The lives of Haydn and Mozart,; with observations on Metastasio, and on the present state of music in France and Italy. Translated from the French of ... notes, by the author of the Sacred melodies - Softcover

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1818 Excerpt: ... LETTER XXII. Vienna, August 22, 1809. On my return to the Austrian capital, I have to inform you, my dear friend, that the larva of Haydn has also quitted us. That great man no longer exists, except in our memory. I have often told you, that he was become extremely weak before he entered his seventy-eighth year. It was the last of his life. No sooner did he approach his piano-forte, than the vertigo returned, and his hands quitted the keys to take up the rosary, that last consolation. The war broke out between Austria and France. This intelligence roused Haydn, and exhausted the remnant of his strength. He was continually inquiring for news; he went every moment to his piano, and sang, with the small thread of voice which he yet retained, " God preserve the Emperor f The French armies advanced with gigantic strides. At length, on the night of the 10th of May, having reached Schonbrunn, half a league s distance from Haydn's little garden, they fired, the next morning, fifteen hundred cannon-shot, within two yards of his house, upon Vienna, the town which he so much loved. The old man's imagination represented it as given up to fire and sword. Four bombs fell close to his house. His two servants ran to him, Full of terror. The old man, rousing himself, got up from his easy chair, and with a dignified air, demanded: " Why this terror? Know that no disaster can come where Haydn is/' A convulsive shivering prevented him from proceeding, and he was carried to his bed. On the 26th of May, his strength diminished sensibly. Nevertheless, having caused himself to be carried to his piano, he sung thrice, as loud as he was able, " God preserve the Emperor!" It was the song of the swan. While at the piano, he fell into a kind of stupor, and, at last, expired on the mor...