The Washington herald., 1913-02-02
EARLY EFFORTS
OF beethoven
Daniel Gregory Mason Lee
lures on Subject at New
National Museum.
I'll -
LATE DEVELOPMENT
Composers Life Of Activity Is Divided
Into Three ,Distisct
Periods. ,>-s-
LATE DEVELOPMENT

Mr.. : Daniel Gregory Mason, in the
fourth of his series of Lectures on the
Great Masters of Music" last night at
the new National Museum, had Beeth-
oyen-in his early fwork-for5 his theme.
Mr. Mason opened his remarks by esti-
mating how much Beethoven had gotten
from Haydn and Mozart. and how much
he had originated for himself He quoted
Fiske for his authority in, a statement
that the higher the type the later in de-
velopment. and drew the contrast be-
tween MozartJs = fnfantile compositions
and Beethoven's maturity into compost
ton at the age of thirty. as proof that his
musical infancy was longer than that of
his predecessors.
OF his most important works. his
symphonies. the first two are of the imi-
tative period; in the third. fourth. fifth,
sixth. seventh. and eighth. as he is strik-
ing out for himself. The ninth represents
the work OF his eccentric period.
OF the three periods into which Mr..
Mason divides-though not sharply
Beethoven's compositions, the first is the
initiative, from ITO to 1906: the second,
the period in which he is developing his
own works, 1915 to 1878, the most robust
period. beginning with the Wald-
stein sonata. and including the fourth
and fifth plano concertos, the violin con-
certo, the overture TO Coriolanus and FL
delio. the Mass in C. and the third.
fourth. fifth. sixth. seventh. and eighth
symphonies: the third period, 1913 to 1927.
the year of his death. is that in which he
develops his eccentricity.
Mr.. Mason showed how Beethoven,
though the most indebted man. making
use of all that his forerunners could
teach him. was yet the most individual
Of all composers. He inherited the So
nata form in its mechanical completion.
and he had the genius to leave the form
&c II was, but to enrich It with fresh
subtleties. to- enlarge its scope. To en-
hance the interest of thematic develop
nent. TO breath into a cold form a human
vitality. 1t was Beethoven who fused
all the elements Of musical composition:
polyphony, harmony. rhythm, melody.
into a complex. varied, organic work.
embracing every phase of human feeling.
pIayfulness. serenity, grandeur. hope, de-
spair. restlessness. gayety. plaintive ten
derness. brusque Hgor, manliness, and
pathos.
Has Dramatic Sense.
Mr.. Mason spoke at length of and re-
ferred constantly. in his illustrations of
Beethoven's works on the plano. to the
masters remarkable dramatic sense. He
said that Beethoven had marvellous in
He drew the contrast between the con-
ventional piacidity and frequent mo-
notony Of Haydn and Mozart and the
self -suficing interest at every moment
OF Beethoven's works. He spoke Of his
fondness for strong contrasts. the ele-
ment of suspense. the alteration Of the
serious and the humorous or whimsical,
Of the dramatic piquing of curiosity. of
the great variety and resourcefulness OF
ideas.
Mr.. Mason told a number Of stories
illustrative of the individuality, or un-
conventionality. or nonconforIning ele-
ment of Beethovens character. But
while Beethoven WAS independent of the
laws of the social world. his music
everywhere gives evidence OF his obedi-
ence to the universal laws of nature
as applied to art. He spoke OF his
notebooks and in his illustration Of
the allegro Of the fifth symphony gave
his listeners a slympse of Beethoven's
methods of work. From some of the
pages of the masters sketch book the
first essays toward the exposition of the
allegro were taken. and given on the
plano This was a most interesting view
OF the composers work. Mr.. Mason 3
Illustrations on the plano are Very full
analyzing every theme and transitional
passage and with a wealth OF illumina-
tive language at command, throwing a
vivid light on every detail.
The next and final lecture OF this
series, which have been provided for the
music lovers by the Washington Society
of Fine Arts, will be given March l. and
will show Beethoven as the pioneer Of
programme music.