| Show ORIGINAL an evening with beethoven Beeth ovenA A historical tor ical sketch alexand BY B T A L E X A N n ER E R OTT 0 T T it is on demor me morys Is wings that I 1 return to the Dan danules 1 lovely aks banks where vienna aus trial ai proud capital is rearing its lofty domes and arid spires pires e a magnificent monument 0 of ancient and modern architecture beautiful but fated city with all thy prod regality of an almost oriental splendor thou art arg att nothing but a funeral dower of endless woe and lse misery ise nothing othia but a grand reservoir of places esk esi d dark ar and fearfully raully gloomy enough to make makel t the soul boul shudder where many a wretched heart has withered or broken in the intense 11 agony ony of its sud suf feringEr where many a heid has turned grey while vat batching ching 0 the dam damp P naked walls walh of subterranean dungeons wh where ere mans to his bis fellow beings is written tn in bloody characters on every massive where the profligate pro filgate the hypocrite lilithe andl andi the unfortunate are holding their revolting orgies or ies les the villainous priest glories in his I 1 sin pin and ang unblushing vice chuckles over ruined rul rui innocence and virtue it was on an evening in the latter part of 0 au august usi 1815 the moon with maiden like modi esty bad had risen from behind the azure waves jt of a transparent atmosphere an an innumerable host hobt ost of stars like glittering chariots were rolling ink through the magnificent canopy of a lovely night heaven it seemed as if nature had risen up in its majesty and had decked the landscape landscaper with ith a gorgeous garment of ot matches baty beauty th danube with Us its vast and fringes t meadow and hut and pala paia cewa ewas s enlivened ellive mid and nd beautified with hundreds 0 of boat boats da ng gracefully ace fully through the smooth unruly le A ter on which the moon beams aerie welle w ere bas playing like nimble footed fairies fairles they weaving beaving chains of love round the thie ired tred geho teho beholder idera a gentle breeze was furling its A aby finc pinc wings ca causing ing a doiy oil mur murin 0 of the ripping fing water like the sweet and melodious M aes wes of i mermaids er maids while the lind landscape was adorned with fine groves band handsome some mansions ana pretty cottages on that lovely even evening a man roan of a somewhat delicate appearance who had hardly pass passed edthe the meridian of life was sitting in the e tudy of his residence at vienna there was a li certain dash of pensive sadness about him and his large grey rey eyes gashed flashed the fire of 0 genius zenius into the beart heart of the beholder the still rosy lips of his finely shaped bled with every shade shide of feeling this man was lewis von Beethoven the great greab rea ma mahln of music whose name is still kept in reveren tal tai remembrance by emperors kin kings band sand and even whole nations yes bee beethoven hoen the envied friend and tutor of the A archduke abd ke rudolph brother of the emperor francis of austria yet with all the wealth and high connections which his wonderful genius did command he was waa unhappy his passage through this vale of tears had not always been sweetened by the holy bogn of true the cankerworm of grief griet at the neglect disdain and treachery by those whom his bis warm generous heart had trusted was gnawing at the slender thread of his bis life beethoven had just experienced the dissimilation and treachery tire agery azery of his bis two brothers john and charles upon whom he had bestowed so many favors they had left him ile he was now alone rising from aiom rom his seat he exclaimed full of emotion and looking wistfully towards heaven dro 0 god thou hast witnessed this dreadful scene thou llast hast heard their dispute and that all orr on account of the money I 1 earn by means of my pen they draw upon my intellect upon my generosity and warm affection and then to defile fraternal love that gietl how dreadful I 1 that for all the good goad I 1 have done I 1 should I 1 be deceived and calumniated bemy velly veary brothers by those who ought to be my natural friends heaving a deep sigh he murmured wrt am now alone in this world no one takes compassion pas on me roe my brothers are lost to mel mei me I 1 am alone alone alorie all ah stop throbbing heart there is a distant but brilliant star rising at the horizon of my existence it is Giul giulietta letta ietta although far away I 1 possess her heart 2 two tears ran down his cheeks moistening his bis hands which he pressed towards his hia cheat as if to subdue the agony of his soul boul at the sight of the glistening b tears Beethoven frowned shame on a man mail he exclaimed wildly who weeps like an old domant I 1 will not but bat but bat he continued more calmly the dull air of this room oppresses mel mei me let me roe in the solitude soli tuda tude of my sylvan wilds where I 1 can be alone with nature alone with my god ia and saying this he hib took his hat and left the apartment ile he passed from the city through the gate of the red Tower across the bridge of ferdinand inhaling the delicious delici ous oua evening breeze with a feverish eagerness he felt better it seemed as if a heavy load had been removed from his heart his eyes fixed and anti wildly staring at the brilliant canopy of the starry heaven be he hurried homed towards the zile P a noble street leading to a m magnificent a ent wood with spacious avenues piani planted tegwith with chestnuts abaci as oats and planet trees without noticing the brilliant cafes with their orchestras dioramas and the splendid olympic circus the riding schools with their hebb hobby horses horbes chariots and little ships moving round on shafts fixed to large cylinders where thousands of good natured happy people men women and children old and young rich and poor were enjoying themselves beethoven absorbed in deep though thoughts tsy tsI proceeded towards the magnificent part of the prater some of the passers by recognizing him bowed respectfully whispering t to each other that was the great master beethoven HOW his eyes glistened glisten edl edi ile he is perhaps composing another beautiful fu I 1 work those who did not know him stopped and looked after him astonished aa if they had seen a ghost and remarked shaking their head that man is either very unhappy unhappy or a fool but beethoven noticing I 1 neit nelt neither er the salutations tj n nor or it the he various diar disrespectful respectful remarks of th those til ill who passed him hurried on till he deac reached h ed the forest scenery ob uhe the prater 1 the hills mig vales valea wom woods fields and villages are all robed in the dreamy but evanescent light of a lovely knitht night ile he knows the roads of his favori favorite teresor resort down that narrow footpath be he goes Whit hert bert solitary wander wanderers erl whit whither heri hert for hours he is wending his way through the maze of forest scenery scene lyl ile he wants to banish thoughts but in vain they follow him like gloomy hideous hi deou phantasmal pictures picture sl lie ile H wants to bury the agony of his soul in clethes dreams but he cannoth suddenly he stops yonder near a large lovely meadow mea illow lies a beautiful villager vil lagel beethoven knows it well weil happy happy days he has spent in that eha eba charming rm 4 place of rural scenery ile he was then hap happy aryh 1 ile he be lieveld then in n tha tho goodness and honesty of man mankind kindl kindi ile he loved them all ali and above all he loved giulietta Giul lettal lettai but turning sadly away from the beautiful reminiscence of a happy past he proceeds on his lonely lonay way till lie he comis comes to a majestic oak tree that formerly had appeared to him a symbol of human happiness and firmness beethoven Beetho vm knows this tree it had been his study or the altar oil on which he be consecrated his muse to immortality where he composed several of his grand symphonies and overt overtures among 13 which his fidelio is one of the most sublime works of his great genius sitting down at the foot of the tree he lip cx ex clahan in voice 1 I am in here now my old friend round whom time h hab has as twined its garland of centuries thy rustling leaves told me that th the e h happiness appl appi ness which I 1 once enjoyed with thee should shong con dinue fo forever reverl but alata thou hast deceived me hoary companion of or my life nine i years have rolled into the ocean of or eternity since I 1 last beheld thee I 1 pray thee now be merciful and restore my hopes my tears and my happiness 1 and saying this he be flung his arms round the trunk of the tree while looking fixedly at it hark the leaves begin gently to rustle ruttle he does not hear it but hears voices in the chambers of his soul they sing of former happiness and suddenly Melo meio melodies dies dieg as if of celestial spheres strike his ear and fidelio the heroine of love appears saluting him joyfully and kneeling before him she whispers in angels voice there take this bread thou poor unhappy man ai and beethoven stretching forth his hands murmurs give me oh give me the bread of life 0 fidelio save thy Flore fiore florestan stanlly and overcome with emotion he remains for a nw few minutes quite speechless suddenly beethoven rises while his eyes flash the tue wonted fire 1 I die he exclaims speaking to the tree oak thou hast seen me in days of 0 happiness and then it was iove low that inspired me today to day thou hast witnessed my despair now it is pain the agon agony y of my soul that is going to inspire me farewell oak tree farewell so be thyself fl will remain firm and not falter so be thyself self seif I 1 will vill brave the tempest temm lett peet 11 Say sayi irig this thia he proceeds on hist bis baynot way not hurrill ut slowly and thoughtfully chehad he had realized mat though storm specks s may rise in our horizon and clouds may obscure our sk sky y I 1 yet lifes lifers beams above the storm and that though we bend beneath the fury of the blast blat those glorious rays riya will dissipate the gloom and shed their cheerfulness around our checkered way exhausted he is wending tending his lonely way the majestic stillness of the lo 10 lovely vely evenin evening there all at once he hl e espies s ie s a distant light FO following lowing tiie tile direct direction I 1 on of that shining guide he reaches a small cottage the neat tabita habitation tion of an imperial gamekeeper game keeper in those sylvan wilds where thousands of deer are ranging and many a noble stag are seen bounding aver the hilly picturesque grounds of the prater Beetho beethoven ren reu knocked gently at the door fie opened and an bid iid man with silver locks ap pe heared areil oh ob let me have a nights lodging said beethoven in a feeble voice give me something to eat cat I 1 am no beggar garl I 1 can pay you for the fhe good you may do belll me even a beggar would not be turned away from our door replied the old man solemnly step estep in sir you are welcomed wel comel beethoven entering the house is conducted by the old man to a comfortably well lit room on the ground round floor A taie tale table tabla with bread butter cheese and some dishes full of pure milk stands in the middle of the apartment it is the frugal evening repast of the family there is the old man im son the tall stately gamekeeper game keeper his wife and give five grown grown up sons song and daughters it is a happy family amily see how healthy the tile pulses beat how merrily tho the blood flows how bow lythe the mouth bt isely the eye beams at the approach of the stranger Beeth beethoven oveil overl is more at ease ile he knows that it is one of the and purest sensations under the sun to enjoy the tile society of truly happy people ile he begins to brighten up he ile feelan eela well weil ell eli at the tile sight of a plano forte torte and some other instruments the old man shakes Beet hovens 11 liand lland warmly and conducts him to the table tabi saying ade in once more welcome stranger in in our conr abode i heartily welcom welcome 31 the rest of the family express their feelings 11 of joy and good will in that interest interesting im maliner manner so peculiar to the austrians Aust rians and etli other er sout soul southern hern bern G germana Ge ey mans imana oh my ray dear drar epol crople pardon me I 1 says beethoven mildy mildly oil 1 I du do not understand you I 1 am quite deaf but it is consoling 0 to me to see you are ha happy p tip poor man whispered rosa tl the e gamez game keepers ers daughter poor mani man what a misfortune to be deaf dear to hear no human voice no music father are we not go loing going ing to have music tonight to night child we are replied the happy parent poor man min he will bear and father plays so beautifully remarked rosa poor man what a misfortune to be deaf they all exclaimed beethoven heard nothing of their conversation ile llo sat still partaking of the eveni evening Z meal which rosa had prepared for him hiro at last the supper being over thet ther they all rose from their seats soon the table is 3 cleared and everything ready for their evening entertainment rosa lights two candles and moves two chairs one for herself and the other for her mother close to the table in order to continue their needlework the ile old man takes a seat on the pasy chair chain near the chimney while 1 e he lip hi invites vites the stranger to occupy the arm hair chair beethoven sits down but he does not know what is about to take place now the gamekeeper game keeper opens the pianoforte while the three thrice sons song take a violin a bass viol and a all ail ah ali they are going to ply play a luar juar quartette I 1 says beethoven to himself w while ile lle looking at the musicians ile he sees the tuning g of the in 11 st be ile sees the father giving the time to lii III his bis 1 9 beim seim he sees him nod as if the strings 0 produced a funn finer harmony now they begin to play beethoven hears nothing but he sees ile he sees the spirit and passion of their performance always the same fiery tem same drawing of the bow ile he sees the musicians play with va the utmost joy he sees mother and arid daughter stop working arla aria and listen he sees the old man nise rise r is e from his hia seat and step gently on tip toe to the musicians to listen with folded hands beethoven sees the wonderful impression the music produces but he hears it not now the musicians music ions stop for a moment they look more joyful than ever rosa goes to her father embracing him tenderly as a token of heartfelt gratitude at the glorious enjoyment the father disengaging himself from the embrace of his laughter touches ag again uin the keys of the pianoforte beethoven sees the music commences anew more hiery fiery more passionate till its ita rhythm reaches the ile he sees it from the quicker drawing of the bows bowa of the musicians the performers and hearers appear to be enraptured beethoven sees it and the music which he hears bears not but the magic effect or of which he lie sees and feels inspires him also he rises add approaches the musicians they stop and ou 01 heir their smiling lips beethoven reads tile the word beautiful my good people exclaims beethoven Beet hoven boven in a trembling voice see se how unhappy I 1 am I 1 cannot share your joy I 1 am deaf deal still iam very foid fond of music ab oh let me share your happi happl nessi let me we r ead read the music you nave have been playing the camlee gamekeeper ier per hands him the music book th that at lay jay before him on the piano beethoven takes it and reads A trembling seizes his body he hie looks terrified a film is as it were before his eyes the music book drops from out of hla hia hands whole tears ran down his cheek it ia is my E sharp quartette 22 he whispers inaudibly nobody heard him |
