t the last
words of the chorus, Habeneck saw that the 'Tuba Mirum' was saved, he
said: 'What a cold perspiration I have been in! Without you we should
have been lost.' 'Yes, I know,' I answered, looking fixedly at him. I
did not add another word.... Had he done it on purpose?... Could it be
possible that this man had dared to join my enemy, the director, and
Cherubini's friends, in plotting and attempting such rascality? I don't
wish to believe it ... but I cannot doubt it. God forgive me if I am
doing the man injustice!

"The success of the 'Requiem' was complete, in spite of all the
conspiracies--cowardly, atrocious, officious, and official--which would
fain have hindered it."

BRAHMS.

Johannes Brahms, one of the most eminent of living German composers, was
born at Hamburg, May 7, 1833. His father was a double-bass player in the
orchestra in that city, and devoted his son at a very early age to his
own profession. His first piano teacher was Cossell; but to Eduard
Marxsen, the Royal Music Director, he owes his real success as a
composer. Brahms remained in Hamburg until 1853, when he went upon a
concert-tour with Remenyi, the eccentric and somewhat sensational
Hungarian, who has been a familiar figure upon the American
concert-stage. He remained with him, however, but a very short time, for
in October of that year they parted company. Brahms had attracted the
notice of Liszt and Joachim; and it may have been through their advice
that the musical partnership was dissolved. In any event, soon after
leaving Remenyi he went to Duesseldorf and visited Schumann. It was the
latter who announced him to the world in such strong words as these:--

"In following with the greatest interest the paths of these elect
[Joachim, Naumann, Norman, Bargiel, Kirchner, Schaeffer, Dietrich, and
Wilsing], I thought that after such forerunners there would, and must
at last, all on a sudden appear one whose mission it would be to utter
the highest expression of his time in an ideal manner,--one who would
attain mastery, not by degrees, but, like Minerva, would at once spring
completely armed from the head of Cronion.... May the highest genius
give him strength for that of which there is hope, as in him dwells
also another genius, that of modesty! We bid him welcome as a strong
champion."

The next year (1854) appeared his first works,--three sonatas, a tri