Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of August 19, 1871

Overview

The anniversary of Cosima's marriage to Hans brings solemn self-examination under dull skies. She works with the children and later drives with Wagner through a melancholy but intimate sunset. Wagner returns to the question of amateur musicianship, arguing that music's participatory nature makes listeners too easily mistake identification for vocation.

Content

Saturday, August 19:

Fourteen years ago I was married to Hans; the weather was dull, as it is today. Solemn reflections; God give me strength and let me grow better until I go to my rest.

Worked with the children, then drove with R. to Emmenbrueck. Lovely sky at sunset, intimate mood of melancholy. Reverting to the sergeant, R. says, “When one takes up a book, one reads it; when one sees a picture, one examines it; but music one plays, one feels identified with it, and consequently imagines oneself to be a musician.”