My Beethoven

This year marks 250^th birth anniversary of Beethoven. Almost 27 years ago I was introduced to Beethoven’s heavenly music by my father. He used to like western classical music and quite often he played those cassettes. The very first Beethoven piece that attracted my attention was For Elise. The simple 4 minute piece on piano kept me hooked to Beethoven forever. What a beautiful hummable music that doesn’t leave my memory. Later on I was amused to note this is played in elevators, parking lots and shopping malls. Even my grandmother had a powder case which will play Beethoven’s For Elise when you open its lid. Such is the appeal of this piece. It’s everywhere despite being classical. Let’s hear.

In advertisement world there is a phrase “Top of the Mind” meaning the first example that comes to your mind when you hear a topic. Beethoven is my top of the mind phrase in western classical music. I cannot think western classical music without Beethoven.

The very next piece which attracted me to Beethoven was his violin concerto. That cyclic Rondo, the famous strains of second movement is unforgettable. The violinist I heard was legendary David Oistrach from an old EMI cassette. Later on I had heard many leading violinists like Anne Sophie Mutter (under Karajan), Itzhak Perlman, Lena Nauder (Live in NCPA Mumbai under Cristoph Poppen in 2013), Midori Goto ( under maestro Zubin Mehta live in NCPA Mumbai in 2014); but the unhurried pace and poignant handling by Oistrach has stayed with me forever. Let’s hear it. I have heard many violin concertos by masters like Mozart, Mendelssohn, Paganini, Bach etc but nothing appears as complete as Beethoven’s solo violin concerto. The movements are so well timed and paced as if the transition is seamless from one to another. When you start humming the Rondo you will realize why is Beethoven’s violin concerto unforgettable.

Let’s move to Beethoven’s Symphonies ( 1 to 9). These are his gems for music world. Not without a reason they are recorded again and again, almost every conductor wants to prove their mettle by recording Beethoven symphony cycle.Volumes have been written on his 9^th symphony (particularly the Choral part). However I have a personal weakness for his 6^th symphony, particularly the first movement.  Nobody describes nature musically better than Beethoven. Since it has sounds mimicking gargling brooks, gathering storm and calm 6^th symphony is called Pastoral. I particularly like this because Beethoven wrote this after a bout of near suicidal depression . He wrote a will Heiligenstadt Testament and then got over the depression, went to visit the countryside for rejuvenation. And after that encounter with nature in its full glory what sublime music he wrote. This is a testament of mind over matter. I first heard it from a recording of New York Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ricardo Muti. However I cannot ignore the beauty of last movement of his legendary 9^th or the first movement of his 3^rd symphony –Eroica, dedicated to Napoleon at first. The 9^th symphony I heard was from a recording of Berlin Philharmoniker by Karajan. Though his 5^th symphony rustles a lot of emotion but I don’t have particular fondness for it. 5^th symphony is brooding tempest whereas 3^rd,6^th and 9^th is pure bliss to my ears. I have kept my mobile caller tune the first movement of his 6^th symphony.

Beethoven had a bruised psyche by advancing condition of deafness. I think his music was made in mind. He wrote music from his mind as if he listened them in his mind’s ears. Despite that he churned out gems. My next favourite is Piano Concerto no 5, particularly the 3^rd movement. I remember hearing this from a cassette where Vladimir Ashkenazy played the rumbling thunder of that 3^rd movement.

Now over the period of last 25 years my life changed and Youtube opened up new recordings to be heard and seen. But I will never forget his Tempest sonata and Moonlight sonata. His turkish march is very hummable but I like the constant thunder of the Tempest, as if the wind is growling and you are brooding. Moonlight sonata is a contrast to the Tempest, the most peaceful sublime poignant composition Beethoven had. The Adagio Sostuneto of Moonlight sonata is my all time favorite.

Before signing off I shall discuss the impact of Triple Concerto on me. I heard the recording of Herbert Von Karajan conducting Richter, Oistrach, and Rostropovitch and immediately I fell in love with the somber feeling. A sound so unique, a rendition so impeccable from four of the greatest performers of our times, that, not only it has never been equalled but it also signs one of the most definitive pages of the recorded music of all times.

There is no end to listening, today with Youtube I am privy to rare recordings of Beethoven, I hear different conductors, pianists, violinists but he will be always my top of the mind the moment I think of Western Classical Music.