Upon reaching Mergentheim, music, and ever music, became the order of the day for King Lux and his merry subjects.  Most fortunately for the admirers of Beethoven, we have a minute account of two days (October 11 and 12) spent there, by a competent and trustworthy musical critic of that period,—­a man not the less welcome to us for possessing something of the flunkeyism of old Diarist Pepys and Corsica Boswell.  We shall quote somewhat at length from his letter, since it has hitherto come under the notice of none of the biographers, and yet gives us so lively a picture of young Beethoven and his friends.

“On the very first day,” writes Junker, “I heard the small band which plays at dinner, during the stay of the Elector at Mergentheim.  The instruments are two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, and two horns.  These eight performers may well be called masters in their art.  One can rarely hear music of the kind, distinguished by such perfect unity of effect and such sympathy with each other in the performers, and especially in which so high a degree of exactness and perfection of style is reached.  This band appeared to me to differ from all others I have heard in this,—­that it plays music of a higher order; on this occasion, for instance, it gave an arrangement of Mozart’s overture to ‘Don Juan.’”

It would be interesting to know what, if any, of the works of Beethoven for wind-instruments belong to this period of his life.

“Soon after the dinner-music,” continues our writer, “the play began.  It was the opera, ‘King Theodor,’ music by Paisiello.  The part of Theodor was sung by Herr Nuedler, a powerful singer in tragic scenes, and a good actor. Achmet was given by Herr Spitzeder,—­a good bass singer, but with too little action, and not always quite true,—­in short, too cold.  The inn-keeper was Herr Lux, a very good bass, and the best actor,—­a man created for the comic.  The part of Lizette was taken by Demoiselle Willmann.  She sings in excellent taste, has very great power of expression, and a lively, captivating action.  Herr Maendel, in Sandrino, proved himself also a very fine and pleasing singer.  The orchestra was surpassingly good,—­especially in its piano and forte, and its careful crescendo. Herr Ries, that remarkable reader of scores, that great player, directed with his violin.  He is a man who may well be placed beside Cannabich, and by his powerful and certain tones he gave life and soul to the whole....

“The next morning, (October 12,) at ten o’clock, the rehearsal for the concert began, which was to be given at court at six in the afternoon.  Herr Welsch (oboist) had the politeness to invite me to be present.  I was held at the lodgings of Herr Ries, who received me with a hearty shake of the hand.  Here I was an eye-witness of the gentlemanly bearing of the members of the Chapel toward each other.  One heart, one mind rules them.  ’We know nothing of the cabals and chicanery so common; among us the most perfect unanimity prevails; we, as members of one company, cherish for each other a fraternal affection,’ said Simrock to me.