I am listening to a fine performance of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No3 conducted by Bernstein. I think it is on the third or fourth run. I have loved these since I was a child or early teens. I was disappointed because I had just listened to a performance of Consecration of the House conducted by Riccado Muti and he messed up the pacing and ruined it. The players made a few small errors but they would not be a problem, but he rushed the pace and it just lost the wonderful power Beethoven put into it. I love this piece and it was amazing how a small change in the pace made it weak and insipid, something I can not apply to Beethoven when done well. I am glad I tried this other one, it is so much better.
I love his music. Tchaikovsky has energy and power in his music and I do enjoy much of it but it is raw and less controlled and consistent than Beethoven. I am amazed how refined and precise Beethoven is. I love Mozart, I don’t think I have heard anything of his I did not like, but Beethoven has an energy he does not quite equal.
I think the magic of Beethoven is that his music is very visceral. It appeals to a lot of people. you don’t really have to like classical music to like him. He pushes human neural buttons. Just like any good artist or composer.
The Appassionata 3rd movement is essentially the longest “shredder” guitar solo in history. (Metaphorically, anyway) Although… I think i’d like a screaming guitar solo version of it. I can see Steve Vai doing it.
…only in my imagination. I was just musing about the third movement’s similarity to a guitar solo, then I went on to imagine Steve Vai adapting it. Then… thinking about Steven Vai, I thought I’d include a clip of him for context.
I don’t actually know if anyone really did do a rock adaptation of the 3rd movement.
I imagine it would take an arrangement. Like maybe you’d do it with a quartet. Two guitars, a bassist, and a drummer. You could probably get most of its texture with three strings and some percussion, I’m thinking.
I’m here, if only for a moment. I just finished ‘Byrony and Roses’, and before that ‘The Seventh Bride’ — and although I do it very rarely, I read the author’s Acknowledgements and found to my delight that the author is Ursula Vernon! I recall she is a friend of your daughter’s, dv8 and Harper.
I enjoyed her stories quite a bit. I have always liked reading fairy tales told in a new way, and you just can’t beat a snarky heroine with a good grasp on practicality.
To kind friends and absent companions.
I think I’m hanging out tonight, if anyone is up and about.
Good morning, dv8. Keeping watch tonight?
I am listening to a fine performance of Beethoven’s Leonore Overture No3 conducted by Bernstein. I think it is on the third or fourth run. I have loved these since I was a child or early teens. I was disappointed because I had just listened to a performance of Consecration of the House conducted by Riccado Muti and he messed up the pacing and ruined it. The players made a few small errors but they would not be a problem, but he rushed the pace and it just lost the wonderful power Beethoven put into it. I love this piece and it was amazing how a small change in the pace made it weak and insipid, something I can not apply to Beethoven when done well. I am glad I tried this other one, it is so much better.
Beethoven is SO alpha : )
I love his music. Tchaikovsky has energy and power in his music and I do enjoy much of it but it is raw and less controlled and consistent than Beethoven. I am amazed how refined and precise Beethoven is. I love Mozart, I don’t think I have heard anything of his I did not like, but Beethoven has an energy he does not quite equal.
I wrote a bit about Beethoven in school (and at other times)
In many ways he is the first Romantic Era composer rather than the last Classical one.
So much can be said about him only referring to his music--not knowing anything else about him.
His musical legacy is huge. And we are so lucky to have been exposed to it.
I don’t have your education but I agree with you.
I think the magic of Beethoven is that his music is very visceral. It appeals to a lot of people. you don’t really have to like classical music to like him. He pushes human neural buttons. Just like any good artist or composer.
That makes sense.
To kind friends and absent companions.
I was hoping you would slide over here, Paddy.
I’ll drink to that!
I already did, earlier.
This is the one I am enjoying, I downloaded it a while back.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRhwyzJABvI
I love Bernstein’s conducting.
I think he did great on this one.
I have heard too many performances ruined or diminished by bad pacing, like they think it becomes more exciting but it just gets busy and rushed.
The Appassionata 3rd movement is essentially the longest “shredder” guitar solo in history. (Metaphorically, anyway) Although… I think i’d like a screaming guitar solo version of it. I can see Steve Vai doing it.
https://youtu.be/jmVv_KArbuA
Is that the piano sonata adapted to guitar? I like it on piano.
…only in my imagination. I was just musing about the third movement’s similarity to a guitar solo, then I went on to imagine Steve Vai adapting it. Then… thinking about Steven Vai, I thought I’d include a clip of him for context.
I don’t actually know if anyone really did do a rock adaptation of the 3rd movement.
(but it could potentially be awesome)
A project for you!
haha… Back when I was in school, my daughter used to ask me to play it all the time. She loved it. (on piano)
Alas, I’m not a good enough electric guitarist to do it justice.
I have been listening to Daniel Barenboim playing it. I love You-tube.
yeah, it’s great that all your favorites are out there somewhere. Like I stumbled upon these guys this evening:
https://youtu.be/UM-yGcpaY_4
I saw them live a couple of times when I was a teenager back in the 70ies. I had all their albums.
I am amazed how many movies and TV shows I have found, plus endless music.
I imagine it would take an arrangement. Like maybe you’d do it with a quartet. Two guitars, a bassist, and a drummer. You could probably get most of its texture with three strings and some percussion, I’m thinking.
Sorry about changing the background. I don’t remember the colors before but the rods and cones in my eyes were rising up with pitchforks and torches.
no problem. It was fun while it lasted but it was admittedly hard on the eyes.
It has been fun but I think I had better call it a night, here. Thank you, Sir.
good night, gentle Mac.
Please give my best to your precious lady.
I will sir.
I’m here, if only for a moment. I just finished ‘Byrony and Roses’, and before that ‘The Seventh Bride’ — and although I do it very rarely, I read the author’s Acknowledgements and found to my delight that the author is Ursula Vernon! I recall she is a friend of your daughter’s, dv8 and Harper.
I enjoyed her stories quite a bit. I have always liked reading fairy tales told in a new way, and you just can’t beat a snarky heroine with a good grasp on practicality.