Yet the idolatry has had a stifling effect on subsequent generations of composers, who must compete on a playing field that was designed to prolong Beethoven’s

Yet the idolatry has had a stifling effect on subsequent generations of composers, who must compete on a playing field that was designed to prolong Beethoven’s glory. Odd that the article doesn't leverage much evidence to support this point. However, we do have some excellent examples, notably Brahms, who wrote to a friend: "I shall never compose a Symphony! You have no conception of how the likes of us feel when we hear the tramp of a giant like him behind us." ("Him" being Beethoven.) And indeed, he didn't complete his first symphony until age 40.