Nebraska advertiser., 1868-01-02
BeethOTen's Moonlight Sonata.
rRon THE GERMAN BY AUBER FOnEsrIEl

FRoM THE GERMAN BY AUBER FoREsTIER
- 1laGtc9A
Before taking the position of Court
OrganIst at Vienna, Beethoven was liv-
ing in his native city, Bonn, 10 the most
stFaitened circumstances. All day he sat
az the old worn piano, from which he
never parted, or wrote his great tone
creations, and only under cover of the
night would be venture without doors for
his long walks. A musician, his faith
ful admirer and only friend, was in the
habit of accompanying him upon these
nightly rambles.
Once upon a winter evening, when
the full moon shed It's sllvery light over.
the ancient houses and upon the glossy
surface Of the frozen river. they heard,
in passing a lowly cottage in the vicinity
Of the Hoblentz gate, music that caused
Beethoven to stand still in amazement
Il was bis F major symphony, played with
the most astonishing FIRE and expression
upon an old wiry harpsichord.
Suddenly, while Beethoven and his
friend stood listening, the music ceased,
and through the window out into the
street, where they stood, they heard a
suppressed sigh. and the voice of a young
girl broke the stiffness of the night Il
was thus she spoke:
L can play no more, brother, Some
other time, not this evening. Oh, this
music is beautiful, it steals to my very
heart, and implants there a feeling Of
deep sadness
Beethoven pressed the hand Of bis
friend. II must see this genius be said,
and without delay be entered the house,
walking at once TO the room whence the
music had proceeded. II was a little
shabbily furnished room upon the ground
floor, only family lighted by a broken
piece of candle. A young man sat at
workable. He was a shoemaker. Not
far from him stood a maiden. her arm
resting upon the old harpsichord, her
head bent downward.
Forgive me- said Beethoven to the
shoemaker, who had sprung SO his feet
in surprise i heard music here, and as
] myself am a musician
He hesiiaied a momeni, then proceed
ed:
81 should like to play you something
This certainly strange offer called a
half mistrustful, half-ironical expression
TO the face Of the young shoemaker, who
thus replied:
you would like to play something for
me. All, our instrument is very poor,
and. besides we have no notes.
Howl. You have no notes. cried
Beethoven, in an ecstacy of delight; and
yet. Fraulien you play
He stopped abruptly, for now for the
first time be discovered that the maiden
was blind.
Il could not believe he said some
what embarrassed. that you were play
ing the symphony from memory
1 once lived with a lady in Bingin
who played this symphony very often
the maiden replied; IL impressed itself
upon my memory, for / love the music
Let me play for you, said Beethoven,
and without another word be seated him
self before the harpsichord. He struck
first a few simple chords, which gradu-
ally rose and swelled 10 symphonic form,
and beneath the master touch, the worn,
discordaht instrument seemed to regain
its original harmony. With every in
creasing bOldness and power did his
phantasy find power and expressions; now
il was stormy and passionate, now wall
ing, dying away, melting into the ten
derest tones.
~lnvoluntarily all were spell-bound by
by the happy flights Of Imagination. The
shoemaker sat with his eyes fixed in
wonder upon The stranger, his sister was
lost in devotional feeling.
Suddenly the lamp hickered Up with a
lurid glare, then went out. But Beetho.
ven did not cease; doubtless he had for
gotten the realities about him. Softly
the shoemaker stole 10 the winaew-a and
pushed open The shutters, so that the full
moonlight stFeamed into the room. 1
The glorious light as it beamed upon
the keys must have suddenly broken the
chain Of Beethoven's ideas. He ceased
playing, bowed down his head, laid his {
hands upon his knees and seemed lost in
thought.
Finally the blind girls brother stepped {
up 10 him, and said in a tone Of deep re-. G
spect: q
Who are YOU?' 9
Beethoven raised his head and gazed 4
absently at the shoemaker. Then ne
and said; .
Listen c
He played a few passages Of the + ma ,
Tor symphony, The one that bad but now 2
SO excited the blind girl. $1,000 lI i
A cry Of rapture ran from the maid. s
ems lips. P
'YOu are Beethoven. Oh, my God '
Oh, play mOTes', Ia