New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-16
THE LAST DAYS
OF BEETHOVEN

ing the weeks Of Beethoven's great trial
in the summer. The reason is obvious,
and certainly not TO his discredit
though SCHNEIDER attempted 10 belttle
II. Holz took unto himself wife about
the time that Beethoven returned 20
Vienna. Hitherto he had been able to
devote a large portion of his time not
given TO official duties TO his friend.
Now this was no longer possible; nor
was IL necessary after DR.. Nawruch as
sumed care Of the case. Beethoven 9
brother also reairnd 90 Vienna, and
SCHNEIDER found his way back TO the
composer. from whom he had been
estranged, within a fortnight
1t is Holz, however. who looks after
the correction and publication of the
last compositions and collects his an
nuitv; and IL il were necessary his
apologists might find evidence OF
Beethoven's confidence in his friendship
and integrity in the fact that there rs
no indication that he ever questioned
his honesty in money matters, while
there is proof in Schindler's own hand
writing that Beethoven thought him ca
pable of theft. 1t is pitiful that while
SCHNEIDER is sacrificing himself IN al
most mental labors Beethoven forces
him 70 a panied protestation that he
had net kept the change when gwen
sum Of money TO make purchases.
SCHNEIDER himself records the fact OF
Beethoven's suspicion with sorrow. A
livelier sense of gratitude took posses
sion of the sufferer later and found eN-
preston in gifts of autograph scores
Of the Ninth symphony, for instance
and a promise which he was unable to
fulfil TO take part in a concert Tor
Schindler's benefit.
ORIGIN OF "ES MUSS SEN"
Whether SCHNEIDER was always as
scrupulously honest in his attitude tow
ard the public as he was IN his deal
ings with Beethoven may be doubted.
There are mutilstions, interlineauons
and erasures in the Conversation
Rocks. which we're long in his hands,
that IL is difficult to believe were not
made for the purpose of bolstering up
mistaken statements in his biography
when the documents passed out of his
hands into the possession of the Royal
Library in Berlin. Here is case IN
point: SehuppBnzigh has called and re-
ported that one of Beethoven's quar-
tets had been enthusiastically re-
ceived by the public at performance
on the preceding Sunday December TO-
lS26). To what seems 20 have been
an oral comment Beethoven adds the
words and music Of the motto from
the Quartet in F: "Muss es sein? Els
muss SEM"
This moves Schuppanzigh to say:
"But does he" Beethoven, whom
Schuppanzigh always addressed in the
third person)-"do he know that the
dirty fellow has become my enemy on
that ACCOUNT
Here we have an unmistakable allu-
sion to the true story of the origin
of the canon on the motto-theme of
the + major quartet. A purse-proud
individual named Dembscher, who gave
private quartet meetings headed by
Mayseder at his house, had neglected
to subscribe to the Schuppanzigh con-
certs, at which the quartet in question
had first been played, saying that ne
could get any manuscript he desired
from Beethoven and would produce
the new quartet at his own gathering.
Word of this coming to Beethoven's
ears. the composer said Dembscher
should never again have any Of his
music. Holz took occasion to carry
news of this to Dembscher, where
others could overhear the conversation.
Dembscher, greatly embarrassed, asked
what he could do TO get back INTO the
good graces of the composer, and Holz
told him he would have TO pay Tor
the concerts TO which he had not sub
scribed. Dembscher asked; "Muss es
sein ?" but paid the sum. Holz re-
lated the incident in high glee TO
Beethoven, who at once wrote down
a canon on the words: "Mus es sem
Is muss sein, ia, ia. es muss sem;
bieraus nit dem Reutell" ("Must 1t be
Il must be. Yes, yes, it must be; out
with the purse!")
Sehindler's story about the origin
of the motto is still current. II IS
20 the effect that Beethoven's house
keeper, a woman who is always al
luded TO as "die Ate" used TO have
great difficulty in getting her weekly
allowance from Beethoven who, after
she had convinced him that the week
was up. was wont to put the question:
"Muss es sein ?" and receive the an
swer, "Es muss sein.'
In the Conversation Book used at
SchuppanZigh's interview as stated,
SCHNEIDER. few pages later, brings the
news Of the arrival Of the ring pre-
sented TO Beethoven by the King of
Prussia. He had been asked TO carry
the ring TO Beethoven, but had been
unwilling to accept the commission un-
less he could give Beethoven's receipt
in exchange. He relates the fact and
adds the words "Es muss sein," as If
in answer TO a question asked by Bee