"
When Beethoven was dying, one of his friends sent him a present of
Handel's works, in forty volumes. They were brought into his
chamber, and, gazing on them with reanimated eye, be exclaimed,
pointing at them with his finger, "There--there is the truth!"
Haydn not only recognised the genius of the great men who had
passed away, but of his young contemporaries, Mozart and
Beethoven. Small men may be envious of their fellows, but really
great men seek out and love each other. Of Mozart, Haydn wrote "I
only wish I could impress on every friend of music, and on great
men in particular, the same depth of musical sympathy, and
profound appreciation of Mozart's inimitable music, that I myself
feel and enjoy; then nations would vie with each other to possess
such a jewel within their frontiers. Prague ought not only to
strive to retain this precious man, but also to remunerate him;
for without this the history of a great genius is sad indeed....
It enrages me to think that the unparalleled Mozart is not yet
engaged by some imperial or royal court. Forgive my excitement;
but I love the man so dearly!"
Mozart was equally generous in his recognition of the merits of
Haydn. "Sir," said he to a critic, speaking of the latter, "if
you and I were both melted down together, we should not furnish
materials for one Haydn." And when Mozart first heard Beethoven,
he observed: "Listen to that young man; be assured that he will
yet make a great name in the world.
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