Happy Birthday Big B

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:49 pm

Beethoven turns 236 today. He's been my favorite composers right from the very start of my interest in classical music a little over two decades ago through the present day.
No other composer's music reaches out, grabs you and shakes you quite the way Beethoven's does. He also had an amazing ability to make the most simple passage monumental in its impact (the very slow part of the final piano sonata for example).

I haven't decided what to listen to later to honor him, but I've got plenty of great options to choose from. I'll let my mood guide me.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 12:58 pm

Barry Z wrote:Beethoven turns 236 today. He's been my favorite composers right from the very start of my interest in classical music a little over two decades ago through the present day.

We're gong to have to do something about your basic taste and discernment, Barry. Beethoven, hmm, I just don't know. I'm looking forward to Delius' birthday myself.

Heck148 · Post by **Heck148** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:00 pm

Barry Z wrote:Beethoven turns 236 today.
No other composer's music reaches out, grabs you and shakes you quite the way Beethoven's does. He also had an amazing ability to make the most simple passage monumental in its impact (the very slow part of the final piano sonata for example).

Happy Birthday, Ludwig!!

He is always on the top level of my favorite composers...a towering genius whose achievements show the greatness of which humanity is capable.

Haydnseek · Post by **Haydnseek** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:38 pm

ch1525 · Post by **ch1525** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:04 pm

WOW, I forgot that today was Beethoven's birthday!

Just by coincidence, I listened to the 4th movement of Beethoven's Fifth to psych myself up for my Univariate Statistics Final Exam! It must have been fate!!!!!!!

DavidRoss · Post by **DavidRoss** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 6:44 pm

Heck148 wrote:
Barry Z wrote:Beethoven turns 236 today.
No other composer's music reaches out, grabs you and shakes you quite the way Beethoven's does. He also had an amazing ability to make the most simple passage monumental in its impact (the very slow part of the final piano sonata for example).
Happy Birthday, Ludwig!!

He is always on the top level of my favorite composers...a towering genius whose achievements show the greatness of which humanity is capable.

Amen. Most of us may be lucky to be touched by divinity on occasion. LvB seems to have channeled it ceaselessly into a body of work as continuously fresh and profound as that of Shakespeare. (Still, he seems to have been a son of a bitch to be around.)

Heck148 · Post by **Heck148** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 7:36 pm

DavidRoss wrote: Still, he seems to have been a son of a bitch to be around.

very possibly, but what a fascinating character!!

He's one historical personality I'd love to meet...from the same period, Ben Franklin is another.....

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:06 pm

I watched the DVD of Abbado and the BPO performing the sixth and eighth symphonies.....great music and wonderful performances; especially the sixth.

Teresa B · Post by **Teresa B** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:22 pm

Happy Birthday, LVB!

I did my best to do justice to his PC 4 in practice today.

Teresa

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:36 pm

Beethoven - another fine composer who incorporated much of Dittersdorf in some of his works.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:09 pm

Teresa B wrote:Happy Birthday, LVB!

I did my best to do justice to his PC 4 in practice today.
Teresa

I hate you. At the top of the world's greatest profession, your avocation so advanced that you can contemplate and eventually execute a Beethoven concerto, and I'll bet you're beautiful too.

Ralph · Post by **Ralph** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 9:19 pm

jbuck919 wrote:
Teresa B wrote:Happy Birthday, LVB!

I did my best to do justice to his PC 4 in practice today.
Teresa
I hate you. At the top of the world's greatest profession, your avocation so advanced that you can contemplate and eventually execute a Beethoven concerto, and I'll bet you're beautiful too.

*****

The world's SECOND Greatest Profession!

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:02 pm

Ralph wrote:
jbuck919 wrote:
Teresa B wrote:Happy Birthday, LVB!

I did my best to do justice to his PC 4 in practice today.
Teresa
I hate you. At the top of the world's greatest profession, your avocation so advanced that you can contemplate and eventually execute a Beethoven concerto, and I'll bet you're beautiful too.
*****

The world's SECOND Greatest Profession!

I know, I know, after high school teaching. Oh, and do contact me again when they finally appoint you to the Supreme Court.

Hexameron · Post by **Hexameron** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:10 pm

Ralph wrote:Beethoven - another fine composer who incorporated much of Dittersdorf in some of his works.

... That's the least of what he's accomplished.

Barry · Post by **Barry** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 10:29 pm

Finishing off the evening with the Missa Solemnis........the Klemperer recording on EMI.

Donald Isler · Post by **Donald Isler** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:46 pm

Spent some time today practicing the Pastorale Sonata. Holden Fourth suggested I learn it. Hopefully one day I'll play it decently.

The Peanuts cartoon strip reminds me of a funny, and true story about Bruce Hungerford who, in my opinion, was one of the two greatest Beethoven pianists. (The other, for me, was Schnabel.) Bruce wasn't one to read the funnies, but he was a terrific photographer, and always went to the same photo and camera store to have his film develped. He was friendly with the two owners of the store, and when one of them saw him approaching, he'd say to his partner "Here comes Schroeder!"

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:00 am

Donald Isler wrote:Bruce Hungerford who, in my opinion, was one of the two greatest Beethoven pianists.

I insist on recommending to the moderators a new award: Breathtaking assertion of the century.

Donald Isler · Post by **Donald Isler** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:04 am

What the hell does that dumb crack mean, John? I expressed my own opinion. Didn't ask if you agreed with it.

jbuck919 · Post by **jbuck919** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 12:36 am

Donald Isler wrote:What the hell does that dumb crack mean, John? I expressed my own opinion. Didn't ask if you agreed with it.

Oh, good grief, Donald, it was just a little joke. I put a smiley on it to make that clear. I know that both you and your Dad know Hungerford; it's just that it is a little overwhelming to absorb a statement about the two greatest Beethoven interpreters of all time. It strikes me that there can hardly be such. I'll bet that on a good day you can play the Opus whatever as well as the best of them.

Donald Isler · Post by **Donald Isler** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 8:37 am

Well then I guess I'd disagree and say that, in my opinion, there certainly can be such. Indeed, I think there are performers who practically "own" certain pieces, or parts of the repertoire, which is not to say that no one else is any good at this music.

Teresa B · Post by **Teresa B** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:33 am

jbuck919 wrote:
Teresa B wrote:Happy Birthday, LVB!

I did my best to do justice to his PC 4 in practice today.
Teresa
I hate you. At the top of the world's greatest profession, your avocation so advanced that you can contemplate and eventually execute a Beethoven concerto, and I'll bet you're beautiful too.

Yep.

(Seriously, John, thank you for your compliment. Let's hope I execute it in the--er, positive sense.)

Teresa

Teresa B · Post by **Teresa B** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:37 am

Donald Isler wrote:Spent some time today practicing the Pastorale Sonata. Holden Fourth suggested I learn it. Hopefully one day I'll play it decently.

Don, I suspect you're being very modest. I would love to hear you play the Pastorale Sonata any day!

Teresa

jserraglio · Post by **jserraglio** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:30 am

Yes, I thought I had heard WCLV announce LvB's birthday yesterday, but then, inexplicably, they followed the announcement with a Haydn symphony (the Second) from 1757-- and a fussy period-intrument performance at that (Hogwood). Gimme shelter -- Szell's soaring integral set of LvB symphonies.

Donald Isler · Post by **Donald Isler** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 1:34 pm

Thanks, Teresa! Perhaps some time later on. But not yet.

johnshade · Post by **johnshade** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:33 pm

I celabrated by buying the the 5 disc set of symphonies by David Zinman and the Tonhalle Orchestra (What a bargain). This set is highly rated in the current Gramophone magazine. The sound is excellent and the performances first class. There are two birthday I don't forget, Mozart and Beethoven

Haydnseek · Post by **Haydnseek** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 6:44 pm

We celebrated the anniversary by listening to the Naxos recording of Fidelio conducted by Michael Halasz.

BrianB · Post by **BrianB** » Sun Dec 17, 2006 11:25 pm

Yes! Happy birthday dear Beethoven! One of my first (musical) loves and still an enigma after all these years.
By the way; I don't know if any of you saw the movie Immortal Beloved, but I hear it was based on the plot line that he was in love with his late brother's wife.
I found this an absurd notion. I had always understood that he hated this woman and fought with her for years over custody of Karl.
Any opinions about this?

miranda · Post by **miranda** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 1:17 am

I am one of the thousands--if not millions--of people who adore Beethoven, and who always find joy and profoundity in his music. Happy Birthday, herr Ludwig.

karlhenning · Post by **karlhenning** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 9:06 am

ch1525 wrote:WOW, I forgot that today was Beethoven's birthday!

One of the reasons for that may be: We do not know what day Beethoven was born!

We know the date of his baptism, but we have no way of knowing what his actual birthdate is.

ch1525 · Post by **ch1525** » Mon Dec 18, 2006 10:24 am

HAHA! That's true. Even Ludwig himself couldn't figure out when he was born. His family and his teacher, Albrechtsberger, celebrated his birthday on December 16th, although he was baptized on December 17th.

The Classical Music Guide Forums

Happy Birthday Big B

Happy Birthday Big B

Re: Happy Birthday Big B

Re: Happy Birthday Big B

Re: Happy Birthday Big B

Re: Happy Birthday Big B

Happy Birthday Ludwig

Who is online