New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-06
A NEW BEETHOVEN SONG
A MELODY FOR GOETHE'S "HAIDENROES
LEM" RESCORED AND HARMONIZED.

LEM" RESCORED AND HARMONIZED
Herewith the readers OF The Tribune receive
new song by Beethoven. one. moreover. which
will be complete surprise to even the most h.
dustrous Of Beethoven students. Readers Of
Nottebohms "Beethoveniana" which is claS
siied study Of a number Of the sketchbooks eA
by Beethoven were prepared for the publicatr
a few weeks ago Of a setting By Beethoven Of
Goethe's ballad The Erlking" Nottebohm d.
ciphered the melody many years ago and printed
it, and Reinhold Becker a German musician
had only to supply a few missing measures The
character of which was obvious and write
pianoforte accompaniment on lines suggested BY
the composer in his sketch 20 give the world
Beethovens conception OF an appropriate mu.
steal integument for Goethe's familiar poem
The present work is in a different case. The
Beethoven melody for Goethe's 'Haidenr0slein'
which Mr.. Henry Holden Huss has put t0geh1
from a page Of sketches found in the collectO,
Of autographs made by the late Alexander ".
Thayer, is now made public for the first tine
Herr Nottebohm and the readers Of his "Zwen|
Beethovenana" knew, indeed, that Beethovr
had contemplated a setting Of the poem, for tbs
fact is recorded in Chapter LXIII OF that book
where also may be found a portion OF A melotI
which haunted the mind Of the composer for 81
considerable space OF time. That melody, hoE'
ever. is not the one of which Mr Huss mad.
use. but a variant of the sketch printed in .ss
smile in The Tribune Of last Sunday TIL
sketch which lies at the foundation Of the con-
pleted song is that which Is reproduced herr
with The evidence Of the autographs IN e.|
Thayer collection goes to show that the Note
bOhm melody was originally conceived for a.
other song. the title Of which has thus far bas
fled me. II is interesting. however, not only b.
cause it was thought OF for time apprpn
ate to the "Hadenroslein," hut also as giying'
hint as to the manner i'm which Beethove;
worked.
1t is a singular fact, TO which my atenuc
was directed by a study OF BeethOvens sketch
books. that when once a rhythmical or melodh
figure Of marked character took possession
Beethovens mind ii left its traces upon nun
Der OF compositions in addition 10 that for whn'
II was originally conceived. So strongly has ms
been impressed upon me that believe II 10
helpful guide in the study OF the ehronoW1
of Beethoven's works. striking Illustration
the use OF the same characteristic rhythm
the principal subject Of the first movement
the minor symphony. which is used not Only d
the third and fourth movements OF the SAM
work, but also in the pianoforte concerto 10
and the "Appassionata' sonata The sSe""
for the Goethe song. as was explained last VIVA
were made upon the unused slaves OF an au"
graph score OF the concert aria An, Perl'o
which was written in 1876 a suggestion 'or 'n'
beginning OF the "HaidenrGslein" melody WIZ
Nottebohm knew obviously came from "s.
in the orchestral accompaniment OF the h''
scena on the page OF the score utilized io'
sketch. So long as Beethoven thought VI
connection with the song with the uhue'p
able title it remained unchanged; on tile s''0
page OF the sheet. however, which conhaihs ~
sketch OF the melody which print today
altered TO fit the first words of the Haus"
len' poem. as may be seen in the soia"' !"
lower right hand corner which Beethoven ",O
with lead pencil when ii occurred 10 nun
the first melody might also be adap'ea
Goethes poem 1t is a simple phrase "'''
half note on the fifth interval OF the m'ho'
followed by four sixteenth notes descehu'"s
tonically. but il seems to have had a 'A'
ton for Beethoven. for II figures eAtehs"S
the sketches for work OF magnitude VIM :.
in the mind OF the composer while he ""' =,
ing the Choral symphony. The WORN vs.
overture on the notes which. uansh'e'"
the German style. spell the name Baeh -
Only in mood and metre is there In" :,
between the melody known to Notteoo"H
that used by Mr. Huss The latter, as nA' ~
said. is now published for the first tf''e' ,w
reason that it seems never TO have co"' MA
the eyes Of a student Of Beeth"Vehs o" .as
Mr.. Thayer must Of course. have been