Ferdinand David

Tone poet, fantast, critic, visionary, prophet, he was all of these, and he passed through every phase, it seemed, of romantic experience.

The great and even the semi-great of a fabulous period of music were his intimates, personages like Mendelssohn, Chopin, Liszt, Moscheles, Ferdinand David, Hiller, Joachim, Brahms.

He won the woman he loved after a bitter struggle against a tyrannical father-in-law.

He created much of the world's greatest piano music, many of his loveliest songs, four great symphonies, superb chamber compositions, and a good deal else, which even today is insufficiently known or valued.

What promised to be a solid and permanent position for Schumann materialized in the spring of 1843 when Mendelssohn founded the Leipzig Conservatory.

Robert was given charge of the classes in piano playing, and he taught private composition.

His colleagues were men like the theorist Hauptmann, the violinist Ferdinand David, Moscheles, Lady, Richter, Klengel, and others of distinguished standing.

But it does not appear that Schumann's actual teaching can have amounted to much, for he was growing more and more uncommunicative, and the fitness as a pedagogue of such a silent teacher may be doubted.

Mendelssohn introduced us.

"This," he said to me, "is Mr. Ferdinand David, the great violinist and leader of our orchestra.

And this," indicating the younger visitor, "is a countryman of yours, Mr. Sterndale Bennett.

We think a great deal of Mr. Bennett in Leipzig." "Aha!" said David to me.