Sexy Beethoven 5th - Good or Bad?

[Megan]

You know, I have always liked stormy weather (not rain, the wind, and I don't mean methane gas), but one must also have moments of calm, Megan.
What are you practicing, by the way? My youngest daughter (she's 6) is practicing pieces from Waggon Wheels (really easy stuff in 1st position, with piano accompaniment provided by her errant father). I have to say, it's a battle to get her to open her violin case, but when she finally does so, it's OK.
So, what piece are you working on? a Texan Jig, perhaps?

I am sure some 6 year olds would put me to shame. I am a late starter, but love the challenge. current pieces I am practicing are fairly easy.
Purcell's Abdelazar
Theme from Brahms first Symphony.
Dance with Joy, a lovely Waltz, with lots of slurs.
The Lord's my Shepherd , an easy piece I play if I get frustrated with more challenging pieces.
Oh yes, and lots of boring scales.
I think my tutor is bringing me new pieces this week.

I love Irish fiddle music too.

[Quijote]

Good for you, Megan. My daughter gets frustrated with slurs and string crossing. It's OK, we have time. I sometimes get the impression that people think Beethoven, Liszt, Czerny, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ling-Lang (?), Pablo Casals (etc., etc., etc.,) just popped out the womb, grabbed their instruments and started playing in tune and in time straight away.
By the way, as you know, Beethoven played the viola and violin but I've never been able to really find out how competent he was considered to be.

[Peter]

Good for you, Megan. My daughter gets frustrated with slurs and string crossing. It's OK, we have time. I sometimes get the impression that people think Beethoven, Liszt, Czerny, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ling-Lang (?), Pablo Casals (etc., etc., etc.,) just popped out the womb, grabbed their instruments and started playing in tune and in time straight away.
By the way, as you know, Beethoven played the viola and violin but I've never been able to really find out how competent he was considered to be.

Well he was in the Court orchestra and I doubt the Elector would have put up with the equivalent of a school orchestra.

[Quijote]

Well he was in the Court orchestra and I doubt the Elector would have put up with the equivalent of a school orchestra.

Good point, though I think the County Youth Orchestras of my day would have put orchestras to shame in Beethoven's day. Plus, let's be frank, the viola parts that the young B would have played in Bonn would not have been over taxing.

[Quijote]

Actually, I've just re-read what I posted above (Youth Orchestras etc) and I realize that it is based on no empirical evidence whatsoever. I should retract it, but I'll let it stand.
This is an invitation for others to take a pop at me. Please form a queue.

[Sorrano]

Actually, I've just re-read what I posted above (Youth Orchestras etc) and I realize that it is based on no empirical evidence whatsoever. I should retract it, but I'll let it stand.
This is an invitation for others to take a pop at me. Please form a queue.

I think the youth today have much better access to good music teachers and other resources needed to create better young orchestras. There is a lot of emphasis, too, on quality of a performance, perhaps more so than in Beethoven's day.

[Sorrano]

Earlier, I erroneously mentioned a program, "Over the Top". It should have been "From the Top", sorry about that. Here is a link to that and I think there should be a good sampling of some of the upcoming musicians:

http://www.fromthetop.org/

[Quijote]

Earlier, I erroneously mentioned a program, "Over the Top". It should have been "From the Top", sorry about that. [...]

May I call that a Freudian slip, Sorrano? Were you perhaps thinking about Ed C's post with those hot-looking string players playing a version of B's 5th? Come on, admit it!

[Ed C]

Thought I might add these vids to the discussion

Beethoven Rap (some kind of school project. I can't understand a word they're saying, except "Beethoven" and I think they said "good". Gosh - I hope they don't mean the dog...

Beethoven's 5th | D-Skreet & J-Sun | GUTHRIE DROP THE MIC | strife.tv

This is to show that young guys like B too. Based on the comments these guys are just "aight"...I really have no idea, I think this is only the 2nd breakdance I've seen in 5 years probably ...but it shows Beethoven is highly respected - I mean I haven't found any Sibelius rap videos yet!

4/7 The 5th Symphony (Color Analysis)

[Sorrano]

May I call that a Freudian slip, Sorrano? Were you perhaps thinking about Ed C's post with those hot-looking string players playing a version of B's 5th? Come on, admit it!

Hey, at least the last time I watched that I turned the sound down.





Woops.

[EternaLisa]

I don't know what to think, really. I suppose we mustn't forget it's intended as "light entertainment" for the people dining as shown in this clip. It strikes me as the sort of thing companies do, you know, "commercial hospitality" during their sales seminars or something.
In other words, it's not intended as music to be listened to (a strange concept), it's just a show. If Beethoven were there to witness it, there would be serious carnage. I would intervene of course to protect the string players, but would join in with Ludwig as he tore off the heads of the diners.

I feel too if Ludwig could be here "in the flesh" so to speak, some peeps would very likely get heaved off the stage for presenting his compositions as "back drop noise" to stuff their cake holes by


Eternalisa

[Megan]

[QUOTE=Philip;50778]Good for you, Megan. My daughter gets frustrated with slurs and string crossing. It's OK, we have time. I sometimes get the impression that people think Beethoven, Liszt, Czerny, Anne-Sophie Mutter, Ling-Lang (?), Pablo Casals (etc., etc., etc.,) just popped out the womb, grabbed their instruments and started playing in tune and in time straight away.
By the way, as you know, Beethoven played the viola and violin but I've never been able to really find out how competent he was considered to be.




May I share a quote from the booklet that came with my Beethoven Bratsche CD.
It gives an idea of his skills as a string player:
'Only two compositons by Beethoven have come down to us in which the viola takes over the leading voice.
The Duett mit zwei obligaten Augenglasern (''Duett with two obbligato pairs of glasses''), WoO 32 for viola and violincello, wich Beethoen entered under this title into the famous ''Kafke Miscellany'' around 1796-97, was not published during his lifetime. Since this miscellany also includes a minuet and oping of a slow movement for the same formation, Beethoven could have originally considered expanding the duet to a multi-movement work.
The humerous title suggests that the composition could have been prompted by Beethoven's friend, the Hungarian cellist Nikolaus Zmeskall von Domanowecz, who like Beethoven wore glasses and at this time regularly participated in chamber music sessions in hte home of Beehoven's patron, Prince Carl Lichnowsky. In the event that Beethoven intended the demanding viola part for himself, this allows inferences as to Beethoven's professional abilities as a violist.

[Peter]

I think the youth today have much better access to good music teachers and other resources needed to create better young orchestras. There is a lot of emphasis, too, on quality of a performance, perhaps more so than in Beethoven's day.

Generally speaking maybe but just look at the musicians Beethoven was surrounded with in Bonn - Neefe, Luchesi, Reicha, Ries to name just a few outstanding musicians.

[Sorrano]

Generally speaking maybe but just look at the musicians Beethoven was surrounded with in Bonn - Neefe, Luchesi, Reicha, Ries to name just a few outstanding musicians.

True, but the kids today are surrounded, via a much stronger communication system, all the living greats past and present in their own homes. Plus they have Brahms, Bruckner, Bartok, Stravinsky, and a host more that Beethoven didn't. I think the youth today have much greater access than they did.

[Peter]

True, but the kids today are surrounded, via a much stronger communication system, all the living greats past and present in their own homes. Plus they have Brahms, Bruckner, Bartok, Stravinsky, and a host more that Beethoven didn't. I think the youth today have much greater access than they did.

But there is a different culture I think surrounding all of this today - Beethoven didn't have the distractions of the pop culture for instance which creates a real image problem with CM for many young people. Yes the opportunities are there with increased access to concerts and recordings, but it seems that it is in countries such as China where a far greater respect and emphasis on Classical music is developing.