New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-12-29
The Truth About Beethoven S
Honorarium and the
Dedication.

There has recently come 10 light
signal instance OF how errors in history
are perpetuated by reason Of the fact
that historians are so willing 10 repeat
the uttcrances of their predecessors
without taking the trouble to look into
the truth. The publication Of a new MS
tory OF the London Philharmonic Society,
written by Nyles BiTket Foster, furnishes
a case i'm point. Fifty or more years ago
a history of the society was written by
Hegarth which gave all the Information
then known about the commission and
payment of the Choral symphony. Its
statements were repeated bv Sir George
Grove in his book on Beethoven's SYM
phonies. and also I'm the Dictionary OF
Music and Musicians" Sir George eX-
pressed the hope. however, that Mr.
Thayer would explain the discrepancy be
tween the facts that though the sym
phony vas written for the society 1t
was dedicated to the King Of Prussia.
Another English writer. Mr.. Shedlock.
musical critic Of The AthenRum' and
translator Of the kalisher collection OF
Bcothovens letters, expressed himself as
somewhat puzzled by the fact that
though il had always been taken for
granted that the honorarium for the
symphony had been sent in 1872. imme-
diateiy after the commission was given.
there was a receipt in the British Mu-
scum which indicated that payment had
not been made until April, 1s24-just
before the first performance Of the SYM
phony in Vienna.
RIr Thayer. had he lived to write the
Conclusion of his biography, would no
doubt have cleaned up number Of mys-
teries i'm connection with the great work,
though in doing so he would have been
OBLIGED 10 disturb some of the romance
which the sentimental biographers have
woven about the composer But the facts
have been investigated by the English
continuator Of Thayer's Life Of Bee
thoyen." who is in possession of all of
The biographer's documents. including his
trarscrints Of the notebooks i'm which for
the last seven years of his life Beethoven S
friends carried on conversation with the
deaf composer. and IN the following ex-
tract from the chapter devoted 10 the
wear 1926 i'm the forthcoming work not
only are the questions raised by HOgarth,
Grove and Shedock answered. but much
new light is thrown upon the history Of
the symphony.
Beethoven had begun the Ninth Sym
phony some time, years indeed, before he
received the commission from the London
philharmonic Society. After some nego-
tiations with other publishers he had
sold II 10 Schott & Sons, Of Mayence,
and they were ready TO issue it in July.
1s2G when Beethoven asked them TO de-
Law the dispatch OF the printed score TO
the King Of Prussia. TO whom he had
dedicated it, until he had had time 10
send that monarch a manuscript copy
mot the autograph however,. which he
confessed 10 his publishers. would have
no value after the publication. When
the King of Prussias representative Of
fercd him IN order in place OF the 90
ducats which was the subscription price
of the Solemn Mass in ID. Beethoven re-
piled brusquely. The 30 ducats,' and this
has always been quoted as an evidence
of Beethoven's democracy and contempt
for the baubles conferred by royalty.
But when he ignored the Philharmonic
Society, broke "A solemn promise TO his
friend Ries and disappointed several of
his advisers by dedicatng the symphony
TO the King Of Prussia, he was looking
forward to a decoraton-that and moth
ing else. The Conversation Books have
considerable 10 say about the dedication,
but II the London Philharmonic Society
ever entered BeethOven's mind in con-
nectlon with 1t the record has been lost.
lie wanted a decoration. and had he re"