A fairly comprehensive and orderly understanding of the history of his art is of great importance to a musician, both for the light it throws upon every department of practical work, for the widening of his artistic sympathies, and for the service that a rational study of history of any kind is capable of rendering to a man's mind and judgment.

History is generally supposed to be based on facts; but in all branches, whether political, social, or artistic, there are a great many things which pass for facts which are very far from trustworthy, and a great many which, even if they were trustworthy, would be of very little importance.

The personal details of the lives of men who played conspicuous parts in the story of art are of but little importance except in so far as they throw light upon their style or method, or the line of art which they chose; and on the consequent direction of the progress of art under their influence. Even dates are only of importance to verify strictly the temporal relations in which the facts and the men stood to one another; and to save people from such misconceptions as calling a result the antecedent of its cause, or, inverting the order of master and disciple.

The facts which are of chief importance to a musician are the facts of the art itself; and in that respect the history of an art is fortunate, for the artistic products themselves are facts, about the existence of which there can be no manner of doubt.