Tolstoy and "the shorthand of emotion"

[Geoffrey Chew]

On Tue, 24 Sep 2002, Alfred Cramer wrote:

> As a music theorist researching connections between music and
> stenography (shorthand) in the nineteenth century, I am interested in
> the source of the following statement, said to be by Tolstoy.
>
> "Music is the shorthand of emotion.  Emotions which let themselves
> be described in words with such difficulty, are directly conveyed to man
> in music, and in that is its power and significance."
>
> The quotation is attributed to Tolstoy in a number of quotation
> dictionaries, but chapter and verse are never given. I've read around
> and electronically searched the standard Tolstoy works found online
> without success. Does anyone have any ideas?
>
> I'd appreciate any responses. It might be best to respond to me
> privately rather than to the whole list.

I'd appreciate responses posted to the list...

 Geoffrey Chew
 Music Department, Royal Holloway, University of London
 Internet: chew at sun.rhul.ac.uk
 Fax:      0870-131 6521 (UK)
 Fax:      (240)209-1260 (USA)

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