Page 14 - Phil Connections Magazine 12-2020 final_Neat

The Plymouth Philharmonic Orchestra ...
59m
From Steven Karidoyanes:

Making a great first impression
~ When Mozart met Beethoven ~
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This meeting of two musical giants really DID happen.
When Beethoven was 16 years old, he went to Vienna in search of Mozart. The young
Ludwig wished to study with the great Amadeus.
At their meeting, Mozart heard Beethoven play the piano. After some consideration,
Mozart declined to take Beethoven on as a student. Nonetheless, Mozart is
prophetically quoted to have said to friends in an adjoining room, “Watch that boy;
Lou Barnicle Graphic Design created this colorful artwork to accompany some day he will give the world something to talk about!”
what should have been the Phil’s opening weekend, Beethoven@250. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plans for an all-Beethoven program wait a future time. Today, December 16th, is the 250th anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth.
Happy 250 That he is a titan in music is without question. However, it is his courage to persevere
th
when in his darkest hour that inspires me the most about him.
Consider this... In 1800 at age 30, Beethoven was already highly regarded as a
Beethoven! virtuoso pianist and a compelling composer. It was also the time in his life when,
gradually, he came to the realization he was becoming deaf. By 1802 he knew his
affliction was both permanent and progressive.
2020 has made birthday celebrations across In October of that year, Beethoven wrote a letter to his two brothers. This letter,
known today as the “Heiligenstadt Testament,” was discovered after his death
the world a bit smaller, confining most to - almost 25 years later. In this letter, Beethoven chronicles his utter despair at
living rooms, social media and cyberspace. becoming deaf — and his temptation to take his own life.
So too, Beethoven must accept the THANK HEAVEN his inner courage as an artist proved stronger than his despair!
circumstances, even for his big day. Beethoven writes, “It was only my art that held me back. Ah, it seemed to me
impossible to leave the world until I had brought forth all that I felt was within me.”
As the music world celebrates this And what music was still within Beethoven at the time?
remarkable composer and his contributions, Here is an abridged list of the music Beethoven composed after writing that letter:
please enjoy reflections shared by Phil • Symphonies nos. 3 thru 9 • String Quartets nos. 7 thru 16
• Piano Concertos nos. 3 thru 5
• Violin Sonatas nos. 9 & 10
Conductor and Music Director Steven • Triple Concerto for Violin, Cello & Piano • Cello Sonatas nos. 3 thru 5
Karidoyanes. In the 17-minute video that • Violin Concerto • Piano Trios nos. 5 thru 7
accompanies the post, Steven Karidoyanes • Choral Fantasy – a piano concerto with a • Piano Sonatas nos. 16 thru 32
choral finale
presents an exploration of all 9 Beethoven • Overtures including “Coriolan,” “Leonore” • Opera: “Fidelio”
• “Missa Solemnis”
symphonies, an overview of the structure (Nos. 1 thru 3) and “Egmont”
of the symphony as a composition, and the It was around 1819 (17 years after writing his “Heiligenstadt Testament”) when
instrumentation of the orchestra during Beethoven became totally deaf. In the final 8 years of his life, even total deafness
Beethoven’s time. couldn’t stop him. He still drove himself to compose:
• the 9th Symphony • his final 5 String Quartets
• his final 3 Piano Sonatas • the “Missa Solemnis”!!!
Superhuman? I dare say, “yes” - but with the emphasis on ‘human.’ He didn’t let his
despair define him - and we are the richer for it.
Mozart said of the young Beethoven, “Watch that boy; some day he will give the
world something to talk about!”
Truer words were never spoken.
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Should you need a lighthearted diversion to your day, here is a video I made early in
the pandemic.
It’s a user-friendly, 17-minute survey of all nine Beethoven symphonies. I got lucky
and laid it all out, unscripted, in almost one continuous take. I added musical
excerpts and titles to it, too. I hope you enjoy it.
Happy Birthday, Ludwig van Beethoven! You still sound great at 250!

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