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Site Search: Use the search box to find an artiste, composer, title, or venue on this site |
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Listening position:
Relax with your choice(s) of beverage, in a place of your choosing, alone, or with company |
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In my early teens, when I was studying music at school, I used to consider Beethoven my favourite composer. Several decades later, despite having enlarged my musical repertoire, and become familiar with an enormously diverse range of composers and musical styles, I still rate him at the top of my favourites list.
The range of emotions which his music explores is phenomenal, and despite the suffering he endured during his troubled life (or perhaps because of it), he accesses at times the most profound joy and spiritual awareness.
It is, of course, a nearly impossible task to choose a representative selection of his music to fit into a (virtual) concert with a limited time allowance; but here are a few examples, most of which have a personal connection of some sort.
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Symphony number 3 in Eb was a work which initially didn’t make much impression on me. I found it rather heavy going and long-winded – but it was not long before I began to like it more and more. It definitely grew on me. (This was in the early 1960’s, the era of LP records, when 33 rpm had just taken over from 78 rpm, but the discs still needed to be turned over frequently.) It was written in the era of the rise of Napoleon, and the final movement triumphantly expresses feelings of revolutionary freedom. (Beethoven was so angry when he realised that Napoleon was becoming as corrupt a tyrant as his forerunners, that he struck the name off the title page.) |
Ludwig van Beethoven (baptised 17 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) (12m17)
from Symphony No 3 in Eb 'Eroica' Op 55(1803) IV Finale allegro molto very fast and bright performed by the Ensemble Symphonique Neuchâtel, Alexander Mayer, conductor, at the Temple du Bas, Neuchâtel, Sswitzerland |
Temple du Bas, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
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The Pastoral symphony was another early favourite. The peaceful final movement is a serene thanksgiving, the calm after the storm. This virtual version was recorded during the current pandemic lockdown. |
from Symphony No 6 in F 'Pastoral' Op 68 (1808) (5m52)
V Finale. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm allegretto Shepherd's song. Cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm fairly brisk performed in lockdown by members of the Nashville Symphony |
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from Piano Sonata No 14 in C# minor 'Moonlight'
Op 27 No 2 (1801) (6m48) III Presto agitato very fast, excited performed by Valentina Lisitsa |
Piano Sonata No 14 in C# minor 'Moonlight'
Op 27 No 2 (1801) I Adagio sostenuto slow and sustained (14m31) II Allegretto fairly brisk III Presto agitato very fast, excited performed by Valentina Lisitsa |
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The recent television series “Being Beethoven” alerted me to this simple and poignant song. It was written at the time of the Heiligenstadt Testament, a crisis point when Beethoven was coming to terms with his increasing deafness and consequent feelings of despair.
[The Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter Beethoven wrote to his brothers describing his increasing deafness, his despair, even his contemplation of suicide. It sits now in a Hamburg museum, donated by the Swedish singer Jenny Lind.] |
Resignation WoO 149, G252 (1817) (2m26)
text by Paul, Graf von Haugwitz (1791-1856) performed in 1966 by Fritz Wunderlich, tenor with Hubert Giesen, piano |
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Resignation
Lisch aus, mein Licht! Was dir gebricht, Das ist nun fort, an diesem Ort Kannst du's nicht wieder finden! Du mußt nun los dich binden. Sonst hast du lustig aufgebrannt, Nun hat man dir die Luft entwandt; Wenn diese fort gewehet, die Flamme irregehet, Sucht, findet nicht; lisch aus, mein Licht! Paul, Graf von Haugwitz (1791-1856) |
Resignation Go out, my light! What you lack Is now gone; In this place, You will never find it again. You must now break your bonds! Once you burnt cheerily, Now they've stolen away your air; When that is gone The flame sputters; Seeks, but finds it not; Go out, my light! |
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O Freunde, nicht diese Töne!
Sondern laßt uns angenehmere anstimmen, und freudenvollere. Freude! Freude! Freude, schöner Götterfunken Tochter aus Elysium, Wir betreten feuertrunken, Himmlische, dein Heiligtum! Deine Zauber binden wieder Was die Mode streng geteilt; Alle Menschen werden Brüder, Wo dein sanfter Flügel weilt. Wem der große Wurf gelungen, Eines Freundes Freund zu sein; Wer ein holdes Weib errungen, Mische seinen Jubel ein! Ja, wer auch nur eine Seele Sein nennt auf dem Erdenrund! Und wer's nie gekonnt, der stehle Weinend sich aus diesem Bund! Freude trinken alle Wesen An den Brüsten der Natur; Alle Guten, alle Bösen Folgen ihrer Rosenspur. Küsse gab sie uns und Reben, Einen Freund, geprüft im Tod; Wollust ward dem Wurm gegeben, Und der Cherub steht vor Gott. Froh, wie seine Sonnen fliegen Durch des Himmels prächt'gen Plan, Laufet, Brüder, eure Bahn, Freudig, wie ein Held zum Siegen. Seid umschlungen, Millionen! Diesen Kuß der ganzen Welt! Brüder, über'm Sternenzelt Muß ein lieber Vater wohnen. Ihr stürzt nieder, Millionen? Ahnest du den Schöpfer, Welt? Such' ihn über'm Sternenzelt! Über Sternen muß er wohnen. Johan Christoph Friedrich von Schiller (1759-1805) |
Oh friends, not these sounds!
Let us instead strike up more pleasing and more joyful ones! Joy! Joy! Joy, beautiful spark of divinity, Daughter from Elysium, We enter, burning with fervour, heavenly being, your sanctuary! Your magic brings together what custom has sternly divided. All men shall become brothers, wherever your gentle wings hover. Whoever has been lucky enough to become a friend to a friend, Whoever has found a beloved wife, let him join our songs of praise! Yes, and anyone who can call one soul his own on this earth! Any who cannot, let them slink away from this gathering in tears! Every creature drinks in joy at nature's breast; Good and Evil alike follow her trail of roses. She gives us kisses and wine, a true friend, even in death; Even the worm was given desire, and the cherub stands before God. Gladly, just as His suns hurtle through the glorious universe, So you, brothers, should run your course, joyfully, like a conquering hero. Be embraced, you millions! This kiss is for the whole world! Brothers, above the canopy of stars must dwell a loving father. Do you bow down before Him, you millions? Do you sense your Creator, O world? Seek Him above the canopy of stars! He must dwell beyond the stars. |
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Never miss a concert . . .
Our weekly* newsletter tells you about upcoming concerts and other local music events *weekly - only during the weekly concert season, occasional at other times |
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Concert Selections still available on this Website:
Please click on a title to go to the concert webpage • Marina Kan's AGM Piano Concert • Concert for St George's Day and Shakespeare's Birthday 1 May 2020 Music on May Day Online • Music on MayDay • Music for VE Day 75th Anniversary • Piano à Deux - Linda Ang Stoodley & Robert Stoodley, 4 hands on 1 piano • Clocks & Cathedrals (musical clocks, that is) • Guitars & Friends - a guitar medley • Beethoven & Haydn String Quartets • Cello Tango - from solos to multi cellists • Organs of Paris ♥ Les Orgues de Paris • Flute Fest • Virtual Viola, hosted by Lynda Chang • Multi Piano - pianos from two to 12 at a time • From Sackbutt to Trombone • Harp Haven - our President's 100th Birthday Concert • Oboe Omnibus • Gentle Guitar • Music for Unusual Instruments • Viola da Gamba, hosted by Ibrahim Aziz • Music & the Military • Choral Music • Clarinet Compilation, hosted by Lynda Chang • The Voice, hosted by Lynda Chang |
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Leatherhead Concert & Arts Society is a music charity registered in England & Wales No 1166764.
Please note: LCAS cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in or amendments to the information on this website. Please check with the event organiser before you commit to any expenditure Registered address: 31 Elmer Cottages • Fetcham • KT22 9BU -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Specialists in property law, wills, probate and lasting powers of attorney. Julie West Solicitors are pleased to support Leatherhead’s lunchtime concerts 
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