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[Faine H. <fa...@st...>]

Tive ones, and becomes the parent of a new variety, this man achieved
his high development of character by being a law unto himself like the
anchorites of old. CHAPTER XIV NINTH SYMPHONY We stand to-day before the
Beethovenian Symphony as before the landmark of an entirely new period
in the history of universal art, for through it there came into the
world a phenomenon not even remotely approached by anything the art of
any age or any people has to show us. --WAGNER. During the period of his
work on the Mass, and for some time before, Beethoven's thoughts were
occupied more or less with that stupendous work, the Ninth Symphony,
sketches for which began to appear already in 1813, shortly after his
meeting with Goethe. That Beethoven looked up to Goethe ever after as to
a spiritual mentor, studying his works, absorbing his thought, is plain.
In projecting this symphony he may very well have designed it as a
counterpart to Faust, as has been suggested. Actually begun in 1817, it
had to be laid aside before much had been accomplished on it, in favor
of the Mass in D. This gave him plenty of time to mature his conception
of the work; and this ripening process, covering a period of ten years
from its first inception, was one of the factors which helped him
achieve his wondrous result. His work on the Mass was a good preparation
for the psychological problems expounded in the Symphony. Here is a work
so interwoven into Beethoven's very life and spirit, that the mention of
his name at once calls to mind the Ninth Symphony. It is the work of the
seer approaching the end of his life-drama, giving with photographic
clearness a resume of it. Here are revelations of the inner nature of a
man who had delved deeply into the mysteries surrounding life, learning
this lesson in its fullest significance, that no great spiritual height
is ever attained without renunciation. The world must be left behind.
Asking and getting but little from it, giving it of his best, counting
as nothing its material advantages, realizing always that contact with
it had for him but little joy, the separation fr