Albert Dietrich, the German composer and conductor, was a friend of Johannes Brahms and the first part of this book includes vivid recollections of his relationship with the composer as well as charming letters between them. J.V. Widmann, a Swiss writer and editor, first met Brahms when the composer was 33 and he provides an intimate portrait of Brahms in the latter part of his life. They became good friends and traveled often to Italy together and were in contact until the end of the composer's life. - Summary by mkirkpat