Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

3/}' MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
the piece, ought to have begun in the mind, in the
feeling of the performer, before he put a finger on
the key-board.'
He told me that, when practising, one should
listen to what one was doing ; but in playing, once
having s6t off, one should play the thing through
go on without listening or looking back. I have
myself benefited by this exhortation, and with com-
plete success, more than once, when about to face
a large audience. He was not, like Von Biilow,
inclined to believe that general studies in other
directions give greater breadth, or variety, or charm
to one's playing; and once, when I told him that I
was about to begin a course of English literature,
his expressive silence showed that he did not approve
of the plan ;
—
and he made me give up the concertina,
which I had played very well when I came to him.
He had far too many pupils to form any personal ac-
quaintance with them outside the lesson-hour, and
yet he found a way to favour those who were enthusiastic
and hard-working. For instance, he invited me
to go to his house during his absence, and look
through his library. His own words were, ' You
may
rummage about in it to your heart's content.' I
made, one may be sure, full use of this kind per-
mission, and saw some very interesting manuscripts
—amongst others, the first sketch of the lovely bar-
carolle in his P Minor Concerto, and a few words which
suggested the mood in which the melody came to him.