This is saying much, but not too much; for when a cognate mind becomes
thoroughly imbued with the spirit of an author, the transmutation of his
ideas into another form of speech becomes a simple and natural process.
To those who already know Chopin and are striving to play his music,
this book will be invaluable, as giving a deep insight into the meaning
and proper mode of rendering his compositions. To those who know nothing
of him, and who are still floundering amid the _fade_ and flimsy
productions that would fain hide their emptiness and vulgarity under the
noble name of music, this life of a true musician will reveal a new
world, a new purpose for the drudgery of daily practice, and the
expenditure of time, patience, and money.
The work, however, is not alone useful for those especially interested
in music, but, being free from all repulsive technicalities, will be
found highly attractive to the general reader. It contains a subtle
dissection of a deeply interesting character, sketches of Heine, George
Sand, Eugene de la Croix, Mickiewicz, and other celebrities in the world
of literature and art, together with a most vivid portraiture of social
life in Poland, a land which has ever excited so much admiration for its
heroism, and compassion for its misfortunes.
Mr. Leypoldt, the enterprising publisher of this work, merits the
encouragement of the American people, inasmuch as he has not feared to
risk the publication of a work deemed by many too excellent to be
generally appreciated by our reading community.
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