The Round Square Conference At Dr. Hahn's request the name of the Hahn Schools Conference was changed to The Round Square Conference in February of this year at its first official meeting of Governors and Headmasters at Gordonstoun. The title is indeed a strange one until it is explained that the Round Square is a fine XVIth Century building at Gordon- stoun in which this meeting was held. It is a completely circular building which was originally designed as a stable for the first owner of Gordonstoun, Sir Robert Gordon Cumming, known far and wide as ' The Wizard of Gordonstoun'. He built it, history relates, so that' the Devil would never catch him in a corner'. The Round Square is now beautifully converted to the uses of School Library, classrooms and a boys' dormitory house. The illustrated design (see below) is the official crest or motif of the Round Square Conference as approved recently by the member Schools. At an unofficial meeting here at Box Hill in September the following Headmasters were die guests of local Governors: Mr. David Byatt of Battisborough and Mr. John Kempe the Headmaster-elect of Gordonstoun were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph; Mr. Robert Chew was the guest of Sir Ernest and Lady Goodale; Mr. John Corlette, Headmaster of Aiglon College, Switzerland, and Mr. Jocelin Winthrop Young, the Headmaster of Salem, were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Speirs. The conference which took place in the School lasted two days and many matters affecting all the Schools were dis- cussed. Between sessions the Headmasters had the opportunity of meeting many of the boys, girls, staff and governors, of witnessing a demonstration of the St. John Ambulance Division, and saw a series of races, including an Old Boys' team, over the Obstacle Course. A full meeting of Headmasters of the Conference together with representatives of their respective governing bodies will be held at Box Hill from 12th to 14th June next year. Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd of Juniper Hill, Mickleham, have generously offered to place two rooms at the disposal of the Conference throughout the three days. Present members of the Conference are: Aiglon College, Switzer- land; Anavryta, Greece; Athenian School, California; Battisborough. Devon; Box Hill, Surrey; Gordonstoun, Scotland; Louisenlund, Germany; Salem, Germany. '''lit

30 The Life of a Hero TIMOTHY HENDON. Ludvig van Beethoven was born on 16th December, 1770, in a town on the Rhine called Bonn. His father was a singer in the court of the Archbishop in whose household his mother also had a place. He was taught by his father, and later by the court organist, and before the age of twelve Beethoven was made deputy organist and was already a busy composer. In 1789 he visited Vienna and took lessons from Mozart, and in 1792 the Elector sent him again to Vienna to study under Haydn. It was there that his music career really started. In 1802 he was being troubled by deafness but this was not going to defeat Beethoven: he was determined to carry on his music. Over the years, silence built a prison wall around him and all communica- tion with his fellow men had to be made by note. While Beethoven was still composing his earlier symphonies, he was troubled by the thought that people were not taking much notice of his music, but still he went on. While the first performance of the 9th Symphony was being played, the audience wept and clapped. Beethoven was called for but he could not hear: someone turned him round so that he could at least see the applause. He was now world famous. On 26th March, 1827, the great, sublime voice of Beethoven be- came silent for ever. One feels that he managed to overcome his fate and to create music more powerful than fate or misfortune. Now a few words about his music. All his symphonies and piano works express something of his desire to create music, and, despite his deafness, this was done with success. Beethoven composed symphony No. 3, Eroica, in Napoleon's honour, but infuriated that Napoleon was made emperor, destroyed the dedication. In his 5th symphony he expresses something of the tremendous fight which he was determined to win. He also expresses the struggle between man and his fate which inspired the repetitive four-note phrase of the symphony. Beethoven was known by many as the Shakespeare of music for he achieved, despite his misfortune, music which no other composer could have created. 31