Among other friends of Liszt of value to musical history were Anton Rubinstein (1829–1894) (page 443), the Russian, and Hans von Bülow (1830–1894), a German. Both these men were great pianists and wrote noteworthy compositions. Liszt was a great stimulus to them and they had many points in common. Rubinstein was romantic and von Bülow, classic. Rubinstein did much to link Germany and Russia musically, which was a help to both nations. Von Bülow was an illustrious pianist, friend of Wagner, famous conductor, and editor of many musical scores, among them an edition of Beethoven’s Sonatas, still in constant use. Both these men did much for pianists all over Europe. Other great pianists and composers of their day were: Nikolai Rubinstein (Anton’s brother) (1835–1881); Theodor Leschetizky (1830–1915), trained by Carl Czerny, and he in turn trained hundreds of pianists; Karl Tausig and many others. Of course, the effect of these pianists was to make music and the piano more popular, thus adding greatly to the musical culture of the world. TCHAIKOVSKY You probably know of Piotr (Peter) Ilyitch Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) as a great symphony writer, but he was also a successful writer of tone poems such as _The Tempest_, _Francesco di Rimini_, _Manfred_, based on Byron’s _Manfred_, _Hamlet_, _The Storm_, _Romeo and Juliet_ and two incomplete poems, _Destiny_ and _Voievoda_. Tchaikovsky was born in Russia, he went to the school of Jurisprudence and later entered the Ministry of Justice but soon began to compose music and took a medal for composition for a piece which he wrote on Schiller’s _Ode to Joy_, the poem Beethoven used in his 9th Symphony. He also wrote _The Nut Cracker_ Suite for orchestra, adapted from the score of a Ballet, which includes a Russian dance, an Arab dance, a Chinese dance, flower waltz, and other fascinating, whirling, delightful dances. Many of Tchaikovsky’s things not called tone poems have very definite programs, such as _The Snow Maiden_ (_Snegovrotchka_) a favorite legend and music to a fairy tale—the parts are named _Chorus of Blind Gusslee Players_, _Monologue of the Frosts_, _Appearance of the Wood Demons_ and so on. SERGEI RACHMANINOV Boecklin’s painting _Isle of Death_, inspired Sergei Rachmaninov (1873) to write a most beautiful musical poem about its sombre trees and the sea. As a distinguished pianist he has glorified the art in all countries, especially in America. He was a student of Siloti and of Zvierev, a friend of Tchaikovsky. His masters in harmony and theory were Taneiev and Arensky. He has held musical posts of honor and has written remarkable piano concertos, chamber music works, choruses and one opera, _Aleko_. You probably know his much played C minor Prelude which has been a sort of visiting card of Rachmaninov to the public. RICHARD STRAUSS, THE PROTEUS OF MUSIC