Having little to do over this Bank Holiday weekend, I have been keeping an eye on the Classic FM “Hall of Fame”. This poll has been going on for the past fifteen years (maybe more) and I have always referred to it as the “Wolfgang Poll” because a certain composer with that first name has always come out on top mainly due to the number of entries in the Top 300. Mozart has always beaten Beethoven by one or two entries over the years but what never seems to have occurred to the compilers of this list is the fact that Beethoven has always had more entries in the Top Ten than Mozart.
Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (not a bad piece incidentally) has always come out ahead of any of Beethoven’s entries, but what the compilers have failed to notice is that Beethoven’ votes have always been split due to the choice of material.
This year Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto has fallen to number 4 and almost all of his entries have fallen dramatically whereas Beethoven’s have risen – and, in fact, he has five entries in the Top Twenty – a fact which the presenter, Simon Bates, had to draw attention to. He said (or words to this effect) “quite properly, Beethoven has more works in the top twenty than anyone else.”
I know all these polls are rather “childish” (especially when you take into account the fact that not one Beethoven string quartet has managed to find its way in) but I get a rather “childish” thrill out of the fact that our boy is getting recognised.
I am continually annoyed by the over-representation of Mozart across the media for the past 15 years (mainly due to the coincidences of anniversaries of births and deaths) but our boy has always kept his place without any dates. Now the dates are coming around in our direction: next year will see the 200th anniversary of what must have been the greatest musical event of all time (bar the first performance of the Ninth Symphony) : I mean, of course, the premiere of the 5th Symphony, the 6th Symphony, the 4th Piano Concerto and the Choral Fantasia!! All in a freezing hall in December of 2008!
Yes, we all know Ludwig is the greatest - but it’s nice to know that the world may know it soon. (They know it – but they need reminding.)
Michael
Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto (not a bad piece incidentally) has always come out ahead of any of Beethoven’s entries, but what the compilers have failed to notice is that Beethoven’ votes have always been split due to the choice of material.
This year Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto has fallen to number 4 and almost all of his entries have fallen dramatically whereas Beethoven’s have risen – and, in fact, he has five entries in the Top Twenty – a fact which the presenter, Simon Bates, had to draw attention to. He said (or words to this effect) “quite properly, Beethoven has more works in the top twenty than anyone else.”
I know all these polls are rather “childish” (especially when you take into account the fact that not one Beethoven string quartet has managed to find its way in) but I get a rather “childish” thrill out of the fact that our boy is getting recognised.
I am continually annoyed by the over-representation of Mozart across the media for the past 15 years (mainly due to the coincidences of anniversaries of births and deaths) but our boy has always kept his place without any dates. Now the dates are coming around in our direction: next year will see the 200th anniversary of what must have been the greatest musical event of all time (bar the first performance of the Ninth Symphony) : I mean, of course, the premiere of the 5th Symphony, the 6th Symphony, the 4th Piano Concerto and the Choral Fantasia!! All in a freezing hall in December of 2008!
Yes, we all know Ludwig is the greatest - but it’s nice to know that the world may know it soon. (They know it – but they need reminding.)
Michael
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