SIR, Your last number contains some anecdotes of Beethoven, which must be interesting to every true lover of music. The opinions, however, of artists in regard to the works of others, are, from one cause or another, but too often tinctured by prejudice, and ought, therefore, to be received cautiously.—And I am induced to trouble you with these remarks in consequence of having read the opinions said to have been passed by that great master on the genius of Rossini and Weber. He is stated to have pronounced that ‘Rossini is a good scene painter, and nothing more.’ If the art of moving the mind by dramatic effect, either in music or poetry, rank no higher than that of a dauber of scenes, then is the observation applicable to Rossini, and equally so to Shakspeare. To every unprejudiced person the motive of Beethoven’s comparison will be sufficiently obvious, and be easily pardoned on the score of disappointed feelings, and the comparative indifference to which it is to be feared he was unjustly doomed. But it is not to such that I would direct my observations. There is a numerous body of soi-disant amateurs and professional composers, who will receive as Gospel the casual remark of a mind enfeebled and irritated by misfortune and infirmity. The silly cry, once (in this country) so prevalent against Rossini, is not, among the ignorant and bigoted, yet wholly silent. And it is surely a grateful duty on the part of all admirers of his almost unparalleled genius to vindicate him against the cur-like assaults of his detractors. Let us not forget that in advocating the cause of Rossini, we are maintaining that of every young composer of talent—for the same spirit which prompts the pack to raise their ‘most sweet voices’ against him, would doubtless actuate them to cry down Beethoven himself, were he now beginning his career, and its blighting effects may, but too often, be noticed in the case of our native composers. It may be asked, how Beethoven and Spohr escape? The answer is obvious. Beethoven is dead, and his reputation is securely established; while Spohr has much learning and a moderate portion of genius, and is not likely, therefore, to interfere with the solemn stupidity of our musical magnificos. I can remember, a few years back, hearing Beethoven’s symphony in C minor pronounced ‘an absurd piece of nonsense’ by one of the ignoramuses who now exalt it to the skies. JUSTUS. |
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