Beethoven's Birthday!

Today in 1770, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Germany. There's so much to be said about Beethoven, I feel overwhelmed. His music has so much beauty, emotion, depth and variety. Even his works that have immediate popular appeal (like the 5th symphony), when studied and listened to many times over, have so much depth and intellectual value. He was truly gifted by God.

I've decided that instead of writing more about his life (you can read that on the above link), I'll discuss some of my favorites works and link to youtube performances.

All of his 9 symphonies are amazing works, and listening to them multiple times bring many rewards. It's said that his odd-numbered symphonies (1,3,5,7,9) are more profound as a whole than his even-numbered ones, but I think they're all great. My favorite changes a lot, but I must say the 3rd symphony, "Eroica" (Heroic) is a masterpiece. The 2nd movement, a funeral march of sorts, is really the heart of the piece. Listen to it here. In contrast, his 6th symphony, or "Pastoral" is more light-hearted (but not frivolous), and shows Beethoven's love for nature, which he frequently turned to for inspiration. He would go for long walks in the woods, bringing a pencil and sketch pad with him to compose as he walked. Listen to the 1st movement here.

His 5 piano concertos are all gems, and again it's hard to pick a favorite. Probably the most famous is his 5th - the "Emperor" Concerto. It is grand in every way, yet full of very tender moments and unsurpassing beauty, especially in the 2nd movement, which is one of the finest moments in all of classical music. Listen here to the 1st and 2nd/3rd movements (the 2nd runs right into the 3rd).

He also wrote one violin concerto, in D Major. I think I would consider this piece the perfect violin concerto. It is also very "Pastoral" sounding, and has some of classical music's most spiritual and tender moments. Listen to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movements here.

Beethoven wrote 32 piano sonatas, sometimes referred to as the "New Testament" for pianists (the "Old Testament" being Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier of 48 preludes and fugues). One of my favorites is "Les Adieux" (The Farewell), Op. 81a. He wrote this piece about a certain archduke that was leaving town whom Beethoven was loathe to see go and very excited to have return later. It begins with a tenderly beautiful melancholy chordal introduction (evoking Beethoven's drawn-out farewell to the archduke). This is followed by a faster theme that evokes the crack of the whip seeing the horse-drawn carriage take off (with the archduke inside). Lots of horn calls are heard throughout, echoes of the carriage sounding its horn as it travels off into the distance. This is the 1st movement, called "The Farewell", The 2nd and 3rd movements, called "The Absence" and "The Return", respectively, depict just that.

Beethoven also wrote a lot of chamber music. Five cello sonatas, 10 violin sonatas, 17 string quartets, many trios and so many others. Here is the 2nd movement of my favorite cello sonata (Op. 69 in A major). Here is the 3rd movement to his most difficult and amazing violin sonata ("Kreutzer").

Of special note are Beethoven's late string quartets. They are said to have inspired many later composers, even Schoenberg (who championed atonal "12-tone-row" music in the 20th century), because they were so forward-looking for their time. I resisted listening to them for a while because I thought they would be too weird. But I was pleasantly surprised. His Op. 131 in C# minor is one of his most deep, moving works, and I have heard said to have been Beethoven's favorite composition. It is in 7 movements, starting out with a slow, heart-felt fugue, moving into a more light-hearted quicker-tempo piece. There is a short interlude followed by the long central movement of a theme and variations. This is interrupted by a lightening-fast joyful, playful movement, then another interlude and finally the finale, a very driving, serious, at times wrathful piece. Listen to the first 10 minutes of the quartet here, and read more about it here.

Another one of his last pieces is the "Grosse Fuge" (Grand Fugue), written again for string quartet. Watch/listen here to the Alban Berg Quartet play the piece. This comment from a youtube listener sums it up pretty well - "One of Beethoven's most violent expressions. It is the clash of rhythms. Yet inside this turbulent storm of tones, one can find the sublime beauty." Originally it was supposed to be the 6th and final movement of one of his late string quartets, but his publisher convinced him to publish it as a separate piece because he thought it would ruin the quartet (of course he put it in a positive, diplomatic light to Beethoven!). Composer Igor Stravinsky was said to have commented that he didn't understand the piece at all (this coming from the composer of the "Rite of Spring", whose modern, clashing harmonies and rhythms enraged audiences in the early 20th century so much that they threw tomatoes at the conductor during the first performance!). Give the piece a chance. It is amazingly complex and grows on you as you listen more. The middle section of the piece is very calm and beautiful, lest you think it is all harsh and violent! Read more about this amazing piece here. Keep in mind that he completed his 9th symphony (probably his most popular and loved work) only about a year or two before this, and he was completely deaf during this period of his life.

OK, one more piece. This is actually a little bit of a musical joke, called Rage over a lost penny. Hope you enjoy it and I hope I haven't bored you too much with my love for Beethoven!