Jean Sibelius has finished his eighth symphony (in his boulder-like head; it is not yet completely written down). From Brahms's massive skull came four symphonies, from Tchaikovsky's high crown six, from Beethoven's shaggy pate nine. Mozart's wonderfully broad forehead gave out no less than 41. But when tough old Joseph ("Papa'') Haydn sat down at the age of 72 to catalogue his works, he could shake his egg-shaped head till it nearly cracked, but he could not for the life of him remember all those nice symphonies he had written. Their authenticated number:...
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