New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-22
NEW PUBLICATIONS,

IfHRE Io Edited by lGNlz RITTER yoS SEyFRIED. New
s seI ube n CO. Hamburg Nsw.YOrk BrOadwsy 2
One of the best indications of the real progress OF
music in this country is the increasing call Tor theoreu
cal works of the highest character. The American
press has already placed in the Students hands the
rreat work OF Gotfried Weber, on Musical Composition
aud the first volume of the celebrated work of Marx the
Berlin Professor We learn also that an EXTENSIVE
and very thorough original work Fugue is in prepa
ration and will soon be published BY one OF our best
native musicians, at Boston. The work. whose title is
given above while it belongs to the same class, has
peculiar interest and value both from the fact that 1t
grew into form under the eye of Albrechtsberger the
most distinguished of theorists and that 1t gives us the
successive lessons and exercises OF the most Original ana
greatest of composers while yet student laying the
foundation of his future greatness The work in Fact
poshumous publication of the studies of BehsTea, In
tie science and art of Musical Composition.
1t consists of the principles and rules the art with
so many of the written exercises of the student as are
necessary to illustrate them and show in what manner
lie wrought and nerspersed with many characteristic
remarks grave and gay, called forth by anlquaed for
mulas against which the common sense Oh young
Beethoven then rebelled.
The simple fact of Beethovens authorship of these
Sudden" would merely give them a value as a
stances under which they composed however, give
them an intrinsic value to the STUDENT and word upon
tlis point may be interesting and useful
Beethoven at the age of eleven became protege OF
the Eector of Cologne, whose Court was at Bonn, the
bovs birth.place. and to whose musical corps his
father and grandfather belonged The best instruction
the place afforded was employed to develope the young
musicians extraordinary musical talents and at the age
L al ct0ntc prO
seventeen he was sent to Mozart then in Vienna, but
tbe sickness and death of his mother called him home;
at eighteen We find him playing the viola in the Electoral
orchestra: and finally at twenty-five, Maxmlllan sent
him AGAIN TO Vienna to profit by the instructions Of
HAYDN, then the acknowledged head of the musical
world The master and pupil did not prove congenlal
shirts and the departure of the former for London in
1893 gave Beethoven the opportunity OF placing himself
under the care of Abrechsbergr who as heorst ranked
with Haydn composer.
The Young man was already also composer, and in
deed even then a great musician AS pianist he had
Int one rival in all Vienna, W6l6l He was familiar
with the works of the various schools for at that time
tbe cities of the Rhine were neutral ground on which
the Italian French and German styles met on equal
farms. and vet all this with Abrechtsberger counted
nothing. The pupil had to begin at the begin
ming and work his way from the simplest lesson in inter-
walls down to the profoundes depths OF fugua counter
point The effect of this to systematic all his
knowledge of the science. With young student the
resu of the severe course pursued by Abrechtsbeger
obt have led TO stiffness and adherence to antquated
firm: with Beethoven who had already in one depart
ment of music chosen his own path and was brayely
treadng it in spite of the oppOstono such were hard
IL vet reconced to the innovations Of Mozart 1t result
ed in bringing him to full and clear view OF his own
principles of composition, corrected him III some points
and strengthened him in others 1t enabled MN 10 see
nreesey on what ground he stood and ever AFTER ses
bile that he had fully mastered the fundamental prnc
ples of the science when the critics blamed him Tor ths
that or the other breach ofthe rules he would rnb his
hands together and exclam in great glee, now
they are at their wits ends and lay their heads together
because they cannot find it in the books.
The lessons and exercises of such student have
value HIGHER than as mere objects of curiosity.
is little singular that Seyfried should have included
nthe Sudden some things which were only copied from
the great composers Of previous age An allegro from
an overture by Handel is an instance given In Seyired
edition without credit The present Editor, Mr. Pear
son. has supplied the omission. Another and more no
ticeable instance is in case of fugue, which has leo
Marx into an error and which in fact taken from the
Gradus ad Parnassum of the old theorst, j. j. Fux
This is credited by neither of the Editors to its real au
thor and its defects have been urged against Beethoven
who expressly remarks that it not intended as an ex
! ample of an artistic composition.
That Beethoven set some value upon these studies
clear from his having carefully preserved the ve grea
packaCes' into which he had bound them, in all hi
changes of place and residence. Thirty years after h
had ceased to be student with Albrechtsberger, the
were found among bis posthumous effects, and appea
upon the inventory Of the public administrator as Nc
l49, Contrapunktische Aufsatze. Crosse Packets
His effects were sold at auction in November, 1921
and the Aufsatze' were purchased by Haslnger, a
old friend of the deceased and pretty extensive seeC
ton from them published in 1892
An appendix TO the Sudden contains Sketch q
Beethoyens Life by Seyfied, several OF his letters
Hasirger and Others addresses and poems delivered
and music performed at his funeral, and new and yer
fine Catalogue of his works Mr.. Persons edition
given without variation from that of Vienna, save Gel
tain corrections the improved Catalogue, and some sa
additions to the Supplement. The volume is ornament
ed with two or three fac SMILES view OF the mont
ments to the composer in the Wahringer Fnedhof'
burialqround. near Vienna, and in the Manstersquar
AT Bonn another of the house in which ne died' an
some other engravings.
We learn that an English translation Will soon appear
,tnr IN ouch as understand the German arS -,
afarV