Updates about classical music
Beethoven Opus 119 Bagatelles Notes by Margaret Scialdone The Opus 119 Bagatelles appeared in London in 1823 as “Trifles for the Piano Forte, Consisting of Eleven pleasing Pieces Composed in Various Styles by L. Van Beethoven”. They are quite accessible…
Beethoven’s “Der Erlkönig” Notes by Margaret Scialdone Goethe’s poem “Der Erlkönig” tells the story of a boy riding home on horseback in his father’s arms. He is frightened when he hears the seductive voice of the Erl King, a powerful…
Beethoven’s humor—“The Test of Kisses” Notes by Fred Haight This song, “Prüfung des Küssens, WoO 89” (The Test of Kissing), was composed between 1790–1791, for Bonn’s Electoral singer, Joseph Lux. It is for a bass and orchestra. The author of…
Beethoven : Creatures of Prometheus Notes by Margaret Scialdone In 1801 the ballet master Salvatore Viganó was commanded to prepare a performance for Empress Maria Theresa. He chose the subject of Prometheus giving science and the arts to Mankind, and…
When Beethoven Becomes Hilarious! Notes by Fred Haight We have had several episodes on Beethoven’s sense of humor. Today, we cross over into utter hilarity. Beethoven composed folk songs in many languages, including English, Italian, Danish, and Russian. The first…
Goethe and Beethoven: “Getting Along with Girls” Notes by Fred Haight The Classics are often associated with imagery of stuffy-old-white-male who have nothing relatable for the contemporary youth generation. We beg to differ. Goethe’s Mit Mädeln sich Vertragen (Getting Along…
Beethoven’s Sense of Humor Part 2: “To beat, or not to beat.” Notes By Fred Haight In part 1 of Beethoven’s humor, we wrote about “Rage of a Lost Penny”. Today, we talk about the humor in Beethoven’s 8th symphony.…
Beethoven and Tragedy: The Coriolan Overture Notes By Fred Haight We have already talked about Beethoven’s sense of the heroic; and the power and optimism expressed in his Third Symphony, his only opera Fidelio, and the Egmont Overture. However, an…
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…
On October 8th, 2019 the Schiller Boston Community Chorus joined voices with the Jena Jubilee Singers of Germany in a rousing concert entitled “Walk Together Children” which featured African-American Spirituals and German Art Songs. The joyous musical dialogue that ensued between the…