The Friday Music Post
First off, a happy birthday to dragoness_e! Hope it's a good one! :)
Now to business:
I missed making a Friday music post last week because I was -- perhaps ironically -- away at music camp. :) So, I decided to let this week's post be inspired by said music camp. How so? Well, the little chamber orchestra I played in at camp played a simplified (because we only had, you know, four rehearsals :) ) version of the piece I've chosen to be this week's subject at camp. And it was a lot of fun. :) frostymook got solos because she was the only viola. ;)
Anyway, this week's piece: The second movement of Beethoven's 7th symphony.
I love Beethoven in all his forms, from symphonies to masses to string quartets to his massive catalog of piano sonatas. He is without a doubt my favorite composer. I love the combination of classical structure and the romantic emotionalism that is his music. It speaks to me. Always has, always will.
And Beethoven's works well for visualization purposes, too. I often listen to it while I write. (Beethoven quartet music accompanied my writing of Barricade yesterday, for instance.) Beethoven symphonies almost always have a theme (The main motif of his 5th symphony, for instance -- you know, dum-dum-dum-DUUUUUUUM! -- is supposed to be fate knocking on one's door.), and the theme is usually quite obvious. In this case, I know what this piece that I've chosen is supposed to be about.
What I want to know is what you think it's about. :)
Some background: The symphony was written in 1811/1812 and first performed (conducted by Beethoven himself) in 1813 as a benefit for Austrian soldiers wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, not long after Wellington's victory in that war. From the get-go, the symphony as a whole was popular and well-received for the most part, although there were dissenting voices. Beethoven's contemporary, composer Carl Maria von Weber, for instance, proclaimed that the symphony was concrete proof that Beethoven was nuts. But mostly it was well-loved, and it has become known as Beethoven's "dance symphony," for it is the most upbeat of Beethoven's nine symphonies. Richard Wagner called it "the apotheosis of dance" and to prove his point he did indeed once dance to it, accompanied by Franz Liszt on the piano. Ironically, though, the second movement isn't what I'd call dance-able. It is, however, quite evocative. To me, at least. So, have a listen and tell me what you think.
EDITed to add this, because I am a lemming:
I AM
76%
MEGATRONTake the Transformers Quiz
Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. He will stop at nothing to establish his empire and destroy the Autobots, starting with Optimus Prime.
Like Megatron, you are evil, motivated by destruction and chaos. You are inspiring, confident, and a natural leader. The Decepticons have chosen well. In addition, you use technology when you need to, but you do not embrace the latest trends.
Scarily, this is probably pretty accurate... *sigh*
Now to business:
I missed making a Friday music post last week because I was -- perhaps ironically -- away at music camp. :) So, I decided to let this week's post be inspired by said music camp. How so? Well, the little chamber orchestra I played in at camp played a simplified (because we only had, you know, four rehearsals :) ) version of the piece I've chosen to be this week's subject at camp. And it was a lot of fun. :) frostymook got solos because she was the only viola. ;)
Anyway, this week's piece: The second movement of Beethoven's 7th symphony.
I love Beethoven in all his forms, from symphonies to masses to string quartets to his massive catalog of piano sonatas. He is without a doubt my favorite composer. I love the combination of classical structure and the romantic emotionalism that is his music. It speaks to me. Always has, always will.
And Beethoven's works well for visualization purposes, too. I often listen to it while I write. (Beethoven quartet music accompanied my writing of Barricade yesterday, for instance.) Beethoven symphonies almost always have a theme (The main motif of his 5th symphony, for instance -- you know, dum-dum-dum-DUUUUUUUM! -- is supposed to be fate knocking on one's door.), and the theme is usually quite obvious. In this case, I know what this piece that I've chosen is supposed to be about.
What I want to know is what you think it's about. :)
Some background: The symphony was written in 1811/1812 and first performed (conducted by Beethoven himself) in 1813 as a benefit for Austrian soldiers wounded in the Napoleonic Wars, not long after Wellington's victory in that war. From the get-go, the symphony as a whole was popular and well-received for the most part, although there were dissenting voices. Beethoven's contemporary, composer Carl Maria von Weber, for instance, proclaimed that the symphony was concrete proof that Beethoven was nuts. But mostly it was well-loved, and it has become known as Beethoven's "dance symphony," for it is the most upbeat of Beethoven's nine symphonies. Richard Wagner called it "the apotheosis of dance" and to prove his point he did indeed once dance to it, accompanied by Franz Liszt on the piano. Ironically, though, the second movement isn't what I'd call dance-able. It is, however, quite evocative. To me, at least. So, have a listen and tell me what you think.
EDITed to add this, because I am a lemming:
I AM
76%
MEGATRONTake the Transformers Quiz
Megatron is the leader of the Decepticons. He will stop at nothing to establish his empire and destroy the Autobots, starting with Optimus Prime.
Like Megatron, you are evil, motivated by destruction and chaos. You are inspiring, confident, and a natural leader. The Decepticons have chosen well. In addition, you use technology when you need to, but you do not embrace the latest trends.
Scarily, this is probably pretty accurate... *sigh*