New-York daily tribune., 1845-02-07

! III
that lie at the heart Of our own existence, taougt
we have not found means even TO stammer then
I as vet. To those who have obtained some clue
to all this-and their number is daily on the in
crease-this biography Of Beethoven WILDE very
interesting. They will there find picture of the
great man, as he looked and moved in actual life
though impcrlecily painted, as by one who saw
the figure from too low stand point.
| L; will require the united labors of constea
ton of minds to paint the portrait OF Beethoven
That of his face, as seen in life, prefixed tc
these volumes, is better than any we have seen. L
bears tokens of the force, the grandeur, the gro
tesque Of his genius and, at the same time, shows
the melancholy that came to him from the grea
misfortune of his life, his Deafness and Ethe afiec
tionateness Of his deep heart.
Moscheles gives very pleasing account of hi;
frs, cognizancc Of Beethoven.
ssi had been placed under the guidance and tut
ton of Dionyslus Weber, the founder and presen;
director of the Prague Musical Conservatory; and
he, fearing that, In my eagerness to read new mu
sic, might injure the systematic development OF
my pianoforte playing, prohibited The library, Ia
circulating musical brary) and, IN plan tor my
musical education which he laid before my parents,
made il an express condition, that for three years
should study no other authors but Mozart, Ciemen-
ii. and s. Bach. must confess, however, that, IN
spite of such prohibitions, visited the library,
gaining access 10 it through my pocket money. II
was about this time that learned from some school
fellows that young composer had appeared at Vi
emma who wrote the oldest stuff posslble-such as
no one could either play or understand crazy mu-
sic. in opposition to all rule; and that this compo-
s.r's name was BEETHOVEN. On repairing 10 the
library TO satisfy my curiosity as to this so-caed
eccentric genius, found there Beethoven's Senate
Dafhetiqite This was in the year 1901 Mypocket
money would not suffice for the purchase OF it, 50
secretly copied it. The novelty of its style was
so attractive TO me, and became so enthusiastic in
nv admiration of It, that forgot myself so far as
to mention my new acquisition 10 my master, who
reminded me of his Injunction, and warned me not
to play or study any eccentric productions until
had based my style upon more solid models
Without, however, mindlng his lnlunctlons, seiz-
ed upon the planotorie works o beethoven as they
successfully appeared, and IN Them found soace
and delight such as no other composer afforded me.
In the year 1909, my studies with my master,
Weber. closed and being then also fatherless
chose Vienna for my residence TO work out my fu-
turc musical career Above all, | longed 10 see
and become acquainted with that man who had eX-
ercised so powerful an influence over my whole
being; whom, though ] scarcely understood, |
blIndly worshipped. learnt that Beethoven was
NEST difficult of access, and would admit pupil
but Ries; and for a long time, my anxiety 10 see
him remained unqualified. In the year 1910, how
ever. the longed-for opportunity presented itself.
happened TO be one morning IN the muslcshOp OF
Demenico Araria, who had just been publishing
some of my early attempts at composition, when
man entered with short and hasly steps, and, gliding
through the circle of ladies and professors assem-
bcd on business, or talking over musical matters,
loo m ns thouuh he ishPd IN
noticed made his way direct Tor Artarla's private
Office at the bottom of the shop Presently Arta-
ria called me in, and said, This Is Beethoven"
and 10 the composer, This is the youth of whom
have just been speaking TO you. Beethoven
gave me friendly nod and said he had just been
hearing favorable account Of me. To some mo-
dest and humble expressions which stammered
forth, he made no reply and seemed 10 wish 10
break off the conversation. | stole away with
greater longing for that which | had sought than
before this meeting, thinking 10 myself" Am
then, indeed, such nobody that he could not put
one musical question TO mel Nor express one wish
TO know who had been my master, or whether
had anv acquaintance with his works?' My only
satisfactory mode of explaining the matter and
comforting myself for this omission, was IN Beetho-
yen's tendency TO deafness, for had seen Artaria
speaking close 10 his ear. But made up my mind
that the more was excluded from the private in
tercourse which so earnestly coveted, the closer
would follow Beethoven in all the productions Of
his mind"
If Moschelcs had never seen more Of Beetho-
ven. how rejoiced he would have been on read
ing his pathetic expressions recorded in those
volumes, as to the -misconstructions he knew his
fellow men must put on conduct caused by his
calamity, at having detected the true cause Of
coldness, in his own instance, and that no mean
suggestions of offended vanity made him false to
the genius, because repelled by the man.
Moschees did see him further, and learned a
great deal from the intercourse, though it never
became intimate. He closes with these excel
lent remarks
"My feelings with respectto 10 Beethoven's music
have undergone no variation, save To become
warmer In the first hali-score OF years OF my ac-
ouaintance with his works, he was repulslve 10 me
as we'll as attractive. In each OF them, while ielt
my mind facinated by the prominent idea, and my
enthusiasm kindled by the flashes OF his genus MS
unlocked for episodes, shrlll dlSsonances and bold
modulations gave me an unpleasant sensation =
But how soon did become reconced TO them
All that had appeared hard, soon found lndiSpcn-
sable The cnome-like peasantrles, which at hrst
appeared too distorted-the stormy masses oi
sound, which found too Chaotic have, IN after
times, learned to love. But, while rerachns my
tui'N Niit'Nu N-NNNf''.''.
my creed, that eccentricies like those OF beelho-
ven are reconcilabe with his works alone, and are
dangerous models 10 other composers, many oi
whom have been wrecked in their attempts al lmi-
;ation."
No doubt the peculiarities of Beethoven are
inimitabIe, though rs great would be as welcome
in mind Of equal greatness. The natural Office
of such genius is to rouse others to use and
knowledge of their own faculties, never 10 in
duce imitation of its own individuality.
As an instance OF the justncss and undoubtine
clearness of such mind as to its own methods
take the following anecdote, from Beethovens
Pupil Ries."
"All the initiated must be interested in the
striking fact which occurred respecting one O
Beethoven's last solo-Sonatas (n major. witt
the grea, fugue op. lO6l-a Sonata which ha.
fortv,one pages Of PRINT. Beethoven had sent it IL
me 10 London for sale, that it might appear there
at the same time as in Germany. The engraving
was completed. and | in daily expectation OF. tht
letter naming the day OF publication This arrived
limo Pr