New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-06-16

THE GREAT MUSICIANS: BEETHOVEN. by H. a.
Rudall svo, PIP. l65. Newfork scripner
The admirable set of short biographies to which
this book belongs would papably have been IN
complete without "A volume devoted 10 that COM
poser whose transcendent enius has dominated
the art of music for nearly thfee-quarleis vi d
century and is still its most potent Influence ue-
spite the changes wrought by time judged py
The Limitation set by the manner Of the publca-
tion there is much 10 commend IN MI kudaIls
little book II sets no higher aim than 10 TEL
in succinct form the story OF Petitioners career
No ATTEMPT is made to analyzc his works or TO
trace the influences which aided 10 produce them
As rule he is content 10 play the part OF a
comnler Of known facts and relator OF tie tale
which others have often told him. There Is no
effort az original discovery either oil 1acIs OF
conclusions What SCHNEIDER, Wigdcr. ReS Nohl
and Thayer brought to paper he has read. Ou' ol
all he has constructed plain tale which Is con-
sistcnt whose parts are deity joine" together.
and which .accomplishes the purpose with
which we have doubt, the author
set out, namely. 10 present picture
of the man Beethoven which should be sufficiently
strong in outline TO make an impression without
the adventitious aid of picturesque writing.
Some of the new light which Thayer threw
upon the subject finds reflection in these
naocs: but not enough to dispel all the foolish
romance which the old writers wove around their
hero In the case Of the questions which Mr..
Tbayer boldly raised, such as the conduct OF
Beethoven's brothers, the real subject OF the I'M
passioned letters which a sentimental world IN
sist on believing were addressed 10 the Countess
Ginlietta Guicciardi though that assumption mas
nothing stronger 10 sustain II than the moohhgh,
which has been spread over the C-sharp minor
Sonata) the authenticity of the literary paroNSsm
pnIu
the like. Mr. Rudall refuses To have an opinion OF
his own. 1t is plain that he does not care u
disturb the sentimentalty with which Beethoven
is associated in the careless mind of the punhc
INV more than he can help, and that he Is willlhg
IN let as many of the legends pass as he can CON
sistentl with the reputation of a man OF lndg-
ment The easiest way of doing TINS Is I" zen
the stories then mention the nature OF the critical
affections that have been raised and decline to
attempt to settle the dispute. This Is MI kudall ;
plan in the cases mentioned, and we are not pre-
pared to say that his is not wise one under
the circumstances
Ii is for this very reason. however, coupled
with another. which seems to us of even greater
weight, that this new life of Beethoven does moth
ing toward supplying one of the greatest needs
of the English and American amateur in this de-
partment of musical literature We very much
.ionbt whether there is anything to be said con
,erninQ the physical life of Beethoven when mas
rot already been fully, fairly and ably said. IL
there is anything it can only relate to the CLOSING
Years of the composers life, which VIII be Gov
cred by the ong-dcayed fourth volume OF mayer
There will he little gained by following aiter
such a patient and careful cleaner as he mas
proved himself to he. II Mr.. Thayer Will hut com
pete his work and then give us either the original
English manuscripts from which DR. Dei'ers made
,n+O
write - in the light of the completed task. the
last word of mere biography will have been
snoken Yet the need to which We have referred
will even then still he left unsupphed What
The English and American amateur wants Is
book on Beethoven combining biography with
criticism and analysis of the masters music-a
book written with the admiration, Affection IN
sight and devotion which gladden. as in the
warm pages of Marks "Leben und Schailen,
and with an equal amount of poetical fervor regu-
lated by knowledge Were il not for the diff
Guilty of reproducing Marks style we would say
that his book ought to be translated before an
other book on Beethoven ALWAYS excepting the
ideal Life which Mr.. Thayer ought TO write is
given 10 the public.
To recur for parting word TO the book before
NC. Whether Mr. Rudalls knowledge of German
i sufficient TO have enabled him always 10 study
his sources in the original is open TO question
The doubt, at least, is suggested by the ldct
that some of his anecdotes have sadly lost point
in the telling The most significant of them for
the light which il throws on a strongly marked
trait in Beethoven's character is that OF the
great composers commentary on the musclanshlp
Of Prince Louis Ferdinand. a nephew of FREDERICK
the Great on whose invitation Beethoven visited
Perrin. Beethoven's remark Mr.. Rudall gives
In. GIL as follows 1T THAT is, the Princes
rIa / "Nxas NOT
bnt only that Of a good pianist If these words
reflected the sense of BeetbOvens remark. II would
no difficult to find in them the compliment which
beethoven intended to pay still less that spirit
of democracy which bTcathes in the observation as
actually made What Beethoven said might bet
ter he rendered thus: That was played not
royally or prncey. but mastery, like a thorough
nianist and musician So, too, in the familiar
.pecdote told on page 1851 Of SOntag begging
Beethoven TO simplify a passage Ill the vocal
part of the Ninth symphony, and on his refusal
turning away with the remark 10 fraculelu
Tnrher. For Heavens sake, then, let Us work
away al il again." which version prompts Mr..
Rudall 70 characterize Sontag as true ARTIST
and amiable creature Both of these she was, put
in il than Mr.. Rudall seems To know. H. was
:" Let us then 90 tortuTin2 ourselves, III 'he
name of God" D.
We fancy that our authors spelling OF bee
fhoycn,s Christian name Ludwig instead OF
Ludwig was adopted for the sake OF phonctics'
Mem Hnbll(attous.