Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/209

Rh The day of writing instrumental music for voices is past. Our time demands true sentiment in words and a corresponding sentiment in the music.  

The following story of Haydn rests on a rather insecure foundation for truthfulness; but we give it for what it is worth.

There was, in Vienna, an actor named Kurtz. This man, wanting the music arranged for a certain farce or light opera, called on Haydn to see if he could do the work satisfactorily. Haydn declined the commission. But Kurtz insisted that he should try. Said he, "Sit down at the piano and play an accompaniment to my actions." Then Kurtz imitated the motions of a swimmer, throwing himself on a chair for support; suddenly he called out, "I am sinking! save me! I shall be drowned!" Meanwhile Haydn played music fitting to the situation and delighted the comic actor with the result. At last Haydn consented to write out the music he had played and set it to the opera. This was the origin of "The Devil on Two Sticks."  

There are many drafts made on musicians' time and good nature that thoughtfulness on the part of their friends and acquaintances might obviate.

People do not realize the time and effort it takes to prepare for a public performance. This does not matter so much if the musician be an amateur with plenty of leisure; but if he be a professional, busy with teaching or playing, and with hardly leisure to keep posted on his own specialty, let alone keeping abreast with the advance of the world along other lines, it would seem to require considerable "cheek" to add to the musician's