The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-06
HOW BEETHOVEN WROTE
 HIS MOONLIGHT SOMA

f inspired, and from the instant when his fingers began to wander along the keys the very tone of the instrument began to grow sweeter ane more equal
 The brother and sister were silent with wonder and rapture. The former laid aside his work; the latter. with her head bent slightly forward. and her hands pressed tightly over her breast, crouched down near the end of the harpsichord, as if fearful lest even the eating of her
 heart should break the flow of those magical. sweet sounds. It was as if we were all bound in strange dream and only feared to wake.
 Suddenly the flame of the single candle wavered, sank. fickered and went out. Beethoven paused, and I threw open the shutters, admitting a flood of brilliant moonlight. The room was almost as light as before, and the illumination fell strong est upon the piano and player But tho | chain of his ideas seemed to have been
 broken by the accident. His head dropped
 upon his breast, his hands rested upon his knees; he seemed absorbed In mediation.
 It was thus for some time. At leangth the young shoemaker rose,
 and approached him eagerly yet rever- l ently. Wonderful man!' he said, in a | low voice, who and what are your" | The composer smiled as he only could
 an ile benevolently. indulgentiy, kingly.
 "Istenp he saia and he played the open 1 ing bars of llle sonato in F. A cry of delight ard recognition burst from them both, and exelaim.rg. Then you are Beethovenr they covered his
 hands with tea~~ and kisses He rose to go but we held him back
 gith entreaties.
 Play to US once more-only once
 morei"
 He suffered himself to be led back to
 the instrument. The moon shone brightly l.. through the -,indow and it up his glor- i-rs, rugged hesd and massive figure. "I will improvise 9 sonata to the moon- l lightr' looking up thoughtfully to the sky and stars Then his hands dropped on the keys and he began playing a sad and in- fritely lovely movement, which crept gently over the instrument like the calm | flow of moonlight over the dark earth This wac followed by wild, elfn pas- l sage in triple time-a sort of grotesque in- terlude, like the dance of sprites upon the l sward. Then came a swift a. itato finale "a breathless hurrying, trembling move
 ment descriptive of flight and uncertain- ty, and vague, impulsive terror which carried us away on its rusting wings,
 and left Us all in emotion and wonder. Farewell to you!" said Beethoven,
 pushing back his chair and turning to-
 ward the door-'farewell to youl" You will come again?" asked they in one breath.
 He paused, and looked compassionateiy, almost tenderly, at the face of the blind girl Yes yes," he said, hu9rledly, 1T
 will come again. and give fraulein some
 lessons. Farewelli I will soon come againl'
 They followed us in silence more elo-
 quent than words. and stood at their
 door till we were out of sight and hear l ing.
 Let us make haste back" said Bee
 thoven, that I may write out that sonata
 while I can yet remember it." 1 We did so, and he sat over it till long
 past day dawn. And this was the origin
 of that moonlight sonata with which we ! are all so fondly acquainted.