Beethoven’s Tenth Symphony

“Mr. Beynon, really! It’s the middle of the night! Must you wake everybody up? I’ve been listening to you for ages and I’ve never heard anything like it. It’s so beautiful and yet so sad and tragic, what is it?”Beynon looked blankly at her and said, “Mrs. Todd, he says it’s a Requiem Mass for mankind.”“Who says? You’re composing, aren’t you?”“Me?” said Beynon. “I’m only writing it down. I wish I could compose like that. He says it’s the Tenth and I must hurry up as there’s little time for me and not much for the world.”“Are you alright, Mr. Beynon?” asked Mrs. Todd, “You seem strange.”“Please go back to bed. It’s gone now.”“What’s gone?”“The orchestra, the music. I can go to sleep now.” 3