John Weeks Moore

“ Thus far hope and prosperity attended him By the year 1800 he had composed his two firs symphonies, over twenty sonatas, trios, quartets
Ind his well-known septet, embracing many of his most admired productions. Not only at the shrine of art had he worshipped. Love was the ruling star and chief source of his inspiration through this early period and long after. Though never married, though never blessed with a fair ministering spirit, like Mozart's Constance, though utterly uncommunicative on the whole subject, yet it appears that the secret passion always preyed upon him. ”

“ How much he has bequeathed to the ages in that language which admits of no misconstructions, like words ; which sets forth no partial truths, like all thoughts and systems which are only started to be contradicted ; that language which comes from the heart of the man, and expresses the sentiment which reconciles all conflicting views, and speaks to the heart again ! When will the world appreciate his music? ”

“ Strangers in appearance, at first thought, these episodes immediately arrest the attention by their originality ; then, when the effect of surprise begins to subside, the composer knows how to reunite them to the unity of his plan, and makes us perceive that, in the ensemble of his composition, variety is dependent upon unity. Beethoven united to this rare quality a deep feeling of the effect of instrumentation, which does not resemble that of any other author. No one possesses as well as he the art of filling up (remplir) the orchestra, and opposing harmony to harmony. ”

“ But it was natural, that the impetuous, restless young artist should incline more to excess of strength than of delicacy in his playing.
His life in Bonn terminated in 1792, when, by the favor of the elector, and through the instrumentality of his old patron, he was sent to Vienna, to enjoy the instruction of Haydn. He was now twenty-two ; and he looked back upon this period as the happiest part of his life. Very little is told of it. Evidently he was not a youth to be easily known. He lived in his art, too absorbed in it to be much given to dazzling exploits before the crowd. ”

“ Never was the interest which so great a man excited manifested so forcibly as during his last sickness: anxiety was depicted on every face; a great crowd obstructed the avenues to his house, and the most distinguished personages called at his door to learn the news. The report of the danger which threatened him was rapidly circulated, and soon reached Weimar, where Hummel was, who departed instantly for Vienna, with the intention of becoming reconciled to Beethoven, who had been angry with him some ears previous. On entering the chamber, Hummel melted into tears ”

“ H. "He is One, self-existent, and to that One all things owe their existence."
Two things he would never talk about - religion and thorough bass. For he regarded them both as things ultimate and settled ; the one the foundation of life, the other of music. He regarded a good life as the only confession of faith; and the production of true works of musical art as the only solution of the laws of harmony. His life and his music alike were a yearning and striving towards the spiritual essence, which he felt to be supreme, and the ground of all things. His music was his religion ”

“ And the richness of the composer's imagination shows itself still more brilliantly in the quintet in C for violins, violas, and bass, (op. 29,) and in the beautiful sonatas for the piano and violin, (op. 30.) The symphony in D (op. 36) is a composition less remarkable for originality of ideas than for the merit of its arrangement, which is very great ; it is in this symphony that we perceive for the first time that remarkable instinct for instrumental combinations which afterwards gives to the symphonies of Beethoven a beauty so varied, so vigorous, and so brilliant. ”

“ Whatever diversity of opinion there may be as to the works of the different periods of Beethoven's life, there is one point on which the world will be forever agreed, viz., that the author of these works deserves to be reckoned among the number of the greatest artists, and of those who by their genius have contributed most to the development of their art. ”

“ But what distinguishes the compositions of this great man is the spontaneousness of the episodes by which he arrests, in his beautiful works, the interest which he has created, by substituting for it another as lively as it is unexpected. ”

“ From recreation in the society of my fellow-creatures, from the pleasures of conversation, front the effusions of friendship, I am cut oft Almost alone in the world, I dare not venture into society more than absolute necessity requires. ”

“ His first welcomer and friend was Von Swieten, once physician to the Empress Maria Theresa - a zealous amateur, whose delight it was, in his old age, to assemble the finest musical talent in his house. Here Beethoven became acquainted with the compositions of Handel, Bach, and all the great masters as far back as Palestrina ; and he was always obliged to stay after the rest were gone, and add half a dozen fugues of Bach "by way of a blessing." Frequently the old man would not let him go at all. ”

“ Beethoven, Louis Van. The greatest composer of the present century, was born in Bonn, on the Rhine, December 17, 1770. His father was tenor singer in the elector's chapel, a man of irregular habits, besides being a severe taskmaster to the boy, whose early musical education he superintended in persona stubborn, impetuous, impatient boy, who hated to sit still, and had absolutely to be driven to the piano, and yet who loved music dearly in his own way. ”

“ These were circumstances to imbitter the sweets of home, and to provoke to surly self-reliance a genius which could not brook artificial methods, and could feel its own appointed way better than rules and teachers could show it. ”

“ I am prepared for the worst-I, who, so early as my twenty-eighth year, was forced to become a philosopher- it is not easy - for the artist, more difficult than for any other. 0 God, thou lookest down upon my misery ”

“ Such a disposition of mind is not without example among great artists, when they are advanced in life. And, notwithstanding his opinion in this respect, it is nevertheless true that many compositions belonging to the first period possess some admirable beauties. ”

“ The compositions of the second period are those in which the great musician has shown the most power of invention, combined with the most extended knowledge of the perfection of the art. This period extends from op. 55 to op. 92. At the commencement of the third period, his ideas suffered the last transformation, which went on developing itself more and more even to his latest work. ”

“ These were his good angels, who could appreciate his mind, and forgive his sins against conventionality. Here he was always welcome and at home; here he grew familiar with intellectual society, and with the works of the German poets.
At the age of 15, he was appointed organist in the chapel of the Elector of Cologne, Max Franz brother of the Emperor Joseph II. This post was obtained for him by Count Waldstein, an amateur of taste, who was the first to recognize his genius, and his friend and patron through life. ”

“ This style arrives at its limit in the grand mass in D, the last overtures, the symphony with a chorus, and especially in the quatuors for the violin, (op. 127, 130, 131, 132, and 135.)
"Thus we see that the compositions of Beet.
noven are divided into throe classes, each indicative of the particular direction of his genius: those of the first class Beethoven did not value ; he disliked to hear them spoken of with praise, and really believed that those who praised them did it merely with a design of undervaluing others. ”

“ But it is in the third symphony particularly, (the Heroic,' op. 55,) that the genius of the artist displays itself in the absolute character of creation ; there every trace of anterior form disappears, the composer is himself, his individuality rises up with majesty, and his work becomes the type of an epoch in the history of the art.
"The second epoch of Beethoven's life, which is so distinctly marked by his 'Heroic Symphony,' comprises a period of about ten years, during which he wrote, besides this work, the symphonies in B flat, C minor, and ' the Pastoral, the beautiful quartets of op. ”