Charles Burchfield, Journals, September 18, 1954

Sept. 18 – Sat.

Steak picnic at [Howard] Klippert. [William] Schwanekamp and Mr. [John] and Mrs. Wenrich[i] from Rochester also present (W – is an architectural renderer) – We all brought our steaks and Howard broiled them over charcoal in the backyard. As rain threatened we at inside – the steaks were delicious and we had a good time.

The great difficulty about visits to the Klippert’s is Howard, who is a Mozart worshipper, wants to play music, while others want to talk – both legitimate impulses, but which do not mix well. Howard turns up the volume so talking becomes very difficult. I am torn between my real desire – to listen to the music – and a sense of duty to listen to my neighbor who wishes to talk. At the end of a few hours I feel as if I had been existing in bedlam, my nerves raw, but nevertheless experiencing a sort of physical stimulation.

He has a wonderful collection and knows exactly which version to buy. He played the Casals festival  playing of the Eine kliene Nachtmusik (which Wenrich playfully referred to as “Itsy Bitsy Night music”) and I felt as if I had never really heard it before. I cannot remember all he played – but there was a Concerto for Three Pianos by Bach (magnificent – Klippert said the beginning sounded like the “Crack of Doom” an apt description) – A flute concerto by Mozart, and a couple of Divertimentos -)

By 6:00 I was exhausted and we took our leave. Howard seemed a little chagrinned by our “early” departure but it could not be helped.

Charles Burchfield, Journals, September 18, 1954