Sol omnibus lucet!

[David]

"In the summer of the year 1790 or 1791 I was one day on business in Godesberger Brunnen [at the village of Godesberg with its health fountain]. After dinner Beethoven and another young man came up. I related to him that the church at Marienforst (a cloister in the woods behind Godesberg) had been repaired and renovated, and that this was also true of the organ, which was either wholly new or at least greatly improved. The company begged him to give them the pleasure of letting them hear him play on the instrument. His great good nature led him to grant our wish. The church was locked, but the prior was very obliging and had it unlocked for us. B. now began to play variations on themes given him by the party in a manner that moved us profoundly; but what was more significant, poor laboring folk who were cleaning out the debris left by the work of repair, were so greatly affected by the music that they put down their implements and listened with amazement and obvious pleasure."

[Thayer-Forbes]