The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-06-28
His own observations, ,oou,aed : with

His own observations, coupled with
accounts received from various places.
describing the ineffective performance OF
taken ideas Of their tempt induced Beetho-
ven in the winter Of 5-2e to investigate the
cause OF the errors. This he did in my
presence and he ascertained that the
rnetronome signs in the printed scores
and indeed, he declared that many of these
metronomic signs were not authorized
by him. may here mention that the
symphonies from No. to No. 9, inclusive,
were published before the invention of
Maelzel's metronome; and it is only to the
metronomic signs can with positive GER
tainty be said to have been given by
Beethoven. Whether OF not he metro
nomed the eighth symphony (the score OF
WHICH was only lately published), cannot
positively determine.
1t was Q rather curious fact that Schind-
Ter. who was so intimately acquainted with
Beethovens doings in regard to the met
ronomic, signs of his symphonies, did not
the little eighth" His trustworthiness
In fact. the great hiographer Of Beethoven,
Alexander Thayer, has proved that the
master did metronome his own symphonies
and that he knew what he wished. Thayer' 8
knowledge is altogether indisputable. AS
for SCHNEIDER, it is rather queer that he
should have been ignorant of the first edition
Of the eighth symphony, small quarto,
Autographed and published by Steiner d
Co. OF Vienna. ms companion to the seventh
symphony. The edition referred to by
SCHNEIDER is the second. published by Tobias
Haslnger Of Vienna in 1927
Considering the fact that the Steiner
edition of the seventh gave the composer
much trouble because Of its errors. 1t is
altogether unlikely that he would have
sse eIne e eees mater nn %" Of ae
Thayer prints letter from Beethoven
to the firm, and in it he SAYS:
"The matter OF this symphony 1.-THE sew
enthl is very annoying to me, since u Ia
unfortunately the case that neither the
parts nor the SCORE is correct. In the copies
which are already prepared. the mistak es
must be corrected in Indian ink. which
Schlemmer This copyist) must do, and a list
OF all mistakes without exception must
also be printed and supplied. The SCORE
the most clumsy copyist; ii is an inaccurate,
defective affair, such as has never appeared
Of any Of my works This is the conse-
auence Of your inattention to the correc-
tions and Of your not having sent II to Ine
for my revision, or not having remin : ed
me about 1t. You have treated the
public with neglect and the innocent author
suffers in his reputation
Beethoven priced his seventh symphony
highly, as we well know: but it is utterly
improbable that finding its score so incor-
rect, he would have corrected il and paid
no attention to the eighth, for which he
had also cert ain amount Of affection.
The truth undoubtedly is that too many
conductors fail to respect the netronome
marks. and that incorrect tempt are heard
by too NAVY audiences.
Yet slavish adherence to metronomic
signs seems not to have been the desire of
Beethoven. Tho signs are given in order
to indicate the general rat" OF movement
and II would be Hypercritical t. find fault
with conductor who went few beats out
of his way to secure beautiful and striking
effect not out of keeping with the character
OF a moven ,nt.
There Ia no question that Mr.. Nildsch
performed the soherEo faster and the second
part OF the last movement more slowly
than local audiences used to be accustomed
to hear them In the consulate of Thomas
The scherzo is marked allegro rirdcc, and
wit bout doubt some conductors take II a
little cautiously in order to prepare for
the troublesome horn passage In the trio
1t is certain that Mr. Nikisoh's reading
was highly interesting. or 1t had a stir.
ring effect when il was disclosed here In
Chickering Hall years ago.
The POGO dnddnte OF the last movement,
this conductor certainly played more
slowly than tradition says It ought to b,