The Placer herald. [volume] (Auburn, Placer County, Calif.) 1855-1991, 1868-07-11
THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CREA.
TION."

JOSEPH HAYDN'S LET THERE BE LIGHT
Every one wished to participate in this fes.
tivai, which was 10 render homage to the
veteran German composer, the great Joseph
Haydn, on the occasion Of the twenty fifth
performance Of the maes,ros great work.
" The Creation" Ten years bad elapsed
since the fist performance of ''The Creation"
at Vienna, and already the sublime compost
,ion had made the tour Of Europe, aud had
been performed amidst The most enthusiastic
applause in London and Paris. in Amsterdam
and ST.. Pe'ersburgh, in Berlin, and all the
large and small cities of Germany. #
To day the twelfth performance Of "1be
Creation" was TO take place at Vienna. and
Joseph Haydn himself was to be present at
the concert. The committee OF arrange
men,s had invited him, and be bad accepted
the invitation. Although bis seventy seven
bad pa,alyzed his strength, be could not
withstand the honorable request Of bis friends
and admirers, and he replied, with touch.
lug smile, TO the committee Of arrangements
whose delegates had conveyed the invitation
TO him Il shall come to take leave Of the
world with my Creation, and bid las,
farewell 10 uy fair Viennese, You will often
yet sing my Creation but l shall hear it
for the last time "
For the last tme!" These were the
words which had thrilled all the friends and
sdmi,ers Of the maestro, and filed them with
desire to greet him once more, and render
him homage for the last time. For all felt
and knew that Haydn had spoken the truth,
and that bis end WAS drawing near. All,
therefore, longed to take part in this last tri-
umph Of the composer of "The Creation"
whom death had already touched with its in
exorabls finger.
Hence there was perfect jam in front Of
the university building. As they
could not be admitted into the ball, they re.
maiued 10 The street in front Of lbe building !;
as they could not hear Haydn's music, they
wished at least 10 see bis face and cheer b,m
oD his arrival at the door.
But there was surging crowd also in the
festively decorated university hall. All bad
come n their holiday attire, and joy and pro
found emotion bea,ned from all faces. =
And now the hour WAS at hand when the
concert was 10 commence. The audience
bad taken their seats, the orchestra ceased
tuning their instruments, the singers we're 10
readiness, and the committee on arrange.
meu,s bad gone down to the st:eetdoor to
await Haydn's arrival.
He bad been expected already for some
time, and the audience began to whisper
auxiously Will he, perhaps, not come,
after aIll" "Wil his physician not permit
him to 20 to the concert because the excite
ment uiy hit be injurious to bim?"
Now the door opened, and beautiful
though strange group appeared in it. 10 its
midst, on the shoulders Of eight strong men,
arose an easy chair, festooued with flowers.
and in this chair sat the small bent form Of
an old man. His face was pale and wan.
and 10 bis forehead the seventy y'seven years
had drawn deep furrows; but from bis large
blue ewes beamed the eternal fire Of youth,
and there was something cbildlike and touch
ipp 10 the smile Of bis mouth. On the right
side OF bis easychar was seen the imposing
form Of a gentleman, plainly dressed, but
with head foil Of majestic dignity, his face
gloomy and Wild, bis high forehead, surround.
ed by dense. dishevsed hair, bis eyes now
cleaning with sombre fires. now glanc'ng
mildly and smiably. It was Louis Won
Beethoven Ia Masonic brother), whom Haydn
liked to cali bis pupil, and whose fame had
At tha. time already penetrated far beyond
the frontiers Of Austria. On the loft side Of
the easy chair was seen the fine, expressive
face Of Saleri, who liked 10 call himself
GIu,k. pupil; and side BY side with these
two walked Kreuizer and Clement, and the
other meube Of the committee OF arrange
ments.
laundering cheers greeted their appear
ance the whole audience rose. In
.ffec., the exultatiou Of ftbs audience increased
a. every step which the procession advanced.
Here two. beautiful ladies Of big b rank came
to GREET him. and presented to him. on cusb'
ions Of gold. embroidered velvet, poems writ
ten BY Collin and Carpan, and printed on
s;,ken r;hhous. At the same time many
-. e;,tad throuoh the ball. and