RICHARD WAGNER “HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE” BEING A VIEW FROM A PARTICULAR POINT IN TIME (JUST AS THE PERSPECTIVE IN A PAINTING IS A VIEW FROM A PARTICULAR POINT IN SPACE), TO “LOOK AT THE COURSE OF HISTORY MORE GENERALLY” WOULD BE TO SACRIFICE PERSPECTIVE ALTOGETHER. THIS IS FANTASY-LAND, YOU’RE FOOLING YOURSELF. THERE CANNOT BE ANY SUCH THINGIE, AS SUCH A PERSPECTIVE. Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1813 May 22, Saturday: Wilhelm Richard Wagner was born in Leipzig, the 9th child of Carl Friedrich Wilhelm Wagner, a police actuary, with Johanna Rosine Pätz Wagner, daughter of a baker (the putative father would die; it seems likely that this infant was the illegitimate offspring of the actor and playwright Ludwig Geyer who would officially soon become the boy’s stepfather). A cannonball narrowly missed the Emperor Napoléon killing instead General Kirgener and the emperor’s closest confidant, General Gérard-Christophe Duroc. The Emperor, shaken, called off pursuit of the Russians he had defeated on the previous day. The British and Portuguese began a new offensive in Spain. L’italiana in Algeri, a dramma giocoso by Gioachino Rossini to words of Anelli, was performed for the initial time, in Teatro San Benedetto, Venice. The work met with great enthusiasm. NEVER READ AHEAD! TO APPRECIATE MAY 22D, 1813 AT ALL ONE MUST APPRECIATE IT AS A TODAY (THE FOLLOWING DAY, TOMORROW, IS BUT A PORTION OF THE UNREALIZED FUTURE AND IFFY AT BEST). THERE’S NO WAY TO KNOW WHETHER SOME OF THIS RAIN IN SPAIN OF THE BRITISH AND THE PORTUGUESE IS GOING TO FALL ON THE MOUNTAIN OR WHETHER IT IS GOING TO FALL MAINLY ON THE PLAIN. August 16, Monday: Fort Detroit was captured by the British. Wilhelm Richard Wagner was christened in the Thomaskirche of Leipzig. Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1814 August 28, Sunday: In Dresden, Johanna Rosine (Pätz) Wagner, a widow with nine children, widowed by Carl Friedrich Wagner for less than a year, got married with Ludwig Heinrich Christian Geyer, a portrait painter, actor and poet — who it would seem may have been her infant Wilhelm Richard Wagner’s biological father. The family would relocate to Dresden. Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 1st day 28th of 8th M / Our Meetings both Silent & to me dull seasons Our little John went again this Afternoon & behaved well -Father & Mother Rodman took tea with us this Afternoon — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS “NARRATIVE HISTORY” AMOUNTS TO FABULATION, THE REAL STUFF BEING MERE CHRONOLOGY Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1815 February 16, Thursday: Johanna Wagner Geyer and Ludwig Geyer added a daughter, Cäcilie, to their family which already included the toddler Wilhelm Richard Wagner. Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 5th day 16 of 2 M / Jonathon Chase & Daniel Brayton of Swansey Attended Meeting & Jonathon appear’d in testimony, which evinced him to be a living member of the Body - They are on a visit to the Moy [Monthly] Meeting - intending to see the families of it & have commenced their services this Afternoon. — In the Preparative Meeting The former Overseers with the addition of my name were reported & agreed to be recommended to the Moy [Monthly] Meeting for that Service — A Service which I feel not only incompetent on but have serious doubts whether it is the sphere in which I ought to act - however submit to the judgement of my friends. — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS NOBODY COULD GUESS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN NEXT Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1821 September 30, Sunday: Ludwig Geyer died. RICHARD WAGNER Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: Next Morning took Aunt Patty my H & John in the Waggon & went to meeting - Abigail Sherman & Anne Dennis said a little & I thought it was a pretty good meeting — returned & dined at Uncle Stantons & in the Afternoon returned home, rode part of the way & walked a part of the way, leaving Hannah & John to complete their visit. RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS NO-ONE’S LIFE IS EVER NOT DRIVEN PRIMARILY BY HAPPENSTANCE Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1822 December 2, Monday: Richard Geyer entered the Kreuzschule of Dresden. RICHARD WAGNER THE FUTURE CAN BE EASILY PREDICTED IN RETROSPECT Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1826 Richard Geyer’s family moved to Prague but he remained in school in Dresden. RICHARD WAGNER CHANGE IS ETERNITY, STASIS A FIGMENT Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1827 Richard Geyer left school in Dresden to join his family, that has moved back to Leipzig. RICHARD WAGNER DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION? GOOD. Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1828 January 21, Monday: Richard Geyer entered Leipzig’s Nicolaischule under the name Richard Wagner (the name of his biological father). HISTORY’S NOT MADE OF WOULD. WHEN SOMEONE REVEALS, FOR INSTANCE, THAT A PARTICULAR INFANT WOULD INVENT THE SEWING MACHINE, S/HE DISCLOSES THAT WHAT IS BEING CRAFTED IS NOT REALITY BUT PREDESTINARIANISM. THE RULE OF REALITY IS THAT THE FUTURE HASN’T EVER HAPPENED, YET. Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1829 Richard Wagner began to compose: a couple of piano sonatas and a string quartet. BETWEEN ANY TWO MOMENTS ARE AN INFINITE NUMBER OF MOMENTS, AND BETWEEN THESE OTHER MOMENTS LIKEWISE AN INFINITE NUMBER, THERE BEING NO ATOMIC MOMENT JUST AS THERE IS NO ATOMIC POINT ALONG A LINE. MOMENTS ARE THEREFORE FIGMENTS. THE PRESENT MOMENT IS A MOMENT AND AS SUCH IS A FIGMENT, A FLIGHT OF THE IMAGINATION TO WHICH NOTHING REAL CORRESPONDS. SINCE PAST MOMENTS HAVE PASSED OUT OF EXISTENCE AND FUTURE MOMENTS HAVE YET TO ARRIVE, WE NOTE THAT THE PRESENT MOMENT IS ALL THAT EVER EXISTS — AND YET THE PRESENT MOMENT BEING A MOMENT IS A FIGMENT TO WHICH NOTHING IN REALITY CORRESPONDS. Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1830 Richard Wagner composed a piano arrangement based on Ludwig van Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. YOUR GARDEN-VARIETY ACADEMIC HISTORIAN INVITES YOU TO CLIMB ABOARD A HOVERING TIME MACHINE TO SKIM IN METATIME BACK ACROSS THE GEOLOGY OF OUR PAST TIMESLICES, WHILE OFFERING UP A GARDEN VARIETY OF COGENT ASSESSMENTS OF OUR PROGRESSION. WHAT A LOAD OF CRAP. YOU SHOULD REFUSE THIS HELICOPTERISH OVERVIEW OF THE HISTORICAL PAST, FOR IN THE REAL WORLD THINGS HAPPEN ONLY AS THEY HAPPEN. WHAT THIS SORT WRITES AMOUNTS, LIKE MERE “SCIENCE FICTION,” MERELY TO “HISTORY FICTION”: IT’SNOT WORTH YOUR ATTENTION. June 16, Wednesday: Richard Wagner entered the Thomasschule, Leipzig where he would for a short while be taking violin lessons. In Berlin, Fanny Mendelssohn Hensel gave birth to her only child, Sebastian Ludwig Felix Hensel (she was naming it in honor of her fave composers). Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1831 While Richard Wagner studied music at Leipzig University, he created a couple of concert overtures plus a Piano Sonata in B-flat major. THE TASK OF THE HISTORIAN IS TO CREATE HINDSIGHT WHILE INTERCEPTING ANY ILLUSION OF FORESIGHT. NOTHING A HUMAN CAN SEE CAN EVER BE SEEN AS IF THROUGH THE EYE OF GOD. February 23, Wednesday: Richard Wagner matriculated at Leipzig University as a music student. When Polish and Russian forces clashed at Grochow, although they didn’t know this yet, they were going to be fighting for 3 days but were going achieve no strategic result (might as well have stayed in bed). Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 4th day 23rd of 2nd M 1831 / Today is our Monthly Meeting at Smithfield. — The travel is so bad that none of us from the Institution have attempted to go. — There is a large quantity of Snow remaining on the ground it rained most of last night, & is raining hard this Morning, so that it is neither Sleighing or Wheeling, & every step a horse takes will sink him (in many places) to his knee joints, & in some places worse than that - so that we have not ventured to undertake to go. — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS December 25, Sunday: Concert Overture no.1 in d by Richard Wagner was performed for the initial time, in the Royal Saxon Hoftheater, Leipzig. A flow of lava came out of Mount Vesuvius toward Ercolano. MOUNT VESUVIUS In Providence, Rhode Island, Friend Stephen Wanton Gould wrote in his journal: 1st day 25 of 12 M / Both meetings silent In the Afternoon Abel W Townsend & wife attended - They expect to set out tomorrow for home they have gone to Wm Almys to lodge & will take the Stage Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER in the Morning — RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS “MAGISTERIAL HISTORY” IS FANTASIZING: HISTORY IS CHRONOLOGY Richard Wagner “Stack of the Artist of Kouroo” Project HDT WHAT? INDEX RICHARD WAGNER RICHARD WAGNER 1832 Richard Wagner wrote a Symphony in C major that was then performed in Prague. He began work on a 1st opera, Die Hochzeit, but soon put this aside. He wrote a Piano Sonata in A major.