Life of Beethoven by Anton Schindler

Author:Anton Schindler
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi

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II.

CHARACTERISTIC TRAITS AND PECULIARITIES OF BEETHOVEN.

Beethoven's Religious Principles--His Dislike of giving Lessons--His Frankness, and, at the same time, Dexterity in evading Questions--Vindication of him from the charge of Discourtesy to Brother Artists--Proofs that though a rigid, he was a just Critic--Kind Encouragement afforded by him to Professional Merit--His modest Appreciation of Himself--His Extempore Playing--His Every-day Occupations--Propensity for Dabbling in Water--Pension--Certificates--Beethoven erroneously compared with Jean Paul Richter--Mortifying Trick played by him at the instigation of a Friend--Motivo of a Movement in one of his Quartetts--His Peculiar Habits in Eating and Drinking--Extent of his Knowledge of Languages--Comments on Statements of M. von Seyfried relative to Beethoven's domestic Habits--Spurious MSS. attributed to him--His Person--Portraits of him.

Beethoven was educated in the Catholic religion; and that he was truly religious, the whole tenor of his life sufficiently proves. It was, however, a remarkable peculiarity in his character that he never conversed on religion, or expressed any opinion on the creeds of different Christian sects. If my

[Illustration: Fac-simile of Beethoven's Hand-writing.

Published by Henry Colburn 13 Great Marlborough Street 1841]

observation entitles me to form an opinion on the subject, I should say be inclined to Deism; in so far as that term may be understood to imply natural religion. He had written with his own hand two inscriptions, said to be taken from a temple of Isis. These inscriptions, which were framed, and for many years constantly lay before him on his writing-table, were as follows:--

I. "I AM THAT WHICH IS.--I AM ALL THAT IS, ALL THAT WAS, AND ALL THAT SHALL BE.--NO MORTAL MAN HATH MY VEIL UPLIFTED!"

II. "HE IS ONE, SELF-EXISTENT, AND TO THAT ONE ALL THINGS OWE THEIR EXISTENCE."[142]

I shall carefully watch over the preservation of these pious relics of my friend, who regarded them as an epitome of the loftiest and purest religion. They were to him dearly-prized treasures.

I have already, in the biographical part of this work, alluded to Beethoven's repugnance to giving lessons. I may now add that his distaste for tuition was experienced by the "dames de predilection" who could boast of being his pupils. Even these ladies found themselves sometimes forgotten by him for weeks at a time; and, when at length he presented himself, he was generally received with looks of displeasure, which, however, made but little impression on him. With respect to his mode of conveying instruction, the following particulars may interest the reader.

Those who wished to obtain from Beethoven that valuable information which he was so capable of communicating, could not succeed in that object unless they had the opportunity of being near him at every hour of the day; for nothing could induce him to give himself up to any business at a fixed time. Now and then he would speak readily and entertainingly on the various branches of knowledge with which he was familiar; he would even give direct instruction; but how few had opportunity to profit by these communicative intervals! They frequently occurred at meal-times, and during his walks, or, to

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