Page:Anecdotes of Great Musicians.djvu/280

268 On receiving it, the composer snatched it up and hastily wrote on the back of the card:—

"Ludwig van Beethoven, Brain-owner," and sent it back to his proud relative.  

True worth is always modest. This was especially seen, among the great composers, in the case of Franz Schubert. A characteristic bit of his modesty we find in the account of his first meeting with Beethoven. Grove tells us of this meeting in these words:—

"Beethoven was at home, and we know the somewhat overwhelming courtesy with which he welcomed a stranger. Schubert was bashful and retiring, and when the great man handed him paper and pencil provided for the replies of visitors, Schubert could not collect himself sufficiently to write a word. Then Schubert produced some variations which he had enthusiastically dedicated to Beethoven, and this added to Beethoven's good humor. The master opened them and looked through them, and seeing something which startled him, naturally pointed it out. At this Schubert's last remnant of self-control deserted him and he rushed from the room. When he got into the street and was out of the magic of Beethoven's personality, his presence of mind returned, and all that he might have said flashed upon him, but it was too late."  

But few of the great composers have heard their works given with such completeness and skill as they can be given to-day. Wagner was of course an exception to this rule. In our day, while the voices may not be better they are used in more massive combinations, and the orchestral instruments have been improved by modern skill. But of course the stringed instruments