Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-10-20
QDbio Statesrrrarr,. ,
The "NToonlight Sonatn" by Beeth-
hOven.

The "Noonlight Sonata by Beeth-
.... hoven.
i ~ BY AMELIA D. EDWARDS.
''Did ever tell you how or why Beeth-
oven composed the Moonlight Sonata?
at happened at Bonn. OF course you
know that Bonn was his native place. He
was born In house on the Rheingasse /;
but when i first knew him, he was lodging
In the upper part of little mean shop near
the ROmerplatz. lie was wretchedly poor
just then so poor that he never went out
for a walk except at night, on account of
the poverty of his appearances. However,
he had piano, pens, paper and ink, and a
few. books, and from these he contrived to
extract some little happiness, despite bis
privations. At this time, you know, he had
not the misfortune to be dear. He could at
least enjoy the harmony of his own COM
positions. Later IN life he had not even
that consolation. One winters evening |
called upon him, for wanted him to take
a walk, and afterward to sup with me. l
found him sitting by the window, In the
moonlight, without fire or candle, his head
buried in his hands, and his whole frame
trembling with cold for 1t was freezing
bitterly. | reused him, persuaded him to
accompany me, urged him to shake off his
dependency. He went; but he was very
gloomy and hopeless that night, and re-
fused to be comforted. Il hate life and the
world he said, passionately. Il hate my
self! No one understands or cares for me.
l have genius, and am treated as an out
cast. have heart, and none to love. /
wish it were all over and forever wish
that were lying peacefully at the bottom
OF the river yonder. l sometimes find it
fn ict ba tar I,
pointed to the Rhine, looking cold and
bright In the moonlight. l made no reply;
tor. it was useless to argue with Beethoven,
so allowed him togo on in the same strain,
which he did, nor paused till we were re-
turning through the town, when he SUBJ
sided into sullen silence. Ibid not care
to interrupt him. Passing through some
dark, narrow streets within the Coblentz
gate, he paused suddenly. Hush = he said.
What sound is that? listened, and heard
the feeble tones of what was evidently a
very old piano, proceeding from some place
close at hand. The performer was play ing
q plaintive movement in triple time, and,
despite the worthlessness of the instrument,
contrived to impart to it considerable tend
erness of expression Beethoven looked at
me with sparkling eyes. 1T is from my
symphony in F. he said, eagerly. This is
the house. Hark! how well it is played p
1t was little, mean dwelling, with light
shining through the chink of the shutters.
We paused outside and listened. The play
er went on, and the two following move
ments were executed with the same fidelity
the same expression, In the middle of
the finale there was sudden break-a
momentary silence-then the low sounds of
sobbing. L cannot 60 on said a female
voice. Il cannot play any more to-
night Friedrickr why not, my sister p ask
edher ercompaniOn, gently. Iscarcely know
why, unless that it is so beautiful, and that
1t seems so utterly beyond my power to do
justice to its perfection. Oh, what would /
not give to 60 tonight to Cologne! There
Is q concert given at the Kauthaus, and all
kinds OF beautiful music to be performed.
1t must be so nice to 90 to concertr
'Ah my sister, said the man, signing,
none but the rich can afford such happi-
ness. 1t is useless to create regrets for
ourselves where there can be no remedy.
We can scarcely pay our rent now, SO why
dare even to think of what is unattainable?
You are right, Friedrich, was her reply.
sAnd yet sometimes when l am playing, I
wish that for once In my life | might hear
some really good music and fine perform
ance. BUTT is ofno use-ofno use! There
was something very touching In the tone of
these last words, and In the manner of their
repetition. Beethoven looked at me. Let
us 60 in,' he said, hurriedly. Go inr lex
claimed. How can we 60 in what can we
60 in forF 4 will play to her. he said, in
the same excited tone. Here is feeling
genius-u understanding. Twill play to her,
and she will appreciate III And before could
prevent him, his hand. was upon the door.
1t was only latched, and instantly gave
way; SO followed him through the dark
passage to a ahalf-opened door at the right
of the entrance, which he pushed open and
entered, 1t was bare, comfortless apart
ment, with small stove at one end, and
scanty furniture. "A pale young man was
sitting by the table making shoes and near
him, leaning sorrowfully upon an old
fashioned harpsichord, sat a young girl,
with a protusion of light hair falling over
her bent face. Both were cleanly but very
poorly dressed, and both started and turned
towards us as we entered. Pardon me- said
Beethoven, looking somewhat embarrassed.
Pardon me-butTI. heard music, and
was tempted to enter. II am musician.
The girl blushed, and the young man look
ed grave-somewha annoyed. III also
overheard something of what you said,'
continued my friend. You wish to hear
that Is, you would like-that is, shall play
to you" There was something so odd, so
whimsical, so brusqne In the whole affair,
and something so pleasantSand eccentric in
the very manner Of the speaker, that the
ice seemed broken In q moment, and all
smiled involuntarily. THANK youy said
the shoemaker, but our harpsichord is
wretched; and we have no music.' Mpmu-
sicP echoed my friend. How, then, does
the franlein1 He paused and colored up.
for the girl looked round full at him, and
In the dim, melancholy gaze OF those cloud
ed eyes he saw that she was blind. IL
entreat your PARDON he stammered, but
had not perceived before. Then you play
from carp Entirely? And where do you
hear the music. since you frequentno con-
certs? II used to hear a lady practicing
near us when we lived at Bruhl two years
ago. During the summer evenings her
window was generally open, and I walked
to and fro outside to listen to her. And
have you never heard any nhusicp' None
excepting street mltslc.' She seemed's shy,
so Beethoven said no more, but seated him
self quietly before the piano, and began to
play. He had no sooner struck the first
chord than l knew, what would follow
how grand he would be that night! And l
was not mistaken. Never, never during
all the yearssIa knew him, did / hear him
play as he then played 70 that blind girl
and her -hrotherl Never heard / such fire,
gradations of fAmeledy and modulhtion. He
was inspired; and from the Instant that his
.fpgers began to wander along the keys, the
very tones of the Instrument seemed to
grow sweeter and more equal. Breatfiless
and eptranced, we sat listening. The BROTH
er aid sister were silent with wonderland
rat,filre The torfilpr 1Afd aeifiA his work.