Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

HENSELT 155
cert was to take place in the following montli, and a
prince had placed his spacious rooms at their dis-
posal for the purpose. I told the gentlemen that I
did not play in public ; that I had come there for
bathing and rest ; that they would surely have no
difficulty in finding someone who would be willing to
do all they asked. They were, however, most per-
sistent, and said so much, that at length I said I
would help in concerted music, if they could find any
one who could play fairly well on the violin or violon-
cello ; that if both one and the other were forth-
comiug, we might play a Beethoven trio ;
and I would
also, if necessary, accompany the singing.
On the following day, one of the gentlemen who
were trying to organize the concert called on me at
the hotel, bringing with him a tall, awkward-looking
youth. The latter carried a violin-case, and was
introduced to me as a promising pupil of one of the
best violin-players, himself a pupil of Joseph Joachim.
The youth did not look very intelligent, nor did his
replies to the one or two questions I put to him as to
the pieces he had been studying give me the idea
that he was an advanced player on the instrument.
The name of Joachim, however, carried with it a
weight which quite overruled my first impressions,
and when they asked me if I would not come and
try over some duets in the marine salon, I at once
put on my hat, and we three set off there together.
But scarcely had we begun our duet (musical natures,