[56] _Die Musik_, in the article referred to in a previous chapter. [57] Fräulein Ettlinger informs the author that it was she herself who put the question to the master and received his answer. For the article on Levi see 'Biographisches Jahrbuch und Deutscher Nekrolog,' 1902. [58] Widmann's 'Brahms Recollections,' p. 38 and following. [59] Kalbeck's 'Johannes Brahms,' p. 187 and following. [60] _Die Musik_, No. 5 of 1902. CHAPTER XVIII 1878-1881 Hamburg Philharmonic Jubilee Festival--Violin Concerto: first performance by Joachim--Pianoforte Pieces, Op. 76--Sonata for Pianoforte and Violin--First performances--Brahms at Crefeld--Rhapsodies for Pianoforte--Heuberger's studies with Brahms--Second Schumann Festival at Bonn--The two Overtures--Breslau honorary degree. With the rapidly-increasing appreciation of Brahms' art observable during the second half of the seventies throughout the entire musical world, the condition of his private circumstances changed rapidly also. At the time he completed the second symphony it was very far removed from that of twelve years back, when he had been obliged, by lack of ready cash, to purchase the music-paper required for the manuscript of the Requiem in small instalments. He never deviated from the simple manner of daily life agreeable to him by nature and habit, but we find that in the early spring of 1878 he added to the short list of his personal pleasures one that became to him a source of unfailing delight, that of a journey to Italy. On this his first visit, made in April, in Billroth's company, he stayed in Rome, Naples, and Sicily, and returned subjugated once and for all by the witcheries of the South. Neither of his Italian tours was associated with a musical purpose; they were undertaken solely for the refreshment of body and mind by a holiday ramble amidst beauties of nature and art, to which his temperament made him peculiarly sensitive, and amongst a people whose _naturel_ was congenial to him. 'I often think of our journey,' writes Billroth on May 7; 'that you were so charmed with everything doubles my pleasure.' The new symphony was included in the Rhine Festival, held this year at Düsseldorf under Joachim and Tausch. Amongst Joachim's duties was that of conducting the performance of his friend's work, concerning which we read in a contemporary journal: 'The performance of Brahms' second symphony under Joachim was a feast such as we have seldom heard. The audience was jubilant after each movement, and would not be satisfied till the third was repeated.' And again in a final summary: 'The most brilliant event of the festival was the performance of Brahms' symphony.'