Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

70, MV MUSICAL EXPERIENCES
ever come across. I had heard some things against
him ' as a man,' and I heard more later on, and all I
heard was what would prejudice one who never could
quite lose the strong impressions of her early Puritan
training. But Liszt's individuality was a thing
apart ; and in spite of the awe I had for his great
genius, and the discomposing sensation of being in
the presence of one who has ' a demon '—in Goethe's
sense of the word—I was at home at once with him.
He seated me on the sofa beside him, asked me about
Sterndale Bennett, and then about Sgambati, and
whether I liked Von Billow's or Sgambati's playing
best. I replied that, though I did greatly admire
Von Billow, -yet I found more charm in Sgambati;
and I even ventured to say to Liszt, 'Ha%! not
Sgambati nn poigs douxV (my way of describing
Sgambati's wrist-playing). Liszt replied, ' Vous avez
parfaitement raison, mademoiselle.' He then said he
would like to hear me play ; on which I rose, but,
mindful of Sgambati's admonitory hint, chatted on
with Liszt and made no motion to go to the piano.
After two or three minutes, however, Liszt broke in
with, ' But you are to play to me— yes, and now at
once ;' and so saying, he gave me a little push towards
the instrument, at which I at once seated myself, and
played the Spinnerlied ; and though I confess that
when I was leaving my sister, and while I was coming
up to the Villa d'Este, I had felt much as if I ^yere
about to ' undergo an operation,' yet I kept rhy word