150.—BEETHOVEN'S FIRST TRIUMPH.
The story of Beethoven's first triumph as a composer is told in a very interesting way by Meyerbeer. When Beethoven was scarcely sixteen years of age he was invited one evening by his good friends, the Von Breunings, of Bonn, to spend the evening with them in the company of a number of well known musicians. Among them were Capelmeister Ries, the brothers Romberg, Count Waldstein, several members of the orchestra and others.
After there had been some music performed by various persons, Count Waldstein announced that he had received a trio in manuscript, and that he wished very much to hear it; but he desired not to mention the name of the composer until the work had first been performed. He then called on the two Rombergs and young Beethoven to try the composition prima vista. They complied. The work was found to be original in form and full of vigor and life.
Many expressions of admiration were given to to the trio, and much comment was excited as to who its composer might be. One declared it was too passionate to be from Haydn's pen, and another added that it was too gloomy to be by Mozart. Ries declared that at any rate it was by a man who thoroughly understood his work.
Finally Count Waldstein announced that the trio was composed by young Beethoven. The musicians looked as if something had fallen from the clouds. Then succeeded the most hearty congratulations, and the young composer went to his humble home that night with a fresh inspiration for his life work, brought by this first triumph as a composer.