stand with him to-day and
behold the free unfolding of all our powers. This goal is the entire
combination of all the phases of art into one great work: the
music-drama, in which is mirrored every form of human existence up to
the highest ideal life. As this music-drama rests historically upon
the opera it is but natural that the second triumvirate of German
music should be composed of the founder of German opera, C. M. von
Weber, the reformer of the old opera, Christoph Wilibald Gluck, and
Richard Wagner. To trace therefore the development of the youngest of
these masters, will lead us to consider theirs as well, and in doing
this the knowledge of what he is will disclose itself to us.

PUBLISHER'S NOTE.

Just as this volume is going to press the announcement comes from
Germany that the prize offered by the Prague Concordia for the best
essay on "Wagner's Influence upon the National Art" has been adjudged
to Louis Nohl, an honor which will lend additional interest to this
little volume.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

WAGNER'S EARLY YOUTH.

His Birth--The Father's Death--His Mother Remarries--Removal
to Dresden--Theatre and Music--At School--Translation of
Homer--Through Poetry to Music--Returning to Leipzig--Beethoven's
Symphonies--Resolution to be a Musician--Conceals this
Resolution--Composes Music and Poetry--His Family distrusts his
Talent--"Romantic" Influences--Studies of Thoroughbass--Overture in
B major--Theodor Weinlig--Full Understanding of Mozart--Beethoven's
Influence--The Genius of German Art--Preparatory Studies ended 9-22

CHAPTER II.

STORM AND STRESS.

In Vienna--His Symphony Performed--Modern Ideas--"The
Fairies"--"Das Liebesverbot"--Becomes Kapellmeister--Mina
Planer--Hard Times--Experiences and Studies--"Rienzi"--Paris--First
Disappointments--A Faust Overture--Revival of the German
Genius--Struggle for Existence--"The Flying Dutchman"--Historical
Studies--Returning to Germany 22-44

CHAPTER III.

REVOLUTION IN LIFE AND ART.

Success and Recognition--Hofkapellmeister to the Saxon Court--New
Clouds--"Tannhaeuser" Misunderstood--The Myths of "The Flying
Dutchman" and "Tannhaeuser"--Aversion to Meyerbeer--The Religious
Element--"Lohengrin"--The Idea of "Lohengrin"--Wagner's
Revolutionary Sympathies--The Revolution of 1848--The Poetic Part
of "Siegfried's Death"--The Revolt in Dresden--Flight from
Dresden--"Siegfried Wo