Scan 61
Stokes Encyclopedia Of Music And Musicians, 1908
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1which required that he should conduct the opera band. In this position he became acquainted with operas by Gluck, Paisiello, Salieri, and Sarti. Three sonatas for solo, piano, and the song "Schilderung eines Mädchens," published in 1783, appear to have been composed at this time. For his work in the theatre the lad received no salary, but soon he was appointed assistant organist to Neefe, and as such received 150 florins. On the death of Elector Max Friedrich, his successor, Max Franz, made a revision of his household, reducing the allowance to Neefe, but without increasing that of Beethoven. The song "An einem Säugling" and a rondo for piano were published in 1784, and in 1785 he published the song "Wenn jemand eine Reise thut," three quartets for piano and strings, and received violin lessons from Franz Ries. Beethoven's first visit to Vienna, made in 1787, afforded opportunity for a few lessons from Mozart, who is said to have remarked on hearing him play: "Pay attention to him; he will make a noise in the world some day or other." He seems likewise to have attracted the attention of Haydn, who wrote to Artaria, "I should like to know who this Ludwig is," but may have had in mind some other Ludwig. His sojourn in Vienna was abruptly terminated by the illness of his mother, who died July 17. A piano prelude in F minor and a trio in E flat are dated 1787, and in that year he formed the acquaintance of the widowed Frau von Breuning, with whose family he maintained a lifelong friendship, and of the young Count Waldstein, to whom he afterwards dedicated one of his greatest sonatas. Frau von Breuning engaged Beethoven to give lessons to her little girl and the youngest of her three sons, and soon made him one of the family. His acquaintance with the Countess Hatzfeld dates from the same period. In 1788 Beethoven, while retaining his post of assistant organist to the electoral court at Bonn, played viola in the opera, which had been remodelled by the Elector, included an orchestra of 31, led by Reicha, with an extended repertoire and a goodly array of singers. Mozart's operas were given frequently. In this year Beethoven was recognized as the head of his family. His father had lost his voice, and had become a drunkard, and, while the Elector did not strike him off his pay roll, he directed part of his salary be paid the son. In 1790 Haydn, who was on his way to London, accompanied by Salomon, was the guest of the Elector on Christmas Day. It is probable that the two masters, one in his zenith, the other yet unknown, met on this occasion, and it is certain that two years later, when Haydn was returning from London, and again stopped at Bonn, Beethoven showed him a cantata which he praised highly. Two cantatas, one of the death of Emperor Joseph, the song "Der freie Mann," two piano preludes, the "Venni Amore" variations, the "Ritter ballet" (possibly arranged by Count Waldstein), an octet and a rondino for strings, a trio for strings, 14 variations in E flat for piano, violin, and 'cello, 12 variations for violin and piano, some songs, and an allegro and minuet for two flutes were composed in these years. By this time, although his compositions were fewer than those of other great composers at the same age, the Elector seems to have become impressed with Beethoven's genius, for he arranged to send him to Vienna to study with Haydn, paying his salary for two years. Beethoven arrived in Vienna in Nov., 1792, with a matter of 25 ducats, or about $62, in his pockets, and was cordially received by Haydn, who is reported to have said that he meant to set him to work on great operas in anticipation of his own retirement. He lodged in the garret of a printing office outside the city walls, and paid about 25 cents an hour for his lessons from the most celebrated composer of the day. Fux's "Gradus ad Parnassum" was the text book used. The relations between master and pupil soon ceased to be cordial, and, although there was no open disagreement, Beethoven obtained instruction from Schenck in secret, and in 1794,
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