Alles Gute zum Geburtstag, Herr Beethoven! Tuesday, December 16, 2008
I had a professor in college who used to interpret all of music history in reference to the life of Beethoven: “How old was Beethoven when Schubert composed ‘Der Erlkönig’?” 45.
He must live for days like this.
You would be hard pressed to find a musician unwilling to acknowledge Beethoven’s role in the development of modern music. He was one of the greatest composers of symphonies, piano sonatas, string quartets, mandolin music, composer of the first true song cycle (An die ferne Geliebte), a lover of yellow soap, and notorious thrower of food.
Today is also the 235th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party. So, brew yourself a cup of Earl Grey or some Li Shan oolong, listen to Fritz Wunderlich perform “Auf dem Hügel sitz ich spähend” and wish Mr. Beethoven a happy birthday, because without him many of us would not have jobs.