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Wilhelm Schmucke
Composer, pianist, and music teacher from the 1847 novel Le Cousin Pons by Honoré de Balzac. The work was originally serialized in French newspaper Le Constitutionnel. He is a devoted friend of the title character, Sylvain Pons.
Now although Schmucke was a great composer, he could not rise above the rank of a teacher of music; for the audacity necessary to a man of genius who would make his mark was entirely foreign to Schmucke's disposition.
...
This true and noble German was performer and audience, both in one. He played to and for himself. He lived in Paris just as a nightingale dwells in the forest; and for a space of twenty years sung on- sole member of his tribe- until the moment when he encountered Pons and found in him a second self.
