Life of Robert Schumann, with Letters, 1833-1852 - Tapa blanda

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878. Excerpt: ... wonder." And to the same, April 29, "We have repeated our experiments in magnetism: we seem surrounded with wonders." There were also occasional auricular delusions, which caused him to hear an uninterrupted sound, and in his nervous excitement he really heard it, although there was nothing in the slightest degree approaching a sound. The violinist Ruppert Becker of Frankfort on the Main, who then lived in Diisseldorf, told me that he was at a beersaloon with Schumann one evening. Suddenly Schumann threw down the paper, saying, "I can read no more: I hear an incessant A"--Nevertheless, this symptom was ignored, since it often disappeared. It is plain that he was very ill, from a letter written in July, 1853, in which he says, "Nor do J feel perfectly well: I must avoid all over-work." He was only able to share in the musical festival held at Diisseldorf. in 1853 by directing at the first concert (at which he won a decided triumph for his D-minor symphony), and leading two pieces on the third day, which fatigued him much. Two letters to F. Hillerf prove that this arrangement was made by himself. In them he begs Hiller to assume the direction of the other concerts. While Schumann was visiting Bonn in July, 1853, something occurred, early one morning, which led him to suppose that he had had a paralytic stroke. He got into bed again; and the physician, Dr. Kalt, who was quickly summoned, had great difficulty in persuading him of the contrary, and inducing him to rise. This doctor, however, expressed decided apprehensions for the future. The close of 1853 brought two joyful events to Schu j mann,--the latter especially delighting him. In October he met Johannes Brahms, whom he had himself intro See letters for 1833-52, No. 85. t See letters for 1833-52, Nos...