What makes Beethovens compostions worth listening to?

[Mira]

To me its the feeling that is in the music, its unlike alot of composers I have heard and I believe its because he felt his music from the inside instead of the outside. Some use poetry, art, stories etc. He definately used music for his expression and thats what made it live.<P>Your thoughts....

[hornplayer]

To be totally honest I have almost no idea. I simply like his music. I enjoy the Classical/Romantic mix of his music...it embodies the best of both eras...Im also greatly enjoy Richard Strauss, if that means anything.<p>[This message has been edited by hornplayer (edited 01-27-2001).]

[Peter]

Welcome aboard, Mira,<P>Perhaps you agree with me that Beethoven`s music is addictive, much more so than any other composer`s? Even the same work, listened to over & over again, will keep on drawing us back to it. We know we`ll always hear something new, & maybe subconsciously, we hope that the next listen will reveal the whole picture; but it never does, so back we go again. We hear what Beethoven felt, & we feel what he felt about his lot in life. We empathise with him because on a basic level, he was just like you or me, & yet his unparalleled God-given gift was the ultimate transcending tool guaranteed to stir human responses for all eternity - the gift of music. There are so many layers of greatness, yet for all we know, we may still be scratching at the surface.

[Mira]

Thanks Peter!! <P>I would have to indeed agree with you, unlike some composers I feel Beethoven is just that, addictive. You know how some things have just an air or uniqueness about them, well I feel that in every note played there is. I believe a great deal of composers have a compassion about their music , how it is played, how it is learned and most of all how it affects those who come in contact with its presence. And just like a poet once said " A note is a work in progress but music is its masterpiece." I think some of those things many forget and many dont come to appreciate. Whether great or small just like you say Peter maybe we have just begun to scratch the surface. <P>Mira<P>P.S Out of curiousity how do view Beethovens "Waldstein" piece?<BR>[This message has been edited by Mira (edited 01-28-2001).]<p>[This message has been edited by Mira (edited 01-28-2001).]

[serge urtizberea]

That's a hard one to really answer, Mira, but I'll offer that with Beethoven, you can hear the innovation that would set the benchmark for the entire 19th century in European composition. Almost any new development in musical structure or style or meaning can be traced back to Ludwig. He may have managed to innovate music more than any of his predecessors during the "classical" era combined because he was a pure maverick and knew it. <P>I also think he spent more time making his music count than many other composers. He would agonize over every note and would rewrite works for years. He made sure every movement, every theme, aevery phrase, and every note count. That's remarkable. With Beethoven, you hardly ever see a piece he just threw off.

[Mira]

Very true Serge.<BR>There is something very noticable to me about Beethoven in him as a person and through his music, his passion. As you mentioned he was innovated. These days you dont get that kind of feeling from modern day music. "Life is but living but the passion you have for life makes it existence." <P>Mira

[watcher]

I think the reason for Beethoven's music is so addictive is that it speaks to your heart, mind, and soul.

[Jewelle]

i think what makes people listen to Beethoven's work is the fact that Beethoven used his mind and soul in his music. And also the fact that Beethoven's deaf. People got curious about the works of a deaf.

[BenG]

Simply put, Beethoven's sublime compositions can help us get in touch with the meaning of life. If someone puts the meaning of life down on paper in words, someone else can always find a way to refute it and argue about it. Philosophies are always evolving and changing with the fashion of the times, but great music remains a universal constant. The meaning of life via music lasts because it can only be grasped in terms of intangibles. Intellectual arguments alone will fail and ultimately aren't satisfying. Classical music succeeds by combining intellect and emotion. Beethoven is able to distill and refine this combo into a lofty balance. Listening to it somehow makes life seem more worthwhile. <P>BTW, I've just discovered a composer named Khachaturian. Can't understand how he eluded me for this long. I particularly like his Masquerade Suite, his piano concerto and Symphony No. 2. If any of you haven't heard these works yet take my advice and listen.

[shostakovich]

Welcome to the boards, Ben. Khachaturian was the subject of a "Mystery Composer" topic, now gone. You might enjoy looking through "Mystery Personages". The latest is also an Armenian-flavored composer. <BR>Shos

[treebeau]

To BenG:<P>Hardly a soul in this world has never been exposed to the "Sabre Dance" from a ballet called "Gayene" by Khachaturian. Ask Sir Stew to play it for you and I'm sure you will recognize it.<P>Regards,<BR>Tim B.<BR>

[BenG]

Shos, Treebeau--thanks for the tips. I'm glad I came across this site. Lots of good listening leads. I'll need to expand my CD budget, ha ha.<P>Regards, Ben<p>[This message has been edited by BenG (edited 02-09-2001).]