sketchbook bearing the words, ‘Let us sing the song of the immortal Schiller _Freude_.’” By grouping a number of sketches it is now possible to make a graphic representation of the ideas which passed through Beethoven’s mind while seeking a way to bridge the chasm between instrumental and vocal utterance by means of the formula of recitative. The sketches are in parts illegible, in parts so obscure that Nottebohm and Deiters differ in their readings; regard has been had for both in the following version: Over a portion of an instrumental recitative (_a_) occur the words: “_Nein diese ... erinnern an unsere Verzweifl._” (No, these ... remind (us) of our despair); other sketches follow in the order here indicated: [Illustration:(a)] [Illustration: Heute ist ein feierlicher Tag (To-day is a solemn day) meine Fru (Freunde?) dieser sei gefeiert my fri (friends?) let it be celebrated durch mit Gesang und [Tanz? Scherz?] with song and [Dance? Play?] ] [Illustration] [Illustration: O nein dieses nicht etwas O no not this something ist es was ich fordere anderes gefällig sondern nur etwas heiterer but only a little merrier auch dieses nicht ist nur Possen or (“besser”) etwas schöneres und bessers nor this either it is but sport (or no better) auch dieses es ist zu zärtl zärtl (nor this it is too tender tender) etwas aufgewecktes[?] muss man suchen (for something animated we must seek) ich werde sehn dass ich selbst euch etwas (I shall see to it that I myself intone something vorsinge alsdann stimmt nur nach then do you sing after me) Dieses ist es Ha es ist nun gefunden Ich This it is Ha now it is found I selbst werde vorsingen Freude schöner myself will intone it Ha dieses ist es Es ist nun gefunden Ha this it is it now is discovered Freu- - - ] [Illustration: meilleur] Later comes the memorandum which Beethoven showed Schindler (“_I asst uns das Lied des unsterblichen Schillers singen, Freude, etc._”) and then: [Illustration: _Bass_ nicht diese Töne fröhlichere _Voce_ Freude! Freude (“not these tones, more joyful ones”) ] The entire Symphony was finished in sketch-form at the end of 1823 and written out in score in February, 1824. Omitting from consideration the theme of the second movement, noted in 1815 and again in 1817 (probably with an entirely different purpose in mind), the time which elapsed between the beginning of the first movement (1817-1818) and the time of completion was about six and a half years. Within this period, however, there were extended interruptions caused by other works. Serious and continuous labor on the Symphony was not taken up until after the completion of the _Missa solemnis_; it began in 1822, occupied the greater part of 1823 and ended in the early part of 1824. Beethoven, therefore, worked on the Symphony a little more than a year. [Sidenote: INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL PARTS UNITED]