Classic Ross Amico

Tag: Beethoven

Celebrating Beethoven’s 250th Birthday

Happy birthday, Beethoven!

Well, here we are. Your 250th birthday – what would have been the biggest celebration in classical music (at least until 2027, the 200th anniversary of your death) – and we’re all sitting at home with our records. That’s okay. I’ve got plenty of good ones. Anyone care to share any of their favorites?

Here’s a montage of 42 conductors and 1 pianist, performing the most famous opening in all of Western music. It really gives a sense of what different interpreters can bring to a piece of music (also, in Barenboim’s case, the effect of an unstifled sneeze). Performance matters!

Here’s one from 2007 that I find quite compelling, led by the Hungarian composer Péter Eötvös.

My candidate for craziest stick technique:

Perhaps more instructive is this traversal by line-riding bikes:

Clearly, this symphony is bulletproof.

Beethoven as he appeared in 1804-05, while he was at work on his “Fifth”

December 16, 2020
Beethoven All Day on The Classical Network

As seemingly everyone in this part of the country scrambles to fortify themselves with bread and alcohol in advance of the impending nor’easter, The Classical Network hunkers down to celebrate Beethoven.

Intrepid hosts honor the master’s 250th birthday this morning by sampling from his vast and varied output. At noon today, Jed Distler will look back on whacky 2020 on “Between the Keys,” with more Beethoven among his featured music. Then at 10:00 tonight, David Dubal will celebrate Beethoven on “The Piano Matters.” Actually, now that I think about it, it will be Beethoven, more or less, all day long. As well it should be.

It may not be quite the 250th birthday celebration we had all hoped, but it’s certainly in keeping with the craziest year in memory.

Remember, you can do your part to sustain the continued broadcast of Beethoven and his brethren on The Classical Network by making a contribution now, by calling 1-888-232-1212, or donating online at wwfm.org.

What’s a little snow when weighed against the titanic struggle, triumph, and overriding nobility of Beethoven? Make Beethoven the soundtrack to your snowpocalypse. Thank you for your support of WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org!

https://wwwfm.secureallegiance.com/wwfm/WebModule/Donate.aspx?P=DEFAULT&PAGETYPE=PLG&CHECK=vOU2bz5JCWmgCDbf53nm9ezWDeZ%2BeA1M&fbclid=IwAR3lKNzVwp4VLJZwjnIK7_pQatbBok6r9rtpuYcaaNEY1RuvX2r9jq5qP1k

December 16, 2020
Beethoven with Peanuts Schroeder’s Tribute

On the eve of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth (observed), celebrate Ludwig Van with Peanuts:

Schroeder plays the “Pathétique” Sonata:

Schroeder plays the “Moonlight” Sonata:

Lucy resents Schroeder’s white privilege:

Direct all mail to 1770 James Street (Schroeder’s address – 1770 is the year of Beethoven’s birth). Charles Schulz made Schroeder a musician when he decided to work his daughter’s toy piano into the strip. The first piece he ever had Schroeder play was not by Beethoven, but rather Rachmaninoff’s Prelude in G minor. Schulz himself preferred Brahms, but he said he thought “Beethoven” sounded funnier.

BONUS! “Schroeder’s Beethoven Fantasy,” the first movement of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s “Peanuts Gallery”:

December 16, 2020
Beethoven’s Holiday Shopping & Bagatelles

As you tick off the tasks on your own holiday to-do list, consider this shopping list in Beethoven’s hand. Among the desired items: soap, a mousetrap, a knife, and a metronome. Let the festivities begin!

Then enjoy these “Bagatelles,” musical trifles, performed by Melvyn Tan on Beethoven’s 1817 Broadwood piano.

December 14, 2020
Beethoven Handel & Hanukkah Music

Remember when 2020 was supposed to be the big Beethoven year? To mark the 250th anniversary of his birth, I mean? How did that work out?

Small compensation, I know, but how about a week’s worth of posts about Beethoven, to mark his actual birthday, commonly observed on December 16?

On the fourth evening of Hanukkah, the obvious choice is Beethoven’s “Variations on ‘See the conquering hero comes,’” from Handel’s “Judas Maccabaeus.” Here’s a performance I’ve got all cued up from a recording of the complete cello sonatas:

Beethoven was a great admirer of Handel’s music. “Handel is the greatest composer who ever lived,” he said. “I would uncover my head and kneel down on his tomb.” On his deathbed, he indicated an edition of Handel’s works and said, “There is the truth.”

Handel’s influence can also be heard in Beethoven’s “Consecration of the House Overture” (which has nothing at all to do with the Maccabees). Note the stately intro of the piece, the fanfares, and the magnificent fugal passages:

If you’ve got a long evening ahead of you, why not give Handel’s “other” holiday oratorio a whirl?

If you want to skip right to the big tune, here it is:

Then I hope you’ll join me for an hour of Hanukkah music by Michael Isaacson, Leon Stein, and Ofer Ben-Amots, on “Pieces of Eight,” on “The Lost Chord,” this Sunday night at 10:00 EST, on WWFM – The Classical Network and wwfm.org.

Judah Maccabee, 18th century style

December 13, 2020

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