van Beethoven's worst mistake

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Can I have some of whatever it is you're using?

Please take it all. I certainly don't want any.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I have the Brilliant Classics set of the complete Beethoven. I found it far more satisfying than the complete works of any other composer.

[gurnemanz]

I have the Brilliant Classics set of the complete Beethoven. I found it far more satisfying than the complete works of any other composer.

Agreed ... Brahms? Not too much of his I would throw out except Haydn Variations and Academic Festival Overture.

[vinteuil]

I have the Brilliant Classics set of the complete Beethoven. I found it far more satisfying than the complete works of any other composer.

... interesting. There is some Beethoven which for me towers over almost everything - and there's a lot which is far from "satisfying", to use Alpie's curious choice of word. Beethoven is to me like Wordsworth (same birth year, after all. But then Napoleon almost in the same cohort - discuss... ) - viz, great stuff along inexplicably dire productions...

For all round "satisfying" ( "satisfying"? - no, still don't get it ... ) Complete Works - I would have thought Bach, Mozart, Haydn wd be the places to go...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Complete Works - I would have thought Bach, Mozart, Haydn wd be the places to go...

I have those too, but despite the string of Irish and Scottish songs, I found LvB a better overall listen than either Mozart of Haydn. But Bach wasn't far behind.

(PS, don't get too hung up on my choice of a particular word.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't find any Beethoven "dire" (at least not after he'd left Bonn), but there is some that doesn't show him on top form. (But I love even these works - even the good old "Battle" Symphony.) There's stuff from Mozart's teenage years that I wouldn't greatly object if I never had to hear again, and the Haydn Bariton Trios (and the Operas) don't always appeal. The only composer who didn't (as far as I'm aware) didn't put a foot wrong ever is Bach.

Other contemporaries of Beethoven include Turner and Constable - something to bear in mind when thinking about the Pastoral Symphony. Walter = Constable; Furtwangler = Turner? Discuss. Or not.

Sorry for going off-topic, but I think that's the kindest thing to do with this Topic.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Sorry for going off-topic, but I think that's the kindest thing to do with this Topic.

Don't apologise for steering the thread in a positive direction.

[vinteuil]

Other contemporaries of Beethoven include Turner and Constable - something to bear in mind when thinking about the Pastoral Symphony. Walter = Constable; Furtwangler = Turner? Discuss. Or not.

Sorry for going off-topic, but I think that's the kindest thing to do with this Topic.

... I was going to include Constable and Turner in my 'cohort' ( and I am not forgetting Hogg and Senancour... ) - and yes, very much to be borne in mind when thinking of the cultural world all this lot grew up in. Whether we see resemblances with Bruno Walter's and Furtwangler's take on romantic works - well, I'll retire to my comfy pre-romantic arbour...

[pastoralguy]

I've never been terribly keen on the two violin 'Romances' which I find a bit pallid.

I've still got the mini-discs of the 'Beethoven Immersion' week from all those years ago and have endeavoured to listen to the whole caboodle! My goodness, these songs are heavy going...!

[LeMartinPecheur]

As the editor of the Spectator reminded us in 1902, the only appropriate and valid kind of "marriage" must be a cohabitational arrangement made by the respective parents of a couple, and its only proper purpose the generation of offspring. "Love" has nothing whatever to do with the matter.

Before we get too embroiled in discussion, I do think we should check whether he's changed his views at all

[Hornspieler]

I don't find any Beethoven "dire" (at least not after he'd left Bonn), but there is some that doesn't show him on top form. (But I love even these works - even the good old "Battle" Symphony.) There's stuff from Mozart's teenage years that I wouldn't greatly object if I never had to hear again, and the Haydn Bariton Trios (and the Operas) don't always appeal. The only composer who didn't (as far as I'm aware) didn't put a foot wrong ever is Bach. ........

Sorry for going off-topic, but I think that's the kindest thing to do with this Topic.

The Art of Fugue? Sorry, FHG but for me, boredom sets in there

HS

[ardcarp]

The only composer who didn't (as far as I'm aware) didn't put a foot wrong ever is Bach.

...except he did once write (BWV572) a bottom B for the organ pedal board...a note which doesn't exist, so rather literally 'a foot wrong'.

I'm sure someone will post that there was a Gottdamn Silbersplatt somewhere with an extra note down there

[kernelbogey]

Before we get to embroiled in discussion, I do think we should check whether he's changed his views at all

Is Editor of the Spectator an hereditary title?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

...except he did once write (BWV572) a bottom B for the organ pedal board...a note which doesn't exist, so rather literally 'a foot wrong'.

- you'd've thought he (of all people) would've known!

I'm sure someone will post that there was a Gottdamn Silbersplatt somewhere with an extra note down there

... or perhaps it's a secret code - "this is where I tread on Maria Barbara's toe"?


(No relation to Harriet Beecher's Toe.)

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

The Art of Fugue? Sorry, FHG but for me, boredom sets in there

HS

One of my favourites, HS - I can lose myself (and find myself) for hours in those sounds. I expect it's just me