BEETHOVEN AT THE AGE OF 48.

From a Painting by Kloeber.

To face page 40.

BY

ROMAIN ROLLAND

TRANSLATED BY

B. CONSTANCE HULL

WITH A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF THE SONATAS,
THE SYMPHONIES, AND THE QUARTETS BY

A. EAGLEFIELD HULL

MUS. DOC. (OXON).

With 24 Musical Illustrations and 4 Plates
and an Introduction by Edward Carpenter ,

Author of Towards Democracy , &c.

NEW YORK

HENRY HOLT AND COMPANY

1917

PREFACE

" I want to prove that whoever acts rightly and
nobly, can by that alone bear misfortune."

BEETHOVEN.

(To the Municipality of Vienna, Feb. 1, 1819.)

The air is heavy around us. The world is stifled by a thick and vitiated atmosphere—an undignified materialism which weighs on the mind and heart hindering the work of governments and individuals alike. We are being suffocated. Let us throw open the windows that God's free air may come in, and that we may breathe the breath of heroes.

Life is stern. It is a daily battle for those not content with an unattractive mediocrity of soul. And a sad battle it is, too, for many—a combat without grandeur, without happiness, fought in solitude and silence. Weighed down by poverty and domestic cares, by excessive and senseless tasks which waste the strength to no purpose, without a gleam of hope, many souls are separated from each other, without even the consolation [vi] of holding out a hand to their brothers in misfortune who ignore them and are ignored by them. They are forced to rely on themselves alone; and there are moments when even the strongest give way under their burden of trouble. They call out—for a friend.

Let them then gather around themselves the heroic friends of the past—the great souls who suffered for the good of universal humanity. The lives of great men are not written for the proud or for the ambitious; they are dedicated rather to the unhappy. And who really is not? To those who suffer, we offer the balm of their sacred sufferings. No one is alone in the fight. The darkness of the world is made clear by the guiding light of the souls of the heroes.

I do not give the name hero to those who have triumphed by infinite thought or by sheer physical strength—but only to those made great by goodness of heart. Beethoven wrote, "I recognise no sign of superiority in mankind other than goodness." Where the character is not great, there is no great man, there is not even a great artist, nor a great man of action; there are only idols unearthed for the cheap and short-lived applause of the multitude; time will efface them altogether. Outward success matters little. The only thing is to be great, not to appear so.

[vii]

The lives of the great heroes were lives of one long martyrdom; a tragic destiny willed their souls to be forged on the anvil of physical and moral grief, of misery and ill-health. They were made great through their misfortune. Because these mighty souls complained little of their unhappiness, the best of humanity is with them. Let us gather courage from them; for torrents of quiet strength and inspiring goodness issued from their great hearts. Without even consulting their works or hearing their voices, we read in their eyes the secret of their lives—that it is good to have been in trouble, for thence the character acquires even more greatness, happiness and fruition.

The strong and pure Beethoven himself hoped in the midst of his sufferings that his example would give help to other unfortunate ones ... "that the unhappy being may be consoled in finding another as unfortunate as himself, who in face of all obstacles has done everything possible to become worthy of the name, MAN ." After years of battling with almost superhuman efforts to rise superior to his sufferings and accomplish his life's work—to breathe a little more courage into poor weak humanity, this conquering Prometheus observed [viii] to a friend who called too much on God, "O man, help thyself!"

May we be inspired by his noble words. Animated by the example of this man's faith in life and his quiet confidence in himself, let us again take heart.

ROMAIN ROLLAND.

INTRODUCTION

By Edward Carpenter

It is not very generally recognised that Beethoven was not only a great musician, but a great leader and teacher. He freed the human spirit from innumerable petty bonds and conventions, he recorded the profoundest experiences of life, and gave form and utterance to emotions hardly guessed—certainly not definitely expressed—before his time. Personally I feel I owe much more to Beethoven in these respects than I do to Shakespeare: and though this, of course, may be a purely personal or accidental matter, yet I mention it in order to show that the music of such a man has, after all, the closest bearing on actual life.

M. Romain Rolland in his excellent little study has brought this prophetic and inspiring quality of Beethoven's life and music out very strongly. He has traced the tragedy of Beethoven's life and experience, and its culmination in a kind of liberation of his spirit from the bonds of mortality; he [x] has shown how this connects up with the composer's strong sentiment of democracy and sympathy with the suffering masses; and how it leads to the utterance of that strange sense of joy which penetrates and suffuses his later work. In all these respects M. Rolland regards Beethoven as one of the greatest benefactors of humanity.

On the other hand our author builds in the picture of Beethoven's life and character with a great number of small touches derived from all sorts of writers and biographers—and so succeeds in giving a life-like impression of his personality.

Edward Carpenter.

As bearing on the subject of M. Romain Rolland's book, Mr. Carpenter has kindly given permission to insert the following few extracts from his own book, "Angels' Wings."

"Everything conspired in Beethoven to make his utterance authentic, strong, unqualified—like a gushing spring which leaps from the inaccessible depths of the mountain. His solitary habits kept his mind clear from the mud and sediment which the market-place and the forum mistake for thought; his deafness coming on at so early an age (twenty-eight), increased this effect, it left him fancy-free in the world of music; Wagner even mentions the excessive thickness of his skull (ascertained [xi] long after his death), as suggesting the special isolation of his brain. From a boy Beethoven was a great reader. He fed his mind in his own way. Unlike the musicians who went before him, he could brook no dependence upon condescending nobilities. He was not going to be a Court fool. The man who could rush into the courtyard of his really sincere friend and 'patron,' Prince Lobkowitz, and shout 'Lobkowitz donkey, Lobkowitz donkey,' for all the valets and chambermaids to hear; or who could leave his humble lodgings because the over-polite landlord of the house would insist on doffing his hat each time they passed on the stairs; must have had 'something of the devil in him!' (This was the verdict of Hummel, Vogler, Gelinck, and others when they first heard him improvise on his arrival at Vienna). In politics, in a quite general way, he evolved radicalism or republicanism as his creed; in religion, though nominally a Catholic, he was quite informal. A pantheist one might perhaps call him, or a mystic after Eckhardt and Tauler. Finally, one may mention, as an indication of the great range and strength of his personality, its exceedingly slow growth. While Mozart at the age of twenty-three had written a great number of Operas, Symphonies, Cantatas and Masses—many of them of quite mature character—Beethoven at the same [xii] age had little or nothing to show. His first Symphony and his Septet, which he always looked back upon as childish productions, were not written till about the age of twenty-seven; and his first great Symphony (the Eroica ) not till he was thirty-two."— Angels' Wings , pp. 141-2.

"Beethoven came at the culmination of a long line of musical tradition. He also came at a moment when the foundations of society were breaking away for the preparation of something new. His great strength lay in the fact that he united the old and the new. He was epic and dramatic, and held firmly to the accepted outlines and broad evolution of his art, like the musicians who went before him; he was lyrical, like those who followed, and uttered to the full his own vast individuality. And so (like the greatest artists) he transformed rather than shattered the traditions into which he was born.

"Beethoven was always trying to express himself ; yet not, be it said, so much any little phase of himself or of his feelings, as the total of his life-experience. He was always trying to reach down and get the fullest, deepest utterance of which his subject in hand was capable, and to relate it to the rest of his experience. But being such as he was, and a master-spirit of his age, when he reached into himself for his own expression, he reached to [xiii] the expression also of others—to the expression of all the thoughts and feelings of that wonderful revolutionary time, seething with the legacy of the past and germinal with the hopes and aspirations of the future. Music came to him rich already with gathered voices; but he enlarged its language beyond all precedent for the needs of a new humanity."— Ibid , pp. 146-7.

"Bettina Brentano, writing to Goethe of Beethoven, says: 'I am, indeed, only a child, but I am not on that account wrong in saying (what perhaps no one yet perceives and believes) that he far surpasses the measure of other men. Shall we ever attain to him? I doubt it. May he but live till the lofty problem of his spirit be fully solved; let him but reach his highest aim, and he will put into our hands the key to a glorious knowledge which shall bring us a stage nearer to true blessedness.... He said himself, "I have no friend, I must live alone; but I know that in my heart God is nearer to me than to others. I approach him without fear, I have always known him. Neither am I anxious about my music, which no adverse fate can overtake, and which will free him who understands it from the misery which afflicts others ".'

"These are wonderful words which are put into Beethoven's mouth. Though their authenticity [xiv] has been doubted, it is difficult, almost impossible, to suppose that the 'child' or any one else invented them. On the other hand, they agree strangely with those authentic words of his already quoted, 'Every day I come nearer to the object which I can feel though I cannot describe it.'

"Beethoven is the prophet of the new era which the nineteenth century ushers in for mankind. As things must be felt before they can be acted out; so they may be expressed in the indefinite emotional forms of music, before they can be uttered and definitely imaged forth in words or pictorial shapes. Beethoven is the forerunner of Shelley and Whitman among the poets, of J. W. Turner and J. F. Millet among the painters. He is the great poet who holds Nature by the one hand and Man by the other. Within that low-statured, rudely-outlined figure which a century ago walked hatless through the fields near Mödling or sat oblivious in some shabby restaurant at Vienna, dwelt an emotional giant—a being who—though his outer life by deafness, disease, business-worries, poverty, was shattered as it were into a thousand squalid fragments—in his great heart embraced all mankind, with piercing insight penetrated intellectually through all falsehoods to the truth, and already in his art-work gave outline to the religious, the human, the democratic yearnings, the [xv] loves, the comradeship, the daring individualities, and all the heights and depths of feeling of a new dawning era of society. He was in fact, and he gave utterance to, a new type of Man. What that struggle must have been between his inner and outer conditions—of his real self with the lonely and mean surroundings in which it was embodied—we only know through his music. When we listen to it we can understand the world-old tradition that now and then a divine creature from far heavens takes mortal form and suffers in order that it may embrace and redeem mankind."— Ibid , pp. 205-7.

[xvii]

CONTENTS

[xviii]

BEETHOVEN AT THE AGE OF 21.

From a Miniature by Gerhard von Kügelgen.

Frontispiece.

BEETHOVEN

Woltuen, wo man kann
Freiheit über alles lieben,
Wahrheit nie, auch sogar am
Throne nicht verleugnen.

Beethoven
(Album-leaf, 1792)

To do all the good one can,
To love liberty above everything,
And even if it be for a kingdom,
Never to betray truth.

HIS LIFE

He was short and thick set, broad shouldered and of athletic build. A big face, ruddy in complexion—except towards the end of his life, when his colour became sickly and yellow, especially in the winter after he had been remaining indoors far from the fields. He had a massive and rugged forehead, extremely black and extraordinarily thick hair through which it seemed the comb had never passed, for it was always very rumpled, veritable bristling "serpents of Medusa." [1] His eyes shone [2] with prodigious force. It was one of the chief things one noticed on first encountering him, but many were mistaken in their colour. When they shone out in dark splendour from a sad and tragic visage, they generally appeared black; but they were really a bluish grey. [2] Small and very deep-set, they flashed fiercely in moments of passion or warmth, and dilated in a peculiar way under the influence of inspiration, reflecting his thoughts with a marvellous exactness. [3] Often they inclined upwards with a melancholy expression. His nose was short and broad with the nostrils of a lion; the mouth refined, with the lower lip somewhat prominent. He had very strong jaws, which would easily break nuts, a large indentation in his chin imparted a curious irregularity to the face. "He had a charming smile," said Moscheles, "and in conversation a manner often lovable and inviting confidence; on the other hand his laugh was most disagreeable, loud, discordant and strident"—the laugh of a man unused to happiness. His usual expression was one of melancholy. Rellstab in 1825 said that he had to summon up all his courage to prevent himself from breaking into tears when he looked into Beethoven's "tender eyes with their speaking sadness." Braun von Braunthal met him in an inn a year later. Beethoven was sitting [3] in a corner with closed eyes, smoking a long pipe—a habit which grew on him more and more as he approached death. A friend spoke to him. He smiled sadly, drew from his pocket a little note-tablet, and in a thin voice which frequently sounded cracked notes, asked him to write down his request. His face would frequently become suddenly transfigured, maybe in the access of sudden inspiration which seized him at random, even in the street, filling the passers-by with amazement, or it might be when great thoughts came to him suddenly, when seated at the piano. "The muscles of his face would stand out, his veins would swell; his wild eyes would become doubly terrible. His lips trembled, he had the manner of a wizard controlling the demons which he had invoked." "... A Shakespearean visage—'King Lear [4] '"—so Sir Julius Benedict described it.

Ludwig van Beethoven was born on December 16th, 1770, in a little bare attic of a humble dwelling at Bonn, a small University town on the Rhine near Cologne. He came of Flemish [4] origin. [5] His father was an illiterate and lazy tenor singer—a "good-for-nothing fellow" and a confirmed drunkard. His mother was the daughter of a cook. She had been a maidservant and by her first marriage was the widow of a valet de chambre .

Unlike the more fortunate Mozart, Beethoven spent an unhappy childhood devoid of domestic comfort. From his earliest years life was for him a sad, even a brutal, fight for existence. His father wished to exploit the boy's musical talents and to turn him to lucrative purposes as a prodigy. At the age of four he compelled the boy to practise on the harpsichord for hours together and he shut him up alone with the violin, forcing him to work in this way. It is astonishing that the boy was not completely disgusted with music, for the father persisted in this treatment for many years, often resorting to actual violence. Beethoven's youth was saddened by the care and anxiety of earning his daily bread by tasks far too burdensome for his age. When he was eleven years old he was placed in the theatre orchestra; at thirteen he became an organist of the chapel. In 1787 he lost his mother whom he adored. "She was so [5] good to me, so worthy of love, the best friend I had! How happy was I when I could utter that dear name of mother and she could hear it!" [6] She died of consumption and Beethoven believed himself to be affected with the same complaint. Already he suffered continually, and a depression of spirits even more terrible than the physical pain hung over him always. [7] When he was seventeen he was practically the head of the family and responsible for the education of his two younger brothers. He suffered the humiliation of being obliged to beg for a pension for his father, that his father's pension should be paid to himself, as the father only squandered it in drink. These sad experiences made a profound impression on the youth. However, he found great affection and sympathy from a family in Bonn who always remained very dear to him—the Breuning family. The gentle "Lorchen," Eleonore von Breuning, was two years younger than Beethoven. He taught her music and she initiated him into the charms of poetry. She was the companion of his youth and there may have been between them a still more tender sentiment. Later on Eleonore married Dr. Wegeler, one of Beethoven's best friends; and up to Beethoven's last day there existed between the three a deep, steady friendship, amply proven by the regular and loving epistles of [6] Wegeler and Eleonore, and those of their old faithful friend ( alter treuer Freund ) to the dear good Wegeler ( guter lieber Wegeler ). These friendly bonds became all the more touching as old age crept on all three, and still their hearts remained warm. [8] Beethoven also found a safe guide and good friend in Christian Gottlob Neefe, his music master, whose high moral character had no less influence on the young musician than did his broad and his intelligent, artistic views.

Sad as was the childhood of Beethoven, he always treasured a tender and melancholy memory of the places where it was spent. Though compelled to leave Bonn, and destined to spend nearly the whole of his life in the frivolous city of Vienna with its dull environs, he never forgot the beautiful Rhine valley and the majestic river. " Unser Vater Rhine " (our father Rhine) as he called it, was to him almost human in its sympathy, being like some gigantic soul whose deep thoughts are beyond all human reckoning. No part is more beautiful, more powerful, more calm, than that part where the river caresses the shady and flowered slopes of the old University city of Bonn. There Beethoven spent the first twenty years of his life. There the dreams of his waking heart were born—in the fields, which slope languishingly down to the water side, with their [7] mist-capped poplars, their bushes and their willows and the fruit trees whose roots are steeped in the rapid silent stream. And all along lying gently on the banks, strangely soft, are towns, churches, and even cemeteries, whilst away on the horizon the blue tints of the Seven Mountains show in wild jagged edges against the sky, forming a striking background to the graceful, slender, dream-like silhouettes of old ruined castles. His heart remained ever faithful to the beautiful, natural surroundings of his childhood, and until his very last moment he dreamt of seeing these scenes once again. "My native land, the beautiful country where I first saw the light of day; it is always as clear and as beautiful in my eyes as when I left it." [9] He never saw it again.

In November, 1792, Beethoven removed to Vienna, the musical metropolis of Germany. [10] The Revolution had broken out. It threatened to spread over the whole of Europe. Beethoven left Bonn just at the moment when the war [8] reached it. On his way to Vienna he passed the Hessian armies marching to France. In 1796 and 1797 he set the war poems of Friedberg to music: a Song of Farewell, and a patriotic chorus; Ein grosses deutsches Volk sind wir (A great German people are we). But it was in vain that he sang of the enemies of the Revolution; the Revolution overcame the world—and Beethoven with it. From 1798, in spite of the strained relations between Austria and France, Beethoven became closely connected with the French, with the Embassy and General Bernadotte, who had just arrived in Vienna. In this intercourse strong republican sympathies showed themselves in Beethoven, and these feelings became stronger and stronger with time.

A sketch which Steinhauser made of him at this time gives a good idea of his general appearance at this period. This portrait of Beethoven is to later ones what Guérin's portrait of Napoleon is to the other effigies. Guérin's face is rugged, almost savage, and wasted with ambition. Beethoven looks very young for his age, thin and straight, very stiff in his high cravat, a defiant, strained look in his eyes; he knows his own worth and is confident of his power. In 1796 he wrote in his notebook, "Courage! in spite of all my bodily weakness my genius shall yet triumph.... Twenty-five years! that is my age now.... This very year the man I am, must reveal himself entirely." [9] [11] Both Madame von Bernhard and Gelinck say that he was extremely proud with rough and clumsy ways and spoke with a strong provincial accent. Only his intimate friends knew what exquisite talent lay hidden under this rough exterior. Writing to Wegeler about his successes, the first thought that springs to his mind is the following: "for example, I meet a friend in need; if my purse does not allow me to help him at once, I have only to go to my work table, and in a short time I have removed his trouble.... See how charming it is to do this." [12] And a little further on, he says: "My art shall be devoted to no other object than the relief of the poor" ( Dann soll meine Kunst sich nur zum Besten der Armen zeigen ).

Trouble was already knocking at the door; it entered—never more to leave him. Between 1796 and 1800, deafness began its sad work. He suffered from continual singing and humming in his ears. [13] His hearing became gradually weaker.

[10]

For several years he kept the secret to himself, even from his dearest friends. He avoided company, so that his infliction should not be noticed. But in 1801 he can no longer remain silent; and in his despair he confides in two of his friends, Dr. Wegeler and Pastor Amenda. "My dear, good, loving Amenda, how often have I longed to have you near me! Your Beethoven is very unhappy. You must know that the best part of me, my hearing, has become very weak. Even at the time when we were together I was aware of distressing symptoms which I kept to myself; but my condition is now much worse.... Can I ever be cured? Naturally I hope so; but my hopes are very faint, for such maladies are the least hopeful of all. How sad my life is! For I am obliged to avoid all those I love and all that are dear to me; and all this in a world so miserable and so selfish!... How sad is this resignation in which I take refuge! Of course I have steeled [11] myself to rise above all these misfortunes. But how is this going to be possible? [14] ..." And to Wegeler: "... I lead a miserable life indeed. For the last two years I have completely avoided all society, for I cannot talk with my fellow-men. I am deaf. Had my profession been any other, things might still be bearable; but as it is, my situation is terrible. What will my enemies say? And they are not few!... At the theatre I always have to be quite near the orchestra in order to understand the actor. I cannot hear the high notes of the instruments or the voices, if I am but a little distance off.... When anyone speaks quietly I only hear with difficulty, ... On the other hand, I find it unbearable when people shout to me.... Often I have cursed my very existence. Plutarch has guided me to a spirit of resignation. If it be possible at all, I will courageously bear with my fate; but there are moments in my life when I feel the most miserable of all God's creatures.... Resignation! What a sorry refuge! And yet it is the only one left to me!"

This tragic sadness is expressed in some of the works of this period, in the Sonate pathétique Op. 13 (1799), and especially in the Largo of the Piano Sonata in D, Opus 10, No. 3 (1798). It is a [12] marvel that we do not find it in all the works; the radiant Septet (1800), the limpid First Symphony (C Major, 1800), both breathe a spirit of youthful gaiety. There is no doubt that he is determined to accustom his soul to grief. The spirit of man has such a strong desire for happiness that when it has it not, it is forced to create it. When the present has become too painful, the soul lives on the past. Happy days are not effaced at one stroke. Their radiance persists long after they have gone. Alone and unhappy in Vienna, Beethoven took refuge in the remembrances of his native land; his thoughts were always of Bonn. The theme of the Andante for the Variation in the Septet is a Rhenish Song. The Symphony in C Major is also inspired by the Rhine. It is a poem of youth smiling over its own dreams. It is gay and languorous; one feels there the hope and the desire of pleasing. But in certain passages in the Introduction, in the shading of the sombre bass passages of the Allegro , in this young composer, in the fantastic Scherzo , one feels with emotion the promise of the great genius to come. The expression calls to mind the eyes of Botticelli's Bambino in his Holy Families —those eyes of a little child in which one already divines the approaching tragedy.

Troubles of another kind were soon to be added to his physical sufferings. Wegeler says that he never knew Beethoven to be free of a love passion carried to extremes. These love affairs seemed [13] to have always been of the purest kind. With him there was no connection between passion and pleasure. The confusion established between the two things now-a-days only shows how little most men know of passion and its extreme rarity. Beethoven had something of the Puritan in his nature; licentious conversation and thoughts were abhorrent to him; he had always unchangeable ideas on the sanctity of love.... It is said that he could not forgive Mozart for having prostituted his genius by writing Don Giovanni . Schindler, who was his intimate friend, assures us that "he spent his life in virginal modesty without ever having to reproach himself for any weakness." Such a man was destined to be the dupe and victim of love; and so indeed it came about. He was always falling violently in love and ceaselessly dreaming of its happiness, only however to be deceived and to be plunged in the deepest suffering. In these alternating states of love and passionate grief, of youthful confidence and outraged pride, we find the most fruitful source of Beethoven's inspiration, until at length his fiery, passionate nature gradually calms down into melancholy resignation.

In 1801 the object of his passion appears to have been Giulietta Guicciardi, whom he immortalised in the dedication of the famous (so-called) "Moonlight" Sonata, Opus 27 (1802). "I now see things in a better light," he writes to Wegeler, "and associate more with my kind.... This [14] change has been brought about by the charm of a dear girl; she loves me and I love her. These are the first happy moments I have had for two years." [15] He paid dearly for them. From the first, this love made him feel more keenly the misery of the infirmity which had overtaken him and the precarious conditions of his life which made it impossible for him to marry the one he loved. Moreover, Giulietta was a flirt, childish and selfish by nature; she made Beethoven suffer most cruelly, and in November 1803, she married Count Gallenberg. [16] Such passions devastate the soul; indeed, when the spirit is already enfeebled by illness, as was Beethoven's, complete disaster is risked. This was the only time in Beethoven's life when he seems to have been on the point of succumbing. He passed the terrible crisis, however, and the details are given in a letter known as the Heiligenstadt Testament to his brothers Carl and Johann, with the following direction: "To be read and carried out after my death." [17] It is an outcry of revolt, full of the most poignant grief. One cannot hear it without [15] being cut to the heart. In that dark hour he was on the verge of suicide. Only his strong moral force saved him. [18] His final hopes of recovering his health disappeared. "Even the lofty courage which has hitherto sustained me has now disappeared. O Providence, grant that but a single day of real happiness may be mine once again. I have been a stranger to the thrill of joy for so long. When, O God, when shall I feel joy once more?... Ever again? No, that would be too cruel!"

This is indeed a cry of a torn heart, and Beethoven was destined to live yet twenty-five years longer. His powerful nature would not refuse to sink beneath the weight of his woe. "My physical strength improves always with the growth of my intellectual force.... Yes, I really feel that my youth is only just beginning. Each day brings me nearer to my goal, which I can feel without being able to define clearly.... O, if I were only free from my deafness I would embrace the world!... No rest! At least, none that I know of except sleep; and I am so unhappy that I have to give more time to it than formerly. If only I could be free of a part of my [16] infirmity; and then ... no, I can bear it no longer. I will wage war against destiny. It shall not overcome me completely. Oh, how fine it would be to live a thousand lives in one!" [19]

This love of his, this suffering, this resignation, these alternations of dejection and pride, these "soul-tragedies" are all reflected in the great compositions written in 1802—the Sonata with the Funeral March, Opus 26; the Sonata quasi una Fantasia , Opus 27, No. 1; the Sonata called the "Moonlight," Opus 27; the Sonata in D Minor, Opus 31, No. 2, with its dramatic recitatives which seem like some grand yet heart-broken monologue; the Sonata in C minor for Violin, Opus 30, dedicated to the Emperor Alexander; the Kreutzer Sonata, Opus 47; and the Six Religious Songs, heroic yet grief-laden, to the words of Gellert, Opus 48. The Second Symphony written in 1803 reflects rather his youthful love; and here one feels that his will is decidedly gaining the upper hand. An irresistible force sweeps away his sad thoughts, a veritable bubbling over of life shows itself in the finale. Beethoven was determined to be happy. He was not willing to believe his misfortune hopeless, he wanted health, he wanted love, and he threw aside despair. [20]

[17]

In many of his works one is struck by the powerful and energetic march rhythms, full of the fighting spirit. This is especially noticeable in the Allegro and the Finale of Second Symphony, and still more in the first movement, full of superb heroism, of the Violin Sonata dedicated to the Emperor Alexander. The war-like character of this music recalls the period in which it was written. The Revolution had reached Vienna. Beethoven was completely carried away by it. "He spoke freely amongst his intimate friends," said the Chevalier de Seyfried, "on political affairs, which he estimated with unusual intelligence, with a clear and well-balanced out-look. All his sympathies leaned towards revolutionary ideas." He liked the Republican principles. Schindler, the friend who knew him best during the last period of his life, said, "He was an upholder of unlimited liberty and of national independence ... he desired that everyone should take part in the government of the State.... For France he desired universal suffrage and hoped that Bonaparte would establish it, thus laying down the proper basis of human happiness." A Roman of the revolutionary type, brought up on Plutarch, he dreamt of a triumphant Republic, founded by the god of victory, the first Consul. And blow by blow he forged the Eroica Symphony, Bonaparte, 1804, [21] the Iliad of Empire, and the Finale [18] of the Symphony in C minor, 1805 to 1808, the grand epic of glory. This is really the first music breathing the revolutionary feeling. The soul of the times lives again in it with the intensity and purity which great events have for those mighty and solitary souls who live apart and whose impressions are not contaminated by contact with the reality. Beethoven's spirit reveals itself, marked with stirring events, coloured by the reflections of these great wars. Evidences of this, (perhaps unconscious to him) crop up everywhere in the works of this period, in the Coriolanus Overture (1807), where tempests roar over the scene; in the Fourth Quartet, Opus 18, the first movement of which shows a close relation to this Overture; in the Sonata Appassionata , Op. 57 (1804), of which Bismarck said, "If I heard that [19] often I should always be very valiant"; [22] in the score of Egmont ; and even in his Pianoforte Concertos, in the one in E flat, Opus 73 (1809), where even the virtuosity is heroic: whole armies of warriors pass by. Nor need we be astonished at this. Though when writing the Funeral March on the death of an hero (Sonata, Opus 26), Beethoven was ignorant that the hero most worthy of his music, namely Hoche, the one who approximated more closely than Bonaparte to the model of the Eroica Symphony , had just died near the Rhine, where indeed his tomb stands at the top of a small hill between Coblentz and Bonn.... He had twice seen the Revolution victorious in Vienna itself. French officers were present at the first production of Fidelio in Vienna in November, 1805. It was General Hulin, the conqueror of the Bastille, who stayed with Lobkovitz, Beethoven's friend and protector, to whom he dedicated the Eroica and the C minor Symphony. And on 10 May, 1809, Napoleon slept at Schönbrunn. [23]

[20]

Beethoven suddenly broke off the C minor Symphony to write the Fourth Symphony at a single sitting without his usual sketches. Happiness had come to him. In May 1806, he was betrothed to Theresa von Brunswick. [24] She had loved him for a long time—ever since as a young girl she had taken piano lessons from him during his first stay in Vienna. Beethoven was a friend of her brother Count Franz. In 1806 he stayed with them at Martonvasar in Hungary, and it was there that they fell in love. The remembrance of these happy days is kept fresh by some stories in some of Theresa's writings. [25] "One Sunday evening" [21] she says, "after dinner, with the moon shining into the room, Beethoven was seated at the piano. At first he laid his hands flat on the keyboard. Franz and I always understood this, for it was his usual preparation. Then he struck some chords in the bass and slowly with an air of solemnity and mystery drifted into a song of John Sebastian Bach: ' If thou wilt give me thy heart, first let it be in secret, that our hearts may commingle and no one divine it . [26] My mother and the priest had fallen asleep and my brother was dream gazing whilst I who understood his song and his expression, felt life come to me in all its fullness. The following morning we met in the park and he said to me, 'I am now writing an opera; the principal character is in me and around me wherever I go. Never before have I reached such heights of happiness; I feel light, purity and splendour all around me and within. Until now I have been like the child in the fairy story, picking up pebbles along the road without seeing the beautiful flower blossoming close by.'... It was in May, 1806, that I became betrothed to him with the ready consent of my dear brother Franz."

The Fourth Symphony composed in this year is a pure fragrant flower which treasures up the perfume of these days, the calmest in all his life. It has been justly remarked that at this time "Beethoven's desire was to reconcile his genius as [22] far as possible with what was generally known and admired in the forms handed down by his predecessors. [27] "

The same conciliating spirit springing from this love re-acted on his manners and his way of living in general. Ignaz von Seyfried and Grillparzar say that he was full of life, bright, happy and witty, courteous in society, patient with tedious people and careful in his dress. Even his deafness was not noticed, and they say that he was in good health with the exception of his eyesight, which was rather weak. [28] This strikes one in looking at Mahler's portrait of him painted at this time, in which he is represented with an elegance unusual for him and a romantic, even slightly affected look. Beethoven wishes to please, and rather fancies himself in doing so. The lion is in love; he draws in his claws. But one feels deep beneath under all this playfulness, the imagination and tenderness of the Symphony in B flat, the tremendous force, the capricious humour and the passionate temper of his nature.

This profound peace was not destined to last although love exercised its soothing influence until [23] 1810. Beethoven doubtless owed to it the self-mastery which at this period enabled him to produce some of the most perfect fruits of his genius; that great classical tragedy, the Symphony in C minor and that delicious idyll of a summer's day: the Pastoral Symphony, 1808. [29] The Sonata Appassionata, inspired by Shakespeare's Tempest , [30] the Sonata which he himself regarded as his most powerful one, appeared in 1807 and was dedicated to Theresa's brother. To Theresa herself he dedicated the dreamy and fantastic Sonata in F sharp, Opus 78 (1809). An undated letter [31] addressed to his "Immortal Beloved" expresses the intensity of his love no less strongly than does the Sonata Appassionata .

July (1801).

"My Angel, my all, my very self.

Just a few words to-day—and indeed in pencil (with thine). Only till to-morrow is my room definitely engaged. What an unworthy waste of time in such matters! Why this deep sorrow where necessity speaks? Can our love endure otherwise than through sacrifices, through restraint in longing? Canst thou help not being wholly mine? Can I, not being wholly thine? Oh! gaze at nature in all [24] its beauty, and calmly accept the inevitable—love demands everything, and rightly so. Thus is it for me with thee, for thee with me, only thou so easily forgettest that I must live for myself and for thee. Were we wholly united, thou wouldst feel this painful fact as little as I should. My journey was terrible. I arrived here only yesterday morning at four o'clock, and as they were short of horses, the mail-coach selected another route; but what an awful road! At the last stage but one, I was advised not to travel by night; they warned me against the wood, but that only spurred me on, and I was wrong; the coach must needs break down, the road being dreadful, a swamp, a mere country road; without the postillions I had with me I should have stuck on the way. Esterhazi, by the ordinary road, met the same fate with eight horses as I with four—yet it gave me some pleasure, as successfully overcoming any difficulty always does. Now for a quick change from without to within; we shall probably soon see each other; besides, to-day I cannot tell thee what has been passing through my mind during the past few days concerning my life. Were our hearts closely united I should not do things of this kind. My heart is full of the many things I have to say to thee. Ah! there are moments in which I feel that speech is powerless. Cheer up. Remain my true, my only treasure, my all!!! As I to thee. The gods [25] must send the rest; what is in store for us must be and ought to be.

Thy faithful

Ludwig ."

It is difficult to divine what was the barrier which separated these two from the consummation of their love. Was it the lack of fortune or the difference in social position? Perhaps Beethoven rebelled against the long period of probation which was imposed on him or resented the humiliation of keeping his love secret for an indefinite period. Perhaps, impulsive and afflicted as he was, a misanthrope too, he caused his loved one to suffer without wishing it and gave himself up to despair in consequence. The fact remains that the engagement was broken off, although neither seems ever to have proved faithless.

Even to her last day (she lived till 1861) Theresa von Brunswick loved Beethoven, and Beethoven was no less faithful. In 1816 he remarked, "When I think of her my heart beats as violently as on the day when I first saw her." To this year belong the six songs, Opus 98, which have so touching and profound a feeling. They are dedicated "To the loved one far away" ( An die ferne Geliebte ). He wrote in his notes, "My heart overflows at the thought of her beautiful nature; and yet she is not here, not near me!" Theresa had given her portrait to Beethoven, inscribed, "To the rare genius, the great artist, the generous [26] man. T.B." [32] Once during the last year of his life a friend surprised Beethoven alone, and found him holding this portrait and speaking to himself through his tears: "Thou wert so lovely and great, so like to an angel!" The friend withdrew, and returning a little later found him at the piano, and said "To-day, my old friend, there are no black looks on your face." Beethoven replied "It is because my good angel has visited me." The wound was deep. "Poor Beethoven" he said to himself, "there is no happiness for you in this world; only in the realms of the ideal will you find strength to conquer yourself." [33]

In his notebook he wrote, "submission, complete submission to your destiny. You can no longer live for yourself, only for others. For you there is happiness only in your art. O God, give me strength to conquer "myself"."...

Love then abandoned him. In 1810 he was once more alone; but joy had come to him and the consciousness of his power. He was in the prime of life. He gave himself up to his violent and wild moods regardless of results, and certainly without care for the opinions of the world and the [27] usual conventions of life. What, indeed, had he to fear or to be careful of? Gone are love and ambition. Strength and the joy of it, the necessity for using it, almost abusing it, were left to him. "Power constitutes the morality of men who distinguish themselves above the ordinary." He returned to his neglect in matters of dress, and his manners now became even freer than before. He knew that he had the right to speak freely even to the greatest. "I recognise no sign of superiority in mankind other than goodness," he writes on 17 July, 1812. [34] Bettina Brentano, who saw him at that time, says that "no king or emperor was ever so conscious of his power." She was fascinated by his very strength. "When I saw him for the first time," she wrote to Goethe, "the whole exterior world vanished from me. Beethoven made me forget the world, and even you, O Goethe.... I do not think I am wrong in saying this man is very far ahead of modern civilisation." Goethe attempted to make Beethoven's acquaintance. [35] [28] They met at a Bohemian spa, Töplitz, in 1812, but did not agree well. Beethoven passionately admired Goethe's genius; but his own character was too free and too wild not to wound the susceptibilities of Goethe. Beethoven himself has told us of this walk which they took together, in the course of which the haughty republican gave the courtly councillor of the Grand-duke of Weimar a lesson in dignity which he never forgot.

"Kings and princes can easily make professors and privy councillors; they can bestow titles and decorations, but they cannot make great men, or minds which rise above the base turmoil of this world ... and when two men are together such as Goethe and myself these fine gentlemen must be made conscious of the difference between ourselves and them. Yesterday, as we were returning home on foot, we met the whole of the Imperial family. We saw them approaching from a distance. Goethe let go my arm to take his stand by the road side with the crowd. It was in vain that I talked to him. Say what I would I could not get him to move a single step. I drew my hat down upon my [29] head, buttoned up my overcoat, and forced my way through the throng. Princes and courtiers stood aside. Duke Rudolph raised his hat to me, the Empress bowing to me first. The great of the earth know me and recognise me. I amused myself in watching the procession pass by Goethe. He remained on the road side bowing low, hat in hand. I took him to task for it pretty severely and did not spare him at all." [36]

Nor did Goethe forget the scene. [37]

In 1812 the Seventh and Eighth Symphonies [30] were written during a stay of several months at Töplitz. These works are veritable orgies of rhythm and humour; in them he is perhaps revealing himself in his most natural and as he styled it himself, most "unbuttoned" ( aufgeknöpft ) moods, transports of gaiety contrasting unexpectedly with storms of fury and disconcerting flashes of wit followed by those Titanic explosions which terrified both Goethe and Zelter [38] and caused the remark in North Germany that the Symphony in A was the work of a drunkard. The work of an inebriated man indeed it was, but one intoxicated with power and genius; one who said of himself, "I am the Bacchus who crushes delicious nectar for mankind. It is I who give the divine frenzy to men." Wagner wrote, "I do not know whether Beethoven wished to depict a Dionysian orgy [39] in the Finale of his Symphony, though I recognise in this passionate kermesse a sign of his Flemish origin, just as we see it likewise in his bold manner of speech and in his bearing so free and so utterly out of harmony with a country ruled by an iron discipline and rigid etiquette. Nowhere is there greater frankness or freer power than in the Symphony in A . It is a [31] mad outburst of superhuman energy, with no other object than for the pleasure of unloosing it like a river overflowing its banks and flooding the surrounding country. In the Eighth Symphony the power is not so sublime, though it is still more strange and characteristic of the man, mingling tragedy with farce and a Herculean vigour with the games and caprices of a child." [40]

The year 1814 marks the summit of Beethoven's fortunes. At the Vienna Congress he enjoyed European fame. He took an active part in the fêtes, princes rendered him homage, and (as he afterwards boasted to Schindler) he allowed himself to be courted by them. He was carried away by his sympathy with the War of Independence. [41] In 1813 he wrote a Symphony on Wellington's Victory and in the beginning of 1814 a martial chorus, Germany's Rebirth ( Germanias Wiedergeburt ). On November 29th, 1814, he conducted before an audience of kings a patriotic Cantata, The Glorious Moment ( Der glorreiche Augenblick ), and on the occasion of the capture of Paris in 1815 he composed a Chorus, It is accomplished ( Es ist vollbracht ). These occasional pieces did more to spread his fame than all the rest of his music together. The engraving by Blasius Hofel [32] from a sketch by the Frenchman Latronne and the savage-looking cast by Franz Klein in 1812 present a life-like image of Beethoven at the time of the Congress of Vienna. The dominating characteristic of this leonine face with its firm set jaws scored with the furrows of anger and trouble, is determination—a Napoleonic will. One recognises the man who said of Napoleon after Jena, "How unfortunate that I do not know as much about warfare as music! I would show myself his master." But his kingdom was not of this world. "My empire is in the air," he wrote to Franz von Brunswick. [42]

After this hour of glory comes the saddest and most miserable period. Vienna had never been sympathetic to Beethoven. Haughty and bold genius as he was, he could not be at ease in this frivolous city with its mundane and its mediocre spirit, which Wagner laughed to scorn later on. [43] He lost no opportunities of going away; and [33] towards 1808 he thought seriously of leaving Austria to go to the court of Jerome Bonaparte, King of Westphalia. [44] But Vienna had abundant musical resources; and one must do it justice by saying that there were always noble dilettanti who felt the grandeur of Beethoven, and who spared their country the shame of losing him. In 1809, three of the richest noblemen of Vienna, the Archduke Rudolph, a pupil of Beethoven, Prince Lobkovitz and Prince Kinsky undertook to pay him annually a pension of 4,000 florins on the sole condition that he remained in Austria. "As it is evident," they said, "that a man can only devote himself entirely to art when he is free from all material care, and that it is only then that he can produce such sublime works which are the glory of art, the undersigned have formed a resolution to release Ludwig van Beethoven from the shadow of need, and thus disperse the miserable obstacles which are so detrimental to his flights of genius." Unhappily the results did not come up to the promises. The pension was always very irregularly paid; soon it ceased altogether. Also Vienna had very much changed in character after the [34] Congress of 1814. Society was distracted from art by politics. Musical taste was spoilt by Italianism, and the fashionable people favoured Rossini, treating Beethoven as pedantic. [45] Beethoven's friends and protectors went away or died: Prince Kinsky in 1812, Lichnovsky in 1814, Lobkovitz in 1816. Rasumowsky, for whom he had written the three admirable Quartets, Opus 59, gave his last concert in February, 1815. In 1815 Beethoven quarrelled with Stephen von Breuning, the friend of his childhood, the brother of Eleonore. [46] From this time he was alone. [47] "I have no friends. I am alone in the world" he wrote in his notebook of 1816.

His deafness became complete. [48] After the [35] autumn of 1815 he could only communicate with his friends by writing. [49] The oldest conversation-book is dated 1816. [50] There is a sad story recorded by Schindler with regard to the representation of Fidelio in 1822. "Beethoven wanted to conduct the general rehearsal.... From the duet of the First Act, it was evident that he could hear nothing of what was going on. He kept back the pace considerably; and whilst the orchestra followed his beat, the singer hurried the time. There followed general confusion. The usual leader of the orchestra, Umlauf, suggested a short rest, without giving any reason; and after exchanging a few words with the singers, they began again. The same disorder broke out afresh. Another interval was necessary. The impossibility of continuing under Beethoven's direction was evident; but how could they make him understand? No one had the heart to say to him, 'Go away, poor unfortunate one, you cannot conduct.' Beethoven, uneasy and agitated, turned from side to side, trying to read the expression of the different faces, and to understand what the difficulty was: a silence came over all. Suddenly he called me in his imperious manner. When I was quite near to him, he handed me his pocket-book, and made signs to me to write. I put down these words: [36] 'I beg you not to continue; I will explain why at your house.' With one leap he jumped from the platform, saying to me, 'Let us go quickly.' He ran straight to his house, went in and threw himself down on a sofa, covering his face with his hands; he remained like that until dinner-time. At the table it was impossible to draw a word from him; he wore an expression of complete despondency and profound grief. After dinner when I wanted to leave him, he kept me, expressing a desire not to be left alone. When we separated he asked me to go with him to his doctor, who had a great reputation for complaints of the ear. During the whole of my connection with Beethoven I do not know of any day which can compare with this awful day of November. He had been smitten to the heart, and until the day of his death, he retained the impression of this terrible scene." [51]

Two years later, on 7 May, 1824, when conducting the Choral Symphony (or rather, as the programme said, "taking part in the direction of the concert") he heard nothing at all of the clamour of the audience applauding him. He did not even suspect it, until one of the singers, taking him by the hand turned him round; and he suddenly saw the audience waving their hats and clapping their hands. An English traveller, [37] Russell, who saw him at the piano about the year 1825, says that when he wanted to play quietly the notes did not sound and that it was very moving to follow in silence the emotion animating him expressed in his face, and in the movements of his fingers. Buried in himself, [52] and separated from all mankind, his only consolation was in Nature. "She was his sole confident," says Theresa of Brunswick, "she was his refuge." Charles Neate, who knew him in 1815, says that he never saw anyone who loved flowers, clouds and nature so devotedly [53] ; he seemed to live in them. "No one on earth can love the country so much as I," wrote Beethoven. "I love a tree more than a man." When in Vienna he walked round the ramparts every day. In the country from daybreak till night he walked alone, without hat, in sunshine or rain. "Almighty God! In the woods I am happy, happy in the woods, where each tree speaks through Thee. O God, what splendour! In the forests, on the hills, it is the calm, the quiet, that helps me."

His unrestfulness of mind found some respite there. [54] He was harassed by financial cares. He [38] wrote in 1818, "I am almost reduced to beggary, and I am obliged to pretend that I do not lack necessities"; and at another time, "The Sonata Op. 106 has been written under pressing circumstances. It is a hard thing to have to work for bread." Spohr says that often he could not go out on account of his worn-out shoes. He owed large debts to his publishers and his compositions did not bring him in anything. The Mass in D , published by subscription, obtained only seven subscribers (of whom not one was a musician). [55] He received barely thirty or forty ducats for his fine Sonatas, each one of which cost him three months' work. The Quartets, Opp. 127, 130, and 132, amongst his profoundest works, which seem to be written with his very heart-blood, were written for Prince Galitzin, who neglected to pay for them. Beethoven was worn out with domestic difficulties, and with endless law suits to obtain the pensions owing to him or to retain the guardianship of a nephew, the son of his brother Carl, who died of consumption in 1815.

He had bestowed on this child all the care and devotion with which his heart overflowed. But he was repaid with cruel suffering. It seemed that a kind of special fate had taken care to renew ceaselessly and to accumulate his miseries in order that his genius should not lack for food. At first he [39] had a dispute over Carl with his mother, who wanted to take him away. "O, my God," he cried, "my shield and my defence, my only refuge! Thou readest the depths of my soul and Thou knowest the griefs that I experience when I have to cause suffering to those who want to dispute my Carl, my treasure. [56] Hearken unto me, Great Being, that I know not how to name. Grant the fervent prayer of the most unhappy of Thy creatures!"

"O God, aid me! Thou wilt not leave me entirely in the hands of men; because I do not wish to make a covenant with injustice! Hear the prayer which I make to Thee, that at least for the future I may live with my Carl!... O cruel fate, implacable destiny! No, no, my unhappiness will never end!"

Then this nephew, so passionately loved, proved unworthy of the confidence of his uncle. The correspondence between Beethoven and him is sad and revolting, like that of Michael Angelo with his brothers, but more simple and touching.

"Am I to be repaid once again with the most abominable ingratitude? Ah, well, if the bond must be broken, so be it! All impartial people who hear of it will hate you. If the compact between us weighs too heavily, in the name of God, may it be according to His will! I abandon [40] you to Providence; I have done all that I could; I am ready to appear before the Supreme Judge!

"Spoilt as you are, that should not make it difficult to teach you to be simple and true; my heart has suffered so much by your hypocritical conduct, and it is difficult for me to forget.... God is my witness, I only long to be a thousand miles from you and from that sorry brother and from this abominable family.... I shall never more have confidence in you." And he signed "Unhappily your father—or rather, not your father." But pardon came almost immediately.

"My dear son! No more of this! Come to my arms. You shall not hear one harsh word. I will receive you with the same love. We will talk over what is to be done for your future in a friendly manner. On my word of honour there will be no reproach. That would do no good. You have nothing to expect from me but sympathy and the most loving care. Come, come to the faithful heart of your father. Come immediately you receive this letter, come to the house." (And on the envelope in French, "If you do not come, you will surely kill me.")

"Do not deceive me," he begged, "be always my beloved son. What a horrible discord it would be if you were to be false to me, as many persons maintain that you already are.... Good-bye, he who has not given you life but who has certainly preserved it, and who has taken all possible care [41] with your moral development, with an affection more than paternal, begs you from the bottom of his heart to follow the only true path of the good and the just.

Your faithful foster-father." [57]

After having cherished all kinds of dreams for the future of this nephew, who was not lacking in intelligence and whom he wished to take up a University career, Beethoven had to consent to make a merchant of him. But Carl frequented gambling dens and contracted debts. By a sad phenomenon, more frequent than one believes, the moral grandeur of his uncle, instead of doing him good, made him worse. It exasperated him, impelling him to revolt, as he said in those terrible words where his miserable soul appears so plainly, "I have become worse because my uncle wished me to do better." He reached such a state that in the summer of 1826 he shot himself in the head with a pistol. He did not die from it, but it was Beethoven who just missed dying. He never recovered from this terrible fright. [58] Carl recovered; he lived to the end to cause suffering to his uncle, [42] whose death he hastened in no slight measure. Nor was he with him at the hour of his death. "God has never abandoned me," wrote Beethoven to his nephew, some years before. "He will find someone to close my eyes." This was not to be the one whom he called "his son." [59]

It was from the depth of this abyss that Beethoven undertook to chant his immortal Ode to Joy . It was the plan of his whole life. As early as 1793, he had thought of it at Bonn. [60] All his life he wished to celebrate Joy; and to make it the climax of one of his great works. He was always striving to find the exact form of the Hymn, and the work where he could place it. He was far from being decided, even in his Ninth Symphony . [43] Until the very last moment, he was on the point of putting off the Ode to Joy to a Tenth or Eleventh Symphony . One ought to notice that the Ninth Symphony is not entitled Choral Symphony , but as it is now invariably called, Symphony with a Final Chorus on the Ode to Joy . It narrowly missed having another conclusion. In July, 1823, Beethoven still thought of giving it an instrumental finale , which he used later on for the quartet Op: 132. Both Czerny and Sonnleithner say that even after the performance in May, 1824, Beethoven had not abandoned this idea.

He found great technical difficulties in introducing the Chorus into the Symphony, as is shown by Beethoven's note-books and his numerous attempts to make the voices enter at another part of the work and in a different manner. In the sketches for the second subject of the Adagio [61] he wrote "Perhaps the Chorus could enter conveniently here." But he could not decide to part from his faithful orchestra. "When an idea comes to me," he said, "I hear it on an instrument, never on a voice." So he put back the place for employing voices as late as possible. At first he wanted to give the instruments not only the recitatives of the Finale [62] but even the Theme of Joy itself.

But we must go still further into the reason of these hesitations and delays. The explanation is [44] very deep. Continually tormented by grief, this unfortunate man had always aspired to sing the excellence of Joy; and from year to year he put off his task, held back ceaselessly by the whirlwind of his passion and grief. It was only at the very last that he succeeded. But with what a success!

At the moment when the Theme of Joy appears for the first time, the orchestra stops abruptly, thus giving a sudden unexpected character to the entrance of the Song. And this is a true touch; this theme is rightly divine. Joy descends from heaven enveloped in a supernatural calm; it soothes the suffering with its cool breath; and the first impression that it makes, is so tender as it steals into the sorrowing heart, that a friend of Beethoven has said "One feels inclined to weep, as one looks into those soft, calm eyes of his." When the Theme passes first to the voices, it is the Basses who present it first with a solemn and rather weighty character. But, little, by little, Joy takes possession of us. It is a real battle, a fight with sorrow. We can hear the rhythms of marching, the armies moving. In the ardent panting song of the tenor, in all these quivering pages we can almost feel the breath of Beethoven himself, the rhythm of his breathing and his inspired cries as he wandered across the fields, composing the work, transported by a demoniacal fury, like King Lear in the middle of a storm. After the war-like joy comes religious Ecstasy. [45] Then follows a sacred orgy, a very delirium of love. A whole trembling humanity lifts its arms to the sky, utters powerful outcries, rushes forth towards this Joy and clasps it to the heart.

This Titanic work overcame the indifference of the public. The frivolous crowds of Vienna were moved for an instant, but they still favoured Rossini and his Italian operas. Humiliated and saddened, Beethoven was on the point of going to live in London and thought of giving his Ninth Symphony there. A second time, as in 1809, some noble friends sent him a petition asking that he would not leave the country. They said "We know that you have written a new composition of sacred music [63] in which you have expressed sentiments inspired by your profound faith. The supernatural light which penetrates your great soul illumines the work. We know besides that the garland of your inspired symphonies has been increased by an immortal flower.... Your absence during these last years has troubled all those whose eyes are turned to you. [64] Everyone sadly thought that the man of genius placed so high amongst living beings remained silent whilst another kind of foreign art sought to plant itself in our country, causing the productions of German art to be forgotten.... From you only, the [46] nation awaits new life, new laurels, and a new reign of truth and beauty, despite the fashion of the day.... Give us the hope of soon seeing our desires satisfied. And then the springtime which is coming will blossom again doubly, thanks to your gifts to us and to the world!" [65] This noble address shews what power, not only artistic but also moral, Beethoven exercised over the élite of Germany. The first word which occurs to his followers who wish to praise his genius is neither science, nor art; it is faith . [66]

Beethoven was deeply moved by these words. He stayed. On May 7th, 1824, the first performance in Vienna of the Mass in D and the Ninth Symphony took place. The success was amazing; and his greeting almost of a seditious character for when Beethoven appeared he was accorded five rounds of applause; whereas according to the strict etiquette of the city, it was the custom to give three only for the entrance of the Royal Family. The police had to put an end to the manifestations. The Symphony raised frantic enthusiasm. Many wept. Beethoven fainted with emotion after the concert; he was taken to [47] Schindler's house where he remained asleep all the night and the following morning, fully dressed, neither eating nor drinking. The triumph was only fleeting, however, and the concert brought in nothing for Beethoven. His material circumstances of life were not changed by it. He found himself poor, ill, [67] alone but a conquerer [68] : conqueror of the mediocrity of mankind, conqueror of his destiny, conqueror of his suffering. "Sacrifice, always sacrifice the trifles of life to art! God is over all!"

He had then completed the object of his whole life. He had tasted perfect Joy. Would he be able to rest on this triumph of the soul which ruled the tempest? Certainly he ought to feel the relief from the days of his past anguish. Indeed his last quartets are full of strange forebodings. But it seems that the victory of the Ninth Symphony had left its glorious traces in its nature. The plans which he had for the future: [69] the Tenth [48] Symphony , [70] the overture on the name of Bach , the music for Grillparzer's Melusina , [71] for Körner's Odyssey and Goethe's Faust , [72] the Biblical oratorio of Saul and David , all shew that he was attracted by the mighty serenity of the old German masters—Bach and Handel—and more still to the light of the South—the South of France or Italy, where he hoped to travel. [73]

[49]

Dr. Spiker, who saw him in 1826, said that his face had become smiling and jovial. The same year when Grillparzer spoke to him for the last time, it was Beethoven who had more energy than the worn-out poet: "Ah!" said the latter, "if I had a thousandth part of your strength and determination." Times were hard; the monarchial reaction oppressed their spirits. "The censors have killed me," groaned Grillparzer. "One must go to North America if one wishes to speak freely." But no power could put a stop to Beethoven's thoughts. "Words are bound in chains, but, happily, sounds are still free," he wrote to the poet Kuffner. Beethoven's is the great voice of freedom, perhaps the only one then of the whole of German thought. He felt it. Often he spoke of the duty which was imposed on him to act by means of his art "for poor humanity, for humanity to come, to restore its courage and to shake off its lassitude and cowardice." "At the present time," he wrote to his nephew, "there is need for mighty spirits to lash into action these wretched rebellious human souls." Dr. Müller said in 1827 that "Beethoven always expressed himself freely on the subjects of government, the police, the aristocracy, even in public. The police knew him but they looked on his criticisms and satires as harmless fancies, and they did not care to interfere with the man whose genius had such [50] an extraordinary reputation." [74] Thus nothing was able to break this indomitable will. It seemed now to make sport of grief. The music written in these last years, in spite of the painful circumstances under which it was composed, [75] has often quite a new, ironical character of heroic and joyous disdain. The very last piece that he finished, the new Finale to the Quartet, Op. 130 , is very gay. This was in November 1826, four months before his death. In truth this gaiety is not of the usual kind; for at times it is the harsh and spasmodic laughter of which Moscheles speaks; often it is the affecting smile, the result of suffering conquered. It matters not; he is the conqueror. He does not believe in death.

It came, however. At the end of November, 1826, he caught a chill which turned to pleurisy: he was taken ill in Vienna when returning from a journey undertaken in winter to arrange for the future of his nephew. [76] He was far from his friends. [51] He told his nephew to go for a doctor. The wretch forgot his commission and only remembered two days after. The doctor came too late and treated Beethoven unskillfully. For three months his iron constitution fought against the illness. On January 3rd, 1827, he made his well-loved nephew his chief executor. He thought of his dear friends on the Rhine; he wrote again to Wegeler: "How I would like to talk with you! But I am too weak. I can do no more than embrace you in my heart, you and your Lorchen." Poverty would have made his last moments more gloomy, had it not been for the generosity of some English friends. He had become very gentle and very patient. [77] On his death-bed on February 17th, 1827, after three operations and awaiting a fourth, [78] he wrote with perfect calmness, "I am patient and I think that all misfortune brings some blessing with it." This boon was deliverance—"the end of the comedy," as he said when dying. We might say rather the end of the tragedy .... He died in the climax of a violent storm, a tempest of snow, heavily punctuated with terrible thunder [52] claps. A strange hand closed his eyes, [79] March 26th, 1827.

Beloved Beethoven! So many others have praised his artistic grandeur. But he is easily the first of musicians. He is the most heroic soul in modern art. He is the grandest and the best friend of those who suffer and struggle. When we are saddened by worldly miseries, it is he who comes near to us, as he used to go and play to a mother in grief, and without uttering a word thus console her by the song of his own plaintive resignation. And when we are utterly exhausted in the eternal battle uselessly waged against mediocrity, vice and virtue, it is an unspeakable boon to find fresh strength in this great ocean-torrent of strong will and faith. An atmosphere of courage emanates from his personality, a love of battle, [80] the exultation of a conscious [53] feeling of the God within . It seems that in his constant communion with nature [81] he had ended by assimilating its deep and mighty powers. Grillparzer, who admired Beethoven with a kind of awe, said of him, "He penetrated into regions where art melts away and unites with the wild and capricious elements." Schumann wrote similarly of his Symphony in C minor : "Every time it is performed it exercises an unvarying power on us, like natural phenomena which fill us with awe and amazement every time they occur." And Schindler, his confidential friend, says, "He possessed the spirit of nature." It is true, "Beethoven is a force of nature; and this battle of elemental power against the rest of nature is a spectacle of truly Homeric grandeur."

His whole life is like a stormy day. At the beginning—a fresh clear morning, perhaps a languid breeze, scarcely a breath of air. But there is already in the still air a secret menace, a dark foreboding. Large shadows loom and pass; tragic rumblings; murmuring awesome silences; the furious gusts of the winds of the Eroica and the C minor . However, the freshness of the day is not yet gone. Joy remains joy; the brightness of the sky is not overcast; sadness is never without a ray of hope. But after 1810 the poise of the [54] soul is disturbed. A strange light glows. Mists obscure his deepest thoughts; some of the clearer thoughts appear as vapour rising; they disappear, are dispelled, yet form anew; they obscure the heart with their melancholy and capricious gloom; often the musical idea seems to vanish entirely, to be submerged, but only to re-appear again at the end of a piece in a veritable storm of melody. Even joy has assumed a rough and riotous character. A bitter feeling becomes mingled in all his sentiments. [82] Storms gather as evening comes on. Heavy clouds are big with tempests. Lightning flashes o'er the black of night. The climax of the hurricane is approaching. Suddenly, at the height of the tempest, the darkness is dispersed. Night is driven away and the clear, tranquil atmosphere is restored by a sheer act of will power. What a conquest was this! What Napoleonic battle can be likened to it? What was Austerlitz glory to the radiance of this superhuman effort, this victory, the most brilliant that has ever been won by an infirm and lonely spirit. Sorrow personified, to whom the world refused joy, created joy himself to give to the world. He forged it from his own misery, as he proudly said in reviewing his life. And indeed it was the motto of his whole heroic soul:

JOY THROUGH SUFFERING

(To Countess Erdödy, October 19th, 1815).

HIS WILL

Alone, Alone, Alone.
(To Lichnovsky, 21 Sept., 1814) .

THE HEILIGENSTADT WILL. [83]

For my brothers CARL and —— BEETHOVEN.

O ye men who regard or declare me to be malignant, stubborn or cynical, how unjust are ye towards me! You do not know the secret cause of my seeming so. From childhood onward, my heart and mind prompted me to be kind and tender, and I was ever inclined to accomplish great deeds. But only think that during the last six years I have been in a wretched condition, rendered worse by unintelligent physicians. Deceived from year to year with hopes of improvement, and then finally forced to the prospect of lasting infirmity (which may last for years, or even be totally incurable). Born with a fiery, active temperament, even susceptive of the diversions of society, I had soon to retire from the world, to live a solitary life. At times, even, I endeavoured to forget all this, but how harshly was I driven back by the redoubled experience of my bad hearing. Yet it was not possible for me to say to men: "Speak louder, shout, for I am deaf." Alas! how could I declare [58] the weakness of a sense which in me ought to be more acute than in others—a sense which formerly I possessed in highest perfection, a perfection such as few in my profession enjoy, or ever have enjoyed; no, I cannot do it. Forgive, therefore, if you see me withdraw, when I would willingly mix with you. My misfortune pains me doubly, in that I am certain to be misunderstood. For me there can be no recreation in the society of my fellow creatures, no refined conversations, no interchange of thought. Almost alone, and only mixing in society when absolutely necessary, I am compelled to live as an exile. If I approach near to people, a feeling of hot anxiety comes over me lest my condition should be noticed—for so it was during these past six months which I spent in the country. Ordered by my intelligent physician to spare my hearing as much as possible, he almost fell in with my present frame of mind, although many a time I was carried away by my sociable inclinations. But how humiliating was it, when some one standing close to me heard a distant flute, and I heard nothing , or a shepherd singing , and again I heard nothing. Such incidents almost drove me to despair; at times I was on the point of putting an end to my life— art alone restrained my hand. Oh! it seemed as if I could not quit this earth until I had produced all I felt within me, and so I continued this wretched life, wretched indeed, with so sensitive a body that a somewhat sudden change can throw me from the best into the worst [59] state. Patience , I am told, I must choose as my guide. I have done so—lasting, I hope, will be my resolution to bear up until it pleases the inexorable Parcae to break the thread. Forced, already in my 28th year, [84] to become a philosopher it is not easy; for an artist more difficult than for any one else. O Divine Being, Thou Who lookest down into my inmost soul, Thou understandest, Thou knowest that love for mankind and a desire to do good dwell therein. Oh, my fellow men, when one day you read this, remember that you were unjust to me, and let the unfortunate one console himself if he can find one like himself, who in spite of all obstacles which nature has thrown in his way, has still done everything in his power to be received into the ranks of worthy artists and men. You, my brothers Carl and ——, as soon as I am dead, beg Professor Schmidt, if he be still living, to describe my malady, and annex this written account to that of my illness, so that at least the world may know, so far as it is possible, may become reconciled to me after my death. And now I declare you both heirs to my small fortune (if such it may be called). Divide it honourably and dwell in peace, and help each other. What you have done against me, has, as you know, long been forgiven. And you, brother Carl, I especially thank you for the attachment you have shown towards me of late. My prayer is that your [60] life may be better, less troubled by cares than mine. Recommend to your children virtue; it alone can bring happiness, not money. I speak from experience. It was virtue which bore me up in time of trouble; to her, next to my art, I owe thanks for my not having laid violent hands on myself. Farewell, and love one another. My thanks to all friends, especially Prince Lichnovsky and Professor Schmidt . I should much like one of you to keep as an heirloom the instruments given to me by Prince L., but let no strife arise between you concerning them; if money should be of more service to you, just sell them. How happy I feel that even when lying in my grave I may be useful to you.

So let it be. I joyfully hasten to meet death. If it come before I have had opportunity to develop all my artistic faculties, it will come, my hard fate notwithstanding, too soon, and I should probably wish it later—yet even then I shall be happy, for will it not deliver me from a state of endless suffering? Come when thou wilt, I shall face thee courageously; farewell, and when I am dead, do not entirely forget me. This I deserve from you, for during my lifetime I often thought of you, and how to make you happy. Be ye so.

LUDWIG VAN BEETHOVEN.

Heiglnstadt, the 6th of October , 1802.
(Black Seal).

[61]

On the fourth side of the large Will sheet:—

Heiglnstadt, October, 1802, thus I take my farewell of thee—and, indeed, sadly—yes, that fond hope which I entertained when I came here, of being at any rate healed up to a certain point, must be entirely abandoned. As the leaves of autumn fall and fade, so it has withered away for me; almost the same as when I came here do I go away—even the high courage which often in the beautiful summer days quickened me, that has vanished. O Providence, let me have just one pure day of joy ; so long is it since true joy filled my heart. Oh when, oh when, oh Divine Being, shall I be able once again to feel it in the temple of nature and of men? Never—no—that would be too hard.

For my brothers Carl and —— to execute after my death.

Codicil. Testamentary Disposition.

My nephew, Carl, shall be my sole heir; the capital of my estate shall, however, descend to his natural heirs or to those appointed by him through a will.

Ludwig van Beethoven.

LETTERS

BEETHOVEN AT THE AGE OF 44.

From an Engraving by Blasius Hoefel after the
Drawing by Louis Letronne, 1814.

To face page 64.

BEETHOVEN'S LETTERS. [85]

I.
To Carl Amenda at Wirben in Courland.

( Vienna, June 1, 1800).

My dear, my good Amenda, my heartily beloved friend.

With deep emotion, with mixed pain and pleasure did I receive and read your last letter. To what can I compare your fidelity, your attachment to me. Oh! how pleasant it is that you have always remained so kind to me; yes, I also know that you, of all men, are the most trustworthy. You are no Viennese friend ; no, you are one of those such as my native country produces. How often do I wish you were with me, your Beethoven is most unhappy, and at strife with nature and Creator. The latter I have often cursed for exposing His creatures to the smallest chance, so that frequently the richest buds are thereby crushed and destroyed. Only [66] think that the noblest part of me, my sense of hearing has become very weak. Already, when you were with me I noticed traces of it, and I said nothing. Now it has become worse, and it remains to be seen whether it can ever be healed.... I much fear that my hearing will not improve; maladies of that kind are the most difficult of all to cure. What a sad life I am now compelled to lead; I must avoid all that is near and dear to me, and then to be among such wretched egotistical beings such as ... etc. I can say that among all, Lichnowski has best stood the test. Since last year he has settled on me 600 florins, which, together with the good sale of my works, enables me to live without anxiety. Everything I write I can sell immediately five times over, and also be well paid. I have composed a fair quantity, and as I hear you have ordered pianofortes from ... I will send you many things in one of the packing cases so it will not cost you so very much. Now to my consolation, a man has come here with whom intercourse is a pleasure, and whose friendship is free from all selfishness. He is one of the friends of my youth. I have often spoken to him about you, and told him that since I left my native country, you are the one whom my heart has chosen. Even he does not like ... the latter is and remains too weak for friendship. I consider him and ... mere instruments on which when it pleases me I play; but they [67] can never become noble witnesses of my inner and outer activity, nor be in true sympathy with me; I value them according as they are useful to me. Oh! how happy should I now be if I had my perfect hearing, for I should then hasten to you. As it is, I must in all things be behind-hand; my best years will slip away without bringing forth what, with my talent and my strength I ought to have accomplished. I must now have recourse to sad resignation. I have, it is true, resolved not to worry about all this but how is it possible? Yes, Amenda, if six months hence my malady is beyond cure, then I lay claim to your help. You must leave everything and come to me. I will travel (my malady interferes least with my playing and composition, most only in conversation), and you must be my companion. I am convinced good fortune will not fail me. With whom need I be afraid of measuring my strength? Since you went away I have written music of all kinds except operas and sacred works.

Yes, do not refuse; help your friend to bear with his troubles, his infirmity. I have also greatly improved my pianoforte playing. I hope this journey may also turn to your advantage; afterwards you will always remain with me. I have duly received all your letters, and although I have only answered a few, you have been always in my mind, and my heart, as always, beats tenderly for you. Please keep as a great secret [68] what I have told you about my hearing; trust no one, whoever it may be, with it. Do write frequently; your letters, however short they may be, console me, do me good. I expect soon to get another one from you, my dear friend. Don't lend out my Quartet any more, because I have made many changes in it. I have only just learnt how to write quartets properly, as you will see when you receive them.

Now, my dear good friend, farewell! If, perchance, you believe that I can show you any kindness here, I need not of course, remind you to first address yourself to

Your faithful, truly loving,

L. v. Beethoven .

II.
To Fräulein Gerardi .

(1798?)

Dear Chr.

You let me hear something yesterday about a portrait of myself. I wish you to proceed somewhat carefully in the matter. I fear if we return it through F., the disagreeable B. or the arch-fool Joseph might interfere, and then the matter might be meant as a mean trick played on me, and that would be really most annoying. I should have to avenge myself, and the whole populasse does not deserve it. Try to get hold of the thing as well as you can. I assure you that after this I should put a notice in the newspaper, [69] requesting all painters not to take my portrait without my consent, were I afraid of falling into perplexity over my own countenance. As to the matter of taking off my hat, it is altogether stupid, and at the same time too impolite for me to retaliate. Pray explain to him the truth about the walk.

Adieu. The devil take you.

III.
To Frl. Eleonore von Breuning in Bonn.

Vienna, November 2, 1793.

Honoured Eleonore, my dearest friend.

I shall soon have been in this capital a whole year, yet only now do you receive a letter from me, but you were certainly constantly in my thoughts. Frequently, indeed, did I hold converse with you and your dear family, but, for the most part, not with the tranquility of mind which I should have liked. Then it was that the fatal quarrel hovered before me, and my former behaviour appeared to me so abominable. But the past cannot be undone, and what would I not give if I could blot out of my life my former conduct so dishonouring to me, so contrary to my character. Many circumstances, indeed, kept us at a distance from each other, and, as I presume, it was especially the insinuations resulting from conversations on either side [70] which prevented all reconciliation. Each of us believed that he was convinced of the truth of what he said, and yet it was mere anger, and we were both deceived. Your good and noble character is, indeed, a guarantee that I have long since been forgiven. But true repentance consists, so it is said, in acknowledging one's faults, and this I intended to do. And now let us draw a curtain over the whole story, and only learn from it the lesson that when friends fall out it is always better to have no go-between, but for friend to turn directly to friend.

Herewith you receive a dedication from me to yourself, and I only wish that the work were more important, more worthy of you. I have been worried here to publish this small work, [86] and I make use of this opportunity to give you, my adorable Eleonore, a proof of my high esteem and of my friendship towards you, and of my constant remembrance of your family. Accept this trifle, and realise that it comes from a friend who holds you in high esteem. Oh, if it only gives you pleasure, I am fully rewarded. Let it be a small reawakening of that time in which I spent so many and such happy hours in your home; it may, perhaps, keep me in your remembrance, until one day I return, but that will not be for a long time. Oh, how we shall then rejoice, my dear [71] friend. You will then find your friend a more cheerful being, for whom time and his better fortune have smoothed down the furrows of the horrid past. If you happen to see B. Koch, please tell her that it is not nice of her not to have sent me a single line. For I have written twice; to Malchus I wrote three times—and no answer. Tell her that if she would not write, she ought to have urged Malchus to do so. As conclusion to my letter, I add a request; it is that I may be lucky enough, my dear friend, again to possess an Angora vest knitted by your hands. Forgive this indiscreet request from your friend. It arises from the great preference I have for everything coming from your hands, and, as a secret, I may say to you that in this there is at bottom a little vanity, viz., to be able to say that I possess something given to me by one of the best, most worthy young ladies in Bonn. I still have the first one which you were kind enough to give me in Bonn, but it is now so out of fashion that I can only keep it in my wardrobe as a precious gift from you. If you would soon write me a nice letter, it would afford me great pleasure. If, perchance, my letters give you pleasure, I certainly promise that I will willingly send news as often as I can. For everything is welcome to me whereby I can show you in what esteem you are held by

Your true friend,

L. v. Beethoven .

[72]

IV.
To Dr. F. Wegeler in Bonn.

Vienna, June 29, 1800.

My good, dear Wegeler.

I am most grateful to you for thinking of me; I have so little deserved it, or sought to deserve it at your hands. And yet you are so very good, and are not kept back by anything, not even by my unpardonable negligence, but always remain a faithful, good, honest friend. That I could ever forget you, and especially all of you who were so kind and affectionate to me, no, do not believe it; there are moments in which I myself long for you—yes, and wish to spend some time with you. My native land, the beautiful country in which I first saw the light of the world, is ever as beautiful and distinct before mine eyes as when I left you. In short, I shall regard that time as one of the happiest of my life, when I see you again, and can greet our father Rhine. When that will be I cannot yet say. This much will I tell you, that you will only see me again when I am really great; not only greater as an artist, but as a man you shall find me better, more perfect; and if in our native land there are any signs of returning prosperity, I will only use my art for the benefit of the poor. O, happy moment, how fortunate I think myself [73] in being able to get a fatherland created here!

You want to know something about my present state; well, at present, it is not so bad. Since last year, Lichnowsky, who, however incredible it may seem when I tell it you, was always my warmest friend, and has remained so (of course, there have been slight misunderstandings between us, but just these have strengthened our friendship), has settled a fixed sum of 600 florins on me, and I can draw it so long as I fail to find a suitable post. My compositions are bringing in a goodly sum, and I may add, it is scarcely possible for me to execute the orders given. Also, for every work I have six, seven publishers, and if I choose, even more. They do not bargain with me; I demand and they pay. You see how pleasant it is. For example, I see a friend in distress, and if my purse do not allow of my helping him, I have only to sit down and in a short time he is relieved. Also I am more economical than I was formerly. If I should settle here, I shall certainly contrive to get one day every year for concerts, of which I have given some.

Only my envious demon, my bad health, has thrown obstacles in my way. For instance, my hearing has become weaker during the last three years, and this infirmity was in the first instance caused by my general health, which, as you know, was already, in the past, in a wretched state. Frank wished to restore me to health by means of strengthening medicines, and to cure my deafness [74] by means of oil of almonds, but, prosit! nothing came of these remedies; my hearing became worse and worse, and my ill-health always remained in its first state. This continued until the autumn of last year, and ofttimes I was in despair. Then an Asinus of a doctor advised cold baths; a more skillful one, the usual tepid Danube baths. These worked wonders; the state of my health improved, my deafness remained, or became worse. This winter I was truly miserable. I had terrible attacks of colic, and I fell quite back into my former state. So I remained for about four weeks and then went to Vering, for I thought that this state required medical aid, and in addition I had always placed faith in him. He ordered tepid Danube baths, and whenever I took one I had to pour into it a little bottle full of strengthening stuff. He gave me no medicine until about four days ago, when he ordered an application of herbs for the ear. And through these I can say I feel stronger and better; only the humming in my ears continues day and night without ceasing. I may truly say that my life is a wretched one. For the last two years I have avoided all society, for it is impossible for me to say to people 'I am deaf.' Were my profession any other it would not so much matter, but in my profession it is a terrible thing; and my enemies, of whom they are not a few, what would they say to this? To give you an idea of this extraordinary deafness, [75] I will tell you that when at the theatre, I am obliged to lean forward close to the orchestra, in order to understand what is being said on the stage. When somewhat at a distance I cannot hear the high tones of instruments, voices. In speaking it is not surprising that there are people who have never noticed it, for as a rule I am absent-minded, and they account for it in that way. Often I can scarcely hear anyone speaking to me; the tones, yes, but not the actual words; yet as soon as anyone shouts, it is unbearable. What will come of all this, heaven only knows! Vering says that there will certainly be an improvement, though perhaps not a perfect cure . I have, indeed, often ——— ——— cursed my existence; Plutarch taught me resignation. If nothing else is possible I will defy my fate, although there will be moments in my life when I shall be God's most wretched creature. I beg you not to tell anyone about this; don't say even a word to Lorchen. I only tell it you as a secret; I should be glad if you would open up correspondence with Vering on the subject. Should my present state continue, I would come next spring to you. You would take a house for me in some beautiful place in the country, and so I would rusticate for six months. By that means there might come a change. Resignation! what a miserable refuge, and yet it is the only way for me.

Pray forgive me for telling you of a friend's [76] trouble, when you yourself are in sad circumstances. Stephen Breuning is now here, and we are together almost daily. It does me good to hark back to old times. He is really a good, noble young fellow, who knows a thing or two, and whose heart, as with all of us more or less, is sound. I have very fine rooms now, which look on to the bastion, and this for my health is of double value. I really think I can arrange for Breuning to come and live with me. You shall have your Antiochus, and a rare lot of my new compositions, unless you think it will cost you too much. Honestly speaking, your love for art gives me the highest pleasure. Only write to me how it is to be managed, and I will send you all my works, of which the number is now pretty large and it is daily increasing. In place of the portrait of my grandfather, which I beg you to send as soon as possible by stage coach, I send you that of his grandson, your ever good and affectionate Beethoven. It is coming out here at Artaria's, who, also other art firms, have often asked me for it. I will write shortly to Stoffel, and read him a bit of a lecture about his cross temper. He shall hear what I have to say about old friendship, he shall promise on his oath not to grieve you any more in your, apart from this, sad circumstances. I will also write to kind Lorchen. I have never forgot a single one of you, my dear good people, although you never get any news from me; but writing, as you well [77] know, was never a strong point with me—years, even, have passed without my best friends ever receiving anything. I only live in my music, and I have scarcely begun one thing when I start another. As I am now working, I am often engaged on three or four things at the same time.

Write often to me now; I will see to it that I find time sometimes to write to you. Greetings to all, also to the good wife of the privy councillor, and tell her that I still, occasionally, have a "raptus." I am not surprised at the change in K; fortune is fickle, and does not always fall to the most worthy, the best. A word about Ries, to whom hearty greetings. As regards his son, about whom I will write shortly, although I am of opinion that to make his way in the world, Paris is better than Vienna. The latter city is overcrowded, and even persons of the highest merit find it hard to maintain themselves. By the autumn, or the winter, I will see what I can do for him, for then every one is returning.

Farewell, good, faithful Wegeler. Rest assured of the love and friendship of

Your,

Beethoven .

[78]

V.
To Dr. Franz Wegeler in Bonn.

November 16 (1801 ?)

My good Wegeler.

I thank you for the fresh proof of your anxiety concerning myself, and all the more as I am so little deserving of it. You want to know how I am, what I am taking; and however unwillingly I may discuss the matter, I certainly like best to do it with you. For the last few months, Vering has ordered herb plasters to be constantly placed on both arms; and these, as you will know, are composed of a certain bark. This is a most unpleasant cure, as, until the bark has sufficiently drawn, I am deprived for a day or so of the free use of my arms, to say nothing of the pain. I cannot, it is true, deny that the humming with which my deafness actually began, has become somewhat weaker, especially in the left ear. My hearing, however, has not in the least improved; I really am not quite sure whether it has not become worse. My general health is better, and especially after I have taken luke warm baths a few times, I am fairly well for eight or ten days. I seldom take any tonic; I am now applying herb-plasters according to your advice. Vering won't hear of shower baths, but I am really very dissatisfied with him; he shows so little care and forbearance [79] for such a malady; if I did not actually go to him, and that costs me a great effort, I should never see him. What is your opinion of Schmidt? I do not like making a change, yet it seems to me that Vering is too much a practitioner to be able to take in new ideas through books. Schmidt appears to me a very different kind of man, and perhaps would not be so remiss. I hear wonders of galvanism; what do you say about it? A doctor told me he had seen a deaf and dumb child in Berlin who had recovered his hearing, also a man who had been deaf for seven years. I have just heard that your Schmidt is making experiments with it.

My life is again somewhat pleasanter, for I mix in society. You can scarcely imagine what a dreary, sad life I have led during the past two years. My weak hearing always seemed to me like a ghost and I ran away from people, was forced to appear a misanthrope, though not at all in my character. This change has been brought about by an enchanting maiden, who loves me, and whom I love. Again during the past two years I have had some happy moments, and for the first time I feel that marriage can bring happiness. Unfortunately, she is not of my station in life, and now—for the moment I certainly could not marry—I must bravely bustle about. If it were not for my hearing, I should already long ago have travelled half over the world, and that I must do. For me there is no [80] greater pleasure than that of practising and displaying my art. Do not believe that I should feel happy among you. What, indeed, could make me happier? Even your solicitude would pain me; at every moment I should read pity on your faces, and that would make me still more miserable. My beautiful native country, what was my lot when there? Nothing but hope of a better state, and, except for this evil, I should already have won it! O that I could be free from it, and encompass the world! My youth, yes I feel it, is only now beginning; have I not always been sickly? My strength, both of body and mind, for some time has been on the increase. Every day I approach nearer to the goal; this I feel, though I can scarcely describe it. Only through this, can your Beethoven live. Don't talk of rest! I know no other but sleep, and sorry enough am I, that I am compelled to give more time to it than formerly. If only half freed from my infirmity, then—as a thorough, ripe man—I will come to you and renew the old feelings of friendship. You will see me as happy as my lot can be here below, not unhappy. No, that I could not endure; I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me. Oh! life is so beautiful, would I could have a thousand lives! I feel I am no longer fit to lead a quiet life! Do write as soon as you can. See to it that Stephen makes up his mind to get an appointment in the Order of German Knights. [81] For his health, life here is too fatiguing. And besides, he leads such a retired life, that I do not see how he can get on. You know how it is here; I do not mean to say that society would render him less languid; he can never be persuaded to go into it. Some time ago I had a musical party at my house; but our friend Stephen did not turn up. Do advise him to take more rest and to be more steady. I have done all I could; without he takes this advice, he can never become either happy or healthy. Now, tell me in your next letter, whether it matters if I send you a great deal of my music. What you really don't want you can sell, and so you will have your postage—also my portrait. Best remembrances to Lorchen—also Mamma—and Christoph. You do really love me a little, do you not? Be as well assured of this (of my love), as of the friendship of your

Beethoven .

VI.
To Capellmeister Hofmeister in Leipzig.

Vienna , 15 th (or something like it), January , 1801.

With great pleasure, my dearly beloved brother and friend, have I read your letter. I thank you right heartily for the good opinion you have expressed concerning me and my works, [82] and hope I may prove myself really worthy of it. Please also convey my dutiful thanks to Herr K. for his courtesy and friendly feelings towards me.

Your undertakings likewise make me glad, and I hope, if works of art can procure gain, that it will fall to the lot of genuine true artists, rather than to mere shopkeepers. That you wish to publish the works of Sebastian Bach rejoices my heart, which beats in unison with the high art of this forefather of harmony, and I desire soon to see the scheme in full swing. I hope that here, so soon as golden peace has been proclaimed, I shall be able to be of great assistance in the matter, when you issue a subscription list. As regards our special business, since you wish it, I hope this may be to your liking: I now offer you the following: Septet (concerning which I have already written to you; by arranging it for pianoforte, it would become better known and be more profitable) 20 ducats, Symphony 20 ducats, Concerto 10 ducats, Solo Sonata ( Allegro , Adagio , Minuetto , Rondo ) 20 ducats. This Sonata is A1, dearest brother! Now for a word of explanation; you will perhaps be surprised that I here make no difference between Sonata , Septet , Symphony , because I find that there is not such a demand for a Septet or a Symphony as for a Sonata; that is why I do so, although a Symphony is undoubtedly of greater value (N.B.—the Septet consists of a short [83] introductory Adagio , then Allegro , Adagio , Minuetto , Andante with Variations , Minuetto , another short introductory Adagio , and then Presto ). The Concerto I only value at 10 ducats, because, as I have already written, I do not give it out as one of my best. All things considered, I do not think you will find this excessive; anyhow I have tried to name prices for you as moderate as I possibly could. Concerning the money order, since you leave me the choice, you could make it payable at Geimüller's or Schüller's. The full amount would therefore be 70 ducats for all four works. I do not understand any other money than Viennese ducats; how many thalers and gulden that makes, is no affair of mine, for I am a bad business man and reckoner.

There is an end of the troublesome business. So I name it, because I only wish it could be otherwise in the world. There ought to be an artistic depôt where the artist need only hand in his art-work in order to receive what he asks for. As things are, one must be half a business man, and how can one understand,—good heavens!—that's what I really call troublesome . As for the Leipzig O (?) let them just go on talking; they will never by their chatter confer immortality on any one, neither can they take it away from any one for whom Apollo has destined it. Now, may heaven have you and yours in its keeping. For some time I have not been well; and so it is now somewhat difficult for me to write notes, [84] still more so alphabet letters. I hope that we shall often have opportunity to assure ourselves that you are a great friend to me, and that I am

Your devoted brother and friend,

L. v. Beethoven .

VII.
Letter from Wegeler and Eleonore von Breuning to Beethoven.

Coblentz , 28 December , 1825.

My dear old Louis.

I cannot allow one of Ries' ten children to leave Vienna without recalling him to your remembrance. If during the twenty-eight years since I left Vienna, you have not received a long letter from me every two months, you must put it down to your own silence after the first letters which I sent you. It should not be so and especially now that we other old people live so entirely in the past and derive our chief pleasure in recollections of our youth. For me at least, my acquaintance and my firm friendship to you, thanks to your good mother whom God now blesses, is a guiding star in my life, towards which I turn with pleasure.... I raise my eyes to you as to a hero, and I am proud to be able to say: 'I have had some influence on his development; he confided in me his ambitions [85] and his dreams; and when later he was so often misunderstood, I knew quite well what he wanted.' God be praised that I have been able to speak of you with my wife, and now with my children! My mother-in-law's house was more your home than your own home, especially after the death of your good mother. Tell us still once more, 'I think of you both in joy and in sorrow.' A man, even when he has risen as high as you, is only happy once in his life: when he is young. Your thoughts should hark back happily many times to the stones of Bonn, Godesburg, Pépinière, etc. Now I want to speak of myself, of ourselves, to give you an example of how you ought to reply to me.

After my return from Vienna in 1796, things went rather badly with me. For a long time I had to rely for a living on my consultations as a doctor, and that lasted for several years in this wretched country, before I could even make a bare livelihood. Then I became a professor with a salary, and I married. A year later I had a daughter who is still living and who is quite accomplished. In addition to a very clear head, she has the quiet ways of her father; and she plays admirably some of Beethoven's Sonatas. She can claim no merit for this, for it is an inborn gift with her. In 1807 I had a son who is now studying medicine in Berlin. In four years I shall send him to Vienna. Will you look after him for me? I celebrated, in August, my 60th [86] birthday by a party of sixty friends and acquaintances, including the chief people of Bonn. I have lived here since 1807, and have a fine house and a good position. My superiors are satisfied with me, and the King has given me some orders and medals. Lore and I are content. Now that I have told you all about ourselves, it is your turn....

Do you never wish to turn your eyes from the tower of St. Stephen's? Has travel no charms for you? Do you never wish to see the Rhine again? With every good wish from Madam Lore and myself,

Your very old friend,

Wegeler .

Coblentz , 29 December , 1825.

Dear Beethoven—dear for such a long time!

It was my wish that Wegeler should write to you again. Now that this is done, I should like to add a few words—not only to recall myself to your remembrance, but to renew the pressing question whether you have not a desire to see the Rhine and your birthplace again, and to give Wegeler and me the greatest joy possible. Our Lenchen thanks you for so many happy hours; she delights in hearing us speak of you; she knows all the little adventures of our happy youthful days at Bonn—of the quarrel and the reconciliation.... How happy she would be to see you! Unfortunately, the little one has [87] no special aptitude for music; but she has done so much by application and perseverance that she can play your Sonatas, Variations, etc.; and as music is always the greatest relaxation for Wegeler, she is thus able to give him many happy hours. Julius has some talent for music, but up to the present it has been neglected; for the last six months, he has been learning the violoncello with zest and pleasure; and as he has a good teacher in Berlin I believe that he will get on well. The two children are tall and resemble their father; they also possess that fine cheery disposition which Wegeler, thanks to God, has not even yet lost.... He takes great pleasure in playing the themes of your Variations; the old ones have the greater preference, but he often plays the new ones, too, with incredible patience. Your Opferlied is placed above everything. Wegeler never goes to his room without putting it on the piano. So, dear Beethoven, you can see how lasting and real a thing is the remembrance which we always have of you! Tell us then just once that this is not worthless to you, and that we are not quite forgotten. If it were not so difficult to do as one wishes, we should already have been to Vienna to see my brother, and have the pleasure of seeing you again; but such a journey is out of the question now that our son is at Berlin. Wegeler has told you how everything goes with us—we should do wrong to complain. Even the most difficult [88] times have been better for us than for hundreds of others. The greatest blessing is that we all keep well and that we have such good and noble children. Yes, they have hardly given us any trouble, and they are such merry and happy little people. Lenchen has had only one great grief; it was when our poor Burscheid died: a loss none of us will ever forget. Adieu, dear Beethoven, and think of us as the most loyal of friends.

Eln. Wegeler.

VIII.
To Dr. Franz Wegeler .

Vienna , 7 th October , 1826.

My dear old friend.

I cannot tell you how much pleasure your letter and that of your Lorchen gave me. Certainly, a reply ought to have been sent with lightning speed, but I am generally somewhat careless about writing, because I think that the better sort of men know me without this. I often compose the answer in my mind, but when I wish to write it down, I usually throw the pen away, because I cannot write as I feel. I remember all the love which you have constantly shown me, for instance, when you had my room whitewashed, and so pleasantly surprised me. It is the same with the Breuning family. If we were separated, that happened in the natural [89] course of things; every one must pursue and try to attain distinction in his calling; but the eternal unshaken foundations of virtue held us ever firmly united. Unfortunately, I cannot write to you to-day so much as I wished, as I am bed-ridden, and therefore confine myself to answering certain points of your letter.

You write that I am somewhere spoken of as a natural son of the late King of Prussia; I, likewise, heard of this long ago, but have made it a principle never to write anything about myself, nor to reply to anything written about me. So I willingly leave it to you to make known to the world the uprightness of my parents, and especially of my mother. You write about your son. I need not say that if he comes here he will find in me a friend and father, and if I can help, or be of service to him in any way, I will gladly do so.

I still have the silhouette of your Lorchen, from which you will see that all the goodness and affection shown to me in my youth are still dear to me.

Of my diplomas, I will only tell you briefly, that I am honorary member of the Royal Society of Sciences of Sweden, as well as of Amsterdam, and also honorary citizen of Vienna. A short time ago a certain Dr. Spiker took with him my last great Symphony with chorus to Berlin; it is dedicated to the King, and I had to write the dedication with my own hand. I had already [90] sought permission through the Embassy to be allowed to dedicate this work to the King, and it was granted. At Dr. Spiker's instigation, I was obliged myself to hand over to him the manuscript for the King, with the corrections in my own handwriting, as it was to be placed in the Royal Library. Something has been said to me about the red order of the Eagle, 2nd class; what will come of it, I do not know, for I have never sought such tokens of honour; yet in these times, they would not be unwelcome to me for many reasons.

Moreover, my motto is always: 'Nulla dies sine linea,' and if I ever let the Muse sleep, it is only that she may awaken all the stronger. I hope still to bring some great works into the world, and then, like an old child, to end my earthly career amongst good men.

You will also soon receive some music from Schott Brothers of Mainz. The portrait which you receive enclosed, is certainly an artistic masterpiece, but it is not the last which has been taken of me. With regard to tokens of honour, which I know will give you pleasure, I may also mention that a medal was sent to me by the late King of France with the inscription: ' Donné par le Roi a Monsieur Beethoven' , accompanied by a very obliging letter from the premier gentilhomme du Roi Duc de Châtres .

My dear friend, for to-day, farewell. For the rest, the remembrance of the past takes hold of [91] me, and not without many tears will you receive this letter. A beginning is now made, and you will soon get another letter, and the more frequently you write, the more pleasure will you give me. No inquiry is necessary on either side concerning our friendship; and so, farewell. I beg you to kiss and embrace your dear Lorchen and the children in my name, and at the same time to think of me. God be with you all.

As always, your true friend who honours you,

Beethoven .

IX.
To Dr. F. G. Wegeler in Bonn.

Vienna, February 17, 1827.

Fortunately I received your second letter through Breuning. I am still too weak to answer it, but you may believe me that everything in it is welcome and desirable. My recovery, if I may call it so, is very slow; a fourth operation is to be expected, although the doctors do not say anything about it. I am patiently thinking that every evil has sometimes its good. But now I am astonished to see from your last letter that you have not received anything. From the present letter you will perceive that I wrote to you already on the tenth of December last year. With the portrait, it is the same, as you will see from the date when you receive it. [92] 'Frau Steffen said,' [87] in short, Stephen wished to send you these things if some opportunity offered, but they remained lying here up to this date; moreover until now, it was difficult to send them back. You will now get the portrait by post, through Schott and Co., who also send you the music. I should like to tell you still much more, but I am too weak, thus I can only embrace you and your Lorchen in spirit.

With true friendship and affection to you and yours, I am

Your old, true friend,

Beethoven .

X.
To Sir G. Smart in London.

March 6, 1827.

I do not doubt that you, dear Sir, have received through Herr Moscheles my letter of the 22nd of February; but as I have found by chance among my papers, S.'s address, I do not hesitate to write direct to you and recall my request again to your mind.

Up to now I cannot look forward to an end of my terrible illness; on the contrary, my sufferings, and with it, my cares, have still increased. On the 29th of February I underwent my fourth operation, and it may be, perhaps, my fate to undergo a fifth or even more. If this continues, [93] my illness will surely last till the middle of summer, and what will then become of me? How shall I then manage to live till I have recovered strength enough to gain my own living by my pen? In short, I will not trouble you further with my complaints, and refer only to my letter of the 22nd of February, asking you to use all your influence to induce the Philharmonic Society to carry out their former resolution concerning the concert for my benefit.

XI.
To I. Moscheles in London.

Vienna, March 14, 1827.

My dear Moscheles.

Some days ago I found out through Herr Lewinger that you inquired in a letter to him of the 10th of February regarding the state of my illness, of which so many different rumours have been spread about. Although I have no doubts whatever that my letter of the 24th of February has arrived, which will explain everything you desire to know, I can but thank you for your sympathy with my sad lot, and beseech you to be solicitous about the request which you know of from my first letter, and I am quite convinced that, in union with Sir Smart and other of my friends, you will succeed in bringing about a favourable result for me at the Philharmonic [94] Society. I have once more written to Sir Smart about it.

On the 27th of February I underwent the fourth operation, and there are visible symptoms that I shall have to suffer a fifth. What does it tend to, and what will become of me if it continues for some time longer? A hard lot, indeed, has fallen upon me! However, I submit to the will of fate, and only pray to God so to ordain it in His divine will, that I may be protected from want as long as I have to endure death in life. This will give me strength to bear my lot, however terrible it may be, with humble submission to the will of the Most High.

Therefore, my dear Moscheles, I entrust once more my affair to you, and remain with greatest respect ever

Your friend,

L. van Beethoven .

Hummel is here and has called on me several times.

XII.
To I. Moscheles in London.

Vienna, March 18, 1827.

With what emotion I read your letter of the 1st March is not to be described in words. This magnanimity of the Philharmonic Society, with which they anticipated my request, has touched [95] my inmost heart. I, therefore, ask you, dear Moscheles, to be the organ through which I can express my most heartfelt thanks to the Philharmonic Society for their sympathy and help. Tell these worthy men that if God restores me to health, I shall try practically to show my gratitude by works, and that I leave it to the Society to choose what I shall write for them. A whole sketched Symphony (the 10th) is in my desk, also a new Overture, or even something else. As regards the concert which the Philharmonic Society has resolved on giving for my benefit, I beg the Society not to give up this intention. In short, I shall try to fulfil any wish expressed by the Society, and never have I undertaken a work with such ardour as will now be displayed. May it only please God to restore me soon again to health, and then I shall prove to these magnanimous Englishmen that I know how to value their sympathy to me in my sad condition.

I was compelled to accept the whole sum of 1,000 fl., since I was then in the disagreeable position of having to draw out invested money.

Your noble behaviour I shall never forget, and I shall soon render my thanks in particular to Sir Smart and Herr Stump. The metronomised Ninth Symphony please hand to the Philharmonic Society. Enclosed find the markings.

Your most devoted friend,

Beethoven .

[96]

XIII.
Schindler to B. Schott Sohne , Mainz.

Vienna, April 12, 1827.

I would already have liked to take the liberty of forwarding to you the enclosed document in the name of our Beethoven as his dying request; but after the passing away of our friend, there was so much business to attend to that I found it impossible. Unfortunately, it was not possible to get the document legalised, for that Beethoven would have had to sign it at the law court, which was utterly impossible. Beethoven, however, requested Court Councillor v. Breuning and myself to add our names as witnesses, as we were both present. We, therefore, believe that it will serve the purpose for which it was drawn up. I must further mention that in this document you possess the last signature of this immortal man; for this was the last stroke of his pen.

I cannot now refrain from telling you something about the last hours when he was still conscious (namely, on the 24th of March, from early morning until about one o'clock in the afternoon), for to you, sirs, this will surely be of great interest. When I came to him on the morning of the twenty-fourth of March, I found his face quite drawn; moreover, he was so weak that with the greatest effort he could only utter [97] two or three intelligible words. The Ordinarius soon arrived, and, after watching him for a few moments, said to me: 'Beethoven's end is rapidly approaching.' As the business of the Will had been settled, so far as was possible, the previous day, there remained for us only one ardent wish: to get him reconciled with heaven, in order that the world might also be shown that he ended his life as a true Christian. The Professor Ordinarius wrote it down, and begged him in the name of all his friends, to partake of the Sacrament for the dying, whereupon he answered calmly and steadily: 'I will.' The doctor went away, leaving me to see to this. Beethoven then said to me: 'My only request is that you write to Schott and send him the document: he will need it . And write to him in my name, for I am too weak, and say that I much desire him to send the wine. Also, if you have still time to-day, write to England.' The clergyman came about twelve o'clock, and the religious ceremony took place in the most edifying manner. And now for the first time he seemed to feel that his end was approaching, for the clergyman had scarcely gone when he said to me and to young v. Breuning: ' Plaudite amici, comœdia finita est! ' Have I not always said that it would be thus? He then, once again, begged me not to forget Schott; also again to write in his name to the Philharmonic [98] Society [88] to thank them for their great gift, and to add that the Society had comforted his last days, and that even on the brink of the grave he thanked the Society and the whole English nation for the great gift. God bless them.

At this moment the chancery servant of v. Breuning entered the room with the case of wine and the decoction, about quarter to one o'clock. I put the two bottles of Rüdesheimer and the two other bottles of the decoction on the table at his bedside. He looked at them, saying: ''Tis a pity, a pity, too late!' These were his last words. Immediately after, commenced the death throes, so that he could not utter a sound. Towards evening he lost consciousness and became delirious, which lasted up to the evening of the 25th, when visible signs of approaching death appeared. In spite of it, he died only on the 26th at quarter to six o'clock in the evening.

This death struggle was terrible to behold, for his constitution, especially his chest, was like that of a giant. Of your Rüdesheimer, he took still a few spoonfuls until he passed away.

Thus I have the pleasure of acquainting you with the last three days of our unforgettable friend.

In conclusion, accept the assurance, etc.,

Anton Schindler .

PAGE OF AUTOGRAPH OF "MOONLIGHT" SONATA.
(IN BEETHOVEN'S HOUSE AT BONN.)

To face page 100.

THOUGHTS

On Music.

" Il n'y a pas de règle qu'on ne peut blesser à cause de Schöner " (There is no rule which one cannot break for the sake of Beauty ). This expression appears in the original in French except for the last word Schöner .

"Music ought to create and fan the fire of the spirit of man."

"Music is a higher revelation than the whole of wisdom and the whole of philosophy.... He who penetrates the meaning of my music shall be freed from all the misery which afflicts others."

(To Bettina, 1810.)

"There is nothing finer than to approach the Divine and to shed its rays on the human race."

[102]

"Why do I write? What I have in my heart must come out; and that is why I compose."

"Do you believe that I think of a divine violin when the spirit speaks to me and that I write what it dictates?"

(To Schuppanzigh.)

"According to my usual manner of composing, even in my instrumental music, I always have the whole in my mind; here, however, that whole is to a certain extent divided, and I have afresh to think myself into the music."

(To Treitschke: from correspondence concerning Beethoven's musical settings to some of his poems. Treitschke was the man who revised the libretto of Fidelio when it was seriously thought of reviving it.)

"One should compose without a piano. The faculty of expressing what one desires and feels (which is so essential a need to noble natures) comes only by degrees."

(To the Archduke Rudolph.)

[103]

"The descriptions of a picture belong to painting; even the poet in this matter may, in comparison with my art, esteem himself lucky, for his domain in this respect is not so limited as mine, yet the latter extends further into other regions, and to attain to our kingdom is not easy."

(To Wilhelm Gerhardi in Leipzig from Nussdorf, July, 1817.)

"Liberty and progress are the goals of art just as of life in general. If we are not as solid as the old masters, the refinement of civilization has at least enlarged our out-look."

(To Archduke Rudolph.)

"I am not in the habit of altering my compositions when they are once finished. I have never done this, for I hold firmly that the slightest change alters the character of the composition."

(To George Thomson, publisher, Edinburgh.)

"Pure Church music ought to be performed entirely by the voices only , except for the Gloria or words of that kind. That is why I prefer Palestrina; but it would be absurd to imitate him [104] without possessing his spirit and his religious convictions."

(To the organist Freudenberg.)

"When your piano pupil has the proper fingering, the exact rhythm and plays the notes correctly, pay attention only to the style; do not stop for little faults or make remarks on them until the end of the piece. This method produces musicians , which after all is one of the chief aims of musical art.... For the passage work (virtuosity) make him use all the fingers freely.... Doubtless by employing fewer fingers a 'pearly' effect is obtained—as it is put—'like a pearl.' But one likes other jewels at times."

(To Czerny.)

(The Baron de Trémont wrote in 1809, "Beethoven's piano playing was not very correct and his manner of fingering was often faulty; the quality of his tone was not beyond reproach. But who could dream of the player? One was completely absorbed by the thoughts which his hands tried to express as well as they could.")

"Amongst the old masters, only Handel and Sebastian Bach had true genius."

(To the Archduke Rudolph, 1819.)

[105]

"My heart beats in entire concord with the lofty and grand art of Sebastian Bach, that patriarch of harmony ( dieses Urvaters der Harmonie .")

(To Hofmeister, 1801.)

"I have always been one of the greatest admirers of Mozart, and I shall remain so until my latest breath."

(To the Abbé Stadler, 1826.)

"I admire your works above all other pieces for the theatre. I am in ecstasy each time I hear a new work by you, and I take more interest in them than in my own. In brief, I admire you and I love you.... You will always remain the one I esteem most amongst all my contemporaries. If you wish to give me an extreme pleasure do write me a few lines. That would give me great satisfaction. Art unites everybody , how much more true artists, and perhaps you will consider me also worthy of being counted one of this number."

(To Cherubini, 1823.)

(The words in italics are in French in the original with some defective spelling. This letter to Cherubini was not answered.)

[106]

On Criticism.

"In all that concerns me as an artist, no one has ever heard me say that I pay the least attention to what has been written about me."

(To Schott, 1825.)

"I think with Voltaire that mere fly-stings will not hold back a run-away horse."

(1826.)

"As for these idiots, one can only let them talk. Their prattling will certainly not make anyone immortal, any more than it will raise to immortality any of those whom Apollo has destined for it."

(1801.)

[108]

THE NINE SYMPHONIES

[109]

THE NINE SYMPHONIES

Symphony No. 1 in C major, Opus 21.

Dedicated to the Baron van Swieten.

Adagio molto—Allegro con brio—Andante cantabile con moto—Minuetto e Trio—Finale.

Although this Symphony was originally performed at the first of the composer's personally-arranged concerts in Vienna, on April 2nd, 1800, the sketches for it extend over the preceding five years. Though the symphony is in the composer's first period style, it does not rank amongst the very finest works of this period. The slow introduction starts on a dominant seventh out of the key.

[Listen]

The musical quotations are taken from E. Pauer's excellent piano solo arrangements of the Symphonies (Augener Ltd.).

[110]

The first movement proper is orthodox in form, and only once or twice do we catch a glimpse of the Beethoven to be, notably in the muttering bass passages near the end of the exposition. The Andante which is also in Sonata-form proper and opens fugally, contains some original drum-work. The Minuet, purely Haydnesque, shows a certain delight in orchestral colour.

[Listen]

In the trio the first chord is struck no less than nine times, as though the young composer was entirely occupied with the charm of his orchestral colouring. The Finale is not highly individual. The work is scored for strings, wood-wind, two horns, two trumpets and two drums.

2nd Symphony in D, Opus 36.

Dedicated to Prince Carl Lichnovsky.

Adagio molto—Allegro con brio—Larghetto—Scherzo and Trio—Allegro molto.

In the Second Symphony, which is a great advance on the first, the composer's hold of his [111] subject is much firmer and the subjects themselves are more striking.

[Listen]

The Larghetto is full of lovely curves, and there is some charming conversational work between the wood-wind instruments. The horn passage is the precursor of many fine symphony subjects of a martial nature for the horns.

[Listen]

Whilst the chromatic harmony is purely Mozartian, the Scherzo is a genuine Beethovenian outburst, full of verve and piquant in touch.

[Listen]

There is a feeling of broadness about the brilliant and energetic Finale which is absent from the Finale of the First Symphony.

[112]

3rd Symphony , Opus 35, "Eroica" in E flat.

Dedicated to Prince Lobkovitz.

Allegro con brio—Marcia funèbre—Scherzo and Trio—Finale.

This Symphony was completed in August, 1804, and first performed on April 7th, 1805. The French Ambassador at Vienna had suggested that Beethoven should write a work on the grand scale based on his admiration for Napoleon as the saviour of France from the horrors of the Revolution; and it is a fact that Beethoven actually dedicated this Symphony to Napoleon, but when the news came that the First Consul had declared himself Emperor, Beethoven tore up the title page in a rage and added the following superscription:—

Sinfonia Eroica, composta per festeggiare il Souvenire di un grand' Uomo, E dedicata A Sua Altezza Serenissima Il Principe di Lobkovitz da Luigi van Beethoven, Op. 55 No. III. delle Sinfonie.

This is one of the grandest and most powerful of the works in the Second Period style. It is noteworthy that all the principal themes are based on the intervals of the common chord, or on the little pendant of the diminished third which forms the tail of the first subject.

[113]

The work opens in medias res with two strong chords, the chief subject entering on the cellos.

[Listen]

There is some lovely responsive work between the wood-wind and the string bands for the second subject. The development is masterly and embraces a wonderful new subject, first entering on the oboes in the strange key of E minor. The recapitulation is approached in a marvellous way—the climax of the development being reached with a chord in C flat, the echoing reflections of which gradually die away until they reach a mere shimmering of violins, into which is suddenly thrown an unexpected entrance of the horn with the chief theme in the tonic key. Was it a slip? Of course not. Rather a stroke of genius. The movement has an immense coda , which with Beethoven at this period amounts to a second development.

The Funeral March is one of the grandest things in music. It is a pageant of a great world tribulation rather than an elegy for Napoleon, who was certainly not dead at that time. More probably Beethoven's mind was occupied with the [114] misery and wretchedness caused by war than with the single hero of that period who reaped both glory and dishonour at one blow. The oboe subject in the Trio portion is only one of many wonderful passages in this piece. The speaking bass melodies, the majestic second subject on the strings almost bursting with eloquence, and the wonderful coda, not broken-hearted but buoyed up by the rhythm of things viewed broadly. Any attempt to connect the Scherzo and Finale with Napoleon must fail ludicrously. The Scherzo is simply one of Beethoven's finest productions in one of his bubbling, vivacious moods. The three horns have a subject which appears to be a genuine hunting call.

[Listen]

It is a seven-bar phrase, the echoes to which are enchantingly coloured. The common chordal formation of the duple time interjection near the end suggests something more massive, and the little coda figure, E flat, E natural, F , comes from the opening theme of the Symphony. The Finale is an amazing set of variations, the bass of the eight-bar theme being displayed and varied many times before the melody itself enters at the eightieth bar; and even then we continually hark back to the [115] bass. It is not until the close, after the melody has been given at a slow rate on the wood-wind in its proper setting, that it is taken up triumphantly and carried victoriously into the coda. Beethoven used this particular theme four times—in a Contretanz, in his Finale to the Men of Prometheus , as the theme for his set of variations for piano, Opus 35 and in this Symphony. This curious method of writing a set of variations recurs 20 years later in the Ninth Symphony. A somewhat similar process has been adopted by Elgar in his Enigma Variations , as the theme used there is said to be the counter-subject of a concealed melody.

4th Symphony in B flat, Opus 60.

Dedicated to Count Oppensdorf.

Adagio—Allegro vivace—Adagio—Menuetto—Finale.

This happy and serene work has been undeservedly overshadowed by its two towering neighbours. Schumann has called it a slender Greek maiden between two Norse giants. The opening Adagio sounds the only dark mood in the Symphony.

[Listen]

[116]

It is lashed on to the Allegro by some powerful violin scales.

[Listen]

The flute, oboe and bassoon converse sportively over the second subject. A strange sequential passage in unison upon the strings in three-bar phrases following a happy little canon on the wood-wind instruments and some powerful syncopations lead in to the development. An atmosphere of humour and good feeling permeates the movement.

The lovely melody which forms the chief theme of the Adagio is given to the violins. It is accompanied by a strong persistent rhythmic figure, which is transferred later on to the drums with great effect. The wood-wind work and the horn passages are exquisite.

The third movement Allegro vivace is full of fun, lively syncopations and duple time effects giving it more of the nature of a Scherzo .

[Listen]

[117]

It has a charmingly tender trio and a coda of exquisite poetry ending with Schumann's "Just one more question for the horn to put" before the final crash. This is one of the longest movements which Beethoven has written in this form. The bright, sunny mood of the opening movements increases in the radiant Finale . There the modulations are surprising and the touches of humour delightful. The little skirmish on the part of the bassoon just before the return, the whimsical little notes on the flutes and violins, the augmentation of the subject as it fades away into the stealthy questionings between the violins and bassoons near the end, are but a few of the many little quips and sallies.

5th Symphony in C minor, Opus 67.

Dedicated to the Prince von Lobkovitz and the Count von Rasumovsky.

Allegro con brio—Andante con moto—Scherzo and Trio—Finale Allegro.

This famous Symphony with its rugged first movement, its lovely Andante , its mysterious Scherzo and its proud, fiery Finale , was first performed together with the so-called Sixth Symphony on December 22nd, 1808. The Pastoral Symphony No. 6 was probably written before the 5th.

[118]

The first movement opens without introduction with the famous phrase of four unison notes which Beethoven once explained as "Thus fate knocks at the door."

[Listen]

From this tiny germ the whole of this fierce stormy movement is evolved. Not even the beautiful tender second subject, nor the lovely little unbarred oboe cadenza can win it away from this rugged fierce mood. When this second subject appears in the recapitulation, still in the minor, the atoning major outburst which immediately follows is quickly brushed aside by the impatience of the reinstated first theme. Even the limitations of the old-fashioned horns and trumpets in those days seemed to be turned to advantage in the colossal bare thirds and fourths of the "Fate" notes.

The chief theme of the Andante , wonderfully sad, yet wonderfully beautiful, [119] is further enhanced by one of those majestic marching subjects which only Beethoven could conceive. The beauty of the wood-wind work is remarkable and the coda is full of strange fancies.

[Listen]

The Scherzo has some eloquent bass passages, and its rhythmic horn figures are full of veiled mystery and heavy with some dark foreboding.

[Listen]

The trio is a fiery Fugato with strange outbursts on the basses. The curious hesitations on its re-appearance and the weird bridge passages at the end, with the long sustained chord on the strings and the mysterious drum tapping, cause the movement to veer gradually round to the fiery march-like coda, with its light, graceful, contrasted episodes. The Scherzo theme insinuates itself into the Finale near the coda, which is of amazing brilliancy, ending with a Presto which fairly sweeps the hearer away with it.

The orchestra is the largest the composer has used so far. It includes three trombones, double bassoon, and piccolo, which, however, are only used for the brilliant Finale .

[120]

6th Symphony (Pastoral) in F, Opus 68.

Dedicated to Prince von Lobkovitz and Count von Rasumovsky.

Pastoral Symphony, or a recollection of country life.
More an expression of feeling than a painting.

Allegro ma non troppo—Andante molto moto—Allegro—Allegretto.

This Symphony, often slighted on account of its so-called realisms and its classification amongst "programme music," is, nevertheless, one of the finest pieces in the whole range of absolute music. The labelling of the various movements by Beethoven—"Joyous sensations roused by arrival in the country," "Scene by the brook," "Merry gathering of country peasants," "Thunderstorm," "Glad and grateful feeling after the storm"—is quite superfluous. How artistically Beethoven has introduced the bird calls—the quail, the nightingale, and the cuckoo—into just the right place—the coda of the Andante . And the thunder-storm. What a magnificent introduction to the Finale it makes! Beethoven has never once transgressed the great principles of form and balance in this Symphony.

The opening movement is a true country picture, [121] full of the tonics and dominants of summer happiness.

[Listen]

Bird-like twitterings and horn calls come from all directions, yet how perfectly balanced it all is and what a marvel of development! The scene by the brook with its drowsy re-iterated figure on the under-current of divided strings is the very Bourdon ever sounding in Nature herself.

[Listen]

Wagner has not forgotten this in his Woodland Murmurs . The dance of the villagers, founded on the old country dances, is full of humorous touches, the drowsy bassoon notes, the romp round, and into this almost without warning, breaks the storm. A remarkably controlled storm [122] it is, too, free from any vulgarity. A lovely bit of blue sky showing at the end, leads straight into the shepherd's song of thankfulness, which although containing several interesting points, the triple pedal at the opening with its horn yodel, etc., is somewhat lengthy and not very interesting. Beethoven had once intended to introduce words and chorus here, "Lord, we thank Thee," and it seems a pity that this idea was not carried out.

7th Symphony in A major, Opus 92.

Dedicated to Count Moritz von Fries.

Poco sostenuto—Vivace—Allegretto—Scherzo—Finale.

This Symphony was completed in May, 1812, but was not performed until December, 1813, at a Concert undertaken by Maelzel for the benefit of the wounded soldiers at the Battle of Hanau, October 30th, which Concert also contained Beethoven's Battle Symphony . In form, the Symphony contains nothing unusual. In subject, it is full of romance and colour from beginning to end.

Opening with a long introduction, which is almost a movement in itself, this contains a strong marching figure, and runs into the Vivace by the means of a half cadence. The Vivace , a rhythmical [123] movement in 6-8 time, is full of a verve and vitality which seems to reach its fullest power on the horns and wind instruments with their tucketting rhythms.

[Listen]

The Coda amounts to a second development, and the whole movement goes with a splendid swing from beginning to end.

Rhythm but of another kind is also paramount in the elegiac pageant-like movement designated Allegretto , but curiously enough marked by Beethoven himself at 76, by Maelzel's newly-invented metronome. It is a highly coloured pageant, seen through a veil of mist, typified by the wonderful six-four chord on the wood-wind with which it commences and concludes. The structure of the Scherzo (here marked Presto ) has a strong relationship with its splendid fire and strong duple time effects to that in the 6th Symphony. The romance of the Trio with its wonderful low horn work is equally fine, and the movement is broadened out to considerable length by the return of the Trio and of the Presto , thus [124] making it a kind of Rondo—A, B, A, B, A—to say nothing of the humorous juxta-position of the two near the end.

The Finale is also planned on the big scale, colossal in force and mighty in stride. There is a curious perversity of scale in the First Subject as though Beethoven was no longer satisfied with the ordinary major. The marvellous stride of the Bass at the end is not the least amazing of the features in this wonderful movement. Perhaps, this symphony holds together as one complete whole more than any other. It gives one the impression of having been written uninterruptedly from the first movement to last.

8th Symphony , in F major, Opus 93.

Allegro vivace e con brio—Allegretto—Presto—Allegro vivace.

"The little one," as Beethoven affectionately called this symphony, was written during four months of the summer and early autumn of 1812. It is smaller in scale, slighter in texture, than the other symphonies. Erroneously regarded as a return to an earlier style, and labouring for some time under the absurd title of "Ballet-Symphony," it has been somewhat neglected in the past. Without [125] the grandeur of the Fifth or the romance of the Seventh, it contains a lasting, if less easy, charm, perfect finish, and a rich fund of good humour. Only a small orchestra is used, but it is handled in a masterly way, as the octave drums in the masterly finale, the charming staccato chords for wood-wind with boisterous interjections from the full orchestra, the running conversations between the violins and the basses, fully testify.

The first movement is in the usual development form.

[Listen]

A sprightly Allegretto takes the place of the slow movement. The third movement goes back to the early minuet, instead of the Scherzo.

[Listen]

[126]

The final movement is a masterpiece of construction and development which its astounding interruptions so amply justifies finally.

[Listen]

9th Symphony , in D minor,
With Final Chorus on Schiller's "Ode to Joy."(Op. 125).

Allegro ma non troppo un poco maestoso—Molto vivace—Adagio molto e cantabile—Choral Finale.

It is important to remember, as M. Romain Rolland has reminded us, that this is not a Choral Symphony in the strict sense of the term, but a "Symphony with a Final Chorus." The choral Finale was written by Beethoven in a separate MS., and, as with most of his other final movements, he seems to have expected no closer connection with the preceding three movements than that of general suitability. His original idea for a last movement to this Symphony was the Finale of the String Quartet in A minor, Opus 132, but for some reason or other his sketches for voices on Schiller's Ode [127] were taken up again and worked into a Finale for this Symphony. Ten years had elapsed between the completion of the Eighth Symphony and the consummation of the Ninth, the colossal first three movements of which are on the highest plane of all music. As to the complete success of the choral numbers, opinions differ widely. The first movement, colossal in conception and dignified in tone, has moods of great passion and wonderful tenderness. The opening theme is mighty in aspiration, rugged in power.

[Listen]

The second movement is the Scherzo , one of Beethoven's longest, and perhaps his very finest. It is all brought about by the little germ theme of three notes, which, amongst other things, [128] suggests an unusual tuning of the drums in octaves. A fugato follows, after which the second subject enters in the unorthodox key of C major. It is here that many conductors take upon themselves to thicken Beethoven's wood-wind melody, with the brass instruments. The Trio is built up on a delightful double theme ushered in by the very first entry of the bass trombone.

[Listen]

The Adagio opens with a melody of the utmost nobility, perfect in curve, and of a marvellous serenity.

[Listen]

A sudden modulation brings us to a new subject in D major in 3/4 time.

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[129]

The first subject then re-appears in G major, this is followed by a mystic passage in E flat major, in which fragments of the first theme appear after the manner of a dreamy meditation in which there is some magnificent work for the horn. The first subject then appears in the original key and gradually passes over into a solemn and majestic coda . The form is original, even with Beethoven.

Immediately a huge hubbub breaks out from the whole of the wood-wind instruments. A short hasty review of a few bars from each of the first three movements follows, and after the bass instruments had commented rather brusquely on these appearances, the famous tune in D major breaks in on the cellos and basses alone. The melody gradually unfolds itself but finally is suddenly broken off by the discordant hubbub again, and the solo baritone voice enters with the words, "O brothers, not these tones."

[Listen]

The opening quartet and chorus is based entirely on the famous tune. The following number is a tenor solo and chorus to the accompaniment of a military band with all the appurtenances thereof—big drum, triangle and cymbals. A broad chorus follows, Andante maestoso, a capella in style; and as movement after movement enters, the [130] devout feeling of mysticism and awe increases, until the final chorus

Chant one greeting, myriads countless

caps with warm dazzling sunlight one of the highest peaks in all music.

THE PIANOFORTE SONATAS

THE PIANOFORTE SONATAS

1st Sonata , Op. 2, No. 1, in F minor.

The first Sonata has the usual four movements of the Haydn form: Allegro—Adagio—Menuetto and Trio—Prestissimo . The first and the last are in the usual Sonata form proper. The slow movement follows Mozartian lines. This Sonata is the first of the set of three in this Opus, which are all dedicated to Joseph Haydn, and the fact of such a superscription points to the respect which Beethoven had for the older composer, although he could not find it in his heart to continue with him long as his pupil. The whole of the Sonata, which appeared for the first time in 1796 and was probably written much earlier, is decidedly conventional in form, and shews us Beethoven starting on the lines laid down by those who went before him—Philip Emanuel Bach, Haydn, and Mozart.

The first movement is pure Haydn music, and the only glimmer of the future Beethoven comes in with that lovely little tune at the Coda . The development portion is thin and characterless. The first subject of the second movement was [134] adapted from an early pianoforte quartet. A similar process was resorted to in the first movement of the third Sonata of this set for the second subject. The expression of this movement is not deep, nor does it sound that note of serenity which we regard as the chief characteristic of a Beethoven slow movement of the mature period.

The Minuet and Trio is purely Mozartian, especially in its double counterpoint and its inversion of parts. Some characteristic touches are found in the second subject of the last movement, which is in two parts, and the use of an altogether new subject in the development portion. This device is next used in the Sonata in F, Opus 10, No. 2—a device carried to great perfection in the development portion of the first movement of the Eroica Symphony . The use of this broad subject does away with any idea of development, although the movement is built up on a figure of three chords, a point referred to in both codas. The first part of the second subject has that weird, foreboding feeling, which we feel frequently in Schumann's music. Already he shews a striking fondness for the diminished third; but the passage is not particularly striking. Far otherwise is the beautiful little tune of eight bars which forms the second part of this subject.

[135]

2nd Sonata , Op. 2, No. 2, in A.

Allegro vivace—Largo appassionata—Scherzo and Trio—Rondo grazioso.

There is a distinct advance in the second Sonata. Although there are still the accepted four movements, the Minuet has now become a Scherzo. This Sonata was probably written shortly after the first, and in it we see how quickly Beethoven took a firm hold of form and design in construction. There is a feeling of considerable power about the first subject, and its short, pithy figures promise well for the development portion, a fact of which Beethoven takes immediate advantage.

The second subject has a dual tonality, beginning in E minor and ending in E major. This, of course, re-appears in the final section in A minor and major. There is considerable double counterpoint, and we have the characteristic rumblings in the bass. The canon in three parts at the octave, in the development portion, taxes the right hand of most players. The recapitulation is shortened and considerably altered.

In the Largo Appassionata we get very near to the grandeur of Beethoven's middle style. The opening subject has serenity, and there is scarcely anything passionate in the whole movement which breathes of solemn yet tender earnestness. This movement may be regarded as either in Rondo form or in Ternary form. There is a powerful [136] episode in flats near the end, but the music closes with an epilogue full of tender feeling.

We find a right boisterous joy in the Scherzo , which is evolved from one single little figure. The sequence of dominant seventh chords in the bridge, however, was already somewhat hackneyed even at that time.

The final Rondo is a graceful movement which owes much to Mozart. An episode leads to the second subject in E major, and this in its turn to the re-appearance of the first subject in varied form. Then comes a stormy episode in the minor which gradually subsides into the return of the first subject, then of the second subject, and finally winds up with a long coda containing reminiscences of all the subjects.

3rd Sonata , Opus 2, No. 3, in C major.

Allegro con brio—Adagio—Scherzo—Allegro assai.

This, the third of the set of the three early Sonatas dedicated to Haydn, appeared for the first time on March 9th, 1796, when Beethoven was twenty-six years of age. Eugen d'Albert regards this Sonata as essentially a virtuoso piece. This is saying rather much, although he is right in warning the interpreter against any attempts to render it mysterious by hyper-critical subtleties.

The first subject of the opening movement is a [137] typical Beethoven one, evolved from a short figure of two bars. Some brilliant passage work then occurs. It was certainly Beethoven's custom at this early period to regard such passages in a more physical sense. The second subject enters with a dominant minor section, followed by a major section, in which appears some fine canonic work. The minor part of this subject, which was adapted from an early pianoforte quartet which Beethoven had written in his youthful period, abounds in the turns and trills characteristic of that time. The broken octaves in the coda are frequently rendered now-a-days by alternate double octaves between the two hands in demisemiquavers.

The development is much more Beethovenish, containing some striking double octave cataclysms. There is also a very fine enharmonic change from an F minor chord to F sharp minor. The Coda is noteworthy as it includes some fine arpeggio effects and a striking slow cadenza .

The second movement, Adagio in E major, opens with one of Beethoven's dignified slow themes, which is sandwiched in Rondo fashion with disturbing episodes throughout. The first episode (in E minor) contains conversational work between the bass and the treble, the left hand crossing the right for the latter. At the end of the return of the first theme, there is a very striking example of an interrupted cadence—the dominant chord of E major being followed by the tonic chord of C.

[138]

The Scherzo (three-four time) is in C major, and should be taken at a fast rate. It is one of those movements which would have been better written in six-four time by running two bars into one.

The final movement is a grandiose Rondo—six-eight time—in C major, which requires a good technique, especially for the left hand. The second subject is somewhat conventional, but the next episode contains one of those lovely hymn-like tunes in which Beethoven delights. For the third episode, the subject of the first episode is repeated, but here in the tonic key; thus making the form what is known as Modern Rondo or Sonata Rondo, in contrast to the old Rondo in which every episode was different. The Coda is remarkable and is certainly of the virtuoso order. I never play it without thinking of the Coda to Mendelssohn's Wedding March . The sequences at the 15th bar after the Vivacissimo are not easy to finger. D'Albert fingers the upper part, 3, 4, 5, and the lower three notes with the thumb. Larger hands will produce a better effect by fingering the right hand top notes, 4, 5, 5, and the alto, 2, 1, 1. The triple shake near the end is frequently played by an alternation of six-four chords in either hand. There is a remarkable example of an interrupted cadence here, where D becomes D sharp leading to an A major chord. These unexpected rallentandos and calando before the strepitous rush home become a standing characteristic in Beethoven's music.

[139]

4th Sonata , Opus 7, in E flat.

Allegro molto e con brio—Largo con gran espressione—Allegretto Minore—Rondo.

This Sonata which appeared for the first time on October 7, 1797, is dedicated to the Countess Babette von Keglevics. The composer, at the age of twenty-seven was rapidly winning his spurs, but still wrote on the old lines and with the customary four movements. His Minuet however has now become a lively movement and lost all traces of its origin in the stately dance. It is quite likely, however, that the Minuets of Haydn and Mozart were also taken at a lively rate, incompatible with the dance.

The first movement in regular "Sonata Form" is in six-eight time, in happy mood. The joyous rhythm is occasionally emphasised by sforzando syncopations. The subjects are all very taking, and there are some striking modulations in the development.

The Largo is full of religious calm. There is a striking interrupted cadence at bar 19, and one of those majestic march-like movements for the second subject, which on its return at the end, appears as a tenor melody. The movement is full of rich colouring. The tones of the flutes and other wood-wind instruments, may be imitated in parts also the song of birds.

The first part of the Allegro , which takes the [140] place of the Minuet movement, is much more extended than usual. In place of the Trio, we have a movement in the tonic minor of low broken chords, full of that brooding sadness to which Schumann and Brahms in later days became so prone. This is linked up, however, to the return of the first joyous theme to which it forms an effective foil. The final Rondo in E flat is real Mozart, and Mozart at his best. Play the first subject through, sixteen bars in length. Still the bridge passage which follows is real Beethoven. He seems fairly obsessed with his little figure, unable to let it alone, repeating it no less than thirteen times in succession. There is a virile second subject. The middle episode is stormy and difficult to play unless one divines intuitively the right action. There is a remarkable enharmonic change on the last page but one, where the tonality is moved up a semitone from B flat to B natural (a device of which the composer is fond), returning seven bars later on by the chameleon-like "diminished seventh" chord. Reference is made in the Coda to the rhythm of the stormy middle episode which is here turned to good use in the brilliant peroration.

[141]

5th Sonata , Opus 10, No. 1, in C minor.

Allegro molto e con brio—Adagio molto—Prestissimo.

This Sonata is dedicated to the Countess von Brovne, and appeared for the first time on September 26, 1798. It is in three movements—the slow movement in A flat major. There is no Minuet or Scherzo , the Finale instead being instilled with the spirit of the Scherzo .

The first movement is the usual development form, the first subject being composed in Beethoven's usual manner of two figures here, (a) upward flight, (b) soft chords. It ends with a decided perfect cadence, the bridge subject entering after a bar's silence. It is noteworthy that the second subject on its return appears in F major, before settling down finally into C minor. This first movement, although in the minor, breathes a happy contented spirit, which deepens into seriousness in the Adagio. This opens with a beautiful 16 bar phrase. We then pass straight into the second subject, a florid one in a lighter vein of thought, closing in E major. A sprinkled dominant seventh takes the place of the development section, and the whole is then repeated. For the Coda, the first subject has passed into that serene happy atmosphere which only Beethoven's spirit seems to have penetrated. The Finale is again cast into development form, and is typical of the way Beethoven expands his movements from [142] the smallest idea. There is a beautiful hymn-like second subject. Characteristically enough, just before finishing this bubbling movement joyfully, the composer falls into a deep reverie, but only to brush it aside almost impatiently by returning to the original idea.

6th Sonata , Opus 10, No. 2, in F major.

Allegro—Allegretto—Presto.

The tenth Opus, which first appeared on September 26th, 1798, contains three Sonatas, all dedicated to the Countess von Brovne. The Sonata is in three movements—the first a movement of development, the second a Scherzo , and the third a playful Presto . The whole Sonata is cast in happy mood. The mysterious and somewhat eerie feeling of the Minuet being completely dispelled by the happiness of the Trio (which, curiously, enough, Brahms seems to have written over again in his Scherzo in E flat minor). The mood at the first part of this Scherzo has a close relationship with the Scherzo in the Eroica Symphony .

There are several noteworthy points about the development of the first movement. It opens with a treatment of the last three notes of the exposition in capricious manner. The development closes, too, with this idea, but it also contains a completely new subject in D minor. The prevalence of this tonality brings in the return section irregularly in D major. The Presto is one of those playful movements, [143] full of fun and written broadly in Sonata form lines.

7th Sonata , Opus 10, No. 3, in D major.

Presto—Largo e mesto—Menuetto—Trio—Rondo.

This Sonata is one of the greatest works of the first period, if not, indeed, the greatest of them all. The first movement is a wonderful evolution from the first four-note figure, the development full of all kinds of strong devices, the stormy episode in the middle based on the rhythm of the opening phrase of the Sonata and the marvellous slow movement full of passion and tenderness, from its opening five-bar phrase to its beautiful close with those amazing tonic pedal chords. The spirited Minuet, really a Scherzo with two bars taken as one, is admirably contrasted with the Hunting Song of the Trio . Did Beethoven ever use the horse which Count Brovne gave him? The fine Rondo is cast on the old lines but filled with such new feeling.

The structure of the slow movement is in song form with five sections:—

(a) Theme in D minor in two parts with cadences in C major and A minor.

(b) Modulatory section from F to D minor.

(c) Theme in D minor with cadences in B flat and in D.

(d) Development of the (a) and (b) sections.

(e) Concluding portion.

[144]

8th Sonata , (Pathétique), Opus 13, in C minor.

Grave—Allegro di molto e con brio—Adagio cantabile—Rondo.

Published for the first time in 1799, and dedicated to the Prince Carl von Lichnovsky. Although one of the few authentic titles, it is difficult to see the meaning of its bearing of the Sonata as a whole, unless indeed it is applied to the sad and dramatic introduction theme which, indeed, deserves as a leading motive to the first movement being introduced before the development section, and it ends just before the coda. The slow movement is of wonderful serenity and breathes a great religious calm. Still, it was a great offence against good feeling to make the single a double chant out of it as one of our cathedral organists has done. The Rondo does not quite reach the high plains of the first two movements, it was probably written much earlier; note the reflective mood again just before the final whirlwind. There is no Scherzo or Minuet in this Sonata.

9th Sonata , Opus 14, No. 1, in E major.

Allegro—Allegretto—Rondo.

The two Sonatas in this Opus, which is dedicated to the Baroness von Braun, are not very interesting. No. 9 has no slow movement. The [145] meditative feeling having, apparently, crept into the Allegretto , which should again be taken as two bars in one. The Rondo in E is of great beauty and finish. The middle episode has again the feeling of a hunting song.

They appeared for the first time in December, 1799.

10th Sonata , Opus 14, No. 2, in G major.

Allegro—Andante—Scherzo.

The first movement, in Sonata form, is a remarkable example of the growth of a whole movement from a single germ.

The Andante is an air with variations. The form of this is really ternary, although if the second part be repeated, it will throw the theme into five sections, A, B, A, B, A. The first variation places the air in the tenor, the second divides the harmony rhythmically, the third breaks up the harmony into semiquavers. Purists hold that this movement is wrongly barred throughout, the first beat coming where the third now is.

In the last sprightly movement, the Scherzo and Finale seem to have run into one.

The only other examples of Beethoven's use of the designation Scherzo for a movement not in Scherzo and Trio form are in the pianoforte sonata Opus 31 No. 3, and in the string quartet in C minor.

[146]

11th Sonata , Opus 22, in B flat.

Allegro con brio—Adagio con molta espressione—Minuetto—Rondo.

Dedicated to the Countess von Brovne.

This Sonata is the finest since the Opus 10, No. 3 in D. It is not so deep in feeling as some of the preceding pieces, and the composer's preoccupation with development somewhat duly prolongs the first movement. It is full, however, of characteristic vigour for its own sake, and the Adagio , long-drawn as it is, possess a great charm.

This long-drawn meditative piece is the only case in the Sonatas of a slow movement having all the elements of the true Sonata forms—exposition and development, recapitulation, coda. If the Adagio breathes of the open country, the Minuet savours of the salon. In this rather old-fashioned Minuet, the Trio is styled "Minore." The Rondo with four refrains, the last two varied.

12th Sonata , Op. 26, in A flat.

Andante con variazioni—Scherzo—Marcia funèbre—Rondo.

Dedicated to the Prince Carl von Lichnovsky.

This Sonata was announced for the first time on March 3rd, 1802. Two of the movements are in slow time—an Air with Variations, and a "Funeral [147] March on the death of a hero." The March is said to have been written as a set-off to the popular one of that day in Paer's opera, Achilles .

It is not a lamentation, but rather a tragic elegiac picture set in an impressive frame. One feels the throb of brass, the blare of trumpets, the roll of muffled drums, the impressive pageantry of death. The opening Andante is beautiful, and in the variations the theme breathes as it were through a thin lovely veil. The technique looks backwards rather than forwards, and the movement ends with a calm phrase. The final Rondo bubbles with life ceaselessly until it disappears in a faint whisper.

13th Sonata , Opus 27, No. 1, in E flat.

Sonata quasi una Fantasia.

Andante—Allegro—Andante—Allegro molto e vivace—Adagio con espressione—Allegro vivace.

Dedicated to Princess Lichtenstein.

This Sonata was first published together with the following one in C sharp minor on March 3rd, 1802. They were both composed in 1801, the happy year of the composer's love for Countess Giuletta Guicciardi. The term Fantasia by no means implies formlessness, but rather a departure from the ordinary Sonata form. The first movement—an [148] Andante , full of light and shade—is held by purists to be wrongly barred throughout, the first beat being the third, and so on. It is followed by an Allegro in C major which leads back to the return of the Andante , this time varied. The Allegro , which takes the place of the Scherzo , is full of imagination and vigour. The slow movement is used as a bridge leading into the Finale . All the movements are chained together in one whole. Just before the precipitant Coda , Beethoven takes a final glance back at the subject of the Adagio .

14th Sonata , Opus 27, No. 2, in C sharp minor.

Adagio sostenuto—Allegretto—Presto agitato.

The title page describes the work as for clavecin or pianoforte . The nickname, "Moonlight," given to it by the poet Rellstab, has no authority and only serves very faintly to define the peaceful charm of this sensitive picture, which was more probably inspired by the composer's romantic love for the Countess Giulietta Guicciardi. The direction in Italian, "to be played throughout with the greatest delicacy," is significant, although the term senza sordini is somewhat vague. It may have meant that it is to be played with the sustaining pedal, i.e., without the dampers. It is probably a general indication that the piece requires [149] the pedal to sustain each harmony, for nowhere is harmony put to such effective use as in the dreamy yet placid opening Adagio . There is scarcely a stir, except where an occasional minor 9th causes a slight emotional ripple.

A little Allegretto takes the place of the usual Minuet. It might be a dance of peasants, heard in the distance. The restless and passionate Presto is one of the finest movements in all the master's works.

Like the preceding Sonata, all the movements follow on without break. But there is a definite organic connection between them, the Finale , and the opening movement in particular. Compare the first four semiquavers of the Presto with the second quaver group of the Adagio , and the quaver chords in the second bar of the Presto with the melodic figure in bars 5 and 6 of the opening movement.

The second subject of the Finale has three well-defined sections, the first melodic, the second dolorous expressive chords, the third a souvenir of the first. The Coda is one of the most deeply expressive things Beethoven has ever written. It ends with a powerful gust of unpent passion.

[150]

15th Sonata , Opus 28, in D major.

Allegro—Andante—Scherzo—Rondo.

Dedicated to Joseph Eiden von Sonnenfels.

It was christened by the Hamburg publisher, Cranz, with the name of "Pastoral Sonata." The autograph is dated 1801, and the work is exceeding happy in mood, the last two movements almost boisterously so, the Finale being a mad gallop home. This Sonata has four movements, and it is most probable that it was written before the two Fantasia Sonatas . The first movement opens with a phrase of nine bars over a gentle tapping tonic pedal. It is a splendid specimen of development by elimination and condensation. In the middle portion, just before the recapitulation, the phrase seems almost to disappear into thin air.

The Andante in D minor, with its epigrammatic Trio in the tonic major, was once a great favourite with the composer. The Scherzo which despite its title is really a Minuet , is one of his happiest, and the Rondo is full of the joy of field and forest.

16th Sonata , Opus 31, No. 1, in G major.

Allegro vivace—Adagio grazioso—Rondo.

This Opus contains three Sonatas—a favourite grouping with the composer. Although No. 1 was published in 1802, this Sonata, so simple in [151] technique, has the feeling of having been conceived much earlier. The Adagio , with its elaborate flowery passages of no particular meaning, drops back to the Hummel style, and is developed to a considerable length. The Rondo is bright and sunshiny throughout.

17th Sonata , Opus 31, No. 2, in D minor.

Allegro—Adagio—Allegretto.

One of the most splendid of all Beethoven's Sonatas. The opening movement is full of the most speaking of all Beethoven's sonorous and passionate recitatives. The Adagio is in full binary form. It is very expressive, entirely evolved from a three-note figure, a little Hummelian. The final Allegretto is all spun out from the little four-note germ said to have been suggested to the composer by the cantering of a horse.

18th Sonata , Opus 31, No. 3, in E flat.

Allegro—Scherzo—Minuet and Trio—Presto con fuoco.

In this characteristic work, where we find both a Scherzo and a Minuet, the former in duple time, we again return to four movements. The mood throughout is of unclouded happiness. It is extremely [152] interesting throughout, from the first bar which opens in an original manner with the "added sixth" chord to the Coda which returns to the same idea.

The Scherzo is in one of Beethoven's freakish moods, full of capricious turns and fun of all kinds. The third movement is a true Minuet of the olden style, whilst the Presto is one of those cantering movements the germ for which must have been derived from the hunting songs of the people.

19th Sonata , Opus 49, No. 1, in G minor and major.

Andante—Rondo.

This and the following Sonata, although published in 1802, must have been written much earlier; in fact, the theme of the G major Rondo was the original of the Minuet of the Septet .

20th Sonata , Opus 49. No. 2, in G major.

Allegro ma non troppo—Minuet and Trio.

This Sonata contains little of interest, both the Allegro and the Minuet are in the olden style.

[153]

21st Sonata , Opus 53, in C major.

Allegro con brio—Introduzione—Rondo.

This fine Sonata, too often made a mere piece of virtuosity, was dedicated to Beethoven's early friend and patron, Count Waldstein. The form is remarkable. A first movement, full of light and colour, and the romantic Molto Adagio forming an introduction to the final Rondo with its magnificent Coda . Beethoven originally intended the famous Andante in F for the slow movement of this Sonata, but finally discarded it in favour of the present slow introduction. The second hymn-like subject of the first movement does not appear in the tonic key, either in the exposition or in the recapitulation, but only after the final development near the end of the piece. The simple subject of the Rondo was the result as shown of six separate attempts in Beethoven's note-books. The whole meaning of it is lost unless the low C of the left hand is taken into the phrase. It will then be seen to have a close connection with the opening figure of the introduction. The Rondo is often played too fast, the full effect of the Coda is often lost by the preceding Rondo being taken too fast.

The glissando octave passage in it is very difficult on modern pianos on account of the deeper key fall.

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22nd Sonata , Opus 54, in F major.

This remarkable Sonata, which appeared for the first time in April, 1806, is in two movements only—a Tempo d'un Menuetto , in full binary form (more like a Sonata movement than a Minuet), and a Allegretto con moto (somewhat Etude-like), with a Prestissimo Coda in which the hands very easily get tied up. This Sonata is comparatively little known, doubtless on account of its over topping neighbours, the Waldstein and the Appassionata . Bulow metronomed the opening movement at the quite moderate rate of 104 to the crotchet. The octave bravura subject appears there in its full majesty. The cadenza is noteworthy.

23rd Sonata , Opus 57, in F minor.

(Labelled Appassionata by the publisher Cranz).

Assai allegro—Andante con moto with variations—Allegro ma non troppo.

This Sonata, which was dedicated to Count Franz von Brunswick, is perhaps the most truly characteristic of all Beethoven's sonatas. The usual portrait of Beethoven with the massive jaws firmly set, the upturned eyes, the visage lined by suffering, the head of a Titan, might be quite appropriately placed here in the volume of the Sonatas, rather than at the beginning; for with the deep passionate note which sounds ceaselessly [155] throughout the first movement and the immense vitality of the Finale , the calm beauty of the Andante with its variations, it holds the palm amongst all sonatas written for the clavier. Hackneyed it certainly is, but even through the indifferent temperaments of mere finger players, the immense force of the ideas easily penetrates.

It is a superb example of the growth of Beethoven's immense creations from two of the tiniest of germs (a) the first three opening notes— C , A flat , F —(b) the C , D , C in the third and fourth bars. The whole sonata grows as naturally from these as the huge oak from the acorn. Bridge subjects, second subjects, coda figures, the chief theme of the Andante , as also the impetuoso subject of the Finale , are all derived from these two little germs. Lenz calls the Sonata "a volcanic eruption, which rends the earth and shuts out the sky with a shower of projectiles." The first movement and the last movement have truly immense codas .

For a clue to this sonata, Beethoven told an enquirer to read Shakespeare's Tempest .

24th Sonata , Opus 78, in F sharp major.

Adagio cantabile (4 bars)—Allegro ma non troppo—Allegro vivace.

This Sonata was composed in October, 1809 (considerably later than Les Adieux Sonata , which was published in July, 1811) and appeared [156] for the first time in December, 1810. Thus an interval of five years separates it from the Sonata Appassionata . It was dedicated to the Countess von Brunswick, and the piece was a special favourite with the composer. A delightful feeling of happiness pervates the whole piece, and one cannot help feeling that this cheerful mood drew the composer to the choice of this radiant key. The first four bars form a sort of question to which the succeeding Allegro supplies the answer.

The movements are succinct in form, almost epigrammatic, and whilst very gracious and pleasing, are not hefty for all sorts and conditions of hands. The opening phrase of the Finale is very striking, so, too, is the coda with its wonderful disappointed cadence and its equally marvellous finish. The intricate work of the arpeggios relates it to the E major Sonata, Opus 109, and all the way through it, there is a curious oscillation betwixt major and minor modes.

25th Sonata , Opus 79, in G.

Presto alla tedesca—Andante—Vivace.

This is practically a Sonatina, and calls for little mention. Some authorities regard it as an unfinished sketch, whilst others ascribe it to a considerably earlier date although it was clearly completed in 1809. The term Tedesca means "in [157] the German style," and has reference to the country dance, Ländler . Beethoven employs the term only twice in his published works—here and in the fifth movement of the B flat quartet, Opus 130, where he describes the movement in one of the sketches as Allemande Allegro . In a Bagatelle, No. 3 of Opus 119, he uses the term in French, A l'allemande .

The first movement gives some good practice in crossing the hands. The second movement might easily be mistaken for a gondolier's song by Mendelssohn. The third movement is a lively Con Moto in simple Rondo form.

26th Sonata , Opus 81a, in E flat.

Adagio—Allegro—Andante espressivo—Vivacissimamente.

Styled by Beethoven himself, Les adieux, l'absence, et la retour . (The parting, the absence, and the return). As such it is the finest piece of programme music ever written. It is dedicated to his friend and patron, the Archduke Rudolph, but it is not known definitely that it was connected with the absence of the Archduke himself. The general feeling seems to suggest a more tender attachment. The music is Beethoven at his very best, and is truly representative of his mature period. The interrelation of the whole of the music, its close affinity with the opening musical [158] motto of three notes, under which Beethoven wrote Lebe-wohl (Fare thee well) is astounding. Whether written in clear notes or obscured subtly, this leading motive lies at the bottom of every phrase. It is the generating idea, the essence of the whole Sonata. Although we have styled it programme music, it would be the greatest mistake, however, to regard it as something pictorial and definite. The idea is only used as the generating impulse of each of the three chief movements, and the work loses no whit (perhaps, even gains) by being heard as a piece of absolute music. Those interested in musical psychology will find it, however, a most interesting study to trace the derivation of the various phrases of the opening Allegro of the Andante (see bass chords), and even of the Finale to one of the two tiny cellules found in the first three bars of the introduction. The movements are all in Sonata form. The Andante has no development section and runs into the Finale without break.

27th Sonata , Opus 90, in E.

Con vivacità a sempre con sentimento ed espressione—Non troppo presto (Rondo).

This work, completed on August 16th, 1814, appeared for the first time in June, 1815. It is in two movements, and is one of the first works in which Beethoven gave bi-lingual tempo indications [159] (Italian and German), the other example being Les Adieux Sonata, Opus 81. On one occasion, in 1815, when the Englishman Neate was discussing the meaning of music with Beethoven, the composer admitted somewhat vaguely that he "never worked without a picture in his mind." Be this as it may, the composer was always greatly enraged when other people attempted to fix pictures to his music, as did the publisher who gave the title "La chasse" to the unchristened overture, Op. 115. The first movement has a tender wistful charm and romantic feeling; it is the very poetry of sound. The first subject with its three themes is square-cut, exactly 24 bars in length, ending with a perfect cadence in the tonic key. The development is closely knit, and the overlapping phrases with their diminution and augmentation, which bring in the return of the first subject, are as wonderful as they are convincing.

Schindler relates that Beethoven, referring to these two movements, said: "The first might represent 'Combat between Heart and Head,' and the second, 'Dialogue with the beloved one.'" Be this as it may, the Rondo, judging from the interior evidence, was written first. In many of his sonatas the only connection apparently aimed at between the various movements is that of right contrast and suitable key-relationship.

[160]

28th Sonata , Opus 101, in A major.

Allegretto ma non troppo—Vivace alla Marcia—Adagio ma non troppo—Allegro risoluto.

Dedicated to Freund Dorothea Ertmann and performed for the first time as new on February 18th, 1816; it was not published until February, 1817. With this Sonata we reach the third period of Beethoven's works, that in which reflection and philosophy play such a great part. Many passages in some of his latest works reach such a massive spaciousness that they seem to lose all touch of human comprehension. Beethoven was seeking a new style, in striving after which his music became more and more contrapuntal. One cannot help connecting his use of the fugue in many of his later works with this new phase. But it was not the fugue of Bach, but one filled with sublimity and mysticism in which he attempted to render the spiritual force more and more concentrated, the meaning sometimes becomes completely dissipated in his attempt to grasp and hold it. Such is not the case, however, with the fugue with which this Sonata ends. It grows out of the chief theme of the Finale and forms the development portion in this combination of the Fugue and Sonata form proper.

The martial feeling in the first movement seems to have produced a substitute for the Minuet or Scherzo movement. The trio with its prolonged [161] coda is in deep poetic vein. The Largo is permeated with profound feeling and is connected with the Finale by a reminiscence of the first movement. The whole work is entirely happy and presents an untroubled frame of mind.

29th Sonata , Opus 106.

Allegro—Scherzo—Adagio sostenuto—Fugue.

The first two movements were finished in April, 1818; the two last were composed in the summer of that year. The Sonata was ready for publication in March, 1819, but did not appear until September, 1819. It carried the sub-title "Sonata for the Hammerclavier." [89] It is dedicated to the staunch friend and patron, the Archduke Rudolph, and is the longest of all Beethoven's sonatas, being about twice as long as the longest of the others. The first movement (over four hundred bars in length) is evolved from the two little germs contained in the first two bars. There is a long bridge passage in which derivative themes occur before the second subject in three sections. A long development follows and a superb return with a powerful coda. In the three bars preceding the return, all the "A sharps" are usually misprinted "natural." This A sharp should be the enharmonic of the following B flat.

The Scherzo is fantastic in the extreme. From [162] the playful mood of the first part it is suddenly plunged into the inexpressible anguish of the minor trio. A short Presto unison phrase of eight bars brushes this aside, a tremor on a minor ninth preceding the happy return of the Scherzo.

The Adagio is one of the sublimest things in all music. It certainly reaches heights which transcend the limits of the piano. A remarkable bridge, which changes mood no less than six times, forms a sort of prelude to the final fugue which is drawn from the opening germ of the work. It is a struggle of giants, unbridled in its onslaught. Fuga a tre voci, con alcune licenze Beethoven marked it, and its great licenses and amazing contortions have puzzled many minds. The heavenly interludes, however, transport one into the pure air of the Sanctus of the Mass in D. The similarity of the opening phrases of the Allegro , the Scherzo and the Adagio , should be noticed. It was by such means that Brahms later on strove to unify the separate movements of his longer forms.

30th Sonata , Opus 109, in E major.

Vivace ma non troppo—Prestissimo—Andante and Variations.

Dedicated to Maximiliana Brentano.

Written at the age of fifty, it seems possible that he poured into these later instrumental movements much that he felt was beyond the [163] vocal forms of the great Mass in D which was occupying his thoughts at this time. The rhapsodic first movement with its light and happy figures, repeatedly broken in upon by the deeply expressive Adagio phrases; the remarkable uncouth Scherzo with the subject in the bass and the angelic variations, one in fugue form, and the other a tour de force with its thrilling pedals, the beatific return of the theme at the end, given this sonata a high place amongst the happiest conceptions of the master.

31st Sonata , Opus 110, in A flat.

Moderato cantabile—Molto allegro—Arioso dolente—Fuga.

The autograph is dated December 25th, 1821, and the work appeared for the first time in August, 1822. Here we find Beethoven in his most exalted mood, and it is significant that whilst the main outlines of the Sonata-form are at the foundation of the piece, he has gone still a step farther in the direction of welding the whole sonata into one piece. The first, the movement of development, is on the usual lines but is handled with great freedom. The second movement is one of those fast pieces, somewhat fantastic, with which Schumann has made us familiar at a later period. A remarkable recitative bridge portion follows which leads into one of the most beautiful [164] airs ever penned by Beethoven, the Arioso Dolente . This runs into the Fugue, which is here used not so much as a movement in itself, but a concentration of the chief expression of the whole piece. Vincent d'Indy compares the expression here with that of the 15th String Quartet, Opus 132, written four years later, which contains the Song of gratitude to God for his goodness. In this Sonata, we have as it were a terrible combat against misfortune, then a return to life and hope, not in a calm pious prayer, but in an exultant hymn of joy triumphant.

The subject of the final Fugue is a simplification of the initial idea of the first movement. This opening movement is penetrated with a great religious calm. The Scherzo is somewhat puzzling, but appears to be a somewhat sorrowful frolic, a rather bitter amusement. In the Fugue, suffering disappears; even fantastic cleverness comes to the fore with the subject in contrary movement. Little by little life and joy return, and with the re-establishment of the tonic key, the piece triumphs in an enthusiasm of good feeling. The Italian indications to this sonata are fuller and more unusual, and show that Beethoven was aiming at the deepest possible expression. The use of the Una Corda , and the insertion of the Arioso Dolente into the Fugue, show what a struggle Beethoven underwent in the conquest of his feelings.

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32nd Sonata , Opus 111, in C minor.

Maestoso—Allegro con brio—Arietta.

Although the designation Sonata persists with Beethoven right along throughout all his periods, yet in this last sonata we have left the first ones completely out of sight. The name must be taken merely in its general sense of a piece of high aims; or even in its literal sense, the Italian word meaning simply to play . This Sonata, which was dedicated to the Archduke Rudolph, is practically a Prelude and Fugue, with an Air and Variations. The introduction contains two themes, a leonine, stormy one and a singing phrase. The Fugue opens like a veritable thunder-storm. There are short phrases in the major which answer to the second subject, a brief snatch of two celestial bars, and the agitated atmosphere again unfolds itself. This second subject, which is a mere phrase, is repeated in the last portion of the Fugue in the tonic major, which brings the Fugue into line with the Sonata form proper. The beauty of the Coda has not been surpassed by Brahms in his sublimest moments.

After the storm, a calm. Beethoven concludes his world contribution of Sonatas with an air of celestial happiness, varied in the most lovely manner possible. "A voice from above," someone has called it. The variations lap round it tenderly like the waves caressing the sands on a beautiful [166] calm day. The first variation gently stirs the rhythm of the theme. The second doubles the movement, and the third redoubles, and yet the peaceful calm is not disturbed. Into the Coda steals one of those beautiful pensive movements in the minor key. This emerges into the return of the theme, scintillating with heavenly radiance. Thus Beethoven closes his Sonatas in a heavenly peace.

THE SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND PIANOFORTE

THE SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND PIANOFORTE

1st Sonata , Opus 12, No. 1, in D.

Allegro con brio—Tema con Variazioni—Rondo.

This is the first of a set of three Sonatas published in 1799, and dedicated to F. A. Salieri. It is noteworthy that it was a favourite custom with Beethoven to publish his works in sets of threes; thus, Opus 1, Three Trios for Pianoforte, Violin and Cello; Opus 2, Three Sonatas for Pianoforte; Opus 9, Three Trios for Strings; Opus 10, Three Sonatas for Pianoforte; Opus 30, Three Sonatas for Pianoforte and Violin; Opus 31, Three Sonatas for Pianoforte; Opus 59, Three Quartets for Strings (dedicated to Prince Rasumovsky); and the Opus 12.

No. 1 of this Opus is a vivacious work of no great depth, and the phraseology is in the Mozartian manner. The theme is a 16-bar phrase, given out by the piano and repeated on the violin in two sections. The variations are four in number, the third being in the minor, and there is a short Coda. The Rondo is on modern lines approximating to Sonata form.

[170]

2nd Sonata , Opus 12, No. 2, in A.

Allegro vivace—Andante più tosto Allegretto—Allegro piacevole.

Although this Sonata offers no outstanding point of interest, it is to be regretted that it is not more frequently heard. There are one or two places where the sunny sky is slightly overcast, but on the whole, it is a work brimful of youthful happiness. The Andante , somewhat frail, is like the Finale , full of fine melody, and gay with optimistic feelings of youth.

3rd Sonata , Opus 12, No. 3, in E flat.

Allegro con spirito—Adagio con molto espressione—Rondo.

The tuneful, breezy Allegro contains some brilliant work for the piano. The Adagio seems hardly deep enough to carry its broad time with dignity. The delicate Finale—short, simple, and tuneful—is well rounded off.

4th Sonata , Opus 23, in A minor and major.

Presto—Andante—Scherzo—Allegro molto.

This Sonata, published in 1801, and dedicated to the Count Moritz von Fries, is one of the more serene works of the "first-period" style. Its charms are not readily apparent, but it is full of interest to the serious musician. The subjects of [171] the opening Presto are not very distinguished. The composer seems to have felt this, and has consequently introduced an unusual amount of new matter into the development section. The gentle, placid Andante , with its eloquent rests, has some unusual passages, notably the bridge (bar 33) where a definite theme is treated fugally in three parts. The Finale, undefined, strange and unusual, possesses that weird note which so frequently sounds in Schumann's pieces. The key of A minor seems to possess the right key-colour for this bustling, indefinite, and somewhat uneasy sort of mood. In this direction, one calls to mind the Kreutzer Sonata , with which this movement has much in common. There are more subtle reminiscences; the new theme in semibreves, which plays such a great part in the middle of the Rondo, recalls the fugal Finale of Mozart's Jupiter Symphony . The powerful Coda recalls all the foregoing moods. The movement is very valuable from the psychological point of view, for Beethoven was at the age of 31 years.

5th Sonata , Opus 24, in F.

Allegro—Adagio molto espressivo—Scherzo—Rondo.

This graceful and happy Sonata, also published in 1801 and dedicated, like its predecessor, to the Count Moritz von Fries, is the most popular in [172] the "early-period" style. The first movement is full of serene happiness. The Adagio has a lovely theme, dreamy and languorous as a summer's day. The Scherzo is characteristic, full of fun and oddity; the Rondo, full of good spirits, the chief theme being varied at each return.

6th Sonata , Opus 30, No. 1, in A.

Allegro—Adagio molto espressivo—Allegretto con variazioni.

This is the first of a set of three Sonatas dedicated to the Kaiser Alexander I. With this Opus the true individuality of Beethoven is manifested. Although the opening of this work is not particularly striking, yet the movement has a clarity of style and delicacy of workmanship together with distinct melodic charm. The theme of the Adagio is of great beauty, caressing in its tenderness. For the Finale , Beethoven turns to his beloved Variations form. This was not the original Finale which was "lifted" in a moment of haste to form the conclusion of the Kreutzer Sonata. Still, one cannot deny that the present variations suit this charming poetical sonata much better than the Finale of the Kreutzer would have done.

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7th Sonata , Opus 30, No. 2, in C minor.

Allegro con brio—Adagio cantabile—Scherzo—Allegro.

This favourite work is one of the great masterpieces of music. The first and last movements sound the clear note of Beethoven's personality—a king here comes to his own. The first movement opens with a veritable quatrain of musical poetry. The gay martial swing of the second subject is remarkable. Stormy episodes follow, and the development section commences with a new idea. Conflict succeeds conflict before the serenity of the exposition returns. The beautiful Adagio flows along with a solemn majesty, although there are one or two short dramatic points. The Scherzo , bright and tuneful, somewhat naive, does not give us the fulness of the real Beethoven which we get in the sombre, energetic and passionate Finale .

8th Sonata , Opus 30, No. 3, in G.

Allegro assai—Tempo di Minuetto—Allegro vivace.

After the stormy power and the serene beauties of the Sonata in C minor (a key which always called forth Beethoven's best) this Sonata appears somewhat colourless. The long-drawn Tempo [174] di Minuetto is a little tedious, whilst the first and last movements, though vigorous and well varied in mood, by no means give us the deep Beethoven of the C minor Sonata. The scoring of many of the passages is unusually thin, and reminiscent of Haydn not at his best.

9th Sonata , Opus 47, in A.

Dedicated to Rudolph Kreutzer.

Adagio—Presto—Andante con variazioni—Presto.

Though absurdly over-estimated, perhaps on account of Tolstoy's stupid novel, this still remains one of the great masterpieces in music. Commissioned by a Mulatto violinist named Bridgetower, and written, as the original title-page says, "in a specially brilliant style," it was first given at 8 o'clock on a May morning in 1803 in the Augarten at Vienna, with Beethoven at the piano and Bridgetower with the violin. The Sonata opens with a majestic introduction, ending on a dominant pause. Tradition has it that Bridgetower improvised a cadenza here and that Beethoven approved. Amongst the whirl and excitement of the bold and vigorous opening Presto , the hymn-like second subject stands out with a marvellous way. Nothing is lost of the tenderness [175] of the Andante in the brilliant variations which follow it, and this is all the more wonderful because this piece is the most virtuoso-like of all Beethoven's chamber-music. Tenderness with Beethoven is no maudlin sentiment, but the gentle sympathy of a strong man. The Tarantelle-like Finale originally belonged to the Sonata of Opus 30, No. 1, A major, but, as Beethoven had been dilatory in his commission, the time having arrived and no Finale , he took the Finale from the earlier Sonata and wrote a new one for it later on.

10th Sonata , Opus 96, in G.

Allegro moderato—Adagio espressivo—Scherzo allegro—Poco Allegretto.

This was written in 1810 and dedicated to Beethoven's firm friend and patron, the Archduke Rudolph. Although not really characteristic of the master's latest style, which does not commence until Opus 106, yet it is the most intimate of all the violin sonatas. It stands amongst the very great works and is indeed in some ways superior to the C minor. The Adagio , calm and sublime, is one of the most beautiful things in music. The scoring is like that of a string quartet. The ending dies away and creeps almost imperceptibly into the Scherzo through an unexpected C sharp. Full of life and bubbling over with fun, it has a [176] jolly trio and a coda of its own. The Finale touches every mood from gay to sad, from lively to severe. The lovely Adagio makes a re-appearance in it, but the gay mood wins, for with a freakish little Presto the Sonata is brought to a triumphant close.

THE STRING QUARTETS

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THE STRING QUARTETS

1st Quartet , Opus 18, No. 1, in F.

Dedicated to Prince Lobkovitz.

Allegro con brio—Adagio affettuoso ed appassionato—Scherzo—Allegro.

Composed in 1800 at the age of 30, this first set of quartets belongs to the same period as the great C minor Symphony, No. 5. The music of No. 1 is Mozartian in type, very charming, and the scoring is light and graceful. The Adagio is very beautiful, and one can feel in it the future Beethoven. Indeed we almost arrive at maturity in the episode in D flat in the Finale , where Beethoven uses the melody which he again took up in his ballet "The Men of Prometheus" and in his Third Symphony.

2nd Quartet , Opus 18, No. 2, in G. major.

Allegro—Adagio cantabile—Scherzo—Allegro molto quasi Presto.

This quartet is even more like Mozart and Haydn than No. 1, except for the fact that Beethoven [180] keeps his music in rather higher registers. The Adagio is not so Beethovenish as the slow movement of No. 1, but it contains an episode marked Allegro. The Finale is full of spirit, but it is not the Beethoven in the "unbuttoned" mood of the later works. There is some effective work for the G string on the 1st Violin, for Paganini had already cast his glamour over Europe.

3rd Quartet , Opus 18, No. 3, in D.

Allegro—Andante con moto—Allegro—Presto.

This beautiful quartet, composed a year later than the first two, already points to the maturity of the second period, especially in the first movement. The Andante opens with a lovely melody for the 2nd Violin on the G string; restraint and broadness in playing should be the player's aim here. Parry refers to the fine balance of form in this Quartet in his article in Groves' Dictionary. The Scherzo is here marked Maggiore—Minore—Maggiore . The Presto is full of Beethoven spirit and handling, in one passage in particular, having spaciousness, which is such a striking feature in the final quartets.

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4th Quartet , Opus 18, No. 4, in C minor.

Allegro ma non tanto—Scherzo—Menuetto—Rondo.

Written in Beethoven's favourite key, C minor, this quartet is remarkable for its melodiousness. It has no slow movement and contains both a Scherzo and a Minuet, the former marked Andante Scherzoso quasi Allegretto and opening in a Fugato style reminiscent of the Andante of the First Symphony. Both this and the Minuet contain the characteristic Sforzandi, especially that on the third beat of triple time. The Prestissimo Coda brings the Finale to a powerful conclusion.

5th Quartet , Opus 18, No. 5, in A.

Allegro—Minuet—Air and Variations—Allegro.

This quartet is chiefly remarkable for its lovely Andante and set of variations on the beautiful theme which has all the natural feeling of a genuine folk-song. The first variation is Fugato ; the second has sparkling triplets for the 1st violin; the third woodland murmurs, whilst the cellos and violas occupy themselves with the melody.

The fourth is organ-like in treatment, whilst the final one starts on a boisterous scamper home, which ends, however, in a melancholy, dreamy meditation. The Finale is Mozartian.

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6th Quartet , Opus 18, No. 6, in B flat.

Allegro con brio—Adagio ma non troppo—Scherzo—La Malinconia—Allegretto quasi Allegro.

This favourite quartet, composed in 1800, has five movements; whereas the fourth quartet has no slow movement.

The arrangement of the five movements seems to suggest some sort of carefully-arranged "programme;" but woe always overtook the man who dared to attach a definite story to any of the music in these pieces in Beethoven's lifetime. The opening movement, full of vitality, and asks for spiccato bowing. It is very light in texture. The first Adagio is full of graceful tunefulness, somewhat elaborate in texture, and containing many characteristic touches of expression; so too, does the Scherzo . The second slow movement Adagio , entitled by Beethoven La Malinconia (grief), is one of Beethoven's most moving pieces of music. Knowing here that he was entering into new territory, he especially marks such movements to be played with the greatest feeling più gran delicatezza . This movement runs directly into the final Allegretto , which indeed returns to it twice, as though unable to throw off completely the bitter taste of those sad moments.

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7th Quartet , Opus 59, No. 1, in F.

No. 1 of the set dedicated to Count Rasumovsky.

Allegro—Allegretto Vivace e sempre Scherzando—Adagio molto e mesto—Thème russe con Variazioni.

This fine but difficult quartet, sometimes called the Cello Quartet on account of the prominence given to this instrument, was written in 1806. The Count himself is supposed to have played the cello, and the set of variations on the Russian song used for the Finale was a second compliment to Beethoven's noble Russian patron. Beethoven took his theme from the Prabst collection, 1815, which is not now published, having been superseded by Rimsky-Korsakoff's fine collection. The theme is found there (No. 13) marked Andante and the Russian words may be translated—

Ah, is this my fate?
And what a fate!

The technique and the subject matter is very much more advanced. The first movement contains a remarkable unison passage for the full strings, some remarkable high work for the 1st violin and some wonderful colour effects. The Allegretto is a busy, gossipy movement in B flat. The Adagio molto is a typical Beethoven Adagio . It is the real thing. It runs into the Finale through a long [184] and difficult cadenza for the 1st Violin over a dominant pedal. The ending of the quartet contains some very full effects and is almost orchestral in style.

8th Quartet , Opus 59, No. 2, in E minor.

Allegro—Adagio—Allegretto—Finale.

The second quartet of the Rasumovsky set is even more elaborate than the first. The opening movement, though containing some dark, passionate moods akin to the Appassionata Sonata , is nevertheless happy and delicate in tone. Its technical requirements are great. The quartet opens with two strong chords, then a silent bar, which the composer fills in curiously enough in the recapitulation. The lovely long-drawn Adagio in E major is marked by Beethoven con molto di sentimento (with great feeling). Here again he is in his new territory. It is as though he said to the players, "Wake up! this is an entirely new kind of music." The playful Allegretto introduces another Slav folk-song, which can be found in Rimsky-Korsakoff's collection (No. 45). It is sacred and majestic in tone, a song of glory to the Creator. It forms the major trio portion, which is carefully welded on to the return of the opening minor movement. The Finale represents Beethoven's very happiest mood. It starts clean [185] out of the key in C major. Seldom is Beethoven so happy as we find him here in the Finale , which although written in the sharp signature throughout, is really in the key of C major; the episodes only and the coda only just managing to restore the balance of E minor.

9th Quartet , Opus 59, No. 3, in C major.

Introduzione—Allegro vivace—Andante con moto—Menuetto—Allegro molto (Fuge).

This, the third of the Rasumovsky set, was composed in 1806. Starting clean out of the key, a few bars of Andante introduction gradually lean towards C major. The first movement is remarkably clear and lucid in style and finely coloured in harmony. Beethoven is in one of his happiest moods. The exquisite Andante in A minor opens with a pizzicato bass and ends in the same manner. It is a highly finished movement. The Minuet is of the stately dance order and appears in the tonic key C major. The coda to it ends on the dominant seventh, thus bringing in the remarkable spiccato Fugue which Brahms played from memory as an encore at a concert in Vienna in 1867. The Una Corda set of entries preserving the homogeneity of tone and adding greatly to the effect of the intensity of the crescendi is particularly fine.

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10th Quartet , Opus 74, in E flat.

Poco adagio—Allegro—Adagio ma non troppo—Presto—Allegretto con variazione.

This remarkable quartet, composed in 1809 and dedicated to the Prince Lobkovitz, is widely known under the title of the Harp Quartet on account of the remarkable pizzicato arpeggios in the opening Allegro. A short introduction is marked sotto voce . The Allegro contains a brilliant cadenza for the Violin—Beethoven's only excursion into the virtuoso field in chamber music. The very beautiful Adagio is Beethoven at his very best, whilst the Presto Scherzo is curious in form, being arranged with varying tempi , thus, on the following plan:— Presto C minor, Più Presto-Trio C major, C minor, Presto repeated, and again the C major, finishing with the C minor. This leads without break into a set of six variations: the second, notable for its lovely viola melody; and the sixth, organ-like in character over a cello pedal-point.

11th Quartet , Opus 95, in F minor.

Allegro con brio—Allegretto ma non troppo—Allegro assai vivace ma serioso—Allegretto agitato.

This quartet is dedicated to Count Zmeskal, Beethoven's willing secretary and man of affairs. Here in this work which stands on the border line [187] between Beethoven's second and third styles, we have the gruff and brooding Beethoven. The somewhat short opening movement is full of intense feeling. The Allegretto is calm and religious, ethereal in tone and contains a fine fugato passage. The third movement, which takes the place of a Scherzo , is dark in feeling and pervaded with gloom. A short Larghetto introduction leads into the Finale agitated and restless in character, but ending with a brilliant gleam of sunshine.

12th Quartet , Opus 127, in E flat.

Dedicated to Count Nicolas von Galitzen.

Maestoso—Allegro—Adagio—Scherzando vivace—Finale.

Although probably published before his death, this quartet is generally classed with the posthumous ones which represent fully Beethoven's third style. Although all these quartets contain many orchestral effects, yet he never exceeds the limits of the true string quartet style. To say that string quartet writing is only an imperfectly filled-in sketch of orchestral idium is not correct; otherwise, when Beethoven had four instruments at his disposal, would he have written some of those spacious passages for three, or even two instruments only?

The opening movement has a double subject—the [188] Maestoso introduction accompanying the Allegro subject on every appearance. The Adagio is dreamy in mood and has a touching Andante episode, also a striking excursion to E major before the final return. The Scherzando vivace , which must not be taken too quickly, is also a striking example of Beethoven's characteristic contrapuntal writing and contains a passage in Beethoven's famous Ritmo di tre battute (Rhythm of three bars); another instance of this occurs in the Ninth Symphony . The tempo is constantly changing throughout and the highly dramatic music, free in style, settles down more into a lyric and rhythmic style for the Finale , the long coda of which is extremely characteristic, starting right away from the key.

13th Quartet , Opus 130, in B flat.

Dedicated to Count Nicolas von Galitzen.

Adagio ma non troppo—Allegro—Presto—Andante con moto—Danza alla tedesca—Cavatina—Finale.

This quartet, written in 1825, is one of Beethoven's longest, and contains six movements. The opening piece carries its Adagio introduction through all the appearances of the Allegro subject. The second subject is of wonderful beauty. The development section very short. The unusual Presto in B flat minor very succinct; is the nearest [189] approach to Brahms. The Andante is really a Scherzo treated like an Andante in form. The third movement is cast in the rhythm of a German country dance; the theme is varied on its re-appearance. The famous Cavatina has a remarkable beklemmt (fear) episode and a wonderful Bebung chord at the close. The lovely second subject of The Finale has been used by Borodin as a theme in the Finale of his Second Quartet. There is a very proper little Fugue in the development portion. The original Finale was published separately as Opus 133; it is a terrificly long-drawn Fugue and is regarded as almost incomprehensible by even the most ardent admirers of Beethoven's third style.

14th Quartet , Opus 131, in C sharp minor.

Published in 1827.

Adagio—Allegro molto vivace—Allegro moderato—Andante—Presto.

Although marked off in separate movements, this quartet is practically one long continuous piece. It opens with a mystic Fugue, organ-like in character and contains several fine enharmonic changes of key. At the Allegro molto vivace the tonality is lifted a semitone. This movement is light in character and simple in texture, almost Mozartian. An air with variations is approached [190] by a recitative and introduction. This is followed by a Presto , where Beethoven appears in one of his joking moods. The tempo here alters continually, then comes a short Adagio section, a lamentation broken off by one of Beethoven's gruff shrugs, and the last movement opens with a clearly marked theme in happy mood. Strongly contrasted portions occur from time to time, but the work ends triumphantly.

15th Quartet , Opus 132, in A minor.

Assai sostenuto—Allegro—Allegro ma non tanto—Molto adagio—Andante—Alla marcia—Allegro appassionata.

The opening movement is on the same lines as that of the preceding quartet. Moods change constantly and the development is of the freest kind; there are two parts to the second subject, one a vivacious little figure, two a short singing phrase. The Allegro in A major is in ternary form and takes the place of the Scherzo . Then follows that remarkable movement in the Lydian mode headed "A convalescent's sacred song of thanksgiving to the divinity." This interesting modal piece was written after the composer's illness. The variations of it alternate with the Andante in D major, thus producing striking contrasts of key colour. The final Allegro is in free Sonata form.

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16th Quartet , Opus 135, in F major.

Allegretto—Vivace—Lento assai—Grave ma non troppo tratto.

This quartet is on a much smaller scale. The opening movement, whilst characteristic of the third period, is easily comprehended. The subject of the slow movement is one of Beethoven's most beautiful melodies, and the Finale commences with the famous musical motto—

" Must it be?
It must be "

founded on a little altercation with his cook.

The movement is characterised by some very perverse part-writing.

These final quartets present many problems, even to the most profound students of Beethoven's works.

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

If one wishes to know Beethoven better, reference should be made to the principal biographies and other works on Beethoven, of which we give a brief list:—

I.—FOR BEETHOVEN'S LETTERS.

Ludwig Nohl. — Briefe Beethovens , 1865, Stuttgart.

Ludwig Nohl. — Neue Briefe Beethovens , 1867, Stuttgart.

Ludwig Ritter von Koechel. — 83 Original Briefe L.V.B. an den Erzherzog Rudolph , 1865, Vienna.

Alfred Schoene. — Briefe von Beethoven an Marie Graefin Erdödy geb. Graefin Niszky und Mag. Brauchte , 1866, Leipzig.

Theodor von Frimmel. — Neue Beethoveniana , 1886.

Katalog der mit der Beethoven—Feier zu Bonn, an II.—15 Mai, 1890, verbundenen Ausstellung von Handschriften, Briefen, Bildnissen, Reliquien Ludwig van Beethovens. Bonn, 1890.

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La Mara. — Musikerbriefe aus fünf Jahrhunderten. Leipzig, 1892.

Dr. A. Christian Kalischer. — Neue Beethoven, Briefe . Berlin and Leipzig, 1902.

Dr. A. Christian Kalischer. — Beethovens Sämmtliche Briefe. Kritische Ausgabe mit Erläuterungen, 5 vol. Leipzig and Berlin, 1906-1908.

Dr. Fritz Prelinger. — Beethovens Sämmtliche Briefe und Aufzeichnungen , 3 vols. Vienna and Leipzig, 1907.

By far the most useful books for the English reader, and, indeed, for any reader, are the two splendid volumes of Beethoven's Letters . A critical edition with explanatory notes translated from Kalischer by J. S. Shedlock. (London: J. M. Dent & Co., 1909).

The translation of the letters contained in this present volume have been taken from that work by kind permission of the author and the publishers.

A good selection from these letters, issued in one volume at a moderate price, would be a great boon to English readers.

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II.—FOR BEETHOVEN'S LIFE.

Gottfried Fischer. — Manuscrit (especially interesting for the childhood of Beethoven). Fischer, who died in 1864, was the owner of the house where the Beethoven family lived for two generations. He and his sister Cecilia knew Beethoven as a boy intimately, and have recorded their remembrances of him, which are very valuable, on condition that they are used with some criticism. The manuscript is in the Beethovenhaus at Bonn. Deiters (see below) has published some extracts from them.

F. G. Wegeler and Ferdinand Reis .— Biographie Notizen über Ludwig van Beethoven (especially valuable for the first part of his life), Coblentz. 1838. Re-issued by Dr. Kalischer in 1905.

Ludwig Nohl. — Eine stille Liebe zu Beethoven. Berlin, 1857. (A publication of the Journal of Mlle. Fanny Giannatasio del Rio, who knew and loved Beethoven about 1816).

Anton Schindler. — Beethovens Biographie. 1840. (For the second part of his life).

Anton Schindler. — Beethoven in Paris, Münster , 1842.

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Gerhard von Breuning. — Aus dem Schwarzspanierhause , 1874. (The Schwarzspanierhaus was the house in Vienna in which Beethoven died. It was pulled down during the winter of 1903).

Moscheles. — The Life of Beethoven , London, 2 vols. 1841.

Alexander Wheelock Thayer , and continued by Hermann Deiters , and later by Hugo Reimann .— Ludwig von Beethovens Leben (Translated into English), 5 vols., 1908. This biography was commenced in 1866, but was interrupted by the death of the author in 1897 at Trieste where he was the American Consul. The work stood still till 1816, when Deiters undertook to finish it; but he died in 1907 before he had published the second volume. Riemann finished the work from the materials left by Deiters. It is by far the most important work on Beethoven.

Ludwig Nohl. — Beethovens Leben , 4 vols., 1864-1877.

Ludwig Nohl. — Beethoven nach den Schilderungen seiner Zeitgenossen , Stuttgart.

A. B. Marz. — L. van Beethovens Leben und Schaffen , 2 vols. 5th Edition revised by G. Behncke. Berlin, 1902.

Victor Wilder. — Beethoven, sa vie et son œuvre , 1883.

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III.—FOR BEETHOVEN'S WORKS.

Beethoven. — Complete works , critical edition, Breitkopf and Haertel, Leipzig, 38 vols.

G. Nottebohm. — Thematisches Verzeichniss der im Druck erschienen Werke von Ludwig van Beethoven , Leipzig, 1868.

A. W. Thayer. — Chronologisches Verzeichniss der Werke von Beethoven. 1865.

G. Nottebohm. — Ein Skizzenbuch von Beethoven. 1865.

G. Nottebohm. — Ein Skizzenbuch von Beethoven aus dem Jahre, 1803. 1880.

G. Nottebohm. — Beethovens Studien. 1873.

G. Nottebohm. — Beethoveniana. Zweite Beethoveniana. 1872-87.

George Grove. — Beethoven and his Nine Symphonies. London, Novello, 1896.

J. G. Prodhomme. — Les Symphonies de Beethoven , 1906.

Alfredo Colombani. — Le Nove Sinfonie di Beethoven. Turin, 1897.

Ernst von Elterlein. — Beethovens Claviersonaten. Fifth edition, 1895.

Willibald Nagel. — Beethoven und seine Klavier-sonaten. Two volumes, 1903-1905.

J. S. Shedlock. — The Pianoforte Sonata. London, Methuen, 1900.

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Charles Czerny. — Pianoforte School (part 4, chapters 2 and 3).

Theodor Helm. — Beethoven's Streichquartette. 1885.

H. de Curzon. — Les lieder et airs detaches de Beethoven , 1906.

Otto Jahn. — Leonore. Klavierauszug mit Text, nach der zweiten Bearbeitung , 1852.

Dr. Erich Prieger. — Fidelio. Klavierauszug mit Text, nach der ersten Bearbeitung , 1906.

Wilhelm Weber. — Beethoven's Missa Solemnis , 1897.

Mariam Tenger. — Beethoven's Unsterbliche Geliebte , 1890. The historical value of this book has been frequently contested. Mariam Tenger was the confidential friend of Theresa in her last years. It is very likely that Theresa, then aged, may involuntarily have idealised her remembrances; but the foundation of the story appears reliable.

A. Ehrhard. — Franz Grillparzer , 1900.

Theodor von Frimmel. — Ludwig van Beethoven (in the collection of Berühmte, Musiker ), Berlin, 1901.

Jean Chantavoine. — Beethoven , Paris, 1907.

Dr. Alfred Christian Kalischer. — Beethoven und seiner Zeitgenossen Beitrage zur Geschichte des Kunstlers und Menschen. 4 vols., 1910. A collection of documents of the greatest interest on the whole circle of [201] Beethoven's friends. This wealth of information renews in a great part the psychology of Beethoven.

Prof. Dr. Richard Sternfeld. — Zur Einfuhrung in Ludwig von Beethoven's Missa Solemnis.

Ignaz von Seyfried. — Ludwig von Beethoven im Generalbass, Kontrapunkt, und in der Kompositions Lehre , 1832.

W. de Lenz. — Beethoven et ses trois styles. (Analysis of his pianoforte sonatas), (out of print), 1854.

Oulibicheff. — Beethoven, ses critiques et ses glossateurs , 1857.

Wasielewski. — Beethoven , 2 volumes, Berlin, 1886.

R. Schumann. — Music and Musicians. Translated by Fanny Raymond Ritter, London, Reeves.

Richard Wagner. — Beethoven. Leipzig, 1870.

Vincent d'Indy. — Beethoven. Paris, 1911.

BEETHOVEN'S PORTRAITS.

1789.— Silhouette of Beethoven at eighteen years. (Beethoven's house at Bonn; reproduced in Frimmel's Biography, page 16).

1791-2.— Miniature of Beethoven by Gerhard von Kügelgen. (In the possession of George Henschel, London; reproduced in "Musical Times" of December, 1892, page 8).

1801.— Drawing by G. Stainhauser , engraved by Johann Neidl. (Reproduced in "Les Musiciens," celebres by Felix Clement, 1878, page 267; Frimmel, page 28).

1802.— Engraving by Scheffner , after Stainhauser. (Beethoven's house at Bonn; reproduced in "Die Musik," of March 15th, 1902, page 1145).

1802.— Miniature of Beethoven , by Christian Hornemann. (In the possession of Madame de Breuning at Vienna; reproduced in Frimmel, page 31).

1805.— Portrait of Beethoven by W. J. Mahler. (In the possession of Robert Heimler, Vienna; reproduced in "Musical Times," December, 1892, page 7; "Frimmel," page 34).

1808.— Drawing by L. F. Schnorr de Carolsfeld , lithographed by J. Bauer. (Beethoven's house at Bonn).

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1812.— Cast of Beethoven , modelled by Franz Klein.

1812.— Bust of Beethoven , by Franz Klein, from the cast. (Belonging to E. Streicher, piano manufacturer, in Vienna; reproduced in Frimmel, page 46; "Musical Times," December, 1892, page 19).

1814.— Drawing by L. Letronne , engraved by Blasius Hoefel. (The finest portrait of Beethoven; Beethoven's house at Bonn contains the original, which he offered to Wegeler; reproduced in Frimmel, page 51; "Musical Times," December, 1892, page 21).

1815.— Drawing by L. Letronne , engraved by Riedel. (Reproduced in "Die Musik," page 1147).

1815.— Second portrait of Beethoven , by Mahler. (In the possession of Ignace von Gleichenstein of Fribourg-en-Brisgau. Reproduction in Beethoven's house at Bonn).

1815.— Portrait of Beethoven , by Christian Heckel. (In the possession of J. F. Heckel, of Mannheim; reproduction in Beethoven's house at Bonn).

1818.— Engraving from the drawing of Beethoven by Aug. von Kloeber. (Reproduced in "Musical Times," December, 1892, page 25). The original drawing by Kloeber is in the collection of Dr. Erich Prieger at Bonn.

1819.— Portrait of Beethoven by K. Joseph Stieler. [204] (The property of Alex. Meyer Cohn, Berlin; reproduced in Frimmel, page 71).

1821.— Bust of Beethoven by Anton Dietrich. (In the possession of Leopold Schrotter, of Kristelli; reproduction in Beethoven's house at Bonn).

1824-6.— Caricatures of Beethoven walking , by J. P. Lyser. (Original in the Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde, Vienna; reproduced in Frimmel, page 67; "Musical Times," December, 1892, page 15).

1823.— Caricatures of Beethoven walking , by Jos. van Boehm. (Reproduced in Frimmel, page 70).

1823.— Portrait of Beethoven by Waldmueller. (Belonging to Messrs. Breitkopf and Haertel, Leipzig; reproduced in Frimmel, page 72).

1825-6.— Drawing of Beethoven by Stepan Decker. (In the possession of George Decker, Vienna; reproductions in Beethoven's house at Bonn).

1826.— Drawing of Beethoven by A. Dietrich, lithographed by Jos. Kriehuber. (Reproduced in Frimmel, page 73).

1826.— Bust of Beethoven a la antique , by Schaller. (The property of the Philharmonic Society of London; copy in Beethoven's house at Bonn; reproduced in Frimmel, page 74, and in "Musical Times," December, 1892).

1827.— Sketch of Beethoven on his death-bed , by

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Jos. Danhauser. (In the possession A. Artaria, Vienna; reproduced in the "Allgemeine Musik-Zeitung" of April 19th, 1901).

1827.— Three sketches of Beethoven on his death-bed , by Teltscher. (In the possession of Dr. Aug. Heymann; published by Frimmel; reproduced in the "Courier Musical" of November 15th, 1909).

1827.— Mask of Beethoven dead , modelled by Danhauser. (Beethoven's house at Bonn).

Numerous portraits of Beethoven have been made since his death. The most remarkable work which has been dedicated to his memory is the monument of Max Klinger (Vienna, 1902).

CLASSIFICATION OF BEETHOVEN'S PIANOFORTE SONATAS
IN ORDER OF STUDY

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CLASSIFICATION OF BEETHOVEN'S PIANOFORTE SONATAS.
IN ORDER OF STUDY

1. Op. 49, No. 2, in G major.

2. Op. 49, No. 1, in G minor.

3. Op. 14, No. 2, in G major.

4. Op. 14, No. 1, in E major.

5. Op. 79, in G major.

6. Op. 2, No. 1, in F minor.

7. Op. 10, No. 1, in C minor.

8. Op. 10, No. 2, in F major.

9. Op. 10, No. 3, in D major.

10. Op. 13, in C minor ( Pathétique ).

11. Op. 22, in B flat major.

12. Op. 28, in D major ( Pastorale ).

13. Op. 2, No. 2, in A major.

14. Op. 2, No. 3, in C major.

15. Op. 7, in E flat major.

16. Op. 26, in A flat major.

17. Op. 31, No. 1, in G major.

18. Op. 31, No. 3, in E flat major.

19. Op. 90, in E minor.

20. Op. 54, in F major.

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21. Op. 27, No. 1, in E flat major.

22. Op. 27, No. 2 in C sharp minor. ( Moonlight ).

23. Op. 31, No. 2 in D minor.

24. Op. 53, in C major.

25. Op. 81, in E flat major. ( Les Adieux ).

26. Op. 78, in F sharp major.

27. Op. 57, in F minor. ( Appassionata ).

28. Op. 110, in A flat major.

29. Op. 109, in E major.

30. Op. 101, in A major.

31. Op. 111, in C minor.

32. Op. 106, in B flat major. ( The Giant ).

[211]

[213]

LIST OF BEETHOVEN'S WORKS.

Compiled from Marx and Thayer.

I.—COMPOSITIONS WITH OPUS NUMBER

Opus

II.—COMPOSITIONS DESIGNATED SIMPLY BY NUMBERS.

III.—COMPOSITIONS DESIGNATED BY LETTERS.

A.—INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC.

[231]

B.—DANCE MUSIC.

Twelve Contre-danses.

Twelve Minuets for orchestra.

Six Minuets for piano.

Twelve Danses Allemandes for two violins and bass.

Seven Country Dances for piano.

Six Country Dances for piano.

Twelve Ecossaises for piano.

Six Allemandes for piano and violin.

Twelve Waltzes with Trios for orchestra.

Six Waltzes for two violins and bass.

Two Minuets for piano, for four hands.

Six Country Dances for piano.

Two favourite Waltzes for piano, in B flat major and F minor.

C.—VOCAL MUSIC.

IV.—COMPOSITIONS WHICH APPEARED AFTER BEETHOVEN'S DEATH, WITHOUT BEING DESIGNATED AS OPUS OR NUMBER.

INDEX

[239]

INDEX

A

Amenda, Carl, 10 , 65
Antwerp, 4 n.
Appassionata , sonata, 18 , 154
v. Arnim, Bettina, 29 n.
"Art unites everybody," 105

B

Bach, J. S., 21 , 48 , 82 , 104 , 105 ;
his fugues, 160
Beauty, 101
Beethoven, Carl, 14 , 38 , 39 ;
Johann, 14
Beethoven, Ludwig :
Birth, 3 ;
Flemish origin, 3 , 30 ;
his Father, 4 ;
his Mother, 4 ;
his Grandfather, 4 n.;
his Republican sympathies, 8 , 17 ;
his deafness, 9 ;
his first concert in Vienna, 9 ;
unhappiness, 15 ;
in love, 22 ;
his short-sightedness, 22 ;
love-letter, 23 ;
consciousness of power, 26 ;
his taste in literature, 27 ;
"pedantic," 34 ;
his deafness, 34 ;
conversation-books, 35 n.;
unrestfulness of mind, 37 ;
lodgings, 37 n.;
foster-son, 41 ;
note-books, 43 ;
death-bed, 51 ;
operations, 51 n.;
his will, 57 - 61 ;
his letters, 65 - 98 ;
his bad health, 73 ;
deafness, 74 - 5 , 78 ;
"raptus," 77 ;
prices for his copyrights, 82 - 3 ;
approaching end, 97 ;
his Thoughts on Music, 101 - 6 ;
his piano-playing, 104
Bernhard, Mme. de, 9
Bibliography, 195
Bilingual tempo indications, 158
Bonaparte, Jerome, 33
———, Napoleon, 19 , 31 , 112

[240]

Bonn, 3 , 6 , 85
Botticelli's Bambino , 12
Brahms, 165
Braunthal, 2
Brentano, Bettina, 27
———, Maximiliana, 162
v. Breuning, Councillor, 96 , 98
v. Breuning, Eleonore, 5 , 69 , 84
v. Breuning, Steffen, 76 , 80
v. Breuning, Stephen, 34
v. Brunswick, Franz, 32 , 154
v. Brunswick, Therese, 20 , 25 , 37 , 156
Brutus, 28 n.

C

Cherubini, 38 n., 105
Choral Symphony , 36 , 43
Chorus, 43
Christ, 28 n.
Church music, 103
C Minor , 53
Coda, 165
Composing, 102
Coriolanus Overture , 18
Critics and Criticism, 106

D

Divine, The, in Music, 101

E

Egmont , 19
Elgar, Enigma Variations , 115
"Englishmen, magnanimous," 95
v. Erdödy, Maria, 34 n., 54
Eroica , 53
—— Symphony , 17
Ertmann, Freund Dorothea, 160

F

"Fate knocks at the door," 118
Fidelio , 35 , 102
First Symphony , 12
Fourth Quartet , 18
Freudenberg, 104
Fugue, 162 , 164 , 165
Funeral March , 16 , 19 , 113

G

Galitzin, Prince, 38
Gallenberg, Count, 14
Gelinck, 9
Gellert, 16
Gerardi, Fräulein, 68
Gerhard, Wilhelm, 103
Godesburg, 85
Goethe, 27 , 28 , 29 n., 30 n.
Goethe, Faust , 48

[241]

Grillparzer, 49 , 53
—— Melusina , 48
Guicciardi, Giulietta, 13

H

Hammerclavier, Sonata for the , 161
Handel, 48 , 104
Heiligenstadt Testament , 14 , 60
Hoche, 19
Hofmeister, Capellmeister, 81
Homer, 27 n.
Hornemann's miniature of Beethoven, 16 n.
Hulin, General, 19
Hummel, 94

I

"Immortal Beloved," Beethoven's, 23
d'Indy, Vincent F., 164
Italy, 48

K

Kempis' Imitation of Christ , 52 n.
King Lear, 44
Kinsky, Prince, 33
Klein, Franz, 32
Körner's Odyssey , 48
Kreutzer Sonata , 16
Kuffner (poet), 49

L

Les Adieux , 155
"Lebe-wohl," 158
Lichnovsky, Prince, 60 , 73
Lobkovitz, 19 , 33
Lorchen, 77 , 81

M

Macbeth , 42 n.
Malchus, 71
Martonvasar, 20
Mass in D , 38 , 162 , 163
Mendelssohn, 157
Michael Angelo, 28 n., 39
Military band, 129
Modulation, 128
Moonlight Sonata , 16
Moscheles I., 2 , 48 , 93 , 94
Mozart, 4 , 105
—— Don Giovanni , 13
Müller, Dr., 49

N

Napoleon I., 19 , 31 , 112
Nephew, Beethoven's, 50

O

Ode to Joy , 42
"Opera, An", 21
Opferlied, 87
Orchestra, 119

[242]

P

Palestrina, 103
Passage work, 104
Pépinière, 85
Philharmonic Society, 93 , 94 - 5 , 97
Philosophy, 101
Pianoforte Concertos, 19
Plutarch, 11 , 27 n., 75

Q

Quartets analyzed, 179
Quartets , Op. 59, 34
Quartet , Op. 130, Finale , 132 , 38
Quartets , Op. 132, 43
Quartet , Op. 130, Final , 50
Quips and sallies, 117

R

Revolution, French, 7
Rhenish Song , 12
Rhine valley, 6 , 51 , 72
Rhythm, 123
Rossini, 34 , 45
Rudolph, Archduke, 33 , 102 , 103 , 161 , 165
Russell (English traveller), 37

S

Scale, Perversity of, 124
Scherzo , 114 , 119 , 162
Schindler, 31 , 35 , 36 n., 47 , 159
Schmidt, Professor, 59 , 60
Schott, Brothers, 90 , 96
Schiller, 42 n.
Schumann, 53 , 115
Second Period Style, 112
Septet , 12
Shakespeare, 3 , 27 n., 28 n.
Shedlock, J. S., 65 n.
Six Religious Songs , 16
Smart, Sir George, 92
Socrates, 28 n.
Sonatas analyzed, 133
Sonata in D, 11
Sonata in F sharp, 23
Sonata with the Funeral March , 16
Sonata in D Minor, Op. 31, 16
Sonata, Moonlight , 16
Sonata, Kreutzer , 16
Sonata, Appassionata , 18 , 154
Sonata , Op. 106, 38
Sonata, Les Adieux , 155
Sonate pathétique , 11
Song of Farewell , 8
Spiker, Dr., 49
Stadler, Abb., 105
Steinhauser's sketch of Beethoven, 8
String Quartet , in A minor, Finale, 126

[243]

String Quartet , Opus 132, 164
String Quartet , 1, Opus 18, No. 1, in F, 179
String Quartet , 2, Op. 18, No. 2, in G major, 179
String Quartet , 3, Op. 18, No. 3, in D, 180
String Quartet , 4, Op. 18, No. 4, in C minor, 181
String Quartet , 5, Op. 18, No. 5, in A, 181
String Quartet , 6, Op. 18, No. 6, in B flat, 181
String Quartet , 7, Op. 59, No. 1, in F, 183
String Quartet , 8, Op. 59, No. 2, in E minor, 184
String Quartet , 9, Op. 59, No. 3, in G major, 185
String Quartet , 10, Op. 74, in E flat, 186
String Quartet , 11, Op. 95, in F minor, 186
String Quartet , 12, Op. 127, in E flat, 187
String Quartet , 13, Op. 130, in B flat, 188
String Quartet , 14, Op. 133, in C sharp minor, 189
String Quartet , 15, Op. 132, in A minor, 190
String Quartet , 16, Op. 135, in F major, 191
Symphonies (The nine), analysed:
No. 1, 109
"  2, 110
"  3, 112
"  4, 115
"  5, 117
"  6, 120
"  7, 122
"  8, 124
"  9, 126
Symphony, Eroica , 17
—— Second , 16
—— C Minor , 19
—— Fourth , 21
—— in B flat , 22
—— Seventh , 29
—— Eighth , 29
—— Ninth , 42 , 46 , 47 n.
—— Tenth , 43 , 48 , 48 n.
—— Eleventh , 43
—— in A , 30
—— Ninth , metronomized, 95
—— Ninth , 115
—— Pastoral , 120

T

Tannhäuser , 48 n.

[244]

"Tedesca," 156
Theme of Joy, 43
Thomson, George, 103
Töplitz, 28
Touch in Piano-playing, 104

U

Umlauf, 35
Una corda, 164

V

Variations, 165
Vienna, 6 , 7 , 31 , 32 , 45 , 109
Violin Sonatas analyzed, 169
Violin Sonata , 1 , Opus 12, No. 1, in D, 169
Violin Sonata , 2 , Op. 12, No. 2, in A, 170
Violin Sonata , 3 , Op. 12, No. 3, in E flat, 170
Violin Sonata , 4 , Op. 23, in A minor and major, 170
Violin Sonata , 5 , Op. 24, in F, 171
Violin Sonata , 6 , Op. 30, No. 1, in A, 172
Violin Sonata , 7 , Op. 30, No. 2, in C minor, 173
Violin Sonata , 8 , Op. 30, No. 3, in G, 173
Violin Sonata , 9 , Op. 47, in A, 174
Violin Sonata , 10 , Op. 96, in G, 175
Voltaire, 106

W

Wagner, 32
—— Woodland Murmurs , 121
Waldstein, Count, 153
Wegeler, Dr. F., 6 , 10 , 15 n., 51 , 54 n., 72 , 78, 84 , 88 , 91
Wegeler, Julius, 87
Wegeler, Eln., 88

Z

Zelter, 29 n., 30 n.

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