Moritz von Schwind
Moritz von Schwind was a 19th-century Austrian painter and draftsman. The Cat Symphony, one of his best-known hand drawings, is the humorous depiction of a melody for violins in which instead of notes, numerous cats move across the paper.
The composition can be interpreted as a caricature of Richard Wagner's music, which the artist did not appreciate very much. Schwind gave the sheet away to one of his friends, the violinist Joseph Joachim. The reason for the gift was Joachim's appointment as director of the Berlin University of Music. On January 19, 1869, Schwind sent Eduard Mörike a letter and a photo of the drawing. It says:
“I became a musician, a future musician in the second higher degree. Get rid of the old, stiff, dry noting system! Obsolete, overcome, discarded stuff - I need a new, spiritual, lively means of expression for my new, unimagined thoughts - whether they are sounds, images or the devil knows what - I have achieved the incredible. This sonata dedicated to Joachim is clear proof. He admits he is unable to play it - that wizard on the violin! Incidentally, it can be noted that Joachim and I belong to the famous Order of the Black Cat and that it was this inconspicuous occasion - that brought about this giant leap in music."
We present today's masterpiece thanks to the Staatliche Kunsthalle Karlsruhe. :)
P.S. Music and art have long been closely tied together, each taking inspiration from the other. Discover examples here. :)
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