Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Literature Part 16

What are they saying? The sister is lamenting that she cannot "go to the concert at Cologne"

and her brother reminds her of their poverty.

Then she wishes that "for once in her life" she "could hear some really good music".

What happens next? Beethoven decides to enter the house.

How does the writer impress this fact on the reader? By giving the argument between himself and Beethoven.

What were the latter's reasons? The player had "feeling, genius, understanding", and these qualities are so rarely found that Beethoven could not neglect them.

Explain these terms. The player showed refined feeling in her interpretation of the music, genius in her skill on the piano, and thorough understanding of the composer's purposes in the composition.

Was it only for his own pleasure that the composer entered? No, he wished to give pleasure to one who could so well appreciate his work.

Describe the scene. A young shoemaker is seated at his work. He is pale from the effects of confinement and toil. A young girl with an abundance of light hair is leaning on an "old-fas.h.i.+oned piano".

What does this piano show? That their parents had very probably been lovers of music, and the piano may have been an heirloom.

What comes next? The musician explains the reasons for his intrusion.

How did the brother look upon it? The young man seemed annoyed at first.

How was this annoyance overcome? The manner of Beethoven was so comical and pleasant that the young man's annoyance pa.s.sed away.

How had Beethoven addressed the brother and sister? His manner was very confused. He wished to conceal his name, and yet wished to give pleasure to the young girl.

How does he show his confusion? The sentences "I, I also ... play for you", are such halting ones. He does not make his sentences complete.

What was the next part of the conversation? The young man tells Beethoven that the "piano is so wretched" and they "have no music".

What is the purpose of this statement in the story? It shows Beethoven that the young girl is blind and plays these difficult compositions by ear.

How had she learned to play this Sonata? She had heard a lady "practising" it, and "walked to and fro" in front of the house in order "to listen to it".

What does this show? What a love of music and wonderful natural ability the young girl possessed.

What is the next action in the story? Beethoven plays.

Why did he play better than he had often done before large audiences? He realized how greatly his work was appreciated; and he was deeply touched by the thought of the young girl's blindness, her poverty, her skill, and her pa.s.sion for good music.

What trifling occurrence now affects the story?

The last candle in the house burned out, so the writer opened the shutters and admitted "a flood of brilliant moonlight".

What effect had this upon the composer? It changed the current of his thoughts and feelings.

How did he appear? "His head dropped upon his breast", and "his hands rested upon his knees".

What is the next action? The young shoemaker asks Beethoven who he is.

What did the composer answer? "He played the opening bars of the Sonata in F." This revealed his name. The writer says that the young people "covered his hands with tears and kisses".

What were their feelings? Their actions were expressions of their affection and admiration.

What takes place next? The brother and sister beseech him to play "once more".

What description is given here? Beethoven's appearance in the moonlight.

Describe him. He was very "ma.s.sive" in size, his head was large and his features strong, and the light from the moon encircled his head.

(Produce a picture, if possible, of Beethoven.)

Did he agree to play again? Yes, he said he would "improvise a Sonata to the Moonlight".

What does "improvise" mean? He would compose the music as he played.

Had this any relation to what goes before? Yes, the writer has told us how thoughtful he had been when the moonlight first streamed into the room. Now he is going to express his thoughts and feelings through the tones of the piano.

We said at the beginning that a Sonata was a musical composition consisting of various movements. What are the movements? In this case there is first, "a sad and infinitely lovely movement", then, "a wild, elfin pa.s.sage in triple time", and lastly, "a breathless, hurrying, trembling" close.

Let us examine this description of the "Moonlight Sonata" more closely. What did the moonlight suggest to Beethoven? "Spirits"

dancing in the moonlight.

What does the first movement suggest? The "moonlight" flowing "over the dark earth".

What does the second movement suggest? The wild dance of the "spirits on the lawn".

What does the last suggest? "Flight", "uncertainty", "impulsive terror".

What was the effect upon the listeners? They were left in a state of "wonder" and "emotion".

What musical terms are used to describe this music? _Interlude_, _triple time_, _agitato finale_.

Explain them. _Interlude_ is a piece of music played between the main parts. _Triple time_ is time, or rhythm, of three beats, or of three times three beats in a bar.

Give an example of triple time. It denotes sprightliness, as in the waltz. The _agitato finale_ means the close of the pa.s.sage with a hurrying movement.

What takes place next? Beethoven rose quickly, promised to come again, and hurried away.

Why did he hurry? He wished to write out the "Sonata" while it was still fresh in his mind.

What does the last short paragraph state? It tells that this was the origin of the "Moonlight Sonata".

Where is the theme of the whole lesson found?

In the last sentence.

What has the writer told us? He has given us all the circ.u.mstances which combined to inspire Beethoven to compose this great work.

RECAPITULATION

Now let us review the story and collect these details. What are they? The time, place, the persons going for a walk, the narrow street, the wonderful playing, the conversation, the appearance of the young people, the blindness of the girl, her eagerness to hear "good music", the moonlight admitted, the recognition of Beethoven.