After-Orts #111

… the medical and legal professions, for example, are governed at least by certain codes, which preclude the practitioners from the downright barefaced skullduggery which prevails among actors and musicians.
     — William Primrose, in David Dalton’s book, Playing the Viola: Conversations with William Primrose


Schubert could always find solace in the company of his friends. In the first half of 1818 [when he was 21] he enjoyed convivial evenings with Anselm Hüttenbrenner, who later recalled that Schubert drank Bavarian beer... smoking a great deal at the same time. When they had more money they drank wine, and, if they were feeling rich, punch. On 21 February Anselm had received some bottles of Hungarian red wine (Szekszard) as a gift, and invited Schubert in. They drained the wine to the last drop (Anselm does not say how many bottles), after which Schubert sat down at his friend's desk and "composed the wonderfully lovely song Die Forelle". Having done so he wrote a note in the margin of the manuscript paper to Anselm's brother Josef, offering, as a token of friendship, a song he had just written at Anselm's "at 12 o'clock at night".... Anselm was in error in implying that Schubert had "composed" Die Forelle that February evening: the song had been composed in 1817. The song was simply being written out from memory for a friend. .... Schubert spoke the language of music with the naturalness of conversation.
     -- Brian Newbould, Schubert: The Music and the Man, chapter 5


… the saunterer … is no more vagrant than the meandering river, which is all the while sedulously seeking the shortest course to the sea.
     — Thoreau, Walking