Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/262

250 However, here is one little story that probably may be accepted: "Upon Ries' first appearance in public as Beethoven's pupil, he was to play the C minor concerto from manuscript. This was the first performance of a work which has since become a general favorite with concert pianists, though it is not so great as the E flat concerto. Ries asked his teacher to write a cadenza for the work, but Beethoven, in a particularly genial mood, told the young man he might compose one himself and insert his own cadenza.

This was a high honor. Ries wrote his cadenza, but, on presenting it to Beethoven, the latter objected to one passage which was so difficult that its correct performance was doubtful, and advised the substitution of an easier passage. This Ries did until the time of the concert. When he came to the cadenza, instead of playing the easier passage he dashed into the forbidden one and completed it with great success.

"Bravo," cried Beethoven, and the audience took up the applause. After the performance Beethoven, remembering the disobedience said to Ries, "You are always obstinate. I would never have given you another lesson had you missed one note of that passage," and we may well believe Beethoven would have kept his word.  

Richard Wagner was a merry little man, and retained his health and spirits till his last years of life. The two incidents here given show his quick judgment and prompt action, as well as his eccentricity. He was once climbing a precipitous mountain in company with a young friend. When some distance up and walking along a narrow ledge the companion, who was following, called out that he was growing giddy. Wagner turned round on the ledge of the rock, caught his friend and passed him between the rock and himself to the front, where he was safe. 