"The whole thing works out into rather a miracle," Elliot Forbes '41 said yesterday of the Beethoven string quartet Op. 131 Gesturing at the class during the last lecture of his 26-year Harvard career, he went on. "In a fugue, it isn't so much drama as eloquence. It's a kind of adventure."

Afterwards, Forbes said, "They were spellbound" by the music. He spoke about what he termed his "three loves": Beethoven the edited Thayer's Life of Beethoven, published in 1964), choral music, and harmony and counterpoint. He said he enjoyed teaching because it "combines my love of music with a love of people."

Forbes, who is retiring as Peabody Professor of Music this year, gave his final lecture in Music 12th, "The Works of Ludwig van Beethoven "Forbes, the music department's head tutor, also taught Music 2 this year.

Forbes said he chose to retire voluntarily at age 66 because "one gets the feeling in life that there's a right time to do things--it's a got feeling." Forbes added that he wants to make room for younger faculty. "It's important to build for the future," he said.

Harvard's mandatory retirement age is 70.

Other faculty members added that Forbes broke his hip this year and had to miss some classes, and this may have also figured in his decision.

"It's wonderful to teach with him," said course teaching assistant Robert D. Riggs. "He has a classic gentlemanly manner and a great enthusiasm and love for his subject, which comes through in his teaching," he added.

Students and faculty also emphasized Forbes's accessibility and willingness to teach students at all levels. "He is very accommodating to beginners," said Bumby Schnitzer '84.

She added that of the two sections of Music 128b. Forbes characteristically chose to teach the one for non-concentrators.

Forbes has taught many different departmental courses, ranging from specialized seminars to the survey Music 1. He also taught Music 2a and 2b this year, an upper level introductory course for non-concentrators.

"It's exciting," said Forbes, "because I'm teaching people who want to learn how to put notes on paper."

He added, "Every once in a while a student says, 'this is for real,' an avenue to music is suddenly opened, and they end up concentrating in the department."

Forbes has served at various times as department head tutor, chairman, and director of choral activities, conducting both the Harvard Glee Club and the Radcliffe Choral Society until 1970. He presided over three Glee Club tours and made three recordings.

His writing has dealt primarily with choral music and with Beethoven, both music and biography. He has also been general editor of the Harvard Radcliffe Choral Music Theatre.

Forbes's colleagues speak about him. "He's a devoted, dedicated teacher," said Professor of Music Loraine Vegorchian. She added that he spends a great deal of time with students, advising and encouraging them.