On this day in 1770, Bonn, Germany welcomed one of the world’s greatest composers into the world. In celebration of his birthday, I will enlighten your evening with a bunch of Beethoven quotes.
~“I want to seize Fate by the throat” He began to do that at a young age, being a child prodigy like Mozart, although not as widely traveled. His first teacher was his Father, after which he moved on to study with C. G. Neefe before making his way to Vienna, the music capital of the world.
“Don’t only practice your art, but force your way into its secrets; for it and knowledge can raise man to the Divine.” ~ Beethoven did a ton to advance music, bringing the world into the romantic era. He was responsible for ensuring the Clarinet’s place in the orchestra. He also left a great legacy through his students, notable Carl Czerny, who taught Liszt, who taught someone and so on, leading up to almost all of the great pianists of the last century.
“X. is completely changed since I threw half a dozen books at her head. Perhaps something of their contents accidentally got into her head or her wicked heart.” ~ He wasn’t perfect though. Mme. Nanette Streicher, the wife of the notable piano maker, had to assist him in the running of his household. He suffered from deafness, as well as bipolar disorder, leading him to vent his frustration at his inept and dishonest housemaids in a hilariously vocal manner. ~“Whoever tells a lie is not pure of heart, and such a person can not cook a clean soup.”
~”To play without passion is inexcusable!” Beethoven greatest works are dramatic, intense, and powerful. He displays a soul not found in many other composers. His writing is full of sudden sforzandi {which is the plural of sforzando, (sfz.) which means to play a note or chord with extra force.}
~”Continue to be my friend, as you will always find me yours.” And with this I leave you, dear readers.
der Übellaunig Klavierspieler 