“Life views of the Cat Murra” Hoffmann in brief

In preparing for the publication of the notes of Murra, the descendant of the celebrated Hinz von Ginzenfeld, the publishers drew attention to the presence in the manuscript of apparently extraneous fragments – excerpts from the previously published narrative of Kapellmeister Johannes Kreisler and his friend Maestro Abraham. These pages were in Murrah’s manuscript for the simple reason that the Cat used them-by ripping a book from his master’s library, Abraham, as a blotter. Strange coincidence, many episodes of the life of Kreislepa complement the events described by Kot Moore – but this is a mere accident, since Murr had a strict chronology, and pages from the book were torn out by him arbitrarily. Nevertheless, the publisher left everything as is-on the grounds that it was to Kreisler that the maestro Abraham entrusted the care of Kote Murra, departing from the court of Prince Irenaeus.

The prince had once had a miniature, but his own principality, lost

to him after the dissolution of Bonaparte by the Prussian administration in Poland. The most influential persons at the court were the counselor widow Benzon and maestro Abraham, who is a magician and an alchemist. Organ master and pianist tuner, he won fame illusionist and organizer of fireworks and park allegories, was kindly treated by the old prince, after his death wandered around Europe, but then again called to serve at the court of Irenaeus who settled in Zighartswale.

Another influential – but in a completely different way – the face at court, which stirs the most contradictory feelings in the suite, is the conductor Johannes Kreisler, giving lessons to the music of the prince’s daughter Princess Gedvig and her friend Julia, the daughter of the widow Benzon. Early orphaned, Kreisler was brought up and trained in music notation by maestro Abraham, who for life became his best friend.

Life and spiritual aspirations are due to Abraham and the Cat Murr. He believes that he was born in the house of the maestro, and not otherwise than in the attic; Meanwhile, a blind kitten, along with

brothers and sisters, he was subjected to drowning in the river and, not miraculously choked, was dragged out of the water by the scruff of Abraham passing along the bridge. Education in the traditions of Rousseau, along with a craving for the maestro’s writing desk and books on the table, led to the fact that Murr very soon learned to read and then write. The first literary experiments of Kot were a didactic novel “Thought and flair, or Cat and Dog,” a political treatise “On the question of mousetraps” and the tragedy “Kavdallor is the rat king.” Alas, the notebook with the verses of Murra, given for Ponto’s reading, fell into the hands of the poodle master Professor of Logicio’s aesthetics, and he nayabednichal on the phenomenally gifted Cat Maestro Abraham. The maestro is concerned that the pussy is more preoccupied with graceful literature than with mice, and closes Murra’s access to reading, “What can cause a genius greater pain than seeing oneself as unrecognized and even ridiculed!” “Murr complains, but he is consoled by the fact that his own mind became even more free as a result.

Similar experiences are experienced by Kapellmeister Kreisler. He is burdened by his role at court, secular etiquette and hypocrisy. “In the veins of this young man only music flows,” he paraphrases a description of an ancient instrument in the musical vocabulary. Consolation serves Kreisleru society of the dear Fraulein Julia, whose soul, like him, is open to divine sounds. To their solitary music lessons, the princess Hedwig joins, who first fed the conductor, as it seemed to him, dislike. The princess confesses to Kreisler in the cause of her confusion at his appearance at the court: her heart is tormented by the memory of a court painter who has gone mad with love for her late mother; a lot of marvelous portraits of the princess decorate the walls of the castle until now, inspiring Hedwig with the idea that man is born for a better life than that, which she leads. “Love of the artist!” Exclaims Hedwig, “Oh, this is a beautiful, heavenly dream – but only a dream, only a vain dream! ..”

The story told by Princess Hedwig deeply excited Kreisler. Unearthly music and unearthly love – that’s all that has true value, is not subject to doubts and ridicule, with which he looks at everything around. Confidently talking with Maestro Abraham, he finds in him a complete ally. In the life of the maestro, there were two minutes of happiness: when he listened to the sounds of an ancient organ in a remote abbey from worldly vanity and when with him was his Kiera, his young assistant in focus with the Invisible Girl, and then his wife. Thanks to her prophetic gift and magnetic influence on people, even at a great distance, the magician and mechanic Abraham was approached to the court of the old prince. Short bliss lasted: soon after the death of Prince Kier, disappeared without a trace. This heart wound has not healed to this day.

… The hour of love also struck for Kot Murra: the Ides of March came and on one of the night walks on the roof he meets a charming cat named Mismis. The first love meeting is interrupted and overshadowed by two of her disgusting cousins: they severely beat Murra and dump him into the gutter. The image of Misemis pursues him, he composes hymns and madrigals in her honor. The fruits of his inspiration are paid in full! Murr and Misemis meet again under the moon, no one prevents them from singing a duet. The cat decides to apply a radical remedy for subsequent amorous torments: offers his Beautiful Lady a paw and heart. Oh Gods! She – I agree! .. However, in the life of every poet, the hours of bliss are fleeting: Mismice changes Murru with a variegated cat-Lovelace. The explanation of the spouses proceeds to the marvelously calm; Both admit to each other in heart cooling – and decide to go further each in their own way. Murr returns to science and fine arts with even greater zeal than before meeting Mismice…

In the meantime, Prince Hector comes to Italy from Zighershtavler, a descendant of a noble and rich family, for whom Prince Irenaeus intended to give his daughter. At the ball, Hedwig behaves more than strangely, shocking the whole yard: she thrice in succession dancing with the prince dashing Italian dance, not at all peculiar to her nature. The prince is not at all nice to her, but she has some kind of demonic influence on her. A strong impression is made by the prince and Julia: she, in an interview with her mother, likens his gaze to the fiery gaze of a basilisk. Counselor Benzon laughs: at once to two girls the dear prince seems a monster – what nonsense! No, it’s the voice of the heart, Julia’s mother assures. After the ball, she dreamed of a prince, under the guise of Kapellmeister Kreisler, encircling her with the words: “You have already been killed – and from now on you must be mine!” From these encroachments, she is saved by a true, and not the imaginary Kreisler – the beneficent spirit of the castle, designed to protect both her and the princess Hedwig from evil spells. Councilor Benzon interprets this dream in his own way: Johannes Kreisler – a man who brings discord in life at the court of the prince. Little to her maestro Abraham – now also this musician! She must intervene in the development of events! ..

Needless to say, the dislike of Prince Hector is also fueled by Kreisler. Abragam agrees: this is a real serpent-tempter. Marriage with Hedwig, he is ready to conclude only by calculation, in fact he has views on Julia. Of course, Kreisler should stand up for her honor, but conventional weapons are inappropriate here. Maestro Abraham hands a miniature portrait of a certain person to his friend, a look at which will cast Hector into horror and turn him into flight. The prediction is coming true. But the Kapellmeister suddenly disappears from the castle. In the park find his hat with blood traces. Clearly, someone – most likely, Hector’s adjutant – was trying to kill him. But did he kill? No answer: the aide-de-camp on that night also trailed a trace…

A new friend of Murra’s black cat Muzio reproaches him: “You rushed from one extreme to another, you are about to turn into a disgusting philistine, whose actions depend on the circumstances, and not on the voice of honor.” Your solitude will not console you, but even more to you will do much harm! ” Muzzio recommends Murra to his friends – the cat bursa, who takes him as a friend, singing “Gaudeamus igitur” and other hymns. Their circle disintegrates after a few rides on the roof: the inhabitants of the house are harassing the bershee with infamous dogs, as a result of which God gives glory to the glorious Mucius. On a tripartite, Murr gets acquainted with the lovely little cat Mina. He is ready to rush into the assault on her heart – and suddenly sees Mismis at a distance, which he forgot to think about. Misrism stops Murra: “Mina is your daughter!” The cat returns to his room under the stove,

Kreisler – what he informs in a letter to Maestro Abraham – found shelter in the monastery. While in Zigarshtsweiler there are stormy events in his absence, the culprit of all this for the first time experiences composure and devotes himself to music. In a dream, he sees Julia – an angelic maiden, singing the unheard-of beauty “Agnus Dei”; waking up, Kreisler writes this music, himself to the end not believing that he is its author. He is preparing to take monastic vows – but here the abbey comes from Italy the new abbot Father Cyprian, appointed by the Roman Pope himself. Grim ascetic, he decisively changes the way of life in the monastery. Kreisler clearly sees: in the new circumstances, music in his soul stalls. At night, the funeral is performed in the abbey – in the deceased Kreisler recognizes the adjutant of Prince Hector, whom he killed, defending himself against his attack in the Zigarshtsweiler park… Kapellmeister guesses that he was involved in some terrible secret, which is directly related to Father Cyprian, – which he bluntly announces to the new abbot. The harsh monk instantly transforms and, full of the spirit of gentleness and love, tells Kreisler the story of his life, shedding light and much that concerns the inhabitants of the castle, where our musician had recently sought inspiration.

In his youth, Father Cyprian, heir to a mighty sovereign, and his younger brother were in military service in Naples. The future abbot led the way of life the most dissolute, not missing a single beauty.

Once on the street an old woman of a gypsy suggested that he get acquainted with the lady not only of the most beautiful, but also of equal prince in origin. Antonio considered the old woman as an ordinary pimp. What was the prince’s amazement when, a few days later, he met the old woman in company with the most wonderful of the ladies he had seen. The young lady was called Angela Bentoni, she was born from the extramarital affair of two very distinguished persons and – the fruit of criminal love – was determined to live away from home, to special instructions, under the care of her caring gypsy nanny adopted by the prince for the vault. Angela responded reciprocally to Antonio’s feelings, and they were secretly married in the chapel of San Filippo. Disclosing this mystery and seeing the wife of his elder brother, Prince Hector blazed with passion for her. Soon Antonio caught him in the chambers of Angela. There was a stormy explanation; in a glass of Angela Antonio poured poison, but he himself fell dead from Hector’s dagger. Miraculously healed, Antonio vowed to pray for his sin in the monastery. At that time in Italy was Maestro Abraham, under the guise of a magician Severin looking for a sweet Chiara. The old woman of the gypsy handed him a miniature double portrait, where, between the images of Antonio and Angela, a written certificate of double murder was kept. All the foregoing, as we see, explains the trembling of Prince Hector at the very moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon obtained from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence that the Councilor Benzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, used at the court of the prince; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her… and much more, much more. At that time in Italy was Maestro Abraham, under the guise of a magician Severin looking for a sweet Chiara. The old woman of the gypsy handed him a miniature double portrait, where, between the images of Antonio and Angela, a written certificate of double murder was kept. All the foregoing, as we see, explains the trembling of Prince Hector at the very moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon obtained from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence that the Councilor Benzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, used at the court of the prince; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her… and much more, much more. At that time in Italy was Maestro Abraham, under the guise of a magician Severin looking for a sweet Chiara. The old woman of the gypsy handed him a miniature double portrait, where, between the images of Antonio and Angela, a written certificate of double murder was kept. All the foregoing, as we see, explains the trembling of Prince Hector at the very moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon obtained from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence that the Councilor Benzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, used at the court of the prince; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her… and much more, much more. All the foregoing, as we see, explains the trembling of Prince Hector at the very moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon obtained from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence that the Councilor Benzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, used at the court of the prince; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her… and much more, much more. All the foregoing, as we see, explains the trembling of Prince Hector at the very moment when Kreisler showed him this irresistible weapon obtained from the hands of Maestro Abraham; and the influence that the Councilor Benzon, the mother of his illegitimate daughter, used at the court of the prince; and her guesses that the old magician knows something important about her… and much more, much more.

It is now, when, it would seem, the most important thing in the story should happen, it suddenly breaks off. Unexpectedly – as the decision of Princess Gedviga to marry a disobedient Hector. Unexpectedly – like the return of Kapellmeister Kreisler to the castle, his refusal to serve God and music for the sake of Julia’s love. Unexpectedly – like the departure of Maestro Abraham abroad, it seems, on a new quest for the “Invisible Girl” …

Unexpectedly – like the death of Kot Murra, just entering the threshold of glory and even more startling accomplishments.