gure: a musical score excerpt from the published version]

The collecting of what Tennyson called "the chips of the workshop"
is not as a rule an edifying business, but the evolution of a great
national air must always be interesting.

Plagiarism or Coincidence?

It might perhaps be added that Dr Kuhac, the highest authority on
Croatian folk-song, asserted in an article contributed to the Croatian
Review (1893) that the Austrian National Hymn was based on a Croatian
popular air. In reviewing Kuhac's collection of Croatian melodies, a
work in four volumes, containing 1600 examples, Dr Reimann signifies his
agreement with Kuhac, and adds that Haydn employed Croatian themes not
only in "God preserve the Emperor," but in many passages of his
other works. These statements must not be taken too seriously. Handel
purloined wholesale from brother composers and said nothing about it.
The artistic morality of Haydn's age was different, and, knowing his
character as we do, we may be perfectly sure that if he had of set
purpose introduced into any of his compositions music which was not his
own he would, in some way or other, have acknowledged the debt. This
hunting for plagiarisms which are not plagiarisms at all but mere
coincidences--coincidences which are and must be inevitable--is fast
becoming a nuisance, and it is the duty of every serious writer to
discredit the practice. The composer of "The Creation" had no need to
borrow his melodies from any source.

CHAPTER VII. "THE CREATION" AND "THE SEASONS"

Haydn's Crowning Achievement--"The Creation" suggested--The
"Unintelligible Jargon" of the Libretto--The Stimulating Effect
of London--Haydn's Self-Criticism--First Performance of "The
Creation"--London Performances--French Enthusiasm--The Oratorio
criticized--"The Seasons."

Haydn's Crowning Achievement

Haydn rounded his life with "The Creation" and "The Seasons." They
were the summit of his achievement, as little to be expected from
him, considering his years, as "Falstaff" was to be expected from the
octogenarian Verdi. Some geniuses flower late. It was only now, by his
London symphonies and his "Creation," that Haydn's genius blossomed so
luxuriantly as to place him with almost amazing suddenness among the
very first of composers. There is hardly anything more certain than
this, that if he had not come to London he would not have stood where he
stands to-day. The best of his symphonies were written for London;