Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

282 MY MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
being wells forth in a rich, clear stream. His melody-
is at once simple and spontaneous, and yet full of
aristocratic grace and distinction. It is a fact beyond
dispute that his studies, so brimful of poetry, and
each bearing a motto indicative of its inner meaning,
his Poeme d'Amour, his Concerto, his Duo, etc., will
always continue to rank with the noblest, the most
beautiful compositions which have been written for
the instrument.
Hardly had he appeared before the public as a
pianist when he took his place among the first, and
was ranked with Liszt and Thalberg. Joyfully wel-
comed as a composer by the best of his generation,
foremost amongst whom were Mendelssohn and
Schumann, his MSS. passed from hand to hand, and
were everywhere received with delight. Henselt saw
opening out before him such a career of fame and
splendour as fortune but rarely offers to any one indi-
vidual of the race. Yet, jvith a spirit of almost un-
paralleled self-renunciation, hardly had he entered
on a career so rich in promise when he turned his
back on it for ever : he exchanged the golden laurels,
which were showered on him by the hydra-headed
multitudes of European cities, for the sober joys of a
teacher. * In the quiet hours of study, when he directed
his pupils towards the path which leads to the ideal,
he who had never been content with himself experi-
encetJ a satisfaction which he never found in the
concert-room. To stimulate the aspirations of thQ