Philharmonic Society of New York Private Rehearsal

“Carriage with Johann [Johny] to Academy of Music for private Philharmonic rehearsal, 2:30 p.m. Very satisfactory. Gade’s overture ‘Im Hochland,’ graceful and intelligible. One of Liszt’s jack pudding overtures ‘Tasso’ (Why not Timothy Dwight or Sir Ride? Blackmore?). I felt it did something to comfort the respectable [Manes?] of the deceased poet. And the lovely—most lovely—4^th symphony in portions of which Beethoven himself never surpassed. After these ‘Days of Abstinence’ & of bedrudgment [because of his illness], this symphony seemed to penetrate & permeate me like galvanium. The hour devoted to it (2:30-3:30) was one of unmixed delight. Why does that delicious trio (in 3^rd movement) always suggest Italy to me—not the rowdy revel of the carnival, but something of joyous elegant outdoor moonlight festivity? Then the hearty Haydnesque melodic work in the 4^th part—how plainly it suggests the jollity of some goodly supper party of Teutons—hoch wohl geboren, but genial, every inch of them! One could write a whole evening about what this symphony suggests.

We had a meeting of Philharmonic directors after the rehearsal. Certain important action taken that is kept off the minutes.”