138 Mr. George Henschel [June 2, 



inspiration it was for a young musician like myself, to sing under the 

 direction of Brahms, and to be, for some weeks, in daily and intimate 

 intercourse with him. 



We went for a walk together every day, mostly in the Prater, the 

 favourite out-of-door resort of the Viennese, and it seemed a matter 

 of no small gratification to Brahms to find himself recognised and 

 respectfully greeted everywhere we happened to drop in for an 

 occasional rest. 



The numerous public gardens where gipsy bands played, especially 

 attracted us, and it Avas a dehght to notice the increased spirit those 

 brown sons of the Puszta put into their music in the presence of the 

 master who had done so much toward opening up to their beloved 

 tunes a wider sphere of popularity. 



The performance of Bruch's " Odysseus," was the last that 

 Brahms conducted for the society, having resigned his post early in 

 the year. It took place in the morning, and was followed by the 

 solemn ceremony of presenting Brahms with an illuminated address 

 of farewell, acknowledging his great achievements as conductor of the 

 society, and expressing the society's and the chorus's regret at his 

 resignation. A local poet of some fame who, because he lived in that 

 district of Vienna known as the inner town, was rather naughtily 

 called by Brahms " the poet of the inner town," delivered a very 

 eulogistic oration, which Brahms, who looked rather bored, merely 

 acknowledged with the curt words, " Thank you very much." Then,, 

 taking under his arm the folio containing the address, he walked 

 away. He afterward told me that such official proceedings were 

 exceedingly distasteful to him. 



It was in the following year that I began my diary. My pi-o- 

 fession brought me into frequent contact with the master, who, to 

 my gratification, seemed to have permitted the young, enthusiastic 

 musician to have, in intimate hours, an occasional deeper insight into 

 the workings of his mind than was vouchsafed to the outer world, 

 against which he appeared to be fortified with the " ces triplex " of 

 irony, sarcasm and indifference. I was anxious to preserve the many 

 interesting things he had to say on musical and other matters, and 

 religiously jotted down my recollections in the evening of each day 

 spent in Brahms' company. I have not attempted to embellish or 

 improve upon the style, if style there be, of these cursory notes, but 

 give them, translated literally from my M8. written in pencil and 

 with no corrections whatever, thus indicating the utter absence, at 

 that time, of any desire on my part to let them see the light of 

 publicity. 



The Diary. 



Milnster, Westphalia, Feh. 3, 1876. — Brahms arrived yesterday. 

 I am glad my hoarseness is gradually disappearing, for the thought 

 of singing at the concert, day after to-morrow, those high notes in 



