‘Beethoven’s Tenth discovered in Masonic library’

  

Beethoven, by Andy Warhol, 1987.

WQXR host Naomi Lewin reports today on National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday that a manuscript described as two movements of Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 10 has been discovered in the archives of the Chancellor Robert R. Livingston Masonic Library, located in Masonic Hall, the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of New York.

Livingston Library Executive Director Tom Savini is quoted only briefly, but the report explains that the manuscript may have seen the light of day already, just more than a century ago, when Masonic archives were being transferred from the previous Masonic Hall to the current building, and may even have been seen by Gustav Mahler, then the conductor of the New York Philharmonic, who was known for rearranging certain Beethoven works.

It never has been established if the great composer was a Brother in the Craft, although the themes of some of his best known works show Masonic thinking, and some of his collaborators, like Schiller, who wrote the Ode to Joy libretto for Symphony No. 9, were Freemasons.

The 5:35 audio of this Sunday, April 1 story can be heard here.

Bro. Tomislav Stanich in concert

There are times when I wish I could clone myself and become the Magpie Masons. Next Monday, for instance. At 8 p.m. I’ll attend the Installation of Officers at American Lodge of Research at the Grand Lodge of New York, while wishing my ears could go downtown to St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery to hear the Piano Recital.

Bro. Tomislav Stanich, of St. John’s Lodge No. 1, AYM, will perform selections by Mozart, Beethoven, and Chopin.

The amazingly historic St. Mark’s Church-in-the-Bowery is located at 131 East 10th Street at Second Avenue. Tickets cost $20 and are available at the door, before the performance, beginning at 7 p.m.

In the meantime, I’ll content myself by checking out his CD.