The preparation of this volume began with a period of delightful researchwork in a great musical library. As a honey-bee flutters from flower toflower, culling sweetness from many blossoms, so the compiler of suchstories as these must gather facts from many sources—from biography,letters, journals and musical history. Then, impressed with the personalityand individual achievement of each composer, the author has endeavored topresent his life story.
While the aim has been to make the story-sketches interesting to youngpeople, the author hopes that they may prove valuable to musical readers ofall ages. Students of piano, violin or other instruments need to know howthe great composers lived their lives. In every musical career describedin this book, from the old masters represented by Bach and Beethoven tothe musical prophets of our own day, there is a wealth of inspiration andpractical guidance for the artist in any field. Through their struggles,sorrows and triumphs, divine melody and harmony came into being, which willbless the world for all time to come.