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Nouvelettes of the Musicians

Elizabeth F. Ellet

In the following series of Nouvellettes, something higher has been attempted than merely the production of amusing fictions. Each is founded on incidents that really occurred in the artist’s life, and presents an illustration of his character and the style of his works. The conversations introduced embody critical remarks on the musical compositions of great masters; the object being to convey valuable information on this subject—so little studied or known except among the few devoted to the art—in an attractive form. The view given of the scope and tendency of the works of different artists, and their relation to personal character, may also enforce a striking moral; showing the elevating influence of virtue, and the power of vice to distort even the loveliest gift of Heaven into a curse and reproach. Of the tales—“Tartini,” “Two Periods in the Life of Haydn,” “Mozart’s First Visit to Paris,” “The Artist’s Lesson,” “The Mission of Genius,” “The Young Tragedian,” and “Tamburini,” only are original; the others are adapted from the “Kunstnovellen” of Lyser and Rellstab. The sketch of the great pianist, Liszt, is translated from a memoir by Christern, a distinguished professor of music in Hamburg. - Summary by Preface