Daniel Steibelt – Aubade

Daniel Steibelt was very capable and skilful pianist as well as original and prolific composer. His works were quite popular among the public, and if it weren't for one incident, he could have gone in history as an unsurpassed musician. Of course, there were quite a few other virtuosi in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, but it is hard to tell outright who of them was the best – in such situations contest is the only way to know.

Owing to Steilbelt's own overconfidence and moxie, he participated in one such; however, overall idea to measure swords with Beethoven was a primordial fizzle: the latter worsted Steibelt with little to no effort having played a few bars off his piece with one finger while managing to sight-read sheet music from an upturned paper. Thanks Heaven, this incident didn’t impact Steibelt insomuch as to put the kibosh on a music career (he didn't go further refusal to play in the presence of Ludvig van), and we can’t help but rejoice. Here is one of Steibelt's umpteen pieces, called Aubade. Enjoy!