Anecdotes of Music and Musicians

Frederic Chopin (Drawing: Anthony Kolberg)

Anecdotes of Music and Musicians by Helen L. Kaufmann is a light and fluffy collection of stories about famous composers, lyricists, and musicians spanning the 17^th through the 20^th centuries.

High Point: Kaufmann shares a few stories about legendary composers that are genuinely surprising and enthralling.

Low Point: Much of the book consists of mildly amusing anecdotes and corny quips.

Author: Helen L. Kaufmann

Publication Date: 1948

Genre: Arts

Clara and Robert Schumann in 1850. When Clara’s father forbade their seeing each other, Robert communicated his affections through his compositions.

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Anecdotes of Music and Musicians by Helen L. Kaufmann is a light and fluffy collection of stories about famous composers, lyricists, and musicians spanning the 17^th through the 20^th centuries. Not a book to be taken too seriously, much of it is akin to the old humor sections in Reader’s Digest.

Occasionally, though, this little book offers a fascinating nugget. For example:

Beethoven dedicated his 9^th Symphony to the King of Prussia, Friedrich Wilhelm II, who rewarded him with a diamond ring. Strapped for cash, Beethoven promptly went to sell it, and discovered the diamond was merely glass.
Chopin played his own funeral march at a dinner held in his honor.
Robert Schumann used his compositions to discreetly communicate his affection to the beautiful daughter of a man who had forbidden them to see one another.
And, Fritz Kreisler originally published many of his own works under the names of more established composers, such as Vivaldi, to gain more favorable reviews from the Austrian critics.

Despite a sporadic meaty story, most of the book consists of mildly amusing anecdotes and rather corny quips. Anecdotes of Music and Musicians is a book to lay aside—perhaps picking it up while you wait for your next issue of Reader’s Digest.

Ludwig von Beethoven (Drawing: Stephen Decker – 1824)

Quotes

Perhaps because he identified himself so closely with the tattered roustabout of the play [Showboat], [Paul] Robeson has consistently championed the poor and downtrodden, not only of his own race, but of every race, creed, and color. A magnificent figure of a man, he is probably one of America’s best-loved leaders.