We know Sherlock Holmes enjoyed music. From his own violin playing to a few mentions of concerts he attended, he often escaped from the woes of the world and the problems he was trying to solve through music.
In “The Adventure of the Red Headed League,” he says “Sarasate plays at St. James's Hall this afternoon,” and he and Watson make their way to the concert, where Holmes clearly enjoyed himself, “wrapped in the most perfect happiness, gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the music.”
But what do we know about Sarasate? Who was this performer who was able to distract Holmes for a few hours? It’s just a Trifle.
Links
Pablo de Sarasate (Wikipedia)
Anthony Burgess's Murder to Music
A recording of Sarasate playing Zigeunerweisen from 1904 in Paris
Music credits
Performers: Uncredited violinist, US Marine Chamber Orchestra
Publisher Info.: Washington, DC: United States Marine Band
Copyright: Creative Commons Attribution 3.0
Who Was Sarasate?