Walker-My_Musical_Ex.. - Walter Cosand

SGAMBATI 83
spark to the glorious sun, a tiny drop to the mighty
soundless deep.
Since the days when I studied the pianoforte with
Sgambati he has given himself up more and more to
composition, and his works have been slowly but
surely wiiming their way in musical circles. Liszt
spoke of his quintettes and concerto as 'nobles,'
and this year a letter, or rather the copy of a letter,
from Wagner to the head of the Schott firm, in
Mayenee, fell into my hands, in which Wagner refers
to what Liszt thought of Sgambati both as a pianist
and composer. With the permission of Sgambati,
I here give that part of the letter which refers
to him.
Second page of the copy of a letter which was written
by Wagner to Dr. Strecker, priucipal of the Schott
firm, in Mayenee, November 23, 1876. (The
original letter is in the possession of Messrs.
Schott.)
' But to say the truth, my letter of to-day has
another end ta view, namely, to commend to you
most earnestly for publication two quintettes (piano-
forte and stringed instruments) composed by Signor
Sgambati of Eome.
'Liszt had already, and in a most special and
emphatic manner, called my attention to this distin-
guished composer and pianist. I recently had the