Johannes Brahms, Brief an Julius August Wegeler (1836-1913), Wien, April 1876, Autograph

Johannes Brahms expresses his gratitude for the wine Julius August Wegeler sent him. He regrets not being able to present the Keller cantata. He wants to know when the cellar event will take place so that he can express his gratitude in a song performed by singer and Brahms's friend Georg Henschel. He does not consider the verses of Julius Stephan Wegeler suitable and suggests just reading them out loud. Brahms favours a drinking song from the students' songbook because he likes the pleasant melodies. He also relates of an early birthday serenade given by a "Kreuznach group". Lead by Franz Wegeler (1835-1894), a lawyer in Kreuznach and the brother of Julius August Wegeler, Brahms was woken up in the night of March 7th. He expresses his gratitude, although the serenade was held a little too early. His birthday is May 7th, not March 7th. (FG)