JOACHIM.
LTO THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—Your interesting article on "Joachim" in the Spectator of August 24th, and Sir Charles Stanford's letter in the following issue, do not mention a fact which illustrates the musician as a thinker. I mean the friendship of two great masters, one of musical theory, the other of musical practice: Helmholz and Joachim. I have somewhere read the state- ment that for his original researches, physical and biological, especially those relating to reflex tones, Helmholz consulted Joachim, and obtained from his violin verifications of those remarkable discoveries. It can hardly be doubted that Joachim's long and varied life will find a worthy interpreter. Happily, though the musician can no more be heard, his striking and noble countenance is preserved for posterity in the admirable portrait by the late Mr. Watts. Most eminent violinists only appear before the public as soloists. It was a characteristic and important feature in Joachim's perform- ances that he felt it a duty and an honour to join with other Musicians inferior to himself in rendering the greatest original works, as he alone could teach his fellows how to
interpret their meaning,—a proof of his mental and moral superiority.—I am, Sir, &c.,
HENRY DI% HUTTON.
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