Re: No Subject

Of course, Beethoven *did* scramble for commissions and he did long for official positions at various times, a longing that went unfulfilled. The first truly, completely independent composer was apparently Brahms, who accepted only a handful of commissions in his entire life and otherwise supported himself through publishing and by touring as a piano not-quite-virtuoso. The irony, of course, is that he was arguably a far less innovative creative force than were Bach, Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Steve Smith ssmith36@sprynet.com NP - nmperign & Jason Lescalleet - "Such Is a Refrigerator, or Even Happiness," 'In Which the Silent Partner-Director Is No Longer Able to Make His Point to the Industrial Dreamer' (Intransitive)