Dear MEL Topic Readers,
Beethoven
250: The ultimate song of health after illness
This is
supposedly a big year for Western music history. Beethoven’s 250th
anniversary. Indeed, Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Bonn, Germany in 1770. He
was taught composition when he was ten and published his first work in 1783. He
moved to Vienna in 1792 and was acquainted with famous composers like Joseph
Haydn, a renowned violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh, and Beethoven’s life-long financial
supporter, Prince Lobkowitz, all of whom gave their part of the influence on Beethoven’s
works. He wrote most of his famed works before 1812 despite his deafness and The French invasion of Vienna. Then he went into a difficult emotional period until
1822. During his final years between 1823 and 1826, he composed his most
acclaimed works, including the ninth symphony and his late string quartettes,
one of which is Opus 132, string quartet #15 in A minor. The third movement of
the quartet, Molto adagio – Andante (F Lydian), is accompanied by his note, "Heiliger
Dankgesang eines Genesenen an die Gottheit, in der Lydischen Tonart" (Holy
song of thanksgiving of a convalescent to the Deity, in the Lydian mode. What kind
of music is it?
Enjoy
reading the article about what this holy song of thanksgiving by Beethoven is.
https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20200720-beethoven-250-the-ultimate-song-of-health-after-illness
For those
who aren’t familiar with this movement, try this first; Eschner String Quartet
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