Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-03-05
Beethoven.

Almost very girl and boy has heard of
Beethoven, the German who played so
well and who wrote so many beautiful
pieces of music. At nearly every fine con-
cert some performer plays piece written
by this great man. Would you believe IT..
beethoven began to show his wonderful
talent when he was not much older than
baby? His father, a poor man. saw
that the child would easily learn to play
the violin and piano. he decided that
his son should be Wonder Child" hon.
ing that great fortune might be made
from the boys talent. This meant that
he should be able to play well enough to
give concerts while still a child. To do
this the poor little fellow, four or five
years old, was called in from play every
day and made to sit on a high stool to
practice his scales on the piano
The little musician often played his
violin lessons with big tears rolling down
his cheeks. He had to do this work,
though. for his father sat in the room
with him to see that the boy was very
careful in doing what had been taught to
him. When the lad was seven years old,
perhaps, he began to be glad that his
father had made him spend so many
hours on his music. for at that age he
gave great concert. playing before a
large audience Of distinguished people
Even the noblemen Of his country sent
for him to play for them. When Beetho-
ven was ten years old his mother took
him to Holland. where he played in many
fine homes and astonished every one by
his skill in playing on the piano, violin
and flute.
Then the boy performer returned home
to learn the organ, and before long he
was playing the church organ. AS most Of
the child's time was taken up with his
music, he did not go to school after he
was thirteen years old. SO a private tutor
taught him Latin, French and Italian.
When Beethoven was eighteen years old
he went to Vienna to play before Mozart
who was then the greatest living must
clan. At first Mozart took little interest
in the awkward, stub-nosed young man
and barely listened to him when he played
several pieces. Then Mozart gave Bee
thoven q little phrase of music on which
he was to improvise or make new music
which should have much the same sound
as the little phrase itself. 1t was then
that Beethoven showed his wonderful mu-
steal power. His playing was so grand
that Mozart called in his family to hear
the composer whom he said was SO ex-
traOrdlnary That the world would hear
him some day. Sure enough, Mozart was
right. for although it has been over
hundred years since Beethoven died, yet
all over the world Beethoven's compost
tons are played. 1t is said that musical
themes and melodies ran through Bee
thoven's mind day and night. Everything
In the world brought music to his soul.
He wrote one beautiful symphony i'm
memory of days spent in the country in
the green valley of the Rhine. The music
makes one hear a brook flowing through
the forests and the birds singing. In one
part the heavy rush of storm seems to
thunder and after it there is the peasants
song of Joy because the storm had left
them unframed.
Although the great musician was poor
all of his life and much of his time sad,
lonely or ill, yet his greatest symphony
was written to Joy. When it was played
the first time Beethoven himself con-
Quoted the orchestra. When it was over
the audience cheered wildly and some
even stood on their seats to wave their
handkerchiefs The conductor still stood
with his back. to the audience looking
down at the orchestra. Beethoven had
not heard one note of the sweet music
which had been played, nor did he know
Of the applause Of the audience, for his
hearing, which had been growing worse
for years, had then entirely gone.