New-York tribune., 1870-12-17
BEETHOVEN.
CELEBRATIONS OF THE CENTENNIAL.

CFlEBRA1lONS CENTENNIAL
The common consent Of the world bas placed Bes-
thoven among the four OF five greatest mon who
ever lived. What Shakespeare and Dante were I'm
poetry what Michael Angelo was in painting, scuip-
ture. and architecture, that Beethoven was in the
sister art of music--a creator Of new forms Of
beauty. genius whose intellect grasped great truths
beyond the perception of ordinary 80 univor-
sal was the reach of Sbakespears's ntuitions that
discoveries which the world has attained by long
ages OF patient investigation 10 be fOresbsd-
owed IN his writings, and il ia hard 10 believe
no was not acquainted with secrets OF nature which
were brought TO light generations after hls death.
Just 80 Beethoven anticipated the intellectual wants
and varying sentiments of that we're 10 fol-
low him, and expressed all the moods Of the soul In
music which changes OF taste or notifications OF
popular character ever render antquated. In the
greatest Of the immediate predecessors Of BeethovenB
Bach for instance, and in Haydn. and Mozart who
logically his predecessors In art though not exactly In
yearsthcre ls certain fashion Of thought which ths
world gets away from after WHILE and the rude popu
lar taste. failing through the outward form TO the
sublime beauty beneath It, finds these composers out sf
date" But 1t Is not so with Beethoven. Ho was too
great genius to clohe HIS ideas in garb which could
ever become old fashioned. Not only 10 the musician.
but to everybody who appreciate music at ALL he is
fresh to-day as he half century ago He got down
10 the very depths Of tho human heart mastered every
shade Of human feeling. and co. ike Shakespeare
for all men and for all time.
The celebration which Ia going on in his honor,
from end OF the civilized world 20 the other In 70
msrkable exemptcation both OF the unyersay OF bis
genius and the universally OF his art whole world
could never be made to unite In commemorating MI
chael Angelo a Shakespeare, because such q small
fragment OF tho world h. any practical knowledge OF
their work. The painting the statue seen only
by few; the poem be felt only by thoss who have
learned the Language In which IL is written but
Just as much the possession OF the people OF NewYok
in 1870 az they we're OF the people Of Venns in 1894
enthusiasm which finds vent this week In 80 many fec
yals ia shared by cultivated OF every nation and Of
every character.
CELEBRATIONS IN EUROPE.
In Germany the commemoratlon Of the bundrcdts
birthday has been somewhat mared by the war. but all
the chief musical cities will Obserye It with or less
spendOr. Vienna. where Beethoven passed most OF bis
life and produced his principal works. has celebration
lasting four days began Tor was 10 begiD) yesterday
with performance of " Fidelio" by complete star
cast all the best solo artists within reach participating n
H. taking the small roles, and even singing in thechorus
To-day cOnsecrated TO the Choral Symphony and mis-
celaneous selection, Madame 6cbumaDn contributing
a. her share the piano concerto In Il at. Tomorrow
there will q grand performance of the Mass in ID, and
on Monday there to be concert of chamber music In
the daytime, and representation OF Egmont at tho
theater In the evening. Bonn tho composers o'rth-
psce Berlin Dresden and al the great musical centers
have made for appropriate Observance OF
the anniversary Pesth s 10 have jubilee under the d
recton OF the Abb6 List, with "EgmOnt," Fidelio'
and probably the Choral symphony. Wagner has pub
shed a. q Festival Gift Grafton In the composers
honor and Won Bulow has been playing the Sonata Ap
passionate and other Beethoven music at centenary fe
tiyal In Florence.
Nowhere perhaps has the celebration been more gen
eral than In London 1t has lasted all the season, and
hat the Concerts,
Society and the Monday Popular Concerts the London
public will have heard in the course Of the Winter all tho
nine symphonies all the four Fidello" overtures and
splendid selection from the concertos, sonat1a songs.
ovorturcs and chamber music for various n-trumens
Tetjens is to sing FideDo" this evening at Co'ont
Garden.
AMERICAN CELEBRATIONS.
Boston naturally takes the lead among American cities
in keeping this feast but, except In one particular ths
announcements promise little than we are 10 have
In New-York. The Symphony Concert OF the Harvard
Musical Association. on Thursday afternoon offered
programme composed entirely Of Beethoven's works
the third overture LeOnors the great soprano aria
from tho first act Of the same opera. sung by MADAME
Bertha Johannsen the Seventh symphony the andants
and adagio from tho Promctheus" ballet, and tho
Choral Fantasia which contains tho germ Of the great
symphony in d minor Last evening there wac 10 be
Beethoven concert by the Mendelssohn Qintete Club
tonight, tho English opera company is TO perform
"Fidelio !" and Monday the festival Is to reach its
climax In q production Of the Ninth symphony by tho
Handel and Haydn Society and the Harvard Husical
Association combined.
In Philadelphia Beethoven has been honOred all this
month by various societies and individual concert per
former Mr. Carl W0fsohn bas produced several OF tho
piano sOnatss; Mr. Charles H. Jarvis has given some ad
mrable selections from the sonatas duets tos &c. and
this evening the Beethoven Society TO have perform
anoe at the Academy Of Music with the Egmont" over
ture the Choral Fantasia part of the Fifth symphony.
and selections from "FideiO" and 1.-THE Mount OF
Olives" In the Western Cities especially where there Is
considerable German population, there Is general at
tempt to do something In honor Of the great master
Even Chicago whose people are commonly believed 10
10 unable to tell symphony from sardine, has adyer
tised two concerts by the Germana Mannerchortbough
they are rather peculiar affairs The first announced for
last night embraced pieces but nothing Of Beetho
yens except the acgretto from the Eighth symphony.
There oraton however, by the Rev. X. L. Collier.
Tonight the Ninth symphony ia to be tried with several
mlsce elaneous Beethoven pieces. New Haven has had
Beethoven festivanot altogether successful but well
meant.
THE CELEBRATION IN NEw-YoRK
Although there has been no concert Of action amons
New York Societies there will be worthy Observance
OF the anniversary and in respects our ceie
bration will be admirable. The Beethoven Msnnerchor
took the lead last night with representation OF IN
delo" Of which shall speak further on and tonight
Will hold high festival at their hall In Fifth St. with
concert and banquet For the concert they will pro
duco tho Die Weihe des Hauses 1.-THE Dedics-
ton Of the House"-very appropriately, this 10
their formal taking possession Of their quarters
followed by Adelaide" the quartette, Opus l6 solo
and chorus from Christ on the Mount OF Olives" tho
last movement Of the Fifth Symphony. the song ANT
Perndo." and the Kreuzer Sonata. Unfortunately this
tempting programme is offered simultaneously with us
grand celebration by the Philharmonic society Iho
latter take place this evening st the Academy OF
Music includes the Seventh symphony, the piano CON
cero in fat played by Miss Krcbs, and the whole OF
the Egmont' music, with the accompanying poem, to
bo read by Mr.. yandenbof. Tomorrow evening. tho