ABSTRACT
During 1796 and 1797 Ludwig van Beethoven made numerous journeys, some of them probably as a member of Lichnowsky's suite—Prague, Berlin, Nuremberg, Pressburg, Buda-Pesth and Leipzig. In Berlin he made the acquaintance of, among other musical notabilities, Friedrich Himmel, concerning which meeting a story is told showing Beethoven's curious simplicity and lack of humour —humour, that is, outside his own peculiar and primitive type. Only two matters call for notice in connection with the year 1798. The first is of tragic significance. The other point is that the genesis of "Eroica" Symphony may be traced to the Spring of this year. Reference has been made to various pianistic duels between Beethoven and his rivals. One such contest that took place at about this time is perhaps worth recounting in detail. The opponent was Steibelt, a showy player, and, incidentally, composer of a "Storm Rondo" that for a time agitated the drawing-rooms of England hardly less than the "Battle of Prague".
