Page:Rolland - Beethoven, tr. Hull, 1927.pdf/189

 the German style," and has reference to the country dance, Ländler. Beethoven employs the term only twice in his published works—here and in the fifth movement of the B flat quartet, Opus 130, where he describes the movement in one of the sketches as Allemande Allegro. In a Bagatelle, No. 3 of Opus 119, he uses the term in French, A l'allemande.

The first movement gives some good practice in crossing the hands. The second movement might easily be mistaken for a gondolier's song by Mendelssohn. The third movement is a lively Con Moto in simple Rondo form.

Styled by Beethoven himself, Les adieux, l'absence, et la retour. (The parting, the absence, and the return). As such it is the finest piece of programme music ever written. It is dedicated to his friend and patron, the Archduke Rudolph, but it is not known definitely that it was connected with the absence of the Archduke himself. The general feeling seems to suggest a more tender attachment. The music is Beethoven at his very best, and is truly representative of his mature period. The interrelation of the whole of the music, its close affinity with the opening musical