Part 40 (1/2)

At Bonn young Beethoven devoted hian

The memories of the Rhine filled his life, which ended so sadly on the Danube Bonn and Beethoven are as one nalish or American tourist

THE FATHER OF ORGAN MUSIC

Bach, the greatest organist and coan music of the last century, was born at Eisenach, 1685, and had truly a remarkable history His art was born in hi because he

His father was a court musician, and had a twin brother who occupied the same situation, and so much resembled him that their wives could not tell them apart These twin brothers produced music nearly alike; their dispositions were identical; when one was ill, the other was so likewise, and both died at the sahtest orna family His parents died in his boyhood, and his musical education was undertaken by his eldest brother, a distinguished organist He fed on music as food

An incident will show his spirit He was eager to play ned He noticed that his brother had a book of especially difficult pieces; and he begged to be allowed to use it, but was denied This book was kept locked in a cupboard, which had an opening just wide enough to admit the boy's thin hand He was able to reach it, and, by rolling it in a certain way, to bring it out and replace it without unlocking the door He began to copy it by , and in six months had reproduced in this manner the whole of the music About this tied hiave hian-music became a passion with him He determined, at whatever sacrifice, to ry, lose the delights of society; but the first organist in Ger should be allowed to stand in the way of this purpose in life He studied all reat Geran; and when he heard him, he remained three months an unknown and secret auditor in the church

A youth in which a single ai anist in that Athens of Gerrew until it reached the ears of Frederick the Great

”Old Bach has co that the great organist arrived in town

He became blind in his last years, as did Handel Ten days before his death his sight was suddenly restored, and he rejoiced at seeing the sunshi+ne and the green earth again A few hours after this strange occurrence, he was seized with an apoplectic fit He died at the age of sixty-eight

His organ-playing was held to be one of the an as it were a part of his own soul; it expressed his thoughts like an interpreter, and swayed other hearts with the emotions of his own His oratorios and cantatas were numbered by the hundred, le occasion Hiswork is the Passion Music

In 1850 a Bach Society was formed in London, and a revival of the works of the master followed Bach wrote five passions, but only one for two choirs

To the general audience lish choral societies, seems too difficult for appreciation; but the over-choir at the beginning, the expression of suffering and darkness, and the so-called earthquake choruses, with its sudden and stupendous effects, impress even the uneducated ear

The beauty and power of the oratorio as a work of art are felt in proportion to one's ; but as a sublime tone-seredy it represents is passing before them

[Illustration: A CITY OF THE RHINE]

THE ORGAN-TEMPEST OF LUCERNE

We came to fair Lucerne at even,-- How beauteous was the scene!

The snowy Alps like walls of heaven Rose o'er the Alps of green; The daht Flashed on the Lake, and low Above Mt Pilate's shadowy height Night bent her silver bow

We turned towards the faded fane, How an's strain Along the arches rolled; Such as when guardian spirits bear A soul to realht, And ht; Then followed strains so sweet, So sadly sweet and low, That they seeo

A light wind seeust followed soon, As when a dark cloud flies Across the sun, at noon

It filled the aisles,--each drew His garments round his form; We could not feel the wind that blew, We could only hear the storhts, And saw the lake serenely lie Beneath the crystal heights

Fair rose the Alps of white Above the Alps of green, The slopes lay bright in the sun of night, And the peaks in the sun unseen

A deep sound shook the air, As when the tempest breaks Upon the peaks, while sunshi+ne fair Is drea; When rose a wind so drear, Its troubled spirit see The shades of darkness near

We looked towards the s old, Calold, And on Pilate shone theflash Upturned the startled face; When a hty thunder-crash With horror filled the place!