As part of the international celebrations this year and next year, in honor of Beethoven, the Schiller Institute is happy to inaugurate a new feature on our website. We will regularly post selections of Beethoven’s music with short discussions of the pieces.
Beethoven’s Sense of Humor by Fred Haight No-one is quite sure what the story is behind Rage Over a Lost Penny. But Beethoven seems to be making fun of those who obsess over the trivial. Listen and tell us what…
Happy Veterans Day! – Beethoven – 5 Military Marches Notes by Margaret Scialdone Although not known as a composer of military band music, Beethoven composed a number of military marches, usually commissioned for special occasions. In honor of Veterans’ Day,…
The Third Symphony’s Finale: Creativity, and Heroic Humor Notes by Fred Haight In two recent episodes of Daily Doses of Beethoven, we examined the monumental first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 “Eroica”, which addresses the idea of a hero—a…
The Funeral March of the Third Symphony “Eroica” Notes by Fred Haight Previously, we presented the first movement of Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3, “The Eroica” (Heroic). Today, we present the second movement, “The Funeral March”. What does a funeral march…
Beethoven and the Heroic Part 4: The Egmont Overture Notes by Fred Haight Part 4: The Egmont Overture The cause of human liberty and freedom led political discussion around the late 18th-early 19th century, and the poets Goethe and Schiller…
BEETHOVEN: CREATING THE FUTURE Notes by Margaret Scialdone Legend has it that during a rehearsal of one of his quartets, a violinist complained that the music was incomprehensible – to which Beethoven replied, “Oh, it is not for you, but…
Beethoven and the Heroic Part 3: Leonore’s Aria: A study in finding one’s courage. Notes by Fred Haight Leonore’s Aria An aria in opera, is like a soliloquy in a play. The actor shares his or her struggle with their…
Beethoven and the Heroic ; Part 2: Leonore Notes by Fred Haight Part 2: Leonore No-one ever portrayed a woman more heroically then Beethoven. His only opera, Fidelio, is about a woman named Leonore, who courageously disguises herself as a…
Part 1: The Eroica Symphony Notes by Fred Haight Symphony No. 3 in E-flat major, Op. 55 “Eroica”: 1st mvt (Furtwängler) Beethoven lived in a time of great hope and optimism. The world was changing, and the future looked bright.…
Beethoven Piano Sonata “Pathetique” in C minor Notes by Fred Haight Beethoven’s Pathetique Sonata, in 3-PARTS (the second of the C-Minor Series) Part One: Why is this work called “Pathetic”? Beethoven’s electrifying Piano Sonata #8 in C minor, op.13, known…