Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1873-02-07
~ publIsher and Prorrietor
Nine Grent Musicians.

Bach, Handel, Haydn, Mozart, Beeth
oven, are the five men to whom would
respectfully point as having an un
doubted right to the title of Kings oI
Music" and to their works and conse
quent influence the art of music is
indebted for the position it occupies. II
to these names are added those OF Weber
Schubert, Spohr and Mendelssohn, there
will be a total of nine, and do not think
| shall be accused of exaggeration if
assert that il is to these niLe great men
that the world is indebted for the greater
part of the enjoyment and instruction
that have been derived from the practice
of music since Bach first became known,
at the commencement Of the eighteenth
century. Ifit is asked why | name only
nine great men, and why all these should
be selected from one nation, | would
reply that, though in France Cherubini,
Auber, Herold, Adam, Berloiz have
lived; though England has produced
Purcell, Boyce, .Arne, Webb, Callcot
William Horsley; though Italy was as
much the cradle of music as of painting,
and can boast, besides, her glorious
Church composers, Rossini, Bellini,
Donizetti, Mercadante and others; and
though even Germany will never forget
Gluck, Spontini, Myerbeer, Marschner,
etc., yet these men, great as they were,
have exclusively devoted themselves to
one style of composition; in France,
Germany and Italy to operate music;
in England, to Church and glee writing;
whereas the nine have selected applied
themselves to and succeeded in every
known form of musical composition,
from the snblimest sacred works to the
lightest dance music. This great versa
tility, therefore, entities them to more
consideration than those who have only
been distinguished in one branch of their
art, and it is for this reason that |
would urge their claims to the high posi-
ton in which conceive they should be
placed and if it has happened that all
these nine men we're from one nation,
Bach, Handel, Spohr and Mendelssohn,
from the north; and Haydn, mozart,
Beethoven, Schubert and Weber from
the south of Germany, it can only be
replied that art has no country, and that
musicians must be Judged by their works
and the power they have asserted on the
minds of their hearers, without refer
epce to the nation from which they
sprang. / should be far too long
in arriving at the immediate OBJ
iect of this paper if ] allowed my
self to dwell at any lsngth on the
individuality of each Of the nine oom-
posers have named; but it will be nec-
esssry to relate many OF the extremely
happy circumstances under which Men,
deissohn lived and worked, so it will not
be out of place to refsr 10 the painful
struggles and difficulties Of at lssst hYe
of his compeers, the beauty OF whose
works may almost be said to be en-
hanced by the troubles under which they
were produced John Sebastian Bach,
by far the most scientific musician the
world has yet seen, commenced bis ca
reer under the most painful eircum.
stances. His elder brother endeavored
by every means to quench his genius tor
music, and by denying him light at the
only period of the day which be could
devote to sslfingtrlction, laid the foun-
dation of an eye disease WHICH ended in |
total blindness. In addition to this his |
worldly means were Of the smallest, and |
the burden of q very large family must
have greatly added to his pecuniary any
ieties. In spite Of these obstacles, he
lived the most industrious OF lives, and
not only produced the most incredible
number Of works, all Of which, be they
large or small, are immortal, but he edu-
Gated Eve of his cons to be most excel
lent musicians, end thus proved bis
mama 10 be a veritable "Rach," or
stream, of the profoundest depth and
clearness.
Handels early life was full OF troubles.
He wandered from one Italian town to
another, producing operas, and certainly
making name, but it was not until al
ter he was fifty years Of age that he
struck out that path of oratorio writing
which has made him immortal; and
though at his death he left large for
tune, vet even in England his losses
caused him more than one bankruptcy.
HAYDN, to gain instruction, was com
pelled to perform menial service for his
frst master, PortOro, who compelled
him 10 black his boots and brush his
clothing in return for a small mOdi-
nm Of teaching; and even when the
service OF Prince Esterhazy his position
Ior many years was little better than
hat Of a lacquey. The whole course Of
Nozarts life was beset with troubles.
The Archbishop Of Salzburg, into whose
service he entered at the age Of sixteen,
,eems TO have delighted in plaguing the
life with every species OF
petty tyranny, and when at last he
broke through the tolls and, as It were,
escaped 70 Vienna. his greatness raised
him a host Of enemies, aud his good
nature. his kindness IN assisting others,
and his genial temperament and love Of
society brough, bin into 50 much Pecu-