Prague, Saturday, August 22nd, 1829.

After an affecting
was,

for

parting

which

indeed

me

gave

Blahetka*

Fraulein

as

it

souvenir, a copy of her compositions, with her

autograph, and her father sent warmest regards

to

you

my good

Mamma,

Papa,

and

my

you

to

dear

with congratulations to you both on

having such a son, young Stein wept, and Schuppanzigh, Gyrowetz, in short, all the artists were

deeply moved

after

this

tender

giving a promise of returning soon,

diligence.

were to

Nidecki

little

and two other

start for Trieste in half

panied us a

farewell,

way.

One of

and

got into the

who

Poles,

an hour, accom-

them, Niegolewski

by name, comes from Great Poland, and

is

travel-

ling with his tutor, or rather, companion, a student

from the Warsaw University; we had met and

conversed several times in Vienna.

Countess Hussarzweska (she and her husband

are both excellent people)

dinner when

paid

my

wanted

farewell

to keep

visit,

but

me
I

to

had

not time to stay, having to go to Haslinger's.

After

many

hearty wishes for a speedy meeting,

* Leopolds Blahetka, born in Vienna, Nov. 15th, 1811,

a distinguished pianoforte virtuoso,, pupil of Czerny
and Moscheles. She made several artistic tours winning
everywhere the highest approbation. Her amiability

made

her a general favourite.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

87

Haslinger promised, most solemnly, to bring out

my

may have

variations in five weeks, that he

something new to
autumn.

offer the

musical world in the

Although a stranger

to you,

my

dear

Father, he wished to be kindly remembered.

When we

were taking our places in the coach, a

young German got in, and, as we were to sit together for two nights and a day, we scraped an
He was a merchant from Danzig,
acquaintance.
knew Pruszaka, Sierakowski of Waplew, Jawurek,
Ernemann, Gresser, and others. He was in Warsaw two years ago, and had now just come from
Paris.
His name is Normann. He was a very
agreeable gentlemen and a capital travelling companion. We are in the same hotel with him, and
have resolved, when we have seen Prague, to go
on together to Teplitz and Dresden. It would
be inexcusable to miss seeing Dresden when we
are so near, especially as our finances will permit

of

it,

and the journey for four persons

is

easily

managed, and not expensive.

After a good shaking in the coach, we reached

Prague

at noon, yesterday,

and went

at

once to

Then we called upon Hanka,* to

whom Maciejowski had a letter of introduction;
table-d?-hote.

Waclaw Hanka,

a celebrated philologist and Slavonic

Czech nationalism,
born in 1791, died in Prague, 1861.

linguist, originator of the revival of

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

88
I

regretted afterwards that

bek to furnish

me

had not asked Skar-

with one to this famous savant.

As we had stayed some time at the Cathedral and

Castle we did not find Hanka at home.
The city, viewed from the castle hill, looks
and old-fashioned, but generally hand-

large

some; formerly

it

was an important place*

Before leaving Vienna

had six letters given

me, five from Wiirfel and one from Blahetka, to
Pixis, asking him to show me the Conservatoire
I

here.

They wanted me to play; but I shall only stay

and have no desire to forfeit the reputation I gained in Vienna.
As Paganini even
came in for criticism, I shall take care not to perform in this place. The five letters from Wiirfel
are to the Theatre Director, the Bandmaster, and
three days,

other musical celebrities.

me
The

shall deliver the let-

ters,

for he asked

to very earnestly; but

not

perform.

excellent

given
I

me

has

will

also

a letter to Klengel, in Dresden.

must now conclude, as

Hanka's.

Wiirfel

it is

shall introduce

quite time to

go

to

myself as godson of

* Especially in the time of Otto the Great, the last

independent King of Bohemia, who was conquered by
Rudolph of Hapsburgh, and died on the field of March.
From 1790 to 1848 the Iloyal Theatre at Prague was one
of the best and most celebrated in Germany.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Count Skarbek, and

mendation

89

hope that no further recom-

will be necessary.

Your

FREDERIC.

Dresden, August 26th, 1829.

I

am merry and

a week ago,

well.

When

did not dream

was

in Vienna,

should be in Dres-

den to-day. Our visit to Prague was a flying

one but not without profit. Herr Hanka was very
pleased to receive news from Skarbek.
visitors to the

any

special attention

write our

Like

all

Prague Museum who have received

names

from Herr Hanka, we had

to

book kept for the purpose;

names of Brodzinski,
Each of us wrote whatever oc-

in a

we found among
Morowski,* &c.

others the

What

curred to him in poetry or prose.

could

I,

a musician, write that would be worth reading?

The thought happily

struck Maciejowski to write

four strophes for a Mazurka, and

music

so

think

selves in the

to

our-

delighted with this idea, for the

to

him and

for the elevation of the Slavs.

me

them

we have both immortalized

Mazurka contained a reference

given

set

most characteristic manner.

Hanka was
efforts

several views of
*

Two famous

to his

He

Prague for Skarbek.

Polish poets.

has
I

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

90
cannot possibly

Hanka showed
lovely

views,

you by

tell

us.

must

letter all

that Herr

describe, verbally, the

the majestic

cathedral,

with

the

figure of St. John, in silver, the beautiful chapel

of

Wencelaus, inlaid with amethysts and other

St.

precious stones, and

am

indebted

many
to

other things.

Blahetka's

and Wurfel's
I had

for the friendly reception which

letters

He gave up his lessons, kept me at

and asked me about all sorts of things.
I noticed Klengel's visiting card on his table, and
asked if it belonged to a relative of the famous
Klengel, of Dresden. "Klengel himself is here,"
replied Pixis, "he called while I was out."
from

Pixis.

his house,

was delighted

acquainted with this

from Vienna.
invited

me

to

artist, to

spoke to

come

becoming
had a letter
Pixis about it, and he

at the prospect of

whom

wished

in the afternoon, if I

to meet Klengel, as he

was expected

met by accident on the steps of

We

then.

Pixis's house,

effected our first acquaintance there.

and

listened

more than two hours; I did not

was not asked. Klengel's playing
pleased me, but, to speak candidly, I had expected something still better. (I pray you not

to his fugues for

play,

to

as

mention

ductory

this to anyone.)

letter

He

gave

me an

with the following address:

ornatissimo Signore Cavaliere Morlacchi,

intro"

Al

primo

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Maestro della Capella Reale;" in which he begs

gentleman to make

this

me

acquainted with the

whole musical world of Dresden, and

lar

lady
the

present

to

me

This

a pupil of Klengel's and, in his opinion,

is

first

with

him,

extremely

Before his departure

going to Vienna and Italy

flagged.

He was

pianist in Dresden.

affable towards me.

hours

in particu-

Fraulein Pechwell.

to

and

our

he

is

spent a couple of

never

conversation

This has been a very agreeable ac-

quaintanceship, and

Czerny's; but not a

value

word of

it

more highly than

this either,

my

dear

ones.

The
before
I

three delightful days in Prague were over

we were

aware.

am, as you know, very absent-minded, and on

day we left rushed suddenly into a strange

room without knowing. " Good morning," said a
" I beg your pardon, I mistook
cheerful voice.
the number," I answered, and ran away as fast as
possible.
We left Prague at noon in a private
carriage, and arrived at Teplitz towards evening.
The next day I found in the list at the Baths
Ludwig Lempicki's name; I immediately went to
call on him.
He was very glad to see me, and
the

told

me

there were several

Poles here;

among

others he mentioned old Pruszack, Joseph Kohler,

and Kretkowski, from Kamionna.

Lempicki told

LIFE OF CHOPIX.

92

me
"

that they generally all dined together in the

German

hall," but that

Prince Clary's

to-day he was invited to

This Prince belongs to

Castle.

one of the most distinguished of the Austrian

princely families.

He

the town of Teplitz.

Chotek*

is sister

Bohemia.

is

very wealthy, and owns

Princess Clary, nee Countess

of the present Oberstburggraf of

Lempicki said he was quite

at

home

in

and would introduce me

when the Princess received;
he would mention my name to them at dinner.
Having no engagement for the evening, I acPrince Clary's house,

there in the evening

cepted the proposal with pleasure.

We

have seen

all that is

worth seeing

here,

and

have also been to Dux, the residence of the Counts

We

Waldstein.

were shown the halberd with

which Albrecht Waldstein

(or Wallenstein)

stabbed, a piece of his skull, and other

was

relics.

In

the evening, instead of going to the theatre,

dressed and went with Lempicki to the Castle.

put on

duty
not

my

white gloves which had already done

at the

Vienna

numerous,

but

concert.

very

The company was

select

an

Austrian

* Princess Aloysia von Clary was an extremely amiable lady. She was an excellent pianist, and to rare
culture united true goodness of heart.
Artists and
poets met with the most cordial reception in her hospitable house, and to extreme old age the Princess took a
warm interest in all literary and artistic matters.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
prince; an Austrian general,

93

whose name

forget;

an English naval captain; two or three elegant

dandies (Austrian princes or counts, I believe);
and the Saxon General von Leiser, who bore the

uncommon
I

talked

decoration of a scar on his face.

most

to

Prince

Clary.

After

tea

Countess Chotek, mother of the Princess, asked

me

to play.

Graff.

The instrument was

took

my

seat at the piano,

good one, by
and asked the

company to give me a theme for improvisation.

The ladies, who had established themselves at a
table, immediately whispered to each other " un
theme, un theme." Three pretty young princesses,
after some consultation, referred to a Herr
Fritsche* tutor to Prince Clary's only son, and he
suggested the chief theme in Rossini's

"

Moses,"

which was unanimously approved of. I improvised, I suppose with some success, for General

von Leiser had a long talk with me afterwards.

When he heard I was going to Dresden, he at once
wrote the following to Baron von Friesen
" Monsieur Frederic Chopin est recommande de la
part du General Leiser a Monsieur le Baron de Friesen,
Ma it re de Ceremonie de S. M. le roi de Saxe, pour lui
etre utile pendant son sejour a Dresde, et de lui procurer la connaissance de plusieurs de nos premiers
artistes."
* Composer of several short comedies which were performed successfully in Dresden and Vienna, between the
years 1836 and 1848.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

94

Below was written in German " Herr Chopin is

one of the best pianists I have heard." I copied
this literally for you, my dearests, from the
:

general's pencil
I

had

letter.

play

to

The

four times.

me

Princess asked

to prolong

my

Prince and

stay at Teplitz,

and dine with them the next day. Lempicki

to accompany me to Warsaw, if I remained a day or two here, but I could not hear of
being separated from my companions, so, with

offered

many

We

thanks,

declined both proposals.

yesterday morning, at

left

carriage, for which we paid two

Labecki.

The

journey.

first

part of

Everything hap-

me

pened very fortunately for

"

o'clock, in a

and arthe afternoon, when

rived at Dresden at four in

we met Lewinski and

thalers,

throughout the

Faust

" is to

and Klengel tells me that the

opera will be on Saturday.
to-day,

I
it

began

to-day.

be given
Italian

this letter last night, intending to finish

Now

must dress for calling on Baron

von Friesen and Morlacchi, so have no time to

spare.

We

intend leaving in a week, but, weather

Saxon Swit-

permitting, not without a visit to the

zerland.
lau,

so

We

and go

much

do not

hope

direct

to see

to

spend a few days

home from

you again,

at all care to

go

my

there.

am

in Bres-

longing

dear parents, that

to Wiesiolowski's

first.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

many

Oh, how

stories and adventures I shall have

and each more interesting than the last.

to relate,
P.S.

95

Baron
me

received

von Friesen, maitre de ceremonie,

He asked me where I

very kindly.

and regretted that the Chamberlain,

who was also director of the royal band, was not
in Dresden just now, but he would find out who
was his deputy, and do all he could to show me

was

staying,

my

something worth seeing during

short sojourn.

Whereupon many bows and stammered thanks on

my

My

part.

you the

rest.*

next
I

from Breslau,

letter,

gallery, the fruit show, the gardens,

some visits, and am now going

Enough, I hope, for one day.

SECOND POSTCRIPT.
from the

theatre,

ticket at all.

lasted

till

office,

saw

we had

"

have paid
the theatre.

to

Just returned

It is night.

where

rush was so great that

outside the

will tell

have seen the world-renowned

The

Faust." f

to be in the queue,

before five o'clock, to get a

The performance began

eleven o'clock.

Devrient, J

at six,

whom

and
saw

* I have not found any letters from Breslau.

He
probably hurried on as fast as he could, to give his news

in person.

t The first part of Goethe's " Faust" was performed

for the first time, that evening, in Dresden.
Louis Tieck

had made the necessary curtailments.

I

Charles

nephews

Devrient, eldest of the

of the great Louis Devrient.

three

brothers,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

96

in Berlin, acted Faust.

conception.

fearful but magnificent

Portions of Spohr's Opera,

were performed as Entr'actes.

birthday was celebrated to-day.
bed.

"

Faust,"

Goethe's eightieth

Now

am

off to

expect Morlacchi early to-morrow, and

go with him to Fraulein Pechwell's, that

he will come with me.
shall

Good

is,

night,

Your

FREDERIC.

CHOPIN.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

CHAPTER

97

VI.

INFLUENCE OF THE LAST JOURNEY ON

FAREWELL CONCERT IN WARSAW.
CHOPIN LEAVES HIS NATIVE CITY.

CHOPIN.

THE

innocent youthful gaiety which accom-

panied Chopin on his journeyings was his

companion for some time to come.

The brilliant success of his two performances in
Vienna assured him that he really had talent, and
that his parents had not done wrong in allowing
faithful

him

to dedicate himself

He

returned

from

wholly to

his

art.

second

wider views and riper judgment.

drawing
chief,

He

He

with

left

off

caricatures, with which, in boyish mis-

he had often amused himself in Berlin.

felt,

with intense delight, that the wings of

his genius

a year

journey

were bearing him higher than they did

ago.

With

his

inborn modesty he was

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

98

surprised that great musicians should marvel at

Although he already had the cour-

his playing.

age to defend his opinions when they differed

from those of other musicians; he always spoke
with a certain reserve and courtesy which prevented him from giving offence, nor did he forget

pay the respect which the young man owes to

" That Vienna would lose much if he
the elder.
went away without letting people hear him," was

to

incomprehensible to the modest youth not yet

fully conscious of his talents.
It

characteristic of

is

began

Chopin that he always

hand; but, as

his letters in a clear elegant

the rush of thought and feeling took possession

of him the writing seemed, as

the

His

paper.

natural,
ideas.

Polish

it

were, hurled

letters

are

pithy

upon
and

and often contain surprisingly original

great

deal

cannot unfortunately be

transcribed into German.

humorous nature was often displayed

in the address of a letter.
For example, he sent
one to his father directed " To the Right Hon.
N. Chopin, Professor in Warsaw, and to the dear
parents of the son who is in Dresden."
He would
often call his sisters "my children" (mojo
kochane dzieci), out of tenderness, and add some
Frederic's

playful affectionate expressions.

He

never for-

got to send remembrances to his much-honoured

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Zwyny and

teachers,

99

Eisner, nor to gladden his

fellow collegians and intimate friends by kind

words

as reminders of himself.

has become the custom with most writers to

It

on Chopin's weak and exhausted health.

dilate

The

grossest exaggerations have been current on

always the

this point, and, as is nearly

case,

more

credence has been given to the exaggerations than

to the truth.

the truth so

truly, "

Goethe says
because

little

it is

People believe

so simple."

has been said of Chopin that he suffered

It

from his earliest years from an incurable malady

which might have caused death at any moment.
This

may have

scribes

him

been the reason

as very sickly

fifteen or sixteen;

among

why

when only

Liszt dea youth of

other things about

him

he says

Chopin w as more like one of

those ideal creations with which the poetry of
the middle ages adorned the Christian temples
a beautiful angel, with a form pure and lithe as
a young god of Olympus, with a face like that
of a woman and, to crown all, an expression at
once tender and severe, chaste and impassioned.
" *

"

He

daily accustomed himself to think that

the hour of his death

was

near, and,

under the

influence of this feeling, he accepted the careful

attentions of a friend,

from

whom

he concealed

100

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

how

short a time, he believed, remained for

on

earth.

and,

He

him

possessed great physical courage,

he did not accept with the heroic careless-

if

ness of youth the idea of his approaching end,

he at least cherished the expectation of

kind of

it

with a

bitter pleasure."

These remarks are not applicable

of Chopin's

to this period

for they are not in accordance

life,

Chopin neither looked like " a

beautiful angel," " a woman," nor " a young god
from Olympus;" just as little did he imagine

with the

facts.

" that

daily

the hour of his death

was

near."

On

the contrary, his cheerful letters, pervaded with

showed that Frederic had as

good health as any other young man of his age.
When travelling he saw all that was worth seeing,
the joy of youth,

gave two concerts within a week, paid several

was present at long performances at the

theatre, and besides wrote many long letters.
Undeniably Chopin had a delicate constitution,
but he was healthy, and strong enough to bear
visits,

the fatigue of travelling in a diligence.

It

was not

until ten years later that he

was

threatened with the illness brought on by the excitement of Paris

sickly,

only,

Would

would
tenderly

life.

his

And

if

Frederic had been

parents have permitted

loved

son

to

travel

their

abroad

they have consented to an absence of two

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
years
the

which

young

followed

artist

gerous malady

10

journeys

the earlier

if

had been troubled with a dan-

It

was only

in the last years of

was often greatly

his life his physical strength

exhausted, in consequence of the rapid strides of

the disease which caused his early death.

Chopin's playmate and schoolfellow, Wilhelm

von Kolberg, affirmed that till manhood, Chopin
was only ill once, and then from a chill. Naturally, after the

mother and

manner of loving womanly

very

sisters

much

hearts,

petted their dear

Frederic.

There was no lack of exhortations to

"wrap up

carefully in cold

damp

weather;" he

good-humoured ly at the instructions,

but followed them like an obedient son.
There were moments when, buried in thought,
Frederic paid little heed to the outer world, and
laughed

avoided even his best friends.

In a general

way he was fond

delighted to share
friends.

He was

it

of pleasure, and

with his parents, family, and

never a kill-joy.

If

he were

among company who wished to dance, he would

down to the piano without being pressed and

sit

play

the

most charming Mazurkas

and other

bad player were at the piano, he

and pleasantly put himself in his
place.
In after years also, when he lived in Paris
and had acquired a European reputation, he was

dances.

would

If a

politely

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

102

always willing, in the kindest manner, to delight

As

a Polish family with some national dances.

a player he was as indefatigable as the dancers,

who

in their enthusiasm often did not

know how

to stop.

Like

intelligent

all

young men, Frederic

re-

turned from his travels with a wider knowledge

of

human

nature.

He

perceived that the

artists,

whose acquaintance he had lately made, were not

all so amiable and free from envy as he had imagined he, therefore, clung the closer to the more
noble-minded among his compeers, for whom he
;

retained through life a friendly feeling.

The

Vienna looked upon Chopin as a

young man with a thorough and most refined
musical education, who was not puffed up with
vanity, and had no thought of settling in the Imartists in

They

perial city.

posed

towards

were, therefore, favourably dis-

him,

and willingly

Disillusionment

assistance.

awaited

lent

their

him

in

future years.

Like every true

artist

and

poet,

Chopin was

tormented with doubts as to the extent and range

of his genius.

Some, indeed, who heard him at

the concerts which he gave in Vienna, said that

his playing

was not powerful enough; but with

regard to his compositions, there was but one

opinion.

Real connoisseurs of pianoforte play-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
ing, truly musical souls,

103

knew how

to value the

smoothness, certainty, and elegance of his style.

The wonderful,

penetrating and melancholy ex-

found a

pression peculiar to Chopin's playing,

response in

minds.

all poetical

He was

pre-emi-

nently the pianist for poets, and could not be

exalted too highly above the mass,
sire

technical

character

and

skill

and

who only

de-

noise; to musicians the

originality of his compositions es-

pecially appealed.

To

Vienna experiences,

ticular friend, Titus

complete the story of his

give two letters to his par-

Woyciechowski.

Warsaw, September

12th, 1829.

Dearest Titus,

You would

not have heard from me,

if

had

not met Vicentius Skarbek, and thereby been re-

you would be in Warsaw by the end

I hoped that I should have been
able to tell you personally of my GREAT JOURNEY,
for truly and sincerely I should only be too glad
But as this is unforto have a chat with you.

minded

that

of this month.

tunately impossible,

me

let

tell

you, dear, that

have been to Cracow, Vienna, Prague, Dresden

and

Breslau.

We

passed the

first

week

at

Cracow

in taking

walks, and visiting the neighbourhood.

is

very beautiful; but

Ojcow

shall not say anything,

L I FE

104

F CHOPIN.

you were not

for although

you know

there,

all

about it from Tanska's accurate descriptions. I

had good company on my way to Vienna; if Cracow made so many demands upon me that I could
not find a few moments to think of you and my
family, Vienna so utterly stupined and infatuated
me, that, although a fortnight passed without
receiving a letter from home,

my

for

felt

my

Just imagine

friends.

Royal and Imperial Theatre

time.

This

how

it

came about

Haslinger represented to

advantage to
in

my

Vienna; that

and

my

music

me

that

compositions

if I

my name was

difficult

no longing

playing twice

in the

is

my

in so short a

my

it

publisher

would be of

were to appear

as yet

unknown,

both to play and under-

stand.
I did not yet think of it seriously, and replied
That I had not played a note for a fortnight,
and so was not prepared to present myself before
a select and critical public." In the meantime
Count Gallenberg, who writes pretty ballets, and
Hasis manager of the Vienna theatre, came in.
linger introduced me to him as a coward, afraid
of appearing in public. The Count very obligingly placed the theatre at my disposal, but I was
shrewd enough to decline, with thanks. The next
day Wiirfel came in, and urged me not to bring
disgrace on my parents, Eisner, and myself by
:

"

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

opportunity

the

neglecting

of

105

performing

in

Vienna.

As soon

as

had yielded

to all this pressure,

Wiirfel at once undertook the necessary prepara-

The

tions.

concert.

It

although

morning

next

bills

was impossible,
did not

announced

therefore, to retreat,

know how

or

what

should

Three manufacturers proposed to send

play.

me

owing to the narrow limits of my

was obliged to refuse their offers.

pianos, but,

lodgings,

my

What would have

been the use either of

prac-

two days before the concert?

tising a great deal

In one day

my

made

the acquaintance of all the

among them Mayseder,

great artists in Vienna,

Gyrowetz, Lachner, Kreutzer, Schuppanzigh, &c.

The members of

me during
vexed
tions.

at

the orchestra looked sourly at

the rehearsal

my making my

Then

they were particularly

debtit with

new composi-

began the Variations dedicated to

come after the Rondo CraThe Variations were a success, but the
Rondo, owing to the way in which it was written,
went so badly that we were obliged to commence
you, which were to

covienne.

from the beginning twice. I ought to have put

pauses below instead of above. Enough;
the gentlemen made such wry faces that I felt
the

very

much

evening.

inclined to announce myself

ill

in the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

106

Demar, the manager, noticed the ill-temper of

the

orchestra,

latter

who do

not

The

Wiirfel.

like

wished to conduct himself, but the orchestra

declined

(I

don't

know why)

to play

Herr Demar advised me

lead.

under his

to improvise,

at

stared.
I was so
by what had happened that I condespair; and who knows whether my

which proposal the orchestra

much

irritated

sented in

mood and

miserable

strange

cause of the great success

The
excite

humour were not

achieved

the

presence of the Viennese public did not

me

at all,

and

sat

wonderful instrument of

in the Variations,

me

who had

covered with rouge,

to a

Graff's, the best, perhaps,

Beside

then in Vienna.

down, very calmly,

a

sat

young man,

turned over for

me

and plumed himself on having

rendered the same service to Moscheles, Hummel,

and Herz.
desperate

mood;

made such an
astically.

fully.
it

As

played, as you
the

may

Variations,

effect that I

imagine, in a
nevertheless,

was encored enthusi-

Fraulein Veltheim sang very beautito

my

know that
applause and many

improvisation

was followed by a storm of

only

recalls.

The Vienna newspapers were lavish in their

By universal desire I played again the
praise.
next week, congratulating myself

could say

now

that

that

was only able

no one

to appear

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

10/

was especially pleased with the performance of the Rondo, because Gyrowetz, Lachner,
and other masters, and even the orchestra were so

once.

delighted

forgive

me

recalled

me

twice.

for saying so

that

they

was obliged to repeat the

Variations (at the special request of the ladies);

Haslinger, too, was so pleased with them that he
is

going

them out

to bring

honour for me,

is it

not

Odeon; a great

in

Lichnowski, one of Beethoven's friends, wished

me

to lend

his piano for the concert (this

seemed to him

deed, something), as

it

was too weak.

this

style

of

much;

But

is

is

It

might

concert, "

who knows how

His style

me

At my departure she honoured

with an inscription in her

The Wiener Zeitung

in a notice of the

said,

Mons. Chopin
to

please

is

by

young man

entirely

differs totally

ordinary concert giver."

hope

original

from that of the

this is satisfac-

tory, especially as the article concludes, "

Chopin

my

not yet twenty, a lovely and

me by a composition,
own handwriting.

means.

Blahetka.

favourably disposed towards

intelligent girl).

second

was on account of

Fraulein

especially

(by the way, she

in-

mine

which pleased the ladies so

playing,

be that she

is,

that

was to-day again

plauded."
Pardon me for

Mons.

unanimously
writing

such

ap-

an

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

108

opinion of myself, but

me more
saw

do

so because

pleases

it

than any amount of praise in the War-

Courier.

became quite intimate with Czemy, and often

played with him on two pianos. He is a goodI

natured

but

fellow,

nothing

Klengel,

more.

whom I saw at Pixis's, in Prague, I like best of all

my artistic acquaintances. Pie played his fugues
me

to

(one might call them a continuation of

Bach's,

canons.)

there

gave me a

in

forty-eight,

natural

to be given

many

as

Klengel

of introduction to Morlacchi, in

visited the

beauties,

Dresden picture gallery

had

and

a contrast to Czerny

letter

We

Dresden.
rich

are

What

Saxon Switzerland, so
and the magnificent
but the Italian Opera

my

up before

very eyes.

was,

unfortunately, obliged to leave the day on which

" Crociato in

Egitto

"

was

only consolation was that

to
I

My

be performed.

had already heard

it

in Vienna.

Madame

Pruszak, and her two children, Alex-

andrine and Constantin, are in Dresden.

them the day

called out, "

for

What

a pleasure

Pan Frycek, Pan Frycek."*

so charming that

but

left.

my

met

They
It was

should certainly have stayed

companions.
*

I
!

The Polish

Monsieur Pruszak

for Frederic.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

met

Teplitz

at Teplitz.

ful place.

was only

is

IOQ

a wonderfully beauti-

there a day, but went to a

soiree at Prince Clary's.

I

have been too much absorbed in

to be able to stop.

affectionately

and, with your permission, kiss your

Your

my

writing

embrace you,
lips.

FREDERIC.

Warsaw, October yd,

1829.

Dearest Titus,

You

you have read something about

my concerts in two newspapers; if they were
Polish papers, you could certainly not have been
write that

gratified,

for not only

is

their translation bad,

but they have taken the trouble to

critics.

my

my

the

fur Liter atur, from which

extracts,

distort, to

comments of the Viennese

The Vienna Sammler and the Zeitschrift

disparagement,

made

Hube brought me

the

the most flattering criticisms on

playing and compositions (pardon

me

for

writing this to you), and called me, in conclusion,

"

An

independent virtuoso, whose playing

of delicacy and the deepest feeling."*

*

Edward Hanslick,

is

If

full

such

in his book, " History of Concerts

Vienna," uses the same words as the Sammler does

about Chopin.

in

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

110

had

extracts

no occasion

You

fallen into your

should have

ashamed.

to be

learn

will

hands

from me by and bye what

In no case shall

think of doing this winter.

remain in Warsaw; where fate will lead

me

have, in the most courteous manner, invited

Berlin,

and

do

Prince and Princess Radziwill,

not yet know.

offered

me

apartments

me

to

in their palace;

but of what use would this be?

have begun

much work that it would seem the wisest course

I have also promised to
for me to remain here.

so

return

to

Vienna,

and a Viennese paper said

frankly that a sojourn in the Imperial city would

be very advantageous
influence on

You

will,

my

and have the

to

am

whom
my
whom I

Blahetka,

best

career.

perhaps, think so too; but

imagine what
already

to me,

thinking

mentioned in

about

my

letter.

misfortune, perhaps

do not
Fraulein
I

found

have

my

and loyally worship.

Half a year has passed without exchanging a
syllable with her of whom I dream every night.
While thinking of this lovely being I composed
the Adagio in my new Concerto,* and early this
ideal,

sincerely

morning the Waltz, which I send you. Notice

the passage marked +, nobody knows of it but
*

E minor Concerto, Op.

11.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

How

yourself.

my

glad

I 1

should be

newest compositions to you,

could play

if I

my

dear friend.

In the fifth bar of the Trio, the melody in the

bass must rise to the higher
cleff,

which, however,

will feel
I

it

need not

flat in

the violin

you, for you

tell

for yourself.

have no other musical news to send than that

every Friday there are performances at Kessler's.

Yesterday
Spohr's

they

wonderful

day

Brzezina's* every
Pixis's Concerto,

among

played,
a

Octett,

other

work.

to

which made no great impression

how

Warsaw

dull

were not for the happiness

I

go

he has nothing new but

on me the Rondo seems the best part of

cannot imagine

things,

it.

looks.

find with

You
If

my

could not live here.

Oh, how miserable

it is

to

have no one to share

your sorrows and joys, and, when your heart

heavy, to have no soul to

your woes.

How
I

You know

often do

would confide

My
reality
I

it

family

friend,

whom you

very well what

communicate

to

my

piano

mean.

all that

to you.

you must change

my dream

into a delightful

of travelling with you abroad.

do not know what I should do

our ways lie wide apart.

for joy.

alas,

is

can pour out

Book and Music

Seller

in

Warsaw.

But,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

112

hope

go

to

further education,

Hube

my

and next winter

in Paris; but everything

would

father

like

me

which, to say the truth,

as

If,

trust,

may
go

to

am

to

for

Berlin,

have no great

meet

to

be altered, as

desire.

to Vienna, I shall, perhaps,

way through Dresden and

choose the

Prague, to

Klengel again; also the famous Dresden

visit

and the Prague Conservatoire.

picture gallery
I

go

my

from Vienna, for

to Italy,

must now leave

off,

or

shall only

weary you

my dry news, and I do not want to do that.

you would only write a few lines, it would give

with
If

me

Forgive

pleasure for several weeks.

me

for

sending you the Waltz, which will make you

angry with

me

in the end.

My

intention

is

to

please you.

The favourable

Your

FREDERIC.

critiques in the

Vienna news-

papers of Chopin's playing awakened universal

interest in

counsel

Warsaw, and caused

with

and

Eisner

Frederic's further training.

ing the

Warsaw

young

artist for

his father to take

other

friends

about

All agreed on send-

a longer sojourn abroad.

offered, indeed, little artistic stimulus to

Chopin's extraordinary abilities; he passed there

for a perfect artist.
in

Warsaw,

are

His compositions, published

among

the best he ever wrote,

and

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
if his creative talent

grew and matured

13

in later

works bear the true Chopin stamp.

years, his early

was that Chopin should go to

Italy first, then to Paris, and so be away two years
From letters to his friend, Titus Woyciein all.
Eisner's advice

who

chowski,

we

them,

furnished copies of

very kindly

from Frederic himself how he

learn

passed the next few years.

It

is

very fortunate

for us that his most intimate friend religiously

preserved, as sacred memorials, every line of the

talented

artist.

Warsaw, October

My Dearest
You

20th, 1829.

Titus,

know how

won't

to

make out why such a

how

writing mania has suddenly seized me, and

it

that in so short a time

is

send you a third

letter.
I start at

seven this evening, per diligence, for

Wiesiowlowski's, in Posen, and so write to you

how long

beforehand, not knowing

there,

though

month.

The
will,

My

idea

object of

who

Kalisz.

is

shall stay

have only got a passport for a

my

is

to return in about a fortnight.

journey

Radzi-

to see Prince

is

residing at his estate not far from

He wishes me

a guest in his house,

to

etc.

go

to Berlin,

but

and

live as

cannot see that

I

it

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

114

would be of any
"

real, that is to say, artistic use.

Mit grossen Herren

My

good father

ist

nicht gut Kirschen essen."

will not believe that these in-

vitations are merely des belles paroles.

Forgive

me

if I

repeat myself.

easily forget

what I have written, and often fancy

you news when it is really stale.

am

giving

Kessler gives a musical soiree every Friday;

nearly

the artists here meet together,

all

whatever

is

and play

brought forward, prima vista;

example, there were performed, last Friday

certo in

for

Con-

sharp minor, by Ries, with quartet ac-

companiment; then Trio

in

Beethoven's last Trio, which

ficent

so,

major, by
I

Hummel;

thought magni-

and impressive; also a Quartet, by Prince

Louis Ferdinand of Prussia, alias Dussek;* and

singing to conclude with.

Eisner has praised

says there

Rondo
*
is

is

my

Concerto Adagio.

something new in

As

it.

He

for the

do not want any opinion on that

at

Chopin says what he may have heard reported,

well

known that the world

rarely

for it
credits the nobly

born with artistic talent. Prince Louis Ferdinand was,

indeed, Dussek's pupil, but he was not, therefore, helped
in his compositions by his teacher.
Prince Ferdinand
called Louis Ferdinand in history, and on the title
pages of his compositions was a gifted man, and what
works he has left are really the products of his own brain.
Full of patriotism and courage, he took part in the war
and fell at Saalfield, October 13th, 1806.

'

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

am

present, for I
I

not yet satisfied with

wonder whether I shall

Thank you very much

me

pleased

115

finish

exceedingly.

it

it

when

myself.
return.

for your letter,

which

You have

happy

the

and delighting one. You cannot

I was in the morning,

gift of cheering

imagine how despondent

and how
letter.

at the
it

my

when

rose

spirits

Many

embrace you warmly.

end of

their letters

and

received your

but you know, dearest friend, that

cerely, as truly as I

composed a Study
again

will play

it

write this

scarcely think about

I

do

it

I
am called
my style; when we

" Fritz."

sin-

have
meet

in

to you.

Your

faithful

FREDERIC.
Warsaw, Sunday, November

i^th,

1829.

Dearest Titus,
I

received your last letter at Radziwill's, at

tonin.

how

was

there a week,

An-

and you cannot think

quickly and pleasantly the time passed.

travelled back

by the

trouble to get away.

stayed there

till I

As

Post,

impatiently awaits

all,

for myself,

its

my

and had great

I

could have

was driven away, but

pations, and, above

Paradise.

last

concerto,

Finale, forced

my

which

me

occustill

to quit

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Il6

My

dear Titus, there were two daughters of

Eve there; the young

who

princesses,

amiable, musical and kind-hearted

value of a
is

man

so lady-like

it is

who knows

mother,

cess, their

are extremely

and the Prin-

quite well that the

does not depend on his descent,

and amiable towards everyone

that

impossible not to honour her.

You know what a lover of music the Prince is.

He showed me his " Faust," and I found much
that

is

really beautiful in

show considerable
should

certainly

it;

some

parts, indeed,

Between ourselves,

talent.

not have accredited

holder with such music.

was

Stadt-

struck,

among

other things, by the scene where Mephistopheles

Margaret to the window, by playing the

and singing outside her house, while a
Chorale is heard at the same time in the neigh-

allures

guitar

bouring church.
sensation.

This

idea of his style.

Gluck.

is

sure to produce a great

only mention this to give you an

He

is

also a great admirer of

His idea of operatic music

function

is

therefore

the

always

that

its

Overture has no conclusion,

leads directly to the introduction.

is

is

sole

to depict the situation or the feelings;

invisible,

The

but

orchestra

placed behind the stage, so

by such externals
as the conducting, the movements of the musias not to distract the attention

cians, &c.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
I

"

wrote an

Alia Polacca," with

my

paniment during

accom-

'cello

Prince Radziwill.

to

visit

1/

It is

nothing more than a brilliant drawing-room

piece

suitable

Princess

Wanda

have given her

seventeen,

and

play

to practice

minor)* that

it

',

much

interested in

me have

by return of

it

out of

my

head again,

make

You can

it

me much

to

nothing stands in the

It

did not

should not like

my

dearest, for I

from her having me play

The Trio

to

Berlin

way

of

my

in

shall,

going to Vienna

Papa's birthday
in

any

She

May, so

does not seem likely that

in

particularly.

go

get off before December.

the sixth, which

post.

it.

picture to yourself the char-

major always pleases her

in the winter.

Polonaise (F

very different from the

the Polonaise to her every day.

wishes

my

to

Princess

could not refuse to send for

acter of the Princess

flat

when

to be told

pianissimo.

or

-piano

should, perhaps,
original.

supposed to

to direct her deli-

wish to be thought impolite, but

to write

am

like

a beautiful girl of

was charming

it

and does not need

Elise was so

let

is

should

it.

She

lessons.

crescendo^

Please

ladies.

But, joking apart, she has real musi-

cate fingers.
cal feeling,

the

for

case,

shall
is

on

keep with

* This polonaise appears as Op. 71 in the collection of

posthumous works.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Il8

do not think of starting till the middle of

December. I hope also to see you again.
You would not believe what a blank I feel in
Warsaw just now. I have no one to whom I can
really talk confidentially.
You want one of my
portraits.
I certainly would have sent it to you
if I could have stolen one from Princess Elise,
who has two in her album, which, I am assured are

him.

very faithful likenesses; but you,

my dearest,

no picture of me. Believe me,

you and will never forget you

am

need

always with

to the

end of

my

life.

Let

me remind you

please send
studies;

it

by

once more of the Polonaise

return.

have written some

should play them well in your presence.

E major
Next Saturday, per-

Last Saturday, Kessler played Hummel's

Concerto, at the Ressource.
haps,

shall play; I shall choose the Variations

dedicated to you.

Your

faithful

FREDERIC.

Warsaw, March
I

never missed you so

no one to
single look

more

to

me

whom

much

as now, for there

can pour out

from you, after the

than the praise of

2jth, 1830.

my

concert,

all

heart.

is

would be

the critics here.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
Directly

received your

my

scribe

first

letter,

concert to you; but

my

not capable of collecting

much calmer

indeed,

the post goes,

rest

The

dis-

first

was

first

box nor

stall to

Allegro of the

cannot

my mind

will

be had, did

everyone)

public wished to

show that

and appreciate

not,

had expected.

minor Concerto (not

was indeed rewarded

with a bravo, but this was,

stand

am

which three days before

concert, for

to

was

neither

intelligible

any longer, for

letter

and who knows when

again

that

thoughts.

on the whole, make the impression

The

to de-

was so

to-day, but

delay the sending of this

there

Monday,

second, which took place on

be at

wanted

and busy with the preparations for the

tracted

not,

it

think, because the

knew how

serious

music.

to under-

In

every

who readily
The Adagio and

country there are plenty of people

assume the

airs

Rondo made

of connoisseurs.

a great effect and were followed by

the heartiest applause

and shouts of bravo.

But

the Potpurri on Polish songs* completely missed

its

mark.

only to

They applauded indeed, but, evidently

show the player they were not wearied

with him.
*

Grand Fantasia on Polish

Airs, Op. 13.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

120

thought

Kurpinski*
beauties

my

in

mann was
that

my

fresh

discovered

he

Erne-

Concerto that evening.

entirely

Eisner

satisfied.

regretted

piano was not stronger, the bass being, as

he thought, not heard clearly enough.

Those

sitting in the gallery or standing in the

orchestra appear to have been most satisfied

there

were complaints in the pit of the playing being

too soft.

should very much like to

gossip about

me

at

"

Kopciuszek."t

quence of the remarks in the

highly praising

me

the

Mochnacki, after

pit,

in the Polish Courier,

especi-

Adagio advised me, for the future,

I knew quite well
use more power and energy.

ally for the

to

know

In conse-

where

power

this

did not play on

my own

but on a Viennese

This time the audience, again very

instrument.
large,

second concert

lay, so at the

were

The

applause

was assured
a bell, and that

that every

perfectly

knew no bounds, and

note rang out

much more

like

finely

content.
I

than before.

When

played

appeared,

in reply to a recall, they called out " give another

concert."
*

The Cracovienne produced a tremend-

Charles Kurpinski,

several national operas,

1857, in Warsaw.

bandmaster, and composer of

in 1785, and died in

was born

f A coffee-house frequented by most of the literati;

called in German " Aschenbrodel."
(Cinderella.)

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

ous sensation

121

there were four rounds of applause.

Kurpinski regretted that

had not played the

Polish Fantasia on the Viennese piano, a remark

which Grzymala repeated the other day

Eisner says

Polish Courier.

in

the

could not be pro-

perly judged of until after the second concert.

confess,

played on

candidly,

my own

that

would

rather have

instrument, but the Viennese

piano was generally regarded as more appropriate

to the size of the building.

You know what the programme of

The second began with

cert was.*

the

first

con-

Symphony

by Nowakowskit (par complaisance) followed by

*

The following programme was performed

Warsaw

Theatre,

March

in

the

17th, 1830.

First Part.

the Opera " Leszek Bialy," by

Eisner.
Allegro from the E minor Concerto, composed
and played by Mons. F. Chopin.

Overture to

Divertissement for
Horn,
played by Mons. Gorner.

composed

and

an<l Rondo, from E minor Concerto,

composed and played by Mons. Chopin.

\\>!agio

Second Part.

Overture

to the Opera,

"Cecilia Piaseczynska," by Kurpinski.

2. Variations by Paer, sung by Madame Meier.
3.
Pot-Pourri on national songs, by Mons.
1.

Chopin.

fellow student of Chopin's,

Warsaw 1865.
f

born

1800,

died in

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

122

a repetition of the

Then

the

first

Allegro of

Concert

theatre

director,

played an Air Varie, by Beriot, and

The second

and Rondo again.

with

the

sang an

Rondo

Cracovienne.

I,

part

Concerto.
Bielawski,

my

Allegro

commenced

Madame

from Soliva's opera,

air

my

"

Meier

Helene and

I improvised on the
Wmiescie dziwne obyezaje," (there are
strange customs in the town) which very much

Malvina," and, in conclusion,

Volkslied

"

pleased the people in the

did

must say that

first

rows.

To

be can-

did not improvise as

had

would not have been

I wonder that the
generally; from all I hear, it is

intended, but, perhaps, that

so well suited to the audience.

Adagio pleased

so

with reference to this that the most flattering observations have been made.

the newspapers,

and you

You must have

read

will see that the public

were very pleased with me.

poem, addressed to me, and a large bouquet

were sent to

my

my

Concerto.

Mazurkas and Waltzes

on the principal themes from

house.

are being arranged

Brzezina asked for

my

likeness,

This would be too much

do not like the prospect of
butter being wrapped up in the paper on which I
am portrayed, as was the case with Lelewel's

but

declined giving

all at once,

besides

it.

portrait.

Wishes are expressed on

all sides

that

should

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
give a third concert, but

You would

have no desire to do

23
so.

not believe the excitement one has to

go through for some days before the performance.

I

hope to

Allegro of the second

finish the first

Concerto before the vacation, so

any

rate,

vinced that

me

"

this

Hall," but

advice;

Theatre.

if

play again,

liked.)

whom

From both

Warsaw
so

pit, "

it

me

everything was

had been deducted,

gulden,*

have hardly

Play

at the

shall follow

will

be in the

not a question of receipts with me,

It is

for the Theatre did not bring

cashier, to

con-

the last concert a sten-

doubt whether

"

haute volee

At

at all yet.

torian voice called out from the

Town

am

should have a larger audience than

ever this time; for the

heard

shall wait, at

although

after Easter,

till

although

did as he
expenses

all

did not receive quite 5,000

Dmuszewski,

Courier, stated that

crowded as mine.

(The

much.

left,

after

concerts,
I

in

editor

of

the

no concert had been

Besides, the

Town

Hall,

where the anxieties and arrangements would be

many, would not please everyone. Dobrzynskif

is vexed with me for not performing his symphony.

Madame W.

took

reserve a

box for

&c, &c.

her,

About

it

2,5000

amiss that

did not

marks.

f Felix Ignaz Dobrzynski, pianist and composer, born

1807, died in Warsaw 1867.

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

124
I

if I

close this letter unwillingly, because I feel as

had not told you anything

interesting yet.

have reserved all for the desert which

is

nothing

more than a warm embrace.

Your

Warsaw, April

FREDERIC.

10th, 1830.

(Anniversary of Emily's* death.)

I

have been vainly wishing to write to you for

some weeks

past.

know why the time

now. Our musical season

don't

should pass so quickly

is

at

at

was

height; Passion week even

its

disre-

Monday there was a grand soiree

Philippeus's, when Madame Sauran sang a duet
Last

garded.

from

"

Semiramis

"

very

beautifully;

accom-

panied Messrs. Soliva and Gresser in a Buffo

Duet from Rossini's " Turk in Italy," which, by

unanimous desire, was repeated. I have sketched
out a programme of the soiree at Lewicki's, at
which Prince Galizin

by Rode.
el le," and

way

which

Hummel's

with

finish

of introduction.
*

to take part in a quartet

shall select

shall

violoncello, to

is

my

"

La

Sentin-

polonaise with

have written an Adagio by

I

have tried

Emily was Chopin's youngest

it

already,

sister.

it

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

This

does not go badly.

Now
less

newspaper

for the

is

the latest salon news.

them

There was an

to you.

is

no

includes some most

it

favourable opinions about myself.

to send

which

intelligence,

important to me, as

25

should like

two

article,

Warsaw Gazette, in which

much abused. Soliva* told me

pages long, in the

Eisner was very

two

that he only avoided the controversy because

of his pupils were shortly to

make

a public ap-

pearance, otherwise he should certainly have

plied to the attack.

It is difficult to

whole case in a few words

newspaper
quite clear.

if

would send you the

could, so as to

word

re-

describe the

make

to the wise

the matter

is sufficient,

so

will give a brief outline of the affair.

My

concerts called forth a great

many

lauda-

tory notices, especially in the Polish Courier,

the Official Journal also gave

praise.

This was

numbers of the
fect

good

I felt

faith,

all

me

and

a few words of

very well, but one of the

later

newspaper, although in per-

was

full of

quite in despair until

such absurdities that

I

read in the Gazette

* Soliva, an Italian by birth, was Professor of Singing at the Warsaw Conservatoire in 1821. When the
Conservatoire was closed by the Prussian Government
he settled first in St. Petersburg and then in Paris,
where he died in 1851. Soliva composed the operas,
" La Testa di Bronzo," " Elena e Malwina," and several
smaller works.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

126

Polska a refutation of the exaggerated statements

This paper was mad
in the Official Journal.

enough to say that Poland would one day be as

proud of me as Germany is of Mozart; and that
" if I had fallen into the hands of a pedant or a
(what

Rossinist

indeed,

am

nothing

in saying that if

angry

yet, the critic is so far right

still

This taunt at a

less.

that,

in

an

in

article

the

Warsaw

beginning with Fredo's comedy,

Freunde," and ending with

was

Although,

and praise of Eisner made somebody*

Rossinist,

Gazette,

am."

had not studied with Eisner,

should have done

so

expression!)

ridiculous

should never have been what

"

the following paragraph

"

Die

Grafen Ory," there

"

Why

should any

gratitude be due to Eisner? he cannot reel off

make someAt my second concert

Nowakowski's Symphony was performed.

pupils!" and "even the Devil cannot

thing out of nothing."

Thirty-five years ago Eisner wrote a quartet, to

which the publisher, without the author's knowledge,

appended the

title "

Dans

le

meilleur gout

polonais," on account of the Polish character of

the Minuet.

This reviewer, without mentioning

The bandmaster Kurpinski, who because he gave

any operas but Rossini's was often called a Rossinist.
There is no doubt that he wrote the anonymous
*

scarcely

article referred to.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

name,

composer's

the

\2J
the

ridicules

quartet.

Soliva says truly that they would have been just

much

as

abusing

justified in

" Caecilia,"* especi-

ally as, with all kindness and delicacy, they give

me some side thrusts, and the good piece of

advice that

should

to

listen

No doubt

copy him.

Rossini but not

was said because the

I had a great deal of

this

other article remarked that

originality.

am

invited to an Easter breakfast at Mina-

sowicz'sf for the

is

day

and

to be there,

after to-morrow; Kurpinski

am

very curious to see

You would

behave towards me.

will

how he

not believe

how amiable he always is to me. I saw him last

Wednesday week at little Leskiewicz's concert.
The latter does not play badly, although he still
shows that he

is

a learner.

It

seems to

me

will be a better player than Krogulski, but

not yet ventured to say

so,

though

that he
I

have

have been

often asked for an opinion.

Oh
you
is

the postman

Oh,

my

letter

dear friend,

no wonder, however, for

of you.

As

far as

....

how good you

I

am always

from

are

It

thinking

can gather from your

letter,

you have only seen the Warsaw Courier; get the

A

Polish national opera by Kurpinski.

t

Polish poet, died in 1849.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

128

and No. 91 of the Warsaw

you can. Your advice is good I had
already given up some invitations for the evening

Polish

Courier,

Gazette, if

as if in anticipation of

it,

for

always think a

great deal of you in everything that

undertake.

do not know whether it is because I have learnt

to think and feel with you, but when I write anything I always want to know if it pleases you,
and my second Concerto (F minor) will not have
any value* in my eyes until you have heard and
I

approved

My
here,

is

will not take place until

leave;
is

it.

third concert, which

think of playing the

being counted on
shortly before

new Concerto, which

not yet finished, then, by desire, the Fantasia

on Polish airs, and the Variations dedicated to

you, which I am anxiously awaiting, as the Leipsic

Fair has already begun, and Brzezina has

ceived

large

consignment

of

music.

re-

The

Frenchman from St. Petersburg, who wanted

me with champagne after my second concert, and whom people took for Field, is a pupil
from the Paris Conservatoire, named Dunst. He
to treat

has given several concerts in

made
well.

You

will,

Frenchman from
name.

St.

Petersburg, which

a great sensation, so he must play unusually

doubtless,
St.

think

it

strange

Petersburg with a German

have the sad piece of news to add that

LIFE OF -CHOPIN.

29

Anton Orlowski* has been making mazurkas and

galops on my themes; but I have begged him not
to have them printed.

Warsaw, April

\jth,

1830.

(Papa's birth-day.)

letter

from you gives me some

respite

from

my
I
I

intolerable yearning (sehnsucht), and to-day

was more than ever in need of this consolation.
want to drive away the thoughts which poison

my

happiness; yet

with them;

perhaps

it

gives

me

do not know what

shall be calmer by
I

pleasure to dally
ails

me

the end

of this

letter.
I

am

main

is

some

am going

to re-

very pleased to hear that there

probability of your coming, for

until the

meeting of the Diet, which, as you

have doubtless seen by the newspapers, will take

place on the 28th inst,

Warsaw

rival of Mdlle.
is incorrigible,

story,

and

last a

month.

The

Courier has already announced the ar-

Sonntag; Dmuszewski, the

he

is

editor,

always getting hold of some

which he prefixes by saying,

"

We

learn

* Anton Orlowski, a fellow student of Chopin's, a

talented musician, afterwards band-master at Rouen.
Born at V^rsaw 1811. Died 1861.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

130

When

on good authority," &c, &c.

yesterday he told

me

that he

a sonnet addressed to me.

already

is

should

and honoured.

my

feel

will

With regard

at.

from

begged him, for

" It

so absurd.

very

much

delighted

Oh, these mistaken kindnesses

Those who envy me

shoot

to insert

he replied, with a smile,

printed,"

thinking that

do anything

heaven's sake, not to

met him

was going

have another mark to

to the

mazurkas on themes

won

Concerto, mercenary motives have

and they are already published.

the day,

do

may

not care to read anything more that people

write about me.

Last week

had an idea of coming to

but was too busy;

my

to finish

saw

my

concert.

compositions.

if I

dream

How

often

into night;

If

you come

always

am

to

War-

will be at

that

you do,

do

turn night into day, and

often

day; but

feel the same,

freshment,
till I

you

do

it

is

can

have a presentiment that you

how

sleep in the

see you,

must work as hard as

for the meeting of the Diet,

and
it.

will,

shall firmly believe

wake

in dreams,

day
and

not like sleep, for

and instead of gaining

worry myself, and rack

quite exhausted

Pray think kindly of

me

my

re-

brains,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Warsaw,

You

May

\$th,

1830.

have wondered that Fritz

will certainly

did not answer your

131

by return of post; but

letter

as I could not immediately give the information

you asked

for, I

delayed writing

till

to-day.

Now listen, my dearest Henrietta Sonntag is

coming to Warsaw in June, or, perhaps, at the end
of May. I am sure you will not neglect the op:

portunity of hearing her.

am

for

She must be

it.

there she comes to us.

in prospect.

in

Oh, how thankful I

Danzig now, and from

We

have several concerts

Little Worlitzer, pianist to the

King

of Prussia, has already been here a fortnight.

He

plays very finely, and being of Jewish descent

many

has

He has been with me;

some of the things he played

natural gifts.

he

is

at

our house went famously.

ance

just sixteen;

is

March.

His best perform-

Moscheles's Variations on the Alexander

He

really plays those excellently.

You

would like his style and manner of playing, although this to you only he still lacks much to
deserve his title of Chamber Virtuoso. There is

also a French pianist here, Monsieur Standt.

He

intended giving a concert, but seems lately to

have relinquished the idea.

It is an agreeable piece of musical news that
Herr Blahetka, father of the Viennese pianist'e,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

132
will,

advise him, come here,

if I

meets,

and give some

one

is

and

difficult
if it

But

concerts.

man wants

the

happens that

when
to

my

the Diet
position

make money,

his hopes are not fulfilled,

he will be angry with me.

answered immedi-

had often been asked whether he

would not come, and that many musicians and
lovers of music would be glad to hear his
daughter; but I did not conceal from him that
Sonntag would be here, that Lipinski was coming,
that we have only one theatre, and that the expenses of a concert amount to at least 100 thalers.
ately that

He

cannot say

him of the

now

that

did not properly inform

state of things.

that he will come.

It

is

very possible

should be very glad, and

my

power to get a full house for

would willingly also play with
her on two pianos for you would not believe how
kindly her father interested himself on my behalf

would do

all in

his daughter.

in Vienna.
I

do not know yet when

journey.

I shall

The

months.

Italian

Vienna
hurry.

The Rondo
yet.

finish

it.

shall

commence my

Opera does not begin

September, so

till

ready

probably be here during the hot

have

When

for the

new Concerto

not been in the right

the

in

have no occasion to
is

not

mood

to

Allego and Adagio are

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

done

quite

with,

33

any anxiety

shall not be in

about the Finale.

The Adagio

in

major

is

romantic, quiet, half melancholy

conceived

in

It is to

spirit.

give the impression of the eye resting on some

much loved landscape which awakens

light night.

pleasant

an exquisite spring moon-

recollections, such as

have written for the violins to

ac-

company con sordini. Will that have a good

effect?
Time will show.
Write and tell me when you are coming back
to Warsaw, for It would be worse than it was the
first time if I had to give my concert without you.
You do not know how I love you. Oh, if I could
What would I not give to be able
only prove it
!

embrace you heartily once again.

to

Warsaw, June

My Dear
but

1830.

Friend,

You have missed

certs,

$th,

if

five

of Mdlle. Sonntag's con-

you come on the

13th,

you

will

have

The 13th
just when I

several

opportunities of hearing her.

will be

Sunday, and you will arrive

home, trying over the Allegro of the

am

at

Second Concerto, as

am making

can of Mdlle. Sonntag's absence.

all
I

the use

learnt

from

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

134
her

own

pretty lips that she

bach, by invitation from the

would return from

that she
I

cannot

from

tell

closer

was going to FischKing of Prussia, and

there to us.

you what pleasure

acquaintance with

have received
"

this

heavenly

messenger," as some enthusiasts justly call her;

am

for having introduced me.

Anton Radziwill

sincerely grateful to Prince

unfortunately, got

I,

from her week's stay here, for she

was bored with wearisome visits from senators,
but

little

benefit

woiewodes, castellans, ministers, generals, and ad-

who

jutants,

she

is

sat staring at her

She received them

speeches.

and making dull

all

very kindly, for

too good-hearted to be ever unamiable.

Yesterday,

when she wanted to go out to a rewas actually obliged to shut herself

hearsal, she

up

in her

room, as the servant could not keep the

hosts of callers out of the ante-room.

should

not have gone to her had she not sent for me, on

account of Radziwill having asked

a song he had arranged for

me

to write out

It consists

her.

of

on an Ukrainian folk-song (Dumka);

the theme and the finale are pretty, but I do not
at all like the middle movement, and Mdlle. Sonntag approves of it still less; I have made some
variations

alterations, but

she

is

it

won't do

yet.

am

going after to-day's concert, as

glad that
shall thus

be released from this trouble, and. when Radziwill

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

comes back for the close of the Diet, he

haps, have given

up

Mdlle. Sonntag
fascinating

which

is

35

will, per-

his variations.

is

everyone

not beautiful, but extremely

is

enchanted with her voice,

not particularly powerful, but splendidly

cultivated.

Her diminuendo

is

the non plus ultra,

her portamento wonderfully beautiful, and her

chromatic scales, in the upper register especially,

unequalled.

She sang us an

air

by Mercadante

very beautifully, and Rode's variations, especially

The
more than admirably.
variations on a Swiss theme were so much liked
that she was obliged, after repeatedly bowing her
acknowledgments, to sing them da capo; and the
the last roulades,

same thing occurred yesterday after the last variaShe sang also the Cavatina from
tion by Rode.
the " Barbier," and some airs from the " DiebiBut soon
schen Elster " and the " Freischutz."

you

will be able to

judge for yourself of the

and anything
One day when I
that we have heard here before.
was with her, Soliva brought Mdlles. Gladkowska
difference between her performances

and Wolkow to sing to her their duet, closing

with the words " barbara sorte " (you remember
it, do you not ?) Mdlle. Sonntag said to me, in confidence, that

both voices were very beautiful, but

and that the young ladies must

method of singing altogether, unless

rafher screamy,

change

their

LIFE OF CHOPIN.'

136

they wanted to run the risk of losing their vioces

completely in two years.

Wolkow
and

taste,

invited

and

heard her say to Mdlle.

that she sang with a great deal of ease

but had

them both

see her often,

"

piece of politeness?

Indeed,

which made on

quisite coquetry

manner

in the kindest

and promised

them her own method.

to teach

She

une voix trop aigue."

to

come

no pains

to spare

Is not that a rare

believe

me

it

was ex-

the impression

of naivete, for one can scarcely imagine anyone

being so natural unless acquainted with

all

the

arts of coquetry.

Mdlle. Sonntag

is

a hundred times prettier and

nicer en deshabille than in evening dress, but those

who have only

seen her in the concert

charmed with her beautiful appearance.

room

are

On

her

return she will give concerts until the 22nd instant,

when, she

tells

come

at

me, she thinks of going to

So make

St.

and
once that you may not miss any more

Petersburg.

haste,

dear

friend,

concerts.

There

is

good deal of talk about Pasta

coming, and of both the

French lady

artists

singing together.

pianist, Mdlle. Belleville, is here,

and intending

to give a concert next

her playing

very good, very light and elegant,

is

ten times better than Worlitzer's.

in

the

famous

" soiree

musicale

Wednesday

She took part

"

at

the Court,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

37

when Sonntag sang and Worlitzer played, though

much satisfaction, as I heard from

without giving

who accompanied
good many people were

Kurpinski,

the great vocalist.

surprised

cluding myself) that

.

There
tion,

is

some more

But

a great deal of

which

is

was not invited

about

new

Mdlle.

in-

to play.

Sonntag.

broderie in her execu-

very effective, but not so

Paganini's; perhaps because

She seems

(not

it is

much

so as

of a smaller kind.

perfume of a fresh

to bring with her the

bouquet, and to caress and play with her voice,

but she rarely moves one to

tears.

Radziwill,

however, thinks that her impersonation of Des-

demona,

in the last scene of " Otello," is such that

no one could refrain from weeping.

I

asked

her, early this

morning,

if

she would

not give us the scene in costume (for she

capital

could

actress);

she replied

move an audience

that

to

tears,

affected her so painfully that she

to

is

although she
yet

acting

had determined

appear on the stage as seldom as possible.

Come

here to rest yourself

from your rural

when you hear Mdlle. Sonntag sing you

wake up to new life and gather fresh strength

cares;
will

for your work.

What

a pity

played

my

cannot send myself

Mdlle. Belleville has

instead of this letter

Variations, published in Vienna; she

knows one of them by

heart.

To-day Mdlle. Sonn-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

138

"

tag will sing something from

Semiramis."

Her

concerts are short, she sings at the utmost four

times,

playing between.

Indeed

rest after her singing, so

powerful

orchestra

the

one needs to

an impression does
is

she as an

produce and so interesting

it

artist.

Warsaw, August
This

is

my

scarcely think
I

second
it

to

you.

possible, but so

it is.

letter

wrote to you directly after

my

21 st> 1830.

You

will

safe return

from you to Warsaw, but as my parents stopped

at Count Skarbek's, at Zelazowa Wola, I, of
course, stopped too, and in the hurry forgot to
post

my

letter.

But there

is

nothing bad in the

world that has not some good in

Perhaps

shall not

with the last

this as

weary you so much with

letter,

of your quiet country

it

when

life,

quitted, constantly before

truly, that I recall

it.

my

had the image

I
had just

which
eyes.

with delight

may

say,

always

feel

a certain longing after your beautiful country

seat.

Arbaleta

do not
!

forget the weeping willow, that

Oh, with what pleasure do

remember

You have teased me enough about it to

punish me for all my sins. Let me tell you what

it

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
I

have done since you

about
I

my

was

left,

and what

is

39

settled

departure.
especially interested with Paer's opera,

Gladkowska made
on the stage
than in a drawing-room. Her first-rate tragic
acting leaves nothing to be desired, and her vocalization, even to the high F sharp and G, is excellent.
Her nuances are wonderful, and if her voice
was rather tremulous at first, through nervousness,
she sang afterwards with certainty and smoothness.
The opera was curtailed which, perhaps,
did not make it seem so tedious to me. The harp
romance which Fraulein Gladkowska sang in the
second act was very fine. I was quite enraptured.
She was recalled at the conclusion of the opera,
and greeted with unbounded applause*
"

Agnese," because Fraulein

her debut in

it.

She looks

better

In a week's time Fraulein Wolkowf is to play

the role of Fiorilla, in the opera of " II Turco in
*

Fraulein Gladkowska was the realization of Chopin's

His thoughts of her are interwoven into all the
compositions which he wrote at that time. Dreaming
of her, he wrote the Adagio of the E minor Concerto
his desire of leaving Warsaw vanished
she entirely
filled the soul of the passionate youth of twenty.
Constantia Gladkowska, a pupil of Soliva, was married in
1832, and left the stage, to the great regret of all conideal.

noisseurs.

f Fraulein

Wolkow, a

also left the stage

fellow pupil with Gladkowska,

on her marriage, in 1836.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

140

which will be sure to please the public

A great many people blame the opera of
Agnese " without knowing why.

Italia,"
better.
"

do not contend

might have

Soliva

that

"

chosen something better for Gladkowska;

talin "

Ves-

would, perhaps, have been more suitable,

but "Agnese"

many good

beautiful also; the music has

is

which the young debutante

points,

brought out capitally.

And now what am

I start

to

next month, but

certo, for the

Rondo

is

do ?
I must

first

try

War saw August

r

It

was high time

as soon as
that

my

31st,

1830.

for your letter to arrive, for

received

letters

my Con-

ready now.

it,

I lost

my

Would

catarrh.

might be endowed with the same

miraculous power.
I

me

still

stay here, and nothing, indeed, attracts

But

am

go next month,
in obedience to my calling, and my reason, which
must be weak, if it were not strong enough to
abroad.

conquer

all

This week

certain to

other inclinations.
I

must

try the

whole of the

minor

Concerto, with quartet accompaniment, to give

confidence, or, Eisner says, the

first

me

orchestral re-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

141

hearsal will not

go

Last Saturday,

well.

the Trio, and, perhaps, because

it

was

for so long,

satisfied with myself.

man," you will say, won't you?

me

that

it

would be

tried

had not heard

"

Happy

then struck

It

better to use the viola instead

of the violin, as the fifth predominates in the

violin,

and

viola would,

The Trio

my

in

Trio

is

hardly used at

The

think, accord better with the 'cello.

So much

will then be ready to print.

about myself.

all.

Now

something as to the other

musicians.

Last

forward

brought

Soliva

Saturday,

second pupil, Fraulein Wolkow,

who

his

delighted

and good
and pearly

the whole house with her natural grace

acting, also with her beautiful eyes

She was more charming on the stage than

teeth.

any of our

actresses.

voice in the

first

act,

scarcely recognized her

she was so agitated.

But

she acted so finely, no one would have supposed

her to be a debutante.
cores

did

Notwithstanding the en-

and the enormous applause she received, she

overcome her embarrassment till the

not

second

act,

when

the capabilities of her voice re-

vealed themselves, though not quite so fully as at

the rehearsal,

and

at the

performance the day

before yesterday.
In vocal

ability

Mdlle.

Wolkow

passed by Mdlle. Gladkowska.

If

is

far

sur-

had not

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

142

myself heard the former

should not have be-

lieved there could be such a difference between

two
is

singers.

Ernemann

shares our opinion, that

it

not easy to find a singer equal to Gladkowska,

especially in the bell-like purity of her intona-

and

warmth of

feeling,

which are only

properly displayed on the stage.

She entrances

tion,

true

Wolkow made

her hearers.
takes, whilst

note

single

although
"

several slight mis-

with Gladkowska one did not hear a

was

that

she

has

the

in

least

performed

only

doubtful,
twice

in

Agnese."

When

saw the two vocalists the day before

yesterday and presented your compliments to
them, they were evidently gratified and commisI

me

sioned

to

thank you.

Wolkow's reception was warmer than Gladkowlike.

He

said to me, yesterday, that he did not wish

Wol-

ska's,

kow

which Soliva did not seem to

win more applause than her fellow pupil.

think a considerable share of the approbation

is

to be ascribed to Rossini,

to

the public better

girl's

whose music pleases

(captivated also by the young

beauty) than the tragic misery of the un-

happy daughter
to appear

in Paer's opera.

shortly in the "

is

Diebischen Elster," but

this " shortly " will last till I

tains.

Gladkowska

am

over the moun-

Perhaps you will then be in Warsaw, and

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
give

will

Her

me your

third role

is

143

opinion of the performance.

to be " Vestalin."

Warsaw, (I think) September \th

My
I

am

1830.

more and more confused.

and cannot make up my mind to
a day for my departure. It seems

ideas are growing

here

still,

fix definitively

me as if I were leaving Warsaw for ever; I

have a presentiment that I am bidding an eternal
Oh, how hard it must be
farewell to my home.
to

anywhere but

to die

could

of the faces of

my

my

deathbed, instead

beloved family, an uncon-

cerned doctor and a hired servant.

dear Titus,

my

heavy

Believe me,

often long to come to you to ease

neart, but as

cannot do that

out of doors without knowing why.

my

does not calm or satisfy

spirit,
I

and

go home only

have not yet tried

shall

have

left

my

my

shall be

eternal sighs and languishing.

is

no longer

yearning

At any

free.

me

rate,

before

condemned to
is so when

This

You know

well what that indescribable influence

*

rush

to sigh again

Concerto.

But that

restless,

treasure* behind

In Vienna

Michaelmas.

one's heart

How

one's birthplace.

in

bear to see around

is,

very

but can

reference to his attachment to Mdlle. Gladkowska.

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

144

you account for that peculiar feeling which makes

people always expect something better from the

"Do

morrow?
swer

not be so foolish,"

can give myself;

pray, tell

it

These are

if

the an-

is all

you know a

better one,

me. ...

my

plans for the winter

think of

staying two months in Vienna; then going to

and perhaps spending the winter

Italy

in Milan.

Soliva always conducts the operas in which his

pupils appear; in time,

think, he will unseat

Kurpinski he has one foot in the stirrup already,

;

and
I

is

supported by a doughty cavalier.*

my

finish

with

less

to-day with nothing, indeed

letter

than nothing, that

already said before.

I

am

still

sitting

It is

is

with what

here en deshabille,

although

Mariolka will certainly be already waiting

with

me

visit

Magnuszewski afterwards, so

to dinner at C.'s.

back before four o'clock

have

half-past eleven, and

to

go

have promised to
I

shall not be

to finish the page,

and

the sight of the blank paper annoys me.

But

will not

shall never

come

worry myself unnecessarily, or

to

an end, and Mariolka

will be

disappointed altogether; and, as you know,

I like

to make myself agreeable to people of whose good

* General Rozniecki who was then president of the
National Theatre in Warsaw.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
will

am

since

my

assured.
return,

45

have not been to see her

must confess that

and

my

blame her as the cause of

often

dejection; other

people seem to be of the same opinion, and this

gives

me

at least

some

father smiles, but if

weep.

By

day month you

from t Warsaw, dear

where

will

my

heart

have no more

friend, nor perhaps

letters

from any-

me

perhaps you will not hear from

else;

again before

we

now;

nonsense

think he would

all I

seem quite happy, but

this

My

slight satisfaction.

he knew

meet.

am

only

writing nothing but

thought

the

leaving

of

Warsaw ....
But wait awhile, and. perhaps you
be no better

off.

Man

is

will yourself

never always happy, and

very often only a brief period of happiness

granted him in this world; so

dream which cannot

this

If

sometimes

world as a sacred duty,

it

if

a devilish invention,

mankind

flies,

now
I

and

last

regard

why

long

the

at other times, I consider

and that
but

it

would be
don't

but you would not kiss

forced you

to.

better

Time

enough

were anointed with Byzantine

I

with

intercourse

must wash

some magnetism

is

escape from

oil,

kiss

me

even

unless

Farewell.

me
if

by

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

146

Warsaw, September
I

am

don't

know

my

very happy, and

maining.

why

exactly

am

still here,

parents agree to

Last Wednesday,

I tried

1830.

i8//z,

my

but

my

re-

Concerto

with quartet accompaniment, but was not quite

Those who were present at the
satisfied with it.
rehearsal say that the finale

movement

perhaps because

understandable.
till

next week

orchestra, as

nesday.
rehearsal

then

it

the most successful

is

the most easily

shall not be able to tell

how

am

is

will

it

not going to try

To-morrow

you

sound with the full

am going

to

it

until

Wed-

have another

with the quartet accompaniment, and

shall

go

whither

tion anywhere, but at

have no special attrac-

any rate

shall not stay in

you imagine that some beloved object keeps me here you are wrong, like a good
many other people. I can assure you that as far
as I am concerned, I am ready for any sacrifice.
I love, but I must keep my unhappy passion
locked in my own breast for some years longer.
I do not want to start with you, for the sake of
the pleasure of meeting the moment when we embrace for the first time on a foreign soil will be
more precious to me than a thousand humdrum
days of travelling together.
Warsaw.

If

intended to write a polonaise with orchestral

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

accompaniment; but have only sketched

my

head; when it will see the

The Wiener Zeitung contains

my

variations,

The

it is

out in

light I cannot say.

good

critique

almost impossible to trans-

writer concludes

by saying that the

work has not only an external beauty, but an

make

with the

when

That is indeed
which I shall thank

last for ever.

it

a handsome compliment, for

the reviewer

in-

which will defy the changes of

trinsic excellence,

fashion and

on

and so

short but comprehensive,

philosophical that
late.

it

47

see him.

article, because,

while

am

it is

very pleased

not at

all

exag-

it
acknowledges my independence.
I
should not say so much to anyone but you, but we
undersantd each other so well, that I may venture,

gerated,

like the merchants, to praise

Orlowski's
the

new

ballet

is

my own

wares.

to be given to-day for

There is more talk about the astounding nature of the spectacle than the originfirst

time.

ality of the music.

was

at great big C.'s yester-

day, for his birth-day,

when I played in Spohr's

Quintet for piano, clarionet, bassoon, French horn
and

flute*

The work

is

wonderfully beautiful,

but the pianoforte part not very playable.

thing that Spohr wrote for the piano
difficult,

and for many of

his passages

Chopin places the instruments in

Everyis

very

one cannot

this order.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

148

any fingering

find

we did not begin playing

at 7 o'clock,

You

are, doubtless,

surprised that

should not

be, for

who

ful girl,

Just fancy,

was

to

among
till

day week, but

For other people,

appearance.

fluenced by

You may

Public

eat,
I

it,

regards

have a shabby

do not succeed

some

fine

in

morning

shall be as

in your castle

my

it

happy
last

love you,

am

has

much

not

in-

as a misfortune for a

coat, or a

rubbed

profession,

and

hat.

wake up

at Poturzyn.*

As long

summer.

will gladly
it

as

work

was

have

all

over whether

really lazy, or whether I could

If

have nothing to

there in the stable as

other

which

opinion,

have often thought

rest -assured

sacrifice for

to find that I

health and strength

I

ideal.

say, but not for out-

you must get a clerkship for me

days.

my

gave up the

as truly as

great weight here, although

of

finally

would willingly make some

to

me

beauti-

have started for Vienna by the Cracow

ideayou can guess why.

I am no egoist, and

man

fast

3 a.m.

that

people.

was a

the guests

vividly reminded

stayed

diligence this

side

until eleven.

was not

But there was a very good reason why

asleep.

Instead of commencing

at all.

my
was

do more without

Mons. Woyciechowski's estate.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
physical injury.
that

am

Joking apart,

am

not very lazy; and that,

could do double what

49

quite sure

if necessary, I

do.

People often lose the good opinion of others

by trying

to gain it; but

shall either raise or lower

I

master of your thoughts, but

and when

part with

it,

myself in your estima-

do sing my own praises,

mutual sympathy between us.
You
although

tion,
is

do not think that

get an idea into

my

head,

any more than the

are not

command

can

for there

mine,

will not

allow

trees will

themselves to be robbed of the green covering

which
too,

the charm and beauty of their

is

I,

keep green in the winter, though only in the

head,

my

heart

vegetation

Enough

red-hot, so

see

it is

Yours for ever

I

my

sleep out,

effects

and am

with having danced four mazurkas

are tied

am

help me!

have just

have been talking.

have not got over the

day, have not had

no wonder the

May God

so luxuriant.

is
.

is

discovered what nonsense

You

life.

of yesterstill

tired

Your

letters

my

ideal.

up with a ribbon given me by

very glad that two inanimate things agree

u is probably because, although

know each other, they both feel that

together so well

they do not

they come from hands dear to me.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

150

Warsaw, September 22nd,

I

must

For

first

explain

how

my

a fortnight past

is

it

am

1830.
here.

still

father has objected to

my

going on account of the disturbances through-

out

Germany

in the

Rhine provinces, Darmstadt,

Brunswick, Cassel, and in Saxony, where the new

king has already ascended the throne.

It is re-

ported here that there are riots in Vienna about

the meal business;

want, but
it.

it is

don't

know what

it

is

they

certain that they are fighting over

There are agitations also in the Tyrol, while

in Italy they are

ready to boil over, and we expect

something important every minute.

to hear

not yet inquired about a pass, but

that

it

is

have

thought

shall only get one for Austria or Prussia;

Italy

and France

know

that some,

been refused.

are not to be thought of,

and often

a few weeks, via Cracow, for

go
I

passports have

all,

shall probably

and

to

Vienna

in

am remembered

and one must strike while the iron is hot.

P. was with me yesterday; he starts early tomorrow, and as I am going to have a rehearsal of

there,

my

second Concerto to-day, with full orchestra

(except trumpets and kettledrums),

him
you

for your. sake.

to

it,

all

about

it,

and

He

know

ticulars will interest^ you.

have invited

will be able to tell

that the smallest parI

am

very sorry that

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

151

you are not here; Kurpinski, Soliva, and the elite

of the musical world will be present, but, with the
exception of course of Eisner,
confidence in their judgment.

know what

to

have not much

am most

curious

the band-master will think of the

Czapek of Kessler; Philippeus of DobMolsdorf of Kaczynski; Ledoux of

Soltyk; and Mons. P. of us all.* No one has ever

Italian;

rzynski;

assembled
before;

am

this

do

it

in

one

place

out of curiosity.

very sorry

when

gentlemen

these

all

have

on a day

to write

cannot compose myself.

my mind

like

almost

It

drives

me

and

often go about so buried in thought as to

out of

to think about myself,

be in danger of being run over, which, indeed,

Catching a glimpse

nearly happened yesterday.

my

of

happy

ideal in church,

stupefaction,

of an hour before

and
came

rushed out in a state of

it

was nearly a quarter

to

myself again.

quite frightened sometimes at

I

my own

should like to send you a few

trifles I

composed, but don't know whether

to write
I

am

have just

shall

manage

them out to-day.

beg you to excuse

this hasty letter, but

hasten off to Eisner to

*

distraction.

Molsdorf

Count Soltyk
in Warsaw.

and

make

must

sure of his presence

Kaczynski ('cellists) Ledoux and

were good amateur musicians

(violinists)

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

152
at the rehearsal.

Then

and the

which

sordini,

must

I
I

see about the desks,

quite forgot yesterday,

but without which the adagio would be nothing.

The rondo

who

self-love!

my

responsible for
egoist,

and the

is effective,

Confounded

ful.

could

share of

still

tion.

unlike

Still,

But

if

it

is

it,

anyone

is

You

you.

with a person like you with-

live

out growing like you?

am

allegro power-

first

However,

in

one respect

can never make a rapid resolu-

have relentlessly

determined

on

departing next Saturday week, in spite of any

amount of weeping and lamentation. The music

in the trunk, the familiar ribbon on my heart, a
mind full of care, and I am off in the post carriage.

Of

course the city will

flow with tears

from Copernicus to the fountain, and from the

bank to King Sigismund's column; but I shall be
as cold and insensible as stone, and laugh at all
the people

who want

to take such a tender adieu

of me. ...

Warsaw, October

$th, 1830.

was longing very much for your letter, which

has somewhat soothed me. You cannot conceive
how impatient and wearied (a feeling I cannot
I

struggle against)

am

of everything here.

After

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

my

the orchestral trial of

decided that

Theatre on Monday,

nth

does not quite suit me,

effect the

it

was
the

Although this
know what

instant.

am

it

53

at

second Concerto,

appear with

should

curious to

composition will have on the public.

hope the Rondo will produce a good impression

d'honneur

"

Soliva said,

generally.
"

vous

il

Kurpinski thought

fait

beaucoup

and

original,

it

Eisner that the rhythm was exceedingly piquant.

So

as to arrange a

good

concert, in the true sense

of the word, and avoid the unfortunate clarionet

and

flageolet

Wolkow
"

Leszek," or to

"

have

not

will

As

to

either

to

give some solo numbers.

will

overtures

Gladkowska and

Mdlles.

solos,

the

one

Lodoiska," but that to

"

William

Tell."

You would hardly imagine

the difficulty

to obtain permission for the ladies to sing.

Italian granted

higher authority

who

it

readily, but

still

had

to

go

had

The
to a

to the Minister Mostowski,

it makes no difference to
do not know yet what they will sing, but

finally agreed, for

him.

Soliva

tells

me

that a chorus will be necessary

for one of the arias.

I

am

certain not to be in

the concert.
the

score

My

trunk

corrected,

is

the

Warsaw

week

after

bought, the outfit ready,

pocket

handkerchiefs

hemmed, the new stockings and the new coat

tried

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

154
on, &c.
is

Only the leave-taking remains, and

the hardest of

Warsaw, October

My

that

all.

12th,

1830.

Dearest,

The

concert, yesterday,

was a

perfect success

was not in the

and played as if I had been at
home. The hall was crammed. Gorner's symphony opened the ball then I played the first
.Allegro from the E minor Concerto; the notes
seemed to roll along of themselves on the
I

hasten to inform you of

it.

least anxious,

Streicher piano.

roar of applause followed.

Soliva was very satisfied

he conducted his Aria,

with chorus, which was very well sung by Fraulein

Wolkow.

She looked

like

a fairy in her light

my Adagio and
Rondo, and then the usual interval. Connoisseurs
and lovers of music came on to the stage and comAfter this Aria came

blue dress.

plimented

me on my

playing in the most

flatter-

ing manner.

The second

part began with the Tell Overture.

Soliva conducted capitally, and the impression

produced was deep and abiding.

really so

ing

good

gratitude.

to

me

He

that

The

Italian

owe him my

it

was

everlast-

afterwards conducted

the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Gladkowska

Mdlle.
dress,

La Donna

"

from

Cavatina

had

Lago," which

del

She wore a white

sang.

and looked charm-

roses in her hair,

She has never sung as she did

ingly beautiful.

last evening, except in the air in "

quanto lagrime per

testo "

55

te versai,"

"

Agnese."

and the

" tutto

O,

de-

were heard splendidly, even to the low B.

Zielinski declared that this

alone was worth a

thousand ducats.

When I had led the ladies from the stage I

my Fantasia on National Airs. This time

played
I

understood myself, the orchestra understood me,

and the public understood us

vian air at the end

made

a great sensation.

so rapturously applauded that

bow my

four times to
I

did

it

had

and

If Soliva

corrected

was

had fully

had not taken

it,

to appear

And, be assured,

thanks.

quite gracefully, for Brandt

instructed me.

home

The Mazo-

both.

and,

as

my

score

conductor,

me when I wanted to run away, I do

know what would have happened. He kept

restrained

not
us

all so

splendidly in hand that

so comfortably with
Streicher piano

was very much

Wolkow still more.

I am thinking of

never played

an orchestra before.

The

liked, but Fraulein

nothing but

my

packing up.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

156

On

Saturday or Wednesday

go out into the wide

world.

Ever your truly

affectionate

FREDERIC.

This

last concert called forth the

able and

enthusiastic

notices

Warsaw newspapers were

They

all

of

most favourChopin.

The

full of his praises.

him to the chief European

and prophesied the most brilliant future,
saying that some day Poland would be justly
proud of the great pianist and composer, &c, &e.
The sad but important day in the life of a
young artist, that on which he leaves his father's
Frederic had to part, for a
house, drew near.
lengthened period, from all that was dearest to
him, home, parents, sisters, and also from that
compared

virtuosi,

lovely

young

artiste,

thusiastic love.

the ideal object of his en-

He was

to leave her, and, alas

for ever.

On November
beloved parents,

and embraced

2nd, 1830, he said adieu to his

who gave him

their

blessing,

his loving sisters with tearful eyes.

party of friends, of which the venerable Eisner

was

accompanied Frederic to Wola (the first

beyond Warsaw) where the pupils of the

one,

village

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

57

Conservatoire awaited him and sang a cantata,

composed for the occasion by Eisner.

banquet given there in his honour, a

At the

silver goblet,

workmanship filled to the brim with his

native earth, was presented to him.
The sight of
this beautiful and ingenious gift caused the shinof

artistic

ing, art-loving eyes

of Frederic to

fi.ll

with tears

of the deepest emotion.

"

May

you, wherever you go, never forget your

fatherland, or cease to love

it

with a

who

warm and

him
name of them all. " Think
of Poland, think of your friends, who are proud
to call you their countryman, who expect great
faithful heart," said the friend

presented

with the goblet in the

things from you, whose wishes and prayers ac-

company you." The young artist once more

pressed the hand of each, and then turned his
steps

onwards

to the

unknown.

The goal of Chopin's

still

travels

was

Italy, the

land

glorious in fame, the land of love, the cradle

of the

arts.

In the

home

of the great masters,

where sweet melodies are heard in every mouth,

he hoped to perfect himself in the practice of his
art,

and

to gather fresh ideas for

new works.

Before him lay the strange, wide, checkered

world.

Within him he carried the consciousness

of honest endeavour and perennial hope. In a

foreign land, far from his beloved home, Chopin

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

158

often felt a natural yearning for his family and

fatherland; for his was not one of those superficial

sight.

natures which quickly forget what

His thoughts went out with warm

is

not in

affection

and with the passionate

ardour of a poet he dwelt on the image of the
adored Constantia Gladkowska. Her sweet voice
ever sounded in his ears in his dreams he saw her
eyes veiled in tears, and the ring which she had
herself slipped on his finger at parting was his
most precious jewel. Alas
he was neither to
to parents

and

sisters,

possess his beloved, nor to behold the Italy of his

aspirations

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

CHAPTER

59

VII.

CHOPIN'S STAY IN BBESLAU, DRESDEN,

PRAGUE, VIENNA, MUNICH AND STUTTGART.
THE INSURRECTION IN WARSAW.

AT

Kaliz,

where Frederic met his friend and

travelling companion,
ski,

Helbich.

he was the guest of the agreeable Dr.

The

friends stopped at Breslau, whence

Chopin wrote as follows:

Breslau,

My Beloved Parents and

We

Titus Woyciechow-

November

gth, 1830.

Sisters,

arrived here very comfortably on Saturday

autumn weather.
Zur Goldenen Garis,"
and, as soon as we had dressed and taken some
refreshment, we went to the theatre, where
Raimund's " Alpine King " was being performed.

evening at

We

six, in

bright pleasant

put up at the Hotel

"

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

160

You

will see the piece

The

some day.

mired the scenery more than we did.

public ad-

thought

The day before

the acting pretty good.

yester-

"

"

Mason and Locksmith was given, but not

To-day I shall hear the " Interrupted Sacrifice " I am quite curious to see how

day

in first-rate style.

it

There

will turn out.

good

a want of

is

but then the theatre

here,

singers

very cheap; a place in

is

the pit only costs two Polish gulden.

Breslau pleases
last.

him

scarcely seen

out

me much

better this time than

have delivered Sowinski's

when he

yet, for

We

called.

letter,

we were
had

but have

unfortunately

gone to the

first

Ressource, where, by invitation of the conductor,

Schnabel,

was present

at the rehearsal

for the

There are three concerts

concert in the evening.

a week.

As

is

often the case at rehearsals, there was a

very poor orchestra; a certain Referendar Hellwig

was going

to

perform Moscheles'

Concerto.

Before

Schnabel,

who had

me

asked

to

try

this

not heard
the

gentleman

piano.

me
I

flat

major

sat

down,

for four years,

could

not

re-

fuse this request, and

played some Variations.

Schnabel overwhelmed

me

with expressions of

and 'pleasure. This made Hellwig feel a

uneasy, and I was pressed to take his place

praise
little

in the evening.

Schnabel threw his influence into

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
the scale, and asked

me

not deny the dear old

l6l

so heartily, that

man

to

me; but

He

his wish.

great friend of Herr Eisner's, which

could

is

means much

told Schnabel at once that

only

I had not
was not part of

played for his sake, that for weeks

touched an instrument, and that

my programme

it

Schnabel

to play in Breslau.

re-

plied, that he was well aware of that, but that

when he saw me in church yesterday, he wished to
What
ask me, but did not venture to do so.
could I do ? So I went back to the hotel with his
son to fetch my music, and played the Romance
and Rondo from the second Concerto.
The Germans admired my playing at the re-

hearsal.

"

What

a light touch he has,"

heard

them whisper; but about the composition I did

not catch a syllable. Titus, whose ears are everywhere, and who is always alert on my behalf,
heard one gentleman say,
this

young man can

" there is

no doubt that

play, but he cannot compose."

Yesterday, at the table d'hdte,

made

the ac-

quaintance of a very amiable-looking gentleman,

who was

sitting opposite to me.

In the course of

name was

conversation

Scharff, that

he knew Scholtz, of Warsaw, well,

discovered

that

his

and was on friendly terms with the gentlemen to

I had letters of introduction.
This Herr
Scharff was wonderfully kind and obliging to

whom

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

62

Titus and myself.

He

took us

all

over Breslau,

went with us to the suburbs of the town, wrote

our names as guests at the Ressource, and

down

procured us

visitors' tickets for

day which he

the concert yester-

sent before the rehearsal.

How

astonished this friendly gentleman, and his com-

panion
been,

who had

obtained the tickets, must have

when they beheld

in

one of the strangers

the chief personage in the evening's performance.

Besides playing the Rondo,

improvised, for

the sake of the connoisseurs, on a theme from the

"

Mutes of Portice." There was an overture, and

some dancing to conclude with. Schnabel wanted
to regale me with a sumptuous supper, but I only
took a cup of broth.

Of

course

have made the acquaintance of the

chief organist in Breslau, Herr Kohler; he pro-

mised to show

me his

organ.

Baron Nesse or Neisse,* a great

met, also, a certain

violin player

and

a pupil of Spohr's.

Another musician resident

here, a

Herr Hesse, t

* Baron von Nuss (not Neisse), a very well known

person in the musical world of the day.
t Adolf Friedrich Hesse, born in Breslau 1809, died
there 1863, was one of the most distinguished of organists and organ composers.
He was a pupil of Kohler,
whom he afterwards succeeded. By long artistic tours
he acquired a brilliant reputation. In 1844 he was invited to Paris for the opening of the great organ in the
church of St. Eustacfie.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

63

me; but none of

beams
the
on
claps
me
who
delight,
and
with real
shoulder every moment, quite know what to make

was

also very complimentary to

the Germans, except Schnabel, whose face

of me.
Titus enjoyed observing what was going on.

As I have not yet got a name, people could not

make up their minds whether to praise or to blame
and

me,

whether
so.

connoisseurs

my

music was

were not

gentleman came up to

form, as something quite new.

name, but
stood

me

think of

quite

really good, or only

all

my

me and
I

certain

seemed

praised the

don't

listeners

know

his

he under-

the best.

Schnabel placed a carriage at

my

disposal in

manner but when the dancing began,

about ten, we went quietly home.
I am truly
glad that I was able to give pleasure to the dear

the kindest

old man.

After the concert, Schnabel introduced me to a

lady who is considered the first pianist in Breslau.
She thanked me very much for the "delightful
surprise," as she expressed

ceedingly, that

it,

but regretted, ex-

would not make up

my mind

to

appear in public.

The Referendar consoled himself, and sang

though very indifferently Figaro's air from the
" Barbiere di Sevilla."

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

164

A
and

was said about Eisner yesterday,

Echo Variations for the orchestra were

great deal
his

much

praised.

said that they could only judge

what a composer Eisner was

onation Mass.

two

at

We

o'clock.

after hearing his Cor-

leave for Dresden to-morrow

kiss

and embrace you.

My

kindest remembrances to Messrs. Eisner, Zwyny,

Matuszynski, Kolberg, Marylski, and Witwicki.

Your

FREDERIC.

Dresden, November i^th 1830.

y

have scarcely found a moment yet to write

you a few words. I have just come from a dinner

I have
at which the company were all Poles.
crept away to write to you, for the post goes at
seven, and I should much like to see the " Mutes
of Portici," at the Theatre.

We

quitted Breslau unwillingly; the society of

the gentlemen to
ters

whom

introduction

of

Scholtz had given us

made

our sojourn

in

let-

the

capital of Silesia very agreeable.

My

soiree at

entree

Dresden was to Mademoiselle

She played, on Friday, at a musical
Councillor Kreyssig's, and procured an

first visit in

Pechwell.

for me.

The

"

Mutes

formed the same evening

at

"

was

the

to

be per-

theatre.

The

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
choice

was

difficult

to ladies, so

the -prima

65

but one must always be polite

decided for the

me was,

important reason with

zesi,

soiree.

Another

that Signora Palaz-

donna of the

Italian opera,

was

expected to be there.

After making a very careful

toilet,

had a

Sedan chair fetched, got into the queer, comfortable box, and was carried by the bearers, who
wear a special costume, to the house where the
musical entertainment was to take place.
spirit

to

of mischief seized me, and

felt

The

a desire

stamp through the bottom of the chair; how-

ever, I f orebore.

Arrived at Kreyssig's abode,

to Fraulein Pechwell,

the house appeared, received

pliments,

and led me

sent

up

my name

whereupon the master of

into a

me

with

many com-

room where a number

No

of ladies were sitting at eight large tables.

flashing of

modest

diamonds met

glitter

my

gaze, but the

more

of a host of steel knitting needles,

which moved ceaselessly

in the

hands of these

industrious ladies.

The number

of ladies and of needles was so

large that if the ladies

upon

had purposed an attack

the gentlemen, the latter

would have been

in

The only resource left them

would have been to have made weapons of their
a

sorry

plight.

"

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

66

spectacles, of

which there were as many as there

were bald heads.

The clatter of knitting needles and tea cups

was suddenly interrupted by music from the adThe

joining room.

was played

overture to " Fra Diavolo

then Signora Palazzesi sang, in

first;

a magnificent voice, clear as a

plenty of bravura.
songstress,

which gave

bell,

and with

presented myself to the

me an

opportunity

of

speaking also to the Musical Director, Rastrelli,

who had accompanied

politeness

Rastrelli

letter to his brother, the

need

anything

more

Rubini kindly took

me

affability,

famous

artistic

to

Signor

me

promised

tenor.

Milan.

for

true

me

introduced

much

Rubini, who, with

With

her.

do not

Yesterday

to the Catholic Church,

where a mass was being performed of Morlacchi's

This refined and agreeable

(band-master here.)

man remembered me

at once, and, giving

place beside him, talked to

these Vespers

me

me

a long time.

At

heard the two celebrated Nea-

Sassaroli and Tarquinio; the

was played by the bandmaster,
the incomparable Rolla, to whom Soliva had

politan

soprani,

violin obbligato

given

me

a recommendation.

letter to his father,

me
me a

Rolla received

very pleasantly, and said he would give

the opera director in Milan.

After hearing Fraulein Pechwell play at the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

musical

soiree,

167

away

slipped

quietly

the

to

opera; but only arrived at the commencement of

the fifth act, so refrain
shall hear

As
call

was going

on Klengel,

He knew me
warmly.

from any

criticism.

at the

Dresden

met him

directly,

visiting hour, to

in front of his house.

and welcomed me very

He

have a great respect for him.

this evening.

it all

me where I lived, and begged me

and see him early the next day, as he could not
go back with me then. He advised me to play

asked

to

in public, but
I

could, that

that.

either

told him, in as friendly a

way

as

should not be here long enough for

don't think

much

come

fame, or

Dresden would bring

much money,

.and

me

have no

time to spare.

General
Pruszak's,

with

me

Kniaziewicz,

whom

saw

at

Frau

talked about a concert, but thought

that

should

Yesterday

heard

on the whole,

make
"

little

by

it.

Tancred," but could not,

praise the

performance.

Rolla's

marvellous solo, and the song by Fraulein von

Hahnel, of the Vienna Royal Opera Theatre, had

make up for the shortcomings of the rest. The

King and his court were present; they were, the
same morning, at the service in the church, where a
mass, by Baron Miltitz, was performed, under the
The voices of Messrs.
direction of Morlacchi.

to

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

68

Sassaroli, Muschetti, Babnigg,

magnificent.

cannot

call

and Zezi sounded

the composition ori-

worked out; the Royal chamber

Dotzauer and Kummer, celebrated

ginal, but well

musicians,

played their solos very

violoncellists,

know none of

the chief artists intimately,

whom

except dear Klengel, to

to-morrow.

like to

finely.

am

sure to play

talk to Klengel,

for one

always learns something from him.

I saw the Green Vaults when
and once is enough for me but

was here

have visited the

before,

Picture Gallery again with the greatest interest;

if I lived

pictures in
I

here
it,

should go every week; there are

the sight of which

Good bye

hear music.

makes me fancy

for to-day.

Your

FREDERIC.

Prague, November 2\st, 1830.

The week
that

at

Dresden slipped away so quickly

hardly noticed

how

it

went.

used to

my
morning
and did not return till night. When Klengel
came to know me better as a musician, that is,
when I had played my Concerto to him, he said
leave

tnat

that

hotel in the best of spirits in the

my playing
my touch

strongly reminded him of Field,

was

quite

unique,

and

that,


LIFE OF CHOPIN.

69

although he had already heard much about me,

was such a virtuoso.

and why should I be ashamed of it ?

he had not thought that

saw

with

pleasure,

these

that

me

ments; and he gave

being

so,

who

is

and

to

were sincere compli-

a practical proof of their

had

for scarcely

to Malacchi,

left

director general of the

find out whether, if

Dresden,

him when he went

Councillor von

Luttichau,

Royal drama,

to

stayed four days longer in

could give a concert without any very

burdensome preparations.

Klengel

assured

me

afterwards that he did not do this for me, but for

Dresden, and that he should like to force

giving a concert.

He came

to

me

me

into

the next morn-

ing and said, that he had taken all the necessary

steps,

but that there was no evening disengaged

Sunday

till

next

first

performance of

was Wednesday.) The

Fra Diavok) " was fixed for

(this
"

Friday, and Rossini's "

Italian, for
I

La Donna

del Lago," in

Saturday.

gave Klengel a hearty welcome,

for,

indeed,

had known him for years, and he seems

to feel the same towards me; he asked for the
score of my Concerto, and took me with him to
the soiree at Frau Niesiolowska's.
I also called
on Frau Szczerbinin, but I had stayed so long at
Frau Niesiolowska's that by the time I arrived the
company had gone. I was, therefore, asked to
feel as if I

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

i;o

dinner the next day.

In the afternoon

went,

by invitation, to see Countess Dobrzycka, who

head governess to Princess Augusta.

is

The Countess was celebrating her birthday, and

had scarcely offered my congratulations, when
two Saxon Princesses entered Princess Augusta,
only daughter of the late King Frederic Augustus,
surnamed "the Just," and Princess Maximilian,
I

Princess of

nee

daughter-in-law of the

Lucca,

present King, a pleasant lady,

played before these

were promised

my

me

still

ladies,

young.

whereupon

for Italy, which

showed that

Two

playing must have pleased them.

were in fact sent to

my

letters

hotel the next

letters

day; the

me
The

Countess Dobrzycka will send the others after

to Vienna.
letters

gave her

my

address there.

were addressed to the Queen of the

Sicilies,

and Princess Ulasino, at Rome. Letters of recommendation were also promised me

to the reigning Duchess of Lucca, and the Queen
Regent of Milan, which I was to receive through
at Naples,

the kind care of Kraszewski.

Klengel has just given

me

a letter to Vienna,

where he thinks of going himself by and bye.

Frau Niesiolowska's he drank

pagne.
deal,
"

The lady of
and

Szopski."

insisted

my

the house teased

on

At

health in cham-

always

me

a good

calling

me

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

171

a first-rate violinist, as anyone who

knows anything about violin playing must admit.
Goodbye till you hear from Vienna, which we

Rolla

hope

is

by nine on Thursday morning.

to reach

much he
had made such an

pleased General Kniaziewicz very

me

told

that

no other pianist

agreeable impression on him;

cause

know you

tell

will like to hear

you

this be-

it.

Your

FREDERIC.

Vienna, December ist

I

was greatly delighted with your

dearests, the first

that

is

since

1830.

letter,

my

have received for a month,

parted from you.

My

appetite in-

creased a hundred per cent, at once.

"

The Wild Man

where

dine

is

"

as the capital Restaurant

charged a gulden and

called

some kreuzers for an excellently prepared fritter;

what more would you wish ?
Titus was full of joy too, for he received letters
from his family. I thank Celinski for the accompanying note; it vividly recalled the time when I
was still among you it seemed to me as if I were
sitting at the piano, and Celinski standing opposite to me, looking at M. Zwyny, who had just
offered Linowski a pinch of snuff.
Only Matus;

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

1/2

Has

zynski was wanting to complete the group.

he recovered from the fever yet?

must say that there are many charming

girls

in Vienna.

Haslinger received

would

me

very kindly, although he

print neither the Sonata, nor the second

Variations, but he shall repent

learned, also,

selle

and

Blahetka

is

this.

from Haslinger that Mademoiin Stuttgart with her parents,

that, perhaps, she will not

come back

at all

this winter.

have taken lodgings with Titus in one of the

principal streets, close to the vegetable market.

For three elegant rooms on the third floor, we pay

fifty gulden a month, which is considered cheap
here.
An English Admiral is occupying them at
present, but

am

Admiral

he leaves to-day.

admired.*

So the house

is

still

young, has been

And

a desirable one,

especially as the mistress, a handsome,

baroness,

as

widowed

she says

for

some time in Poland, and heard of me in Warsaw.

She knew the family Skarzynski had moved in
good society, and asked Titus if he did not know
a

beautiful

young

lady

of

the

name

of

Rembielinska.
*

Do not show this letter lest I

(Chopin's own observation.)

N.B.

vain.

may

be thought

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

73

presence of this charming and intelligent

The

all the more agreeable,

and being a Prussian she re-

lady makes the apartments

for she likes Poles,

gards the Austrians with no great favour.

As soon

as

we go

in,

the pianoforte-

Graff,

When

maker, will send us an instrument.

to see

my

went

friend Wiirfel, he began to talk immedi-

He

ately about arrangements for a concert.

remarkable man; although too

He

gives lessons at his house.

to

ill

is

go out he

spits blood,

which

has weakened him very much; yet he talks of a

The poor

concert.

me

sufferer told

that the news-

papers wrote enthusiastically about

Concerto, of which

So

pectation.

where,

how and

my F

minor

had not the remotest ex-

shall give a concert, but when,

what,

do not

in the least

know.

The change of air has given me a swollen nose,

which hindered me from presenting myself at the
Prussian

Ambassador's

Rzewuska's,
volee."

This lady

where, in spite of

two or three

times.

or

hotel,

the rendezvous

of

lives next to

my

nose, I

She

is

Countess

the

"

haute

Hussarzewski's,

of the same opinion as

who advised me

rarium.

Dr. Malfatti* welcomed

Malfatti,

at

have already been

Wiirfel,

all

to play without hono-

me

as

warmly

as

royal physician in ordinary, and a very

his time.

famous doctor in

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

174

on

he read

my name

visiting card, he hastened to me,

embraced

had been a

if I

my

When

relation.

me, and said, that Herr Wladislaw Ostrowski had

written to

him about me, and

that if he could be

of any service he was ready to do anything for

me.
to

He said, besides, that he would present me

Madame Tatyszczew, the Russian Ambass-

and would manage the necessary introductions; the Court was unfortunately in
mourning for the King of Naples, but he would
do what was possible. He also promised to introduce me to Baron Dunoi, director of the Musical
Society here, who would probably be most useful
ador's wife,

to me.

Klengel's

of

letter

recommendation

to

Herr

me another equally agreeable

who took a lively interest in me,

Mittag procured
acquaintance,

and seems
I

to be a person of influence.

have been to see Czerny, who was as polite as

ever,

and asked,

He

gently ?"

ei^ht pianos

"

Have you been studying

dili-

has arranged another Overture for

and sixteen

happy about it.

Except Czerny,

players,

and seems very

have seen none of the pianists

have been twice to Frau WeyberI am invited to the

heim, Frau Wolf's sister.
this time.

soiree there to-morrow, " en petit cercle des

teurs."

shall

pay a

visit

ama-

afterwards to Countess

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

1/5

Rosalie Rzewuska,

who

receives between nine

Hussarzewski has informed her that

ten.

coming;

whom

for

shall meet the celebrated

Frau

and

am

Cibini,*

Moscheles wrote a duet sonata.

The day

before yesterday

went with

my

letters

and was received just

as if I had come for money.
He handed me a
paper, which notified that I was to go to the police
with my card of permission to stay, and basta.
But perhaps it will be different by-and-by.
I was also at Banker Geymiiller's yesterday,
to Stametz's counting-house,

where Titus has to receive his 6,000 Polish gulden.

When

he had read

my name

Herr Geymuller,

without taking any further notice of the

said,

it

was very agreeable

quainted with an
self

in

Finally,

letter,

become

ac-

me to
many good

he remarked,

give a concert
pianists in the

requisite to
" I

make

cannot help

any way, the times are too bad."

listened with big eyes to this edifying dis-

were very

to

of such distinction as my-

and a great reputation was

money.

you

him

but he could not advise

here, as there
city,

artist

to

Frau Cibini was a daughter

of Leopold Kozewho, after Mozart's death, became Court Composer.

She herself was an accomplished pianist, afterwards lady-in-waiting to the Empress Anna Maria. She
nursed the Emperor Ferdinand in his severe illness, and
died at the Hradschin, in 1860, highly esteemed as a
faithful servant by the Imperial pair.
luck,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

176

was over I replied, that I was

not at all sure whether it would pay to make a
public appearance, for I had not yet called upon
any influential people, not even on the Russian
Ambassador, to whom I had a letter from the
and when

course,

it

Grand Prince Constantine.

At that, Herr Geymiiller, suddenly changed

his

but I took my leave, regretting that I had

robbed him of his precious time, and thought to
tactics

myself, "
I

Wait you

Jew."

have not been to the band-master, Lachner,

yet, as I

have not room enough to receive return

visits.

We

"

went from the

City of London," where we

had a long bill to pay, to the " Golden Lamb," in

Leopold Street, where we are still, hoping that the
Englishman will quit the Baroness's rooms to-

As soon as we are in our own house," says

who always tries to make me assume the
position of the haughty patron, "we will intro"

day.

Titus,

duce an aristocratic
"

we

will

concerts

receive,

ton.

Then," he continued,

have music, and arrange for

but not gratuitous ones."

have not yet visited

Madame

Raszek, Frau
von Elkau, Rothschild, the Vogts, and various
I

other interesting people.

the Embassy, where

dorf,

whom

hope

To-day

to see the

shall ask for

first,

am

going to
Baron Mein-

on Hussarzew-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
advice;

ski's

when

for

can

I//

Baron Meindorf
present

best

will

myself

tell

to

me

Herr

Tatyszczew.
I

have not touched the money which

be very careful of

am

sorry,

my

dear parents,

in case
is

it.

had from
mean to

must ask you to send me something more

the end of the month for the journey to Italy,

but
at

day before yesterday.

the banker the

my

my

concerts turn out badly.

heaviest expense; but this

The

theatre

regret the less

and Herr Wildt sing

nearly every evening, and are excellent beyond all
description. This week I have heard three entirely
new operas " Fra Diavolo " yesterday, three days
ago " Titus/' and to-day " William Tell." I certainly prefer " The Mutes of Portici " to " Fra
as Fraulein

Heinefetter

Diavolo."

do not envy Orlowski because he accompanies

Lafont. Will the time come when Lafont shall
accompany me? Does the question seem preI

sumptuous?

But

if

God

wills

it

may come

to

pass.

Nidecki thinks of staying here the whole winter.

All this week

of

my

nose,

go

have done nothing but take care

and to Graff's. I play

to the opera

every afternoon to get

ing order.
flown.

my

stiff

fingers into

do not know how

have,

as yet,

this

work-

week has

taken no definite steps

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

178

towards a concert.

me

vise

propos of

that,

do you ad-

F minor or E minor concerto ?

my F minor concerto more beauti-

to play the

Wiirfel thinks

Hummel's

ful than

in

flat

major, which has just

Herr Haslinger

been published by Haslinger.

is

shrewd, trying in a polite but subtle way, to

me

induce

him have

to let

my

compositions gratis.

Klengel was surprised that he gave

if

he treats

my

me

nothing

Perhaps Haslinger thinks that

for the variations.

works as bagatelles,

shall be only

too glad to get them printed; but the time for

gratuitous

work

now

over with me;

is

it

is,

pay

bestie !

me

Graff advised
Hall, where the

"

to choose the States Deputies

Spirituel " concerts are given, as

the nicest and best place for

must

first

richstein,

my

concert.

But

obtain the permission of Count Dietwhich,

indeed,

will

not

be

difficult

through Malfatti.
I

am

stouter.

as strong as a lion,

Altogether

inrough God,

me

who

and they say I am

well, and I hope,

am doing

sent Malfatti to be a help to

oh, splendid Malfatti

that

shall

do

still

better.

Your

The

tyrannical rule

potic temper of the

FREDERIC.

and the capricious and desGrand Prince Constantine,

CHOPIN.
From a

Portrait published by Schubert h,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

79

which the nation had borne with indescribable

patience

and submission

for

fifteen

years,

length led to a revolution which broke out in

at

War-

saw, Nov. 29th, 1830.

At

news of disquietude in Poland,

Titus Woyciechowski at once left Vienna to enter
the

the army.

first

Frederic wished to do the same, as he

thought that in such circumstances he could not

endure to be so far from his family and friends,

and he was only prevented from returning home

by the entreaties of his parents, who knew that
their son's health

war.

was not

fit

for the hardships of

Chopin's family were naturally undesirous

that he should cut short the artistic career on

which he had just entered at so much cost, and in

which he had already achieved good success. But

and sisters was so

by the extra post
he
overtaken
him,
he
had
would certainly
and
have gone back to Warsaw. Back in Vienna,
Chopin yielded to his father's wishes, and resumed the idea of giving a concert.
This, however, was not so speedily arranged.
The interest of the Viennese musicians had waxed
somewhat faint, and he had no benevolent or inhis anxiety about his parents

great that he followed his friend

fluential friends

When

among

the newly-arrived

artists.

he played gratuitously help was readily

forthcoming; but the case was altered now, and

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

l8o

Frederic saw himself neglected.

It

is

not im-

probable, in the time of Metternich, that people

kept aloof from Poles from motives of prudence.

Chopin lacked the energy necessary for overcoming these obstacles. Some of his former acquaintances were ill, others had gone away, and
the rest were afraid that the agreeable, educated,
and highly-gifted artist might, in consequence of
his success, settle in Vienna, and thus become a
dangerous
his

rival.

Many

even were displeased at

triumphs in drawing-rooms.

The rapid

suc-

cession of military events in Poland frightened

most of his patrons from serving him, while his

own mind was more occupied with politics than
music.

Several of Frederic's

letters,

written in a spirit

of patriotic enthusiasm, were destroyed by his

parents, in case they should fall into the

the Russian Government, which

tuted domiciliary

visits.

hands of

had even

insti-

In consequence of the

much that he wrote never reached Warsaw at

The sad condition of his country made a
deep and painful impression on the mind of the

war,
all.

young
sorrow.

artist,

The

so sensitive alike to happiness

gay, buoyant tone of his

and

letters,

which had formerly so delighted their recipients,

changed to a certain discontent and sadness even
;

his pleasant wit,

as the reader will see

by the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

l8l

following correspondence, was frequently turned

into bitter sarcasm.

Vienna,

Wednesday

before Christmas-day.

(I have no

not

almanac

know

at hand, so

do

the date.)

Dearest Parents and Sisters,

was seven weeks, yesterday, since I left you.
?
But it is so, and cannot be helped.
I was invited, yesterday, at the very hour that I
was conducted to Wola, to a little dancing party,
It

What

for

at the

Weyberheim's.

There were several good-

looking young people there, neither old-fashioned

nor Jewish in appearance.

I

was pressed

to join the Cotillon

so

round a few times and then returned home.

went

The

several

and her amiable daughters had asked

musical people, but I was not in a

humour

for playing the piano.

hostess

Herr Likl,

He

whom

Louise knows, was introduced

and thinks
would not destroy his good
opinion by playing when I was not in the right
mood. I also spoke to Lampi's nephew, whom
Papa knows well. He is a handsome, agreeable
young man, and paints very well. A propos of
to me.

me

a great

is

a good, honest German,

man

so

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

82

Hummel and

painting,

The

terday.
portrait.
better.

It
I

latter

has

now almost

sitting in

my

look of inspiration which

artist

me

yes-

my

finished

so good, one cannot imagine

is

am

his son were with

it

dressing-gown, with a

do not know why the

The

should have given me.

portrait

in

is

drawn in chalk, and looks like a steel

engraving. The elder Hummel was exceedingly
polite, and introduced me to his old acquaintance,

quarto

size,

M. Duport, director of the Karthner-Thor Theatre.

The

latter,

who has been

a celebrated dancer,

said to be very stingy; however, he

is

was exceed-

ingly complaisant to me, thinking, perhaps, that

should play gratuitously for him.

mistake there

We

had a

gether, but nothing definite

Herr Duport

is

twenty-six,

When we

left

Come

with

house

my

If

con-

met Slawik, an excellent

last week.

Wurfel's he asked

me

on.

He

is

at the

and pleased me very much.

ing home, to which

"

was decided

Redoubt Hall.

better;

violinist,* at his

most

sort of conference to-

offers too little, I shall give

cert in the large

Wurfel

He makes

me

if I

were go-

replied in the affirmative.

instead, to

your countrywoman,

* Joseph Slawik, born in Bohemia in 1806, studied

at the Prague Conservatoire, under Pixis, at the expense
of Count Wrbna
he died at Pesth in 1833, just as he
was about to commence a long artistic tour.
;

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Frau Beyer's," said

Slawik.

83

Now

agreed.

Kraszewski had sent me, the same day, from Dresa

den,

letter

address,

So

to

Frau Beyer, but without any

and Beyer

is

common name

resolved at once to fetch

my

with Slawik; and, lo and behold

in Vienna.

letter
I

and go

really

went

Her husband is a Pole

from Odessa. She declared that she had heard of
me, and invited both Slawik and myself to dinner

to the right

Frau Beyer.

the next day.

After dinner Slawik played, and pleased

me

immensely, more than any one since Paganini.

As

my

playing was also agreeable to him,

we

deter-

compose a duet together for violin and

piano.
I had thought of doing so in Warsaw.
Slawik is, indeed, a great and gifted violinist.
When I become acquainted with Merk, we shall
be able to manage a trio. I hope to meet him soon

mined

to

at Mechetti's,

me

Czerny was with

the latter invited

where

there

is

am

me

to meet

Diabelli's, yesterday,

at

to a soiree

none but

on Monday next,

On Sunday

artists.

a soiree at Likt's, where the aristocratic

musical world assemble, and the Overture for four

performers
to be a

is

to be given.

wetter's (author of a
I

am

On

Saturday there

performance of old church music

living

work on

on the fourth

is

at Kiese-

music.)
floor;

some English

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

84

people took such a fancy to

would

said they

rent

my

me

of

it

abode, that they

for eighty gulden;

I acceeded most willingly.

and agreeable hostess, Frau Baroness
von Lachmanowicz, sister-in-law of Frau von Uszakow, has just as roomy apartments on the fourth

a proposal to which

My young

storey for twenty gulden, which satisfy

well.

know you
But

in a garret."

floor

not so; there

is

it

me and

between

me

quite

will say, " the poor wretch lives

another

is

and eighty gulden

the roof,

People

are not to be despised either.

visit

me

notwithstanding; even Count Hussarzweski took

the trouble to

mount

The

up.

street is in

an ad-

vantageous position for me, in the midst of the

close to

city,

where

most often want

to

go.

left, Mechetti and Haslinger are

and the Royal Opera Theatre is
behind.
Could I have anything more convenient ?
I have not written to Herr Eisner, but I was

Artaria

my

at

is at

the

right,

at Czerny's just now.

Up

till

to-day, the Quartet

has not appeared.

Malfatti

Dr.

Madame
two.

he

me

for

appearing

at

Schaschek's to dinner at four instead of

am

to

Saturday, and
so

scolded

dine with
if I

threatens

am

Malfatti

again next

late again, Malfatti will

subject

me

to

painful

operation.
I

can imagine dear Papa looking grave over

my

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
frivolity,

and want of respect

will improve.

to play.

ceeds to

my

my

If

Haslinger

we

satisfaction,

is

Italy,

or

I
is

every

are going to play

it

first.

always pleasant, but does not say

shall

Shall

wait?*

me what

are your

daresay

Mamma

go shortly

to

Dearest Papa,

please

and dear Mamma's

wishes.

is

glad

Warsaw, but how

Embrace dear Titus

for me,

me

me

shall play alone

word about publishing.

tell

elders; but

concerto for two pianos suc-

together in public, but

my

to

85

to say that Malfatti

Nidecki comes to

fond of me.

really

day

am proud

did not return to

should like to be there

and beg him

to write

a few words.

know you

believe in

my

affection

and deep

attachment; but you can scarcely imagine what a

Why

very great delight your letters are to me.

not the post quicker?

that

it

is

natural

should be very anxious about you, and im-

patiently await
I

You

will think

news of you.

have made a very agreeable acquaintance, a

young man of the name of Leibenfrost; he

friend of

when

am

Kessler's.

We

not invited out

meet frequently,

we dine

is

and

together in the

* A reference, perhaps, to the disturbances then prevailing in the Peninsular.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

86

He knows Vienna perfectly, and will be

me to see whatever is worth seeing.

city.

sure to take

For

we had

instance, yesterday,

a splendid walk

to the fortifications; Dukes, Princes, Counts, in a

word,
bled

of Vienna were assem-

all the aristocracy

there.

met Slawik, and we agreed

to

choose a Beethoven theme for our Variations.

For some reasons

here, but for others
I

am

am

very glad that

am

very comfortable in

my

room; there

is

roof opposite, and the people walking below look

dwarfs.

like

played to

my

cent instrument.

your

letters in

am most

happy, when

heart's content

Now

my hand;

am
then

on

have

Graff's magnifi-

going to sleep with

I

dream only

shall

of you.

The Mazurka was danced, yesterday,

fell down with his partner, an

Slawik
tess

at Beyer's.

old Coun-

with a coarse face and a large nose,

who

daintily held her dress in the old-fashioned way,

by the

tips

of her fingers, her head resting on the

flap of his coat.

and

But

all

respect to the couple,

to the lady in particular,

entertaining

Among

who

is

sensible

and

and knows the usage du monde.

the

most popular of

the

numerous

amusements of Vienna are the Garden Concerts,

where Lanner and Strauss play waltzes while the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
public

After

sup.

every

receive a boisterous bravo.

waltz
If

8/

musicians

the

an ad libitum

is

played, introducing favourite operatic melodies,

and dances, the enthusiasm of the Viennese

songs,

knows no bounds.
I

wanted

to

send you with this

but the post goes, and

out, so

must wait

Mazurkas,

too, I

till

my

last

Waltz,

have no time to write

another opportunity.

must get copied

it

The

but they

first;

are not for dancing.

I

do not

like to say

tell

him

goodbye already
you should

would

see

Fontana

that he shall soon have a letter

from me.

gladly write more.

If

Matuszynski* will have a long epistle either

day or by

to-

the next post.

Farewell,

my

dearest s,

Your

FREDERIC.

* Johannes Matuszynski, born Dec. 9, 1809, at Warsaw, was a fellow student with Chopin at the Lyceum,
and one of his most intimate friends. He studied medicine, and during the war for freedom in 1830, received
the appointment of army doctor. Four years later he
got promotion and went to Tubingen, and from there

met Chopin again. He, unfortunfrom overwork in 1842, being at that time
professor at the Ecole de Medicine.

to Paris, where he
ately, died

88

OF CHOPIN.

LII'E

To John Matuszynski.
Vienna,

Sunday, Christmas Morning.

This time

last

year

was

in the

Bernhardine

am sitting in my dressing gown,

I l<iss my sweet ring and write.*

church, to-day
quite alone;

Dear Hanschen,
I

have just come from hearing the famous

violinist,

He

Slawik,

who

is

second only to Paganini.

takes sixty-nine staccato notes at one stroke

of the

bow

heard him

It

is

wanted

almost incredible
to rush

home and

When

sketch out

some variations for piano and violin on an

Adagio by Beethoven; but a glance at the postoffice, which I always pass (that I may ask for
letters from home), diverted my desires.
The tears which this heavenly theme brought to

my

eyes have moistened your

letter.

speakably, for a word from you; you

How
delights

How

any news of

my

long, un-

know why.

angel of peace always

me
gladly would

touch the strings which

should awaken not only stormy feelings, but the

* Mdlle. Constantia Gladkowska was in the habit of
going to the Bernhardine Church, which was close to the
Conservatoire.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

songs whose faint echoes

the

89

haunt the shores of

still

songs sung by the warriors of King

Danube

John Sobieski.

You advised me to choose a poet. But you

know that I am an indecisive being, and only once
in my life made a good choice.
I

would not willingly be a burden

were

not afraid of

return to
that

Warsaw.

am

my

father;

often in such a

mood

moment in which I left my

You will, I am sure, understand

the

curse

beloved home.

my

to

should immediately

that, I

and that

condition,

went away

since Titus

The

too much has fallen suddenly upon me.

numerous dinners,

am

obliged

melancholy.
yet

cannot

soirees,

and

concerts,

attend only

feel so lonely

live as I like.

as

my room again,
my best friend
There

sorrows.

confide

in,

is

and yet

talk to

my

here,

dress,

have to

and

when I am
whom,

piano, to

in Vienna, I pour out all

not a soul

am

and deserted
have to

look cheerful in drawing rooms; but

in

balls

weary me.

to

my

can unreservedly
everyone as a

treat

friend.

Plenty of people seem, indeed, to like

me, take

my

portrait,

but they do not

and seek

make up

after

for you.

my

company,

have

peace of mind, and only feel happy

lost

when

my
can

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

go

read your

letters,

think of the

my

Sigismund,* or look at

of King

monument

precious ring.

Pray forgive me, dear Hanschen, for writing so

my

when I
can thus talk to you, and I have always told you
everything that concerned myself. Did you
complainingly, but

from me the day before yes-

receive a short letter

terday

my

Perhaps

heart feels lighter

scribbling

is

much

not of

consequence to you as you are at home, but

your

letters

read

again and again.

Dr. Freyer, having learnt from Schuch that

was

in Vienna, has been to see

He

times.

me

gave

made me

letters,

Does she

feel very sad.

look so changed
is

pleased with your

read to him up to a certain passage, which

passage

She

or three

a great deal of interesting

news, and was very

which

me two

Do you

think

she

of such a sensitive nature that this

at all unlikely.

But, perhaps,

it

really

is
is

ill ?

not

was only your

imagination, or she had been frightened by something.

God

thing on

my

forbid that she should suffer any-

account

her that as long as

cease to adore her.

my

my

Comfort

and assure

her,

heart beats

Tell her that, after

ashes shall be spread beneath her

shall not

my
feet.

death,

But

* The Conservatoire, where Constantia boarded, was

near the statue of King Sigismund.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

igi

what you might say to her on my

would write to her myself, and, indeed,
should have done so long ago, to escape the torthis is not half

behalf.

ments

endure, but

if

my

letter

chanced to

fall

might it not injure her reputaSo you must be the interpreter of my

into other hands,

tion?

" et

thoughts; speak for me,

j'en

conviendrai."

These French words of yours flashed through me

when

like lightning,

time,

who happened
seized me by

hold

me

come

to me.

nese,

He

in.

Vien-

me

at the

and could scarcely

the arm,

make out what had

could not

could have embraced and kissed

your

all the passers by, for

my

letter.

walking with

read your

to be

heart feel lighter than

first letter
it

had been

had made
for

many

a day.
I

am

sure

friend, but

it is

must be wearying you,

difficult for

yesterday

me

to hide

dear

from you

The day before

dined with Frau Beyer, who is also

anything that touches

Constantia.

called

my

my

heart.

enjoy

visiting

her

very

much, because she bears a name so unspeakably

dear to me; I even rejoice if one of her pockethandkerchiefs or serviettes marked " Constantia "
falls into

and

my

hands.

Slawik

is

a friend of hers,

often go to her house with him.

Yesterday, as on Christmas Eve,

the fore

and afternoon.

we played in
The weather was spring-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Q2

As

was returning in the evening from the

circle, I walked slowly into St. Stephen's. I was alone, for Slawik was obliged to go
to the Imperial Chapel.
The church was empty,
and, to get the full effect of the lofty and imposlike.

Baroness's

ing edifice,

leant against a pillar in the darkest

The

corner.

arching

indescribable

are

Stephen's

and

vastness

for

one's

splendour

must

one

The

self.

of

the

see

St.

profoundest

broken only by the resounding steps of

silence,

the vergers

coming

light the tapers,

to

reigned

around.

Before and behind me, indeed everywhere but

overhead, were graves, and

felt

my

loneliness

and desertion as I never had before. When the

lights had burned up, and the cathedral began to
fill,

muffled myself in

my

cloak (you

know how

used to go about in the Cracow suburb), and

hastened

Amid

Mass

a merry crowd,

palace,

three

off to the

where

at the Imperial Chapel.

threaded

my way

to the

heard some sleepy musicians play

movements of a mass.

returned

home

at

one o'clock in the morning, and went to bed to

dream of you, of
Next morning
to dinner
*

her,

and of

my

dear children*

was awakened by an

invitation

from Frau Elkan, a Polish lady, and

Chopin often

called his sisters his children.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

The

the wife of a well-known wealthy banker.

first

thing

93

did that day was to play some melan-

choly fantasias, and, after receiving calls from

Nidecki, Lieben frost, and Steinkeller,

dine with Malfatti.

went to

man

This excellent

thinks of

everything; he even goes so far as to provide

dishes cooked in Polish fashion.

Wildt, the famous tenor, came after dinner.

accompanied him, from memory,

"

in

an

Wildt and

which he sang admirably.

Otello,"

from

air

Fraulein Heinefetter are the stars of the Royal

opera; the other singers are not so good as one

would

expect.

But a voice

like Heinefetter's

very rare; her intonation also

is

is

always pure, her

colouring refined, and, indeed, her singing altogether faultless; but she

handsome

ticularly

nose frozen
"

Otello

"

in

as a man.

the

than in

"

pit.

She looks par-

cold.

is

my

nearly got

liked

her

better

in

Barbiere," in which she repre-

sented the consummate coquette, instead of the

lively,

witty

exceedingly
pear

in

curious

"

to

As Sextus

girl.

brilliant.

was

In a few days she will ap-

Der Diebische
see.

in " Titus " she

Fraulein

Elster,"

Wolkow

which

pleased

am
me

better as Rosine in the " Barbiere," but she cer-

tainly has not the voice of Heinefetter.

1

wished

had heard Pasta.

You know

that

have

letters

from the Saxon

O

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

194

Queen Regent of Milan, but what

do? My parents leave me to follow
my own wishes, but I would rather they had given
me directions. Shall I go to Paris? Friends
here advise me to stay in Vienna.
Or shall I go
court to the

had

best

home, or stay

here, or kill myself, or not write to

Advise me what to do.

you any more?

Please

who has always

Tell me her opinion,

ask a certain person in Warsaw,

had great influence over me.

and I will act upon it.
Let

me

hear again before you go to the war.

Address, Poste Restante, Vienna.

Do go and

see

my

dear parents and Constantia; and, as long as

you

Warsaw, please pay frequent visits to

they may think you are coming to
me, and I am in the next room; sit with them

my
see

are in

sisters that

that they

may fancy

it is

me

in a word, take

my

place at home.
I

am

not thinking any more of concert-giving

Aloys Schmitt, the pianist from Frankfort-on-the-Main, whose studies are so famous,

just now.

is

here at present.

years of age.

He

is

something over forty

have made his acquaintance, and

he promised to come and see me.

giving a concert, and
is
I

a clever musician.

it

He

intends

must be admitted that he

On musical

matters

we

shall,

think, soon understand one another.

Thalberg

is

also here,

and playing famously,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

man

195

He

for me.

younger

but he

is

than

am, very popular with the ladies, makes

not the

is

pot-pourris on the " Mutes," plays forte

and

-piano

with the pedals, but not with his hands, takes

tenths as

it

is

He

studs.

do

octaves,

does not at

and wears diamond shirt

all admire Moscheles; so

not surprising that the tutti were the only

parts of

my

concerto that pleased him.

He,

too,

writes concertos.
I

finish this letter three

and have read through

Pray excuse having

When

Hanschen.
restaurant,

my

to

days after

my

began

it,

stupid scribble again.

pay the postage, dear

dining to-day at the Italian

heard some one say,

mistake in creating Poland."

that

Is

"
it

God made

any wonder

more than I can express ?

There is nothing to be got
you ought not to expect any-

feelings are

Somebody

else said, "

out of Poland," so

new from me who am a Pole.

is a Frenchman here who makes all kinds
of sausages, and for a month past crowds have

thing

There

gathered round his attractive shop, for there

something new in

it

every

day.

Some

is

people

imagine that they are beholding the remains of

the French Revolution,
at the

and look compassionately

sausages and hams, which hang up like pic-

tures, or

they are indignant at the revolutionary

Frenchman being allowed

to

open a meat shop,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

96

as there were quite

He

enough pigs

in his

and

there

the talk of Vienna,

is

dread that

if

all

must

my

close, for the

time

love

dearest,

show

it.

quite up.

is

you

my

parents,

my

do write me a few
you like.

till

sisters,

Embrace

and

tell

know

of

my

her.

My

You can
am going to Mal-

again to-day, but to the post

parents do not

have ceased

lines soon.

this to her if

fatti's

can

country.

a general

dear friends for me, and be assured that

shall not leave off loving

to

is

there should be a disturbance the

French will be at the bottom of

I

own

first.

writing to you.

My
You

them, only don't show them the letter*

do not know how to part from my sweet

loves
Hanschen. Depart, you wretch
If
you as warmly as I do, so would Con ....
No, I cannot even write the name, my hand is too
I

Oh

unworthy.

thought she forgot

to-day.

should tear

me

was about

my

hair out

feel a regular

and

to fold

space
I

am

street,

left, I

will describe

my

As

seal the letter

without an envelope, forgetting that

where everybody reads Polish.

if

Othello

it

was going

have a

little

life here.

on the fourth floor in a handsome

have to be on the alert if I want to

living

but

It is scarcely necessary to say that Chopin's passion

Constantia was kept secret front his family probably the only secret he ever had from them.

for

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

97

what passes. When I come home you will see

room in my new album, young Hummel
having kindly made me a drawing of it. It is
spacious, and has five windows, to which the bed
stands opposite. My wonderful piano stands on
see

the

the right, the sofa on the

left,

a looking-glass be-

handsome round
middle of the room; the
Don't be alarmed
floor is waxed.
" The gentleman does not receive in the aftertween

the

mahogany

windows,

large

table in the

noon," so

get

my
my

The

can be in your midst in thought.

intolerably stupid servant

take

coffee,

which

is

breakfast over

wakes me early;

often cold, because

my

rise,

for-

My German

music.

teacher appears punctually at 9 o'clock; then

generally write,

Hummel comes

portrait,

and Nidecki

keep on

my

o'clock, at
here,

comes

study

my

work

at

my

Concerto.

comfortable dressing-gown

till

12

which hour Dr. Leibenfrost, a lawyer

Weather permitting,

in to see me.

walk with him on the

"

to

to

Glacis, then

we dine

at the

Zum

Bomischen Kochin," the rendez-vous of the

students from the Academy, and afterwards, according to the custom here, we go to one of the
best coffee-houses.

home

at dusk,

dress,

and go

About

when

Then
I

to a soiree at

11 or 12 o'clock

make

calls,

returning

throw myself into evening

some house or another.

I come home,

(never later)

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

198

and then go

play, laugh, read,

light,

and dream of you.

portrait
which is a secret between you and
is very good.
If you think she would like

My

me

it,

to bed, put out the

could send

it

through Schuch, who will pro-

bably leave here with Freyer, about the 15th of

next month.
clearly,

you

will

brace

them

To

but

my

began

to write this letter quite

have finished

it

in such a

have some trouble in reading

college

friends,

way

that

Em-

it.

and, if possible, get

Kindest love to Eisner.

to write to me.

the same.

Vienna.

New

Year's Day, 1831.

Dearest Heart,

Now

you have what you wanted. Did you

I still
receive the letter, and deliver any of it?
I was full of sweet
regret what I have done.
hopes, and now I am tormented with doubt and
anxiety.

Perhaps

Perhaps she scorns me, or laughs at

oh,

bing heart.

You

does she love me? asks

You good-for-nothing

my

me

throb^

Esculapius.

were in the theatre with your opera glasses,

and did not take your eyes off her

Do not make
confound it.
!

If that is so,

light of

my

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
confidence, but

my own
Now you
are in my

only write to you for

sake; you are not worth the trouble.

know

all

my

99

When you

thoughts.

room with your old friends Rostowski, Schuch,

and Hube, imagine that

Freyer, Kyjewski,

enjoying myself with you, but oh

strange in writing to you here.

were with you, and what

me
is

The

only a dream.

unaccustomed seem to

see

seems as

It

so
if 1

and hear around

voices to which

me

am

feel

my

ear

only like the rattling

of a carriage, or some other unimportant sound.

Only your or

my

stupor.

ent to me.

life

Say nothing of

Tell them that

for nothing,

wake me out of
and death are indiffer-

Titus's voice could

To-day,

am

am

my

this to

in capital spirits, that

parents.
I

want

enjoying myself gloriously, and

never feel lonely.

Tell her the same,

at me, but if she asks

if

she laughs

kindly after me, and seems

anxious about me, whisper to her not to be uneasy, but say that

away from

my
me

parents.
;

"

her.

All

humour

"

am very lonely and unhappy

I am not well, but do not tell
my friends are asking what ails
I

sometimes say, but you know

what is really the matter.

At the end of next month
things remain quiet there.

amusements

here,

ticipate

them.

in

but

shall

There

go

to Paris, if

is

no lack of

very seldom care to par-

Merk,

the

first

violinist

in

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

200

Vienna, has promised

me

Radom

My

poor parents

would die
condemned

for you, for

forts

You who
these

in

enough

weep

to

fearful

first

Write as soon

my

are

lonely

built

friends

Why am

any of you.

Your

times.

and forsaken
will

flute

How my

mourn over?

to

I
?

have

piano will

out

write that you are going to take the field

how

will you forward the

by a messenger; be careparents might they might misunder-

Do

letter?
!

the

Have you

How

stay here,

with your regiment;

ful

is

are together, can comfort one another

itself

You

This

visit.

love you dearly.

Is she at

as possible.

Oh, what a sad beginning of the

of January.
year for

me

not send

it

My

stand.

Once more I embrace you.

come back a colonel.

the war;

Why

can

You

are going to

May

all

not at least be your

cuse this rambling

letter,

for

Your

go well

drummer?

Ex-

feel quite dazed.

faithful

FREDERIC*
* This
letter, written on two loose sheets, was found
enclosed in one to his parents, which had no envelope,
and was only slightly sealed.
Frederic had written
under the direction these words to his sisters, "You
are requested not to break the seal, and not to be in-

quisitive, like old

women."

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

201

That Chopin continued to feel unhappy during

his stay in Vienna we gather from the following
letter

Vienna, January 26th, 1831.

Dear Monsieur Elsner,

much

regret that your kindness, of which

many proofs during my

once more made me feel ashamed of
that you have anticipated me with a
have had so

should have

from day

so

my

parents

felt it

my

immediately on

my

arrival,

to day,

myself, and
letter.

duty to write
but

put

journey, has

off

to

you

doing

feeling almost certain that

would not delay sending you all the

I am vain enough to think this

news about me, as

would
1

interest you.

wanted also to wait

till I

could

tell

you some-

thing definite about myself; but since the day on

which
land,

I
I

heard of the terrible events in the father-

have had but one thought

yearning about

my

country and

-anxiety

my

and

dear ones.

Monsieur Malfatti has been vainly endeavouring to persuade

me

that an artist

Supposing

is,

or ought to

and
was an artist from the cradle, still I am a
man, and as a Pole liable to serve as a soldier, so
I hope that you will not blame me for not having

be, a

mat

cosmopolitan.

this to be so,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

202

thought seriously as yet about arranging for a

concert.

Obstacles surround

me on

all

sides; not only

has a succession of the most miserable pianoforte

concerts quite ruined

good music, and rendered

the public distrustful, but the recent, affairs in

Poland have a prejudicial effect on my position.

I think, however
and Wiirfel fully approves

my

intention

of

the Carnival.
sufferer.

giving

my

The worthy

first

concert during

Wiirfel

a constant

is

often see him, and find that he has a

pleasant recollection of you.

I

should

with

feel little satisfied

my

but for the interesting acquaintances

among

the

stay here

have made

talent in the place, such

first

The opera

Slawik, Merk, Bocklet, &c.

and the Viennese

names
is

as

good,

Wildt and
Fraulein Heinefetter; but it is a pity that Duport
brings out so few new operas, and is more careful
are enchanted with

of his pocket than of

Abbe Stadler
says that Vienna

is
is

art.

loud in his complaints, and

not what

it

used to

publishing his Psalms at Mechetti's;

work

As

in

to

manuscript and admired

He

is

saw the

it.

your quartet, Joseph Czerny promised

faithfully that

Day.

be.

He

it

assured

should be ready on

me

that

impossible for him to put

up
it

till

in

now

St.
it

Joseph's

had been

hand, as he

is

just

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

bringing out Schubert's works,

still

So

in the press.

203

many

of which are

am

afraid that yours will

is

not one of the wealth-

be delayed.

As

observed, Czerny

iest publishers in this city, and cannot so easily

take the risk of printing a work that

formed

either at "

S perl's

" or at

not per-

is

the "

Romische

Kaiser."

Waltzes are here called "works," and Lanner

and

Strauss,

ances of

who play

these

violin at the perform-

first

dances,

"

(band-

capellmeister "

masters.)
I

do not mean

way of
it;

to say that this is the universal

speaking, for there are

however,

Waltzes.

It

scarcely

seems to

me

likely to take

ridicule

but

printed
is

and that he

of an

will be

your Masses, for he intends

to publish the scores of the

posers.

is

that Mechetti

enterprising turn of mind,

more

many who

anything

famous church com-

spoke about those glorious Masses of

yours to Mechetti's book-keeper a sympathetic

and

enlightened

Saxon -he

seemed

he does quite as he

think

to

something of them, and, according to what

likes in the business.

hear,

invited out to dinner to-day to meet Mechetti.

am
I

and
you about it soon. Haslinger is now
publishing Hummel's last Mass, for he lives only

shall talk the matter over seriously with him,

will write to

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

204

and by Hummel

for

but

compositions do not

linger,

who gave him

said that these

is

it

latest

well

sell

and Has-

a large honorarium for them

puts aside all manuscripts now, and only prints

Strauss's compositions.

Yesterday

who has

was with Nidecki,

at Steinkeller's,

He

written a libretto for Nidecki.

hopes

for great things from this opera, in which the

famous comedian, Schuster,

may make

case Nidecki

hope that

You

this

my

studied
his

play

Mons.

public

why Nidecki

Eisner,

Knowing

wish.

in

for himself.

will please you.

He

second Concerto?

own

by
to

news

dear

ask,

In this

to appear.

is

name

before

did so solely

would have
from

that he
his

departure

Vienna, and having nothing suitable of his own,

except the beautiful variations, he asked for

Meanwhile

manuscripts.

changed

have

things

my

greatly

he no longer appears as a pianoforte

virtuoso, but as

be sure to

tell

an orchestral composer.

you of

care that his overture

You

will be

not

be

is

it

himself.

proud of us yet;

ashamed

of

performed
at

will

shall take

my

concert.

you shall
pianist, Aloys

any

The

us.

at

He

rate

up by the critics, although

and composes old fashioned

Schmitt, has been cut

he

is

past

forty,

music.

Kindest

remembrances

to

all

the

collegians,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

and

to

your own

circle.

For

yourself,

to receive the assurance of the

with which

20$
I

beg you

unbounded

respect

always remain,

Your

grateful

and faithful

pupil,

FREDERIC CHOPIN.

Vienna,

My Beloved Parents and

I

have

regards

May

1831.

14///,

Sisters,

go on short commons this week, as

but I console myself with the

to

letters,

thought that

shall

hear from you again next

week, and wait patiently, trusting that you are as

well in the country as you were in town.

myself,

am

good health
Perhaps

me

in excellent spirits,

fatti

to

that

is

the best comforter in misfortune.

Malfatti's soups which have given

If so

and

As

feel

it is

such strength that

ever.

and

it is

his

really feel better than

a two-fold regret to

me

that

Mai-

family are gone into the country.

You cannot imagine what

was

a beautiful villa

he-

week ago with Hummel.

Having taken us over his house, he showed us his
garden, and when we were at the top of the hill
we had such a splendid view that we did not want
to come down again.
Mai fatti has the honour
lives in; I

there a

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

206
of a

visit

from the court every year, and I should

if the Duchess of Anhalt-Cothen, who

not wonder

him his garden.

On one side you see Vienna lying at your feet,
and looking as if Schonbrunn were joined to it;
on the other, high hills picturesquely dotted with
convents and villages. This romantic panorama
makes you quite oblivious of the nearness- of the
is

a neighbour of

his,

envies

noisy, bustling Imperial city.

Yesterday
Handler.*
tion of

Do

what

was at the Imperial

you know this is my

is,

library with
first

inspec-

perhaps, the richest collection of

musical manuscripts in the world

can scarcely

imagine that the library in Bologna can be larger

and more systematically arranged than this one.

Now, my dearest ones, picture to yourselves my
astonishment at beholding among the new manuscripts a book entitled " Chopin."
It was a pretty large volume, elegantly bound
to myself, I have never heard of any
thought
I
other musician named Chopin, but there was a certain Champin, and perhaps there has been a mis;

take in the spelling.

and saw

my own

sent the original of

This

is

took out the manuscript

handwriting.

my

Haslinger had

variations to the library.

an absurdity worth remembering.

* An author and musical connoisseur, born in 1792,

died of cholera September 26th, 1831.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

20/

Last Sunday there was to have been a grand

display of fireworks, but the rain spoilt

It is

it.

a remarkable fact that it almost always rains here

when they are going to have fireworks. This

me

reminds

man had

of the following story

handsome bronze-coloured

whenever he wore
tailor to ask

much

"
:

it,

him the

it

rained

so he

The

reason.

gentle-

but

coat,

went

tailor

to his

was very

and asked the

gentleman to leave the coat with him for a day or
two, as, possibly, the hat, waistcoat, or boots might
be the cause of the misfortune. However, it was
not so, for when the tailor went out for a walk
astonished, shook his head,

in the coat the rain

the poor

had

man was

forgotten

suddenly poured down, and

obliged to take a cab, for he

his

umbrella.

thought his wife had taken

but,

however, that

wringing wet.

may have

Some

people

to a coffee-party;

been, the coat

was

After thinking over this strange

occurrence for a long time

that perhaps there
in the coat.

it

He

it

occurred to the tailor

was something strange hidden

took out the sleeves, but found

he undid the tails, then the front, when,

and behold under the lining was a piece of a
hand-bill about some fireworks.
This explained

nothing
lo

all

he took out the paper, and the coat never

down any more rain."

Forgive me for again having nothing new

brought

to

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

208

you about myself; I shall hope

more interesting news by and bye.

to have

tell

cerely desire to fulfil your wishes

ever, I

have found

What do you

it

hitherto,

some

most

sin-

how-

impossible to give a concert.

think of General Dwernicki's vic-

tory at Stoczek?

May God

continue to fight for us

FREDERIC.

Your

Vienna,
I

May

have just returned from the

28///,

post, but

183

1.

once

me
I received one on
Wednesday from Madame Jarocka, with the postmore

there

is

no

letter for

from dear Papa, which though very short,

was very precious to me. It told me, at least,
tnat you were all well.
As to Marcel and Johann,
script

beg that they will not write

to

me

at all, if they

are so stingy, that in spite of

my

request they can

only send a word or two.

am

so angry that

feel as if I

could send back their

opening them.

Of

course they will

excuse of want of time

am

make

the end of May, and

am

the old

the only one

still

It

in

who

Rut how

has time to write at length every week.

quickly this precious time passes.

without

letters

is

already

Vienna, and

2Cg

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

probably shall be through June, for Kumelskj*

has been

ill

and must lay by again.

letter will

can see already that this

be a very

wearisome one, but you have no reason

that this

is

am

a sign of indisposition.

On

to

fear

the con-

and amusing myself capitfrom early in the

playing
To-day I was
ally.
morning till two in the afternoon, when I went
out to dine and met the worthy Kandler, who
kindly offered to give me letters to Cherubini and
trary, I

quite well

Paer.
shall visit

to the theatre,

which the
Israelite,

riette

my

invalid in the. evening and go

where there

violinist

Herz

and made

is

is

to be a concert at

He

to perform.

his debiit at Fraulein

is

an

Hen-

Sonntag's concert in Warsaw, when he was

almost hissed

The

off the stage.

pianist, Dohler,

some of Czerny's compositions,

Herz will give his own variations on Polish airs.
Poor Polish motives, you
also to play

is

and

in conclusion,

think

little

how

they

"Majufes" (Jewish
title

If

"

of

Polish music

will

" to attract

you are honest enough

real Polish

over-lard

melodies),

giving

you with
you the

the public.

to distinguish

music and these imitations of

to assign a higher position to the former,

*

An

between
it, and
you are

esteemed friend, who was to accompany Chopin

to Paris.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

2IO

thought crazy, more especially as Czerny, who

is

the oracle of Vienna, has not, as yet, in the manufacture of his musical

tit-bits,

included any varia-

tions on a Polish theme.

Yesterday afternoon

went with Thalberg to

young

the Protestant church, where Hesse, the

or-

ganist from Breslau, was to perform before the

most

the musical world were present

wetter,

has

Mosel,

as

feel

in

Sey fried, and

elite

of

Stadler, Kiese-

Hesse

Gyrowetz.

and understands the management of

talent,

the organ

The

of Viennese audiences.

select

he

if

left an album with me, but I don't

had wit enough to write anything

it.

On Wednesday
till

was

with Slawik

at Beyer's

morning. He is one of the

whom I am on really friendly
terms.
He plays like a second and

2 o'clock in the

artists here

with

and intimate

younger Paganini, whom,

mise of surpassing.

in time,

he gives pro-

should not think

not already heard him several times.

sorry that Titus has not

made

so,

had

am

Slawik's acquaint-

ance, for he bewitches his hearers,

and moves them

made Tieger weep; Prince

were much affected by his playing.

to tears; he even

and

Jskr.

How

are things going on with

always dreaming of you.

ceased yet?

Has

very

you?

G.

am

not the bloodshed

know what your answer

will be:

211

LIFE OF CHOPIN.
"

Patience."

constantly console myself with the

same thought.
On Thursday there was a

when Limmer, one of

Fuchs's,

soiree at

the best artists here, intro-

duced some of his own compositions for four

Merk, as usual, made them more
violoncellos.
beautful than they really were by his playing,

which

is

so

full

12 o'clock, for

He

tions with me.

We

of soul.

told

me

always a great pleasure for

I

think

we

suit

am

curious to

lin;t please

and

am

He

and that

be happy about, for

off

as ever.

before.

is

the

really respect.

know how

do not forget the

quite well,

it is

to play with him.

my

Norb-

shall like

letter to him.

Vienna^ June 2$th

I

till

his Varia-

so himself,

me

each other very well*

only violoncellist
I

stayed there

Merk enjoyed playing

is all

that

1831.

have to

departure seems as far

have never been

in

You know how undecided

such a state

am, and then

* Chopin dedicated to Merk

his "Introduction et
Polonaise Brillante pour piano et violoncello," (op. 3.)

M.

L. Peter Norblin, born in Warsaw, 1781, was

at the Grand Opera in Paris, and
teacher at the Conservatoire. He died in 1852.
t

first

violoncellist

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

212

me

obstacles meet

at every step.

a passport every day, and

am

promised

run from Herod to

Pontius Pilate simply to get back what

the police to take care of.
piece of

news to-day, that

gave

received a delightful

my

passport had been

mislaid somewhere and could not be found, so

must

us poor Poles.
start, I
I

Although

am

strange that

It is

now

to

quite ready to

cannot.

have followed Herr Beyer's advice, and had

I am
me a

passport vised for England, although

only going to Paris.

Malfatti will give

of introduction to his friend, Paer

letter

has

one.

possible misfortune happens just

every

my

new

try to procure a

already

mentioned

me

in

the

"

Kandler

Leipziger

Musikzeitung"
I

was

was not home

until

Mechetti wished to

engaged
Messrs.

midnight yesterday, for

it

and Malfatti's birthday.

give him a surprise, and had

John's Day,

St.

Miles.

Emmering

and

Lutzer,

and

Wildt, Cicimara, and your Frederic to

give a musical performance in his honour.

This

almost deserved to be described as perfect

(" par"

fait.")

never heard the Quartet from

"

Moses

given better; although Fraulein Gladkowska sang

Oh quante
my farewell
"

lacrime

"

concert at

with far more feeling at

Warsaw.

Wildt was

in

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

213

and I acted as quasi conductor*

considerable crowd was on the terrace of our

excellent voice,

The moon shone

house, listening to the concert.

marvellously, the fountains rose like columns of

pearls, the air

was

with the perfume of the

filled

orange grove; in

short,

it

was an enchanting

night, the surroundings glorious

now

room in which we perWindows, reaching from the ceiling to

the floor, open on to the terrace, from whence there
is a magnificent view over the whole of Vienna.
Large mirrors hung on the walls; but the room
was dimly lighted, which heightened the effect
of the moonlight streaming through the windows;
and the spaciousness of the " ante-room " adjoinI

will

describe the

formed.

ing the salon on the left gave to the whole apart-

ment an

air

of

The geniality and

gay and elegant comand the excellent supper,

grandeur.

politeness of the host, the

pany, the sparkling wit,

made

it

late

before

we

separated.

live

as

frugally as possible, and look at every penny as

I

did

at the

ringt when

was

in

Warsaw.

You

* " Cicimara said, there was no one in Vienna, who

accompanied as well as I did. I thought to myself, I
have been convinced of this a long time. Hush."

(Remark
t

of Chopin's.)

The ring presented to Chopin by the Emperor AlexI. when His Majesty was in Warsaw in 1825.

ander

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

214

may

as well sell

for

it,

have cost you enough

already.

The day

before yesterday we were on the Kahand Leopoldsberg with Kumelski and Czapek,
who visits me every day and gives me the most
len

substantial proofs of his friendship; he offered

to lend
It

was

me money

for travelling, if

a magnificent day,

beautiful walk.

From

and

wanted

it.

never took a more

the Leopoldsberg

you see
Agram,* Aspern, Pressburg,

the whole of Vienna,

and even Kloster-Neuburg, the castle in which

Richard Coeur de Lion was for some time imWe had a view also of all the upper
prisoned.
After breakfast we went to
part of the Danube.
the Kahlenberg, where King John Sobieski
pitched his camp and sent up the rockets which
were to announce to Count Starhemberg, Commandant of Vienna, the approach of the Polish
army.

There, too,

the monastery of the

is

Kame-

dules, where, before the attack of the Turks, the

King knighted

his son Jacob,

ated in the Mass.

Isabella

and himself

offici-

have gathered a leaf for

from the spot which

is

now

covered with

vegetation.

From

thence

we

went, in the evening, to the

beautiful valley of Krapfenwald, where

*

we saw

Chopin must have meant to write Wagram.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

21 5

A number of urchins
had covered themselves, from head to foot, with
ridiculous boyish frolic.

leaves, and,

from inn

looking like walking-bushes, crawled

to inn.

boy, covered with leaves, his

head adorned with branches,

king."

This

is

called " Easter-

a customary jest at Easter-tide.

few days ago

Fuchs's.*

is

was

He showed me

autograph works

(circa

at

a soiree at Aloys

his rich collection of

400.)

two pianos was among them.

My Rondo t
Some

for

of the com-

pany present were desirous of becoming personally acquainted with me.

men

Fuchs gave me a

speci-

of Beethoven's handwriting.

Your

last letter

gave

saw the handwriting of

me great pleasure, for I

all my nearest and dearest

* Aloys Fuchs, born 1799 in Austro-Silesia, was

some time musical historiographer and antiquarian

for
at

the Austrian Court. He possessed a great many autographs and portraits of famous musicians and scores
of the masters of the sixteenth and seventeenth cenalso Mozart's compositions, in his own handturies
writing.
Fuchs played the violoncello very well, and was
one of Beethoven's intimate friends. At the sale of
Beethoven's property, Fuchs bought, among other manuscripts, one of the sketch books, which he sent, as a mark
of respect, to Mendelssohn.
Another of these books
was bought by Meyerbeer's brother, William Eeer.
Fuchs's fine collection was dispersed at his death.
;

f This Rondo
as op. 73.

appeared among the posthumous works,

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

2l6

ones on one piece of paper.

Let

me

kiss your

hands and feet, which are more charming than

any to be found in Vienna."

Chopin managed to give a concert in

Vienna. Being a stranger in the city, he had
to depend on the advice of others, and was alternately suspicious and mistrustful, or confiding as

At

last

a child.

The disturbances

in his country deprived

him, as a Pole, of the protection of the chief dignitaries of

Vienna; while among the

with indifference,
irresolute

and

artists

and sometimes envy.

he met
Thus,

dispirited, he beheld other pianists

gaining profit and popularity during the season,

while he

himself

only

took part

matinee given on April 4th,

Hall,

He

by

the

vocalist,

in

in the large

Madame

single

Redoubt

Garcia- Vestris.

gave but one concert, * and that not

* There is
Kandler, in

till

late

notice of this concert, probably by

38 of the Allgemeine Musikalischc
Zcitiiiuj for September 21st, 1831.
It says, "Frederic
Chopin, whose visit last year, showed him to be a pianist
of the first rank, has given a concert here.
The performance of his new Concerto, which is of a serious character, gave us no occasion to alter our first opinion.
So
sincere a worshipper of true art is worthy of all honour."
Other Vienna journals spoke in the same manner of his

No

compositions, and praised his skilful and expressive

playing; but these acknowledgments did not satisfy the
hopes and wishes of the young genius.

21?

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

when, according to their annual

custom, and partly also on account of the cholera
season,

the

in

epidemic, the wealthier inhabitants

As was

city.

small,

had

left the

to be expected the attendance

was

and the expenses exceeded the receipts.

is no mention of this in the following
to his family or friends, in which he refers

There
letter

again to the preparations for his journey:

'

You may

fortitude.

Hope,

am

oh, sweet perennial

have got

my

up the idea of
go

dearests, that

be assured that neither

so readily cast down.

hope
I

my

last letter,

have already learnt to bear misfortune with

you

Vienna, Saturday, July 183 1.

saw from your

to Salzburg

Munich.

passport at
starting

last,

but have given

on Monday.

We

shall

on Wednesday and from there to

asked for

my

passport to be vised

for London; and the police did it at once; but it

was kept two days at the Russian Embassy, and
was sent back with permission to travel to Munich,

not to London.

It is all

the same to me, if Mons.

Maison the French Ambassador

these troubles another has
certificate

of health

is

will sign

it.

now been added.

To

necessary for crossing the

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

2l8

on account of the cholera. We

ran about for half a day with Kumelski, but got
Bavarian

frontier,

the pass in the afternoon.

We had the pleasure of being at least in good

company during our peregrinations, for Count
Alexander Fredro,* whom we recognized from
his Polish appearance, his refined manner of
speaking, and his passport, was with us seeking
a similar pass for his servant.

The news to-day

taken.

It is

Everyone

to be
is

that the
this

is

town of Wilna

taken

are

is

not true.

terribly afraid of the cholera,

precautions

the

is

hoped

quite

and

ridiculous.

God and
Nobody ven-

Printed prayers are sold, supplicating

all

the saints to stop the cholera.

tures to eat fruit,

and most people

quit the city.

leave a Polonaise for the Violoncello with

Mechetti.

Louise writes that Mons. Eisner

with the article ;t

am

is

very pleased

anxious to hear what he

Alexander Count von Fredro, born 1793, celebrated

writer of excellent comedies, and called by his
countrymen, the Polish Mohore, began his literary
labours with a translation of Goethe's " Clavigo."
His
comedies sparkle with original ideas, and are an ornament to the national stage. He died at Lemberg, Ju'lv
as

14th, 1870

f Probably a notice of his concert which had

place.

now taken

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

219

was my teacher
want nothing but more life

will say about the others, as he

of composition.

and energy.

often feel low-spirited, but some-

When

times as cheerful as at home.

feel

melan-

go to Madame Schaschek's, where I

generally meet several amiable Polish ladies who
always cheer me up with their kind and hopeful

choly

words, so that

This

is

my

last

begin to mimic the generals here.

new

who have

trick; those

when people do not

out of me; then

in

get two

going to Hitzing, or somewhere else

of

when

his wife

to

saw me

the right cheek,

divert

my

in

the

mind.

Warsaw, was with me, and

at Schaschek's their aston-

ishment knew no bounds at

proper fellow.

words

generally spend thirty kreuzers

neighbourhood of Vienna
Zacharkiewicz,

it

But there are

are ready to die with laughter.

days, alas

seen

have only

my
left

looking such a

my

whiskers on

and they grow very well; there

no occasion to have them on the left, as you

always sit with your right to the public.
The good Wiirfel was with me the day before

is

yesterday

Czapek, Kumelski, and several others

and we went together to St. Veit, a

which is more than I can say of
where there is a kind of Caroussel, or

also came,
pretty
Tivoli,

place,

rather a rail with a sledge, called a " Rutsch."

is

a childish amusement, but a

It

crowd of grown

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

220
persons

let

themselves

roll

down

the hill in this

At first I
did not at all care about trying; but as we were
eight of us and all good friends, we began to dare
each other to go down first. It was very foolish,
but we all laughed heartily. I went heart and

way without

the least object in going.

soul into the fun

healthy

at a time like

little

find

there

frivolity

such a uni-

is

and

defence.

while ago Rossini's

was exceedingly well

that strong

employment

better

protection

for

Confound our

me

occurred to

some
the present when

need

versal

till it

men might

"

given,

Siege of Corinth

and

"

was very

pleased to have another chance of hearing the

Fraulein

opera.

Heinefetter,

Messrs.

Wildt,

Binder, and Forti, in a word, all the best artists

and did their utmost. I

and when it was
the same restaurant where Beet-

in Vienna, were present,

went
over

to the opera with Czapek,

we went

to

hoven used to take

I

must

his supper.

say, in case

forget, that

shall prob-

more money from Peter the

banker than dear papa had arranged for. I am
very economical, and heaven knows I can not do
otherwise, or I should set off with an empty purse.
God keep me from illness; but if anything did
happen to me, you might, perhaps, reproach me
ably

take rather

for not having taken more.

Forgive me, and

re-

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

member

that

May, June, and

advice of others.

ask you.

am

very sorry to be obliged

know how

Believe me,

to earn.

me

have to pay more

Papa has already spent

penny on me, and

for

dinner

this not

to

and that

July,

money during

this

now than in winter. I am doing

merely of my own accord, but on the good

my

for

have lived on

2 2.1

to ask as

it

is

my
for

God

to give.

is

as hard

is

it

pretty

money

difficult

dearests,

you

will

help us functum.

be a year in October since

It will

passport;

it

how

shall

send

me

my

will need, of course, to be renewed;

manage

it?

a fresh one.

Write and say

Perhaps that

often run out and visit

terday

received

could have sworn

front of me, but

found

it

Hans
I

is

you can

if

impossible.

Yes-

or Titus.

saw the

latter

in

was only a confounded

Prussian
It is to

be hoped these expressions will not give

you a bad impression of the manners

in Vienna.

There

is

style of talk here, except they say "

Diener

"

have learnt

nothing particular about the

Gehorsamer

(your obedient servant) in taking leave,

and pronounce it " Korschamer Diener."

acquired no habit that is truly Viennese;
stance,
is

have

for in-

cannot play any dance waltzes, and that

proof enough.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

222

God
friends
I

May no more

give you health.

Poor Gustav

fall.

of our

dine to-day with Schaschek;

shall

wear the

studs with the Polish eagles, and use the pocket"

handkerchief with the

I

Kosynier."*

have written a Polonaise, which

here with Wiirfel.

commander-in-chief,

General

on

spoilt,

have also been

of

the

but

cholera.

and each bears a

cut,

large sanitary stamp; so great

is

the anxiety here.

Your

On

must leave

Skrzynecki,

account

frightfully

Your

letters

received the portrait of our

FREDERIC.

July 20th, 1831, Frederic informs his par-

ents that he

is

going to

same day with

start the

Kumelski, for Munich, through Linz and Salzburg.

He

writes that he

with money, but fears that

is
it

asks for some more to be sent to

he was obliged

and provided
and
Munich. There

well,

will not last out,

some weeks, awaiting

This gave him
an opportunity of becoming acquainted with the
first artists in Munich
among others, Barmann,

money

to

stay

for his journey to Paris.

*
Some insurrectionary Polish infantry regiments
were called " Kosyniery," because they were only armed
with scythes (Kosy.)

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

223

and Stunz, who, delighted with his

playing and his works, persuaded him to perform
At one of
at the Philharmonic Society's concerts.
Berg, Shunke,

minor Concerto, with

accompaniments.

Carried away t alike

these Frederic played his

orchestral

by the beauty of the composition, and the charm

and poetry of the execution, the audience overwhelmed the young virtuoso with hearty and
genuine applause.

This was Chopin's swan-song on German

soil,

during the eighteen years of his residence

for,

he

abroad,

Germany.
check

never

His

again

last

performed

in

Vienna seemed

to

publicly
to

visit

his desires in that direction.

all

Encouraged by

his success in

Munich, Chopin

town for Stuttgart, where a

heavy trial awaited him the news of the capture
of Warsaw by the Russians, September 8th,
left that hospitable

83

Grief, anxiety,

1.

and despair

as to the fate

of his family and his beloved one filled up the

measure of his misery.

Under

these feelings he wrote, while

the magnificent
first

collection,

called the

"

C minor

the influence of

still

dedicated

to

Liszt)

Revolutions-Etude."

storm of rushing passages in the

melody
majesty,

rises,

now

at Stuttgart,

Study, (the last in the

passionately,

frequently

Amid
left

now

the wild

hand the
in

proud

bringing to the mind of the thrilled

LIFE 0F CHOPIN.

224

his thunder-

image of Zens hurling

listener the

bolts at the world.

In such a

mood Chopin

His passport bore the

and,
a Londres "
when he had become domiciled and

end of September,
"

words,

for Paris at the

left

passant

1831.

par

Paris

years after,
naturalised in France, he often said, with a smile,
" I

am

only passing through."

From

his

arrival

in

Paris in

1831, until

his

death there in 1849, he continued his correspondence with his family. But of this large number
of letters none, unfortunately, remain.

After Chopin's death, his

effects

were sold by

auction in Paris, the furniture of his two apart-

ments with the souvenirs he had delighted to have

around him being brought by Miss Stirling, a
Scotch lady, one of his pupils and enthusiastic
admirers.

She took them home with

her,

they formed a kind of Chopin Museum.

interesting collection included a portrait of

gifted

artist,

and
This
the

painted by his friend, Ary Schaffer;

a grand piano, by Pleyel, on which Chopin

had

generally played; a service of Sevres porcelain,

with the inscription,

" Offert

par Louis Philippe a

Frederic Chopin, 1839"; a splendid and costly

casket, presented

by Rothschild

carpets, table-covers,

Chopin's pupils.

and easy

and numbers of

chairs,

worked by

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

Miss Stirling directed, in her

225
will, that

when

she died these relics were to be sent to Chopin's

mother, to whose house in

Warsaw

After the death of

cordingly conveyed in 1858.

Madame

they were ac-

Chopin, in 1861, they passed into the

This

hands of her daughter, Isabella Barcinska.

lady occupied

the second

floor of

one of two

houses standing exactly on the boundary between

"New World," and the "Cracow Suburbs,"

and belonging to Count Andreas Zamoyski.
At the commencement of the political disturbances, which preceded the insurrection of January, 1863, a band of excited young men, inflamed
by opinions which were far from being shared
by the public, conspired to murder all the deputies.
Although the miserable schemes of these
the

fanatical

tinued

to

patriots

contrive

completely
fresh

failed,

ones,

they
at

till,

con-

length,

exasperated beyond endurance by the bloody conflict

which raged through tne whole country, they

laid a plot to take the life of

Count von Berg,

who, on the recall of Prince Constantine, had be-

come supreme governor of Poland. Count Berg

was returning in his carriage, on the 19th September, 1863, at six in the evening, with an escort

of Circassians, from the Belvedere to the Palace.

When the carriage came to the spot where the

New World " and " Cracow Suburb " adjoin, a
J

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

226
shot,

followed by some Orsini bomb-shells, was

from a window on the fourth floor of

Count Zamoy ski's house. The street was immediately in an uproar, but no one was killed, and
fired

only

a horse or two belonging

the escort

to

wounded. A detachment of the military, who

were at that time always kept in marching order
on the Saxon Square, came up in a few minutes.

The

surrounded

soldiers

both

dragged out the women, and

while the

men were

sent,

left

houses,

them

rudely

in the road,

under a military convoy,

to the citadel.

As

lava pouring forth from a volcano uproots

and annihilates with

its. fiery

heat all objects in

pathway, so rushed the angry soldiery from

its

room

to room, ruthlessly destroying all that

within

their

manuscripts

Furniture,

reach.

pianos,

in short, everything in the

was

books,

house was

flung out of the windows, while wardrobes and

,

other articles too heavy to

move were

cut

up

with hatchets, and the legs of the pianos sawn

off.

These two houses were

first

in the best quarter of the

town, and occupied only by well-to-do people.

An

idea

may

be formed of the quantity of furni-

ture they contained from, the fact, that there were

from

fifteen to

When

twenty pianos.

the brutal

and insensate soldiery

ar-

rived at the second storey of the house inhabited


LIFE OF CHOPIN.

22/

by Chopin's sister, the mementoes of the great

artist, which the whole family cherished with such
pious

care,

were doomed

piano

one

of Buchholtz's

to

on

destruction.

which he had

ceived his earliest instruction, and which

the confidant and interpreter of his
ideas,

was flung

At night the

into the street

soldiers

made

The
re-

had been

first

musical

by these Vandals *

a stack of the ruined

furniture in the square at the foot of the statue

of Copernicus, and filling their kettles with the

and sugar from the ransacked shops,

the fire, mixing punch

wine, spirit,

they

made merry round

and singing boisterous songs. Pictures, books,

and papers among the latter Chopin's correspondence with his family during eighteen years
were thrown in to feed the flames. Eye-witnesses
relate that an officer, having lighted upon a portrait of Chopin, painted by a friend, gazed at it
long and earnestly before committing his wanton
deed. The reflection which illumined the city
announced to the terrified inhabitants that the
reign of military terror had begun.
But more to be deplored than the loss of any

other

relics,

is

the destruction of the

which Chopin had poured forth

letters,

in

all his affection

* The Pleyel piano sent from Scotland in 1858, was

fortunately in the possession of Chopin's niece, Mme.
Ciechomska, who lived in the country.

LIFE OF CHOPIN.

228

for his family, his love for his country, his en-

thusiasm for his

that

is

beautiful

art,

and

and

his admiration for all

The

noble.

letters

to his

when he
and was in in-

parents from Paris, written at a period

was daily gathering fresh

laurels,

timate relations with leading artists and distin-

guished political personages, were not only of

extreme

interest,

but of historical value, as faith-

and vivid pictures of the times. For in his

and witty letters, Chopin often gave, in
a word or two, a more life-like characterisation of
some of his noteworthy contemporaries than is to
be found in many a long and elaborate
ful

spirited

description.

Although thus deprived by the work of destruction

Warsaw

in

of

valuable

source

of

information, the biographer can fall back with

assurance* on personal knowledge, the testimony

of reliable

and on

men and women

letters

from Chopin

of his acquaintance,

to friends

which were

preserved in other places.

(
*

For instance, the description of the events of the

of 1831.
The earlier letters to his family had

autumn

been copied in

Warsaw

before 1863.

iw3L

wm

m
w

..=

.-.

iM^m
.":

%3?
'

-'>

br

J IHKIB
^Ss
:':

'
^H

"

hm

v.--'

5 'V.

efc

*-''

Karasowski, Maurycy
Frederic Chopin 2d ed.
rev.

Mui

PLEASE

CARDS OR

SLIPS

UNIVERSITY

[ML

Nio
C54K373
i

1906
V.l
c.l

MUSI

DO NOT REMOVE
FROM

THIS

OF TORONTO

POCKET

LIBRARY

I \m
"rt

/ij.

m
MM
*<i

>!

ISH