Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 31, 1880

Overview

Another negligent, mosquito-ridden night and wet weather put R. in a severe mood, and at breakfast he dismissed the idea of any school built on his teaching, saying true tempo must be absorbed from living example rather than theory. Rubinstein’s visit brought an outing to the cathedral and libreria, music from Parsifal and Don Giovanni in the evening, and much teasing from R. over how deeply I was moved by seeing Saint Catherine again.

Content

Tuesday, August 31:

Unfortunately, through the negligence of the servants, another mosquito-ruined night. On top of that, wet weather, many reminders of the North.

At breakfast R. again comes to speak of his "school" and the absurdity of it, since nobody, nobody at all, has so far learned even a single tempo from him, and he says that people can only learn from what they discover for themselves; a person who for years has heard Beethoven played in the wrong tempo will not suddenly hit upon the right one by reflecting and understanding and reasoning. Or at least not unless he has been given the example from the start; anyone, for instance, who heard Weber conducting his Freischütz would have the tempi stamped on his mind.

The fine arts provoke him into some bitter statements: For whom did these painters work? For the worst men of their time. Whereas music addresses itself, rather, to the hearts of the people. He also takes no pleasure in the King's proclamation in connection with the Wittelsbach jubilee, for he says, "There is not a true word in all these things, either." Friend Rubinstein comes to visit us, and we show him the cathedral, the libreria. I show R. the Saint Catherine, and it seems to me that it makes some impression on him, though he says it is not ascetic enough, too round, too colorful; it is precisely this unimpassioned mildness which I find so moving, her gentle resignation is uplifting.

In the evening Rub. plays to us music from the 3rd act of Parsifal; before that (before supper) the minuet and allemande from Don Giovanni together with R., and R. says that Mozart undoubtedly visualized different rooms for the various dances to be played in: "But who would have provided the poor fellow with the necessary scenery?" Some Schopenhauer, then discussion on the nature of matter. I have to listen to much joking from R. over the fact that I was so extraordinarily moved at seeing the Saint Catherine again. (R. was very worn out after his walk from the post office to the cathedral, but he found the sight of the great square entertaining.)