286 REPORTS FROM THE SECTIONS. 
plenty of well-meaning friends to hazard their various suggestions 
ould it have a fine effect if the trombones had a note here, 
or if the oboe could be added to the flute there?” and so on; and 
these prick-points, without counting the — corrections of 
the faults of copy, make his life a real martyrdom 
At last the day appointed for the full and final iene arrives. 
Everybody is at his post. A sort of solemnity prevails on these 
vincia 
to suit the tastes of their special public. The composer, sitting 
near the na is already prepared to give the temps, when, 
perhaps, as the last drop overflowing the cup, comes the indisposi- 
tion of the prim nbn or some equall happy accident, involving 
postponement. Why the general areca and annoyance 
is; and, alas! he who is the most bitterly annoyed and disap- 
pointed — — all has no one on whom he has the right to fall 
foul of in his 
I will not weary you with further details. The first representa- 
exaggeration—he is a demigod or a cobbler, a tone-poet or 
oO er; he is “«tballooned” (excuse the word) up to the 
seventh heaven, or “diamond-drilled” (pardon again) to the 
bottom of hell. Anyway he once more breathes freely—his work 
is produced—it is known—he can do no more. He waits the 
verdict of time, and may perhaps never know it. 
To return now to my assertion that the — or rather 
composer, has to struggle against many more material difficulties 
than have other artists, in the production of their por not 
Go 
_ 
i=% 
poser. Alas, n 
work, good or bad, before the public, depends i in so large a measure 
on the degree of perfection of the performance. The more beau- 
tiful the work the more perfect should be the performance, 1n 
order to show forth its varied charms, and this is why composi- 
tions that in London, Paris, Vienna, and Leipzic excite unbounded 
create but little — c= oe in other towns. In- — 
stance the works of Beethov: If any man ever conquered @ 
sublime position in the eso of all ane who love and under- 
stand music, it is Beethoven, whose illustrious name has become 
+ of worshi his works have been pales 
a ay cso been enriched by such 
