DAILY DOSE of BEETHOVEN (June 18, 2020)
Listening to the Fourth movement of this symphony is a bit like riding a tornado. (Ft 1)
In Edgar Allen Poe's short story, "The Descent into the Maelstrom", two brothers are caught in a small boat in a huge whirlpool that sucks everything down. How does one survive? Does one employ time-tested methods, or does a new situation require a new approach?
One brother chooses the time-tested method by grabbing on to the most solid part of the boat. The other brother discerns that the boat is going down, willy-nilly, and notices that a barrel is circling around, but always at the same level. He finds the courage to leap off ship, and grab on to the barrel. You can guess who survived.
This is an excellent metaphor for what Beethoven demands of us in this work. Coming back to composer Carla Maria von Weber's lament:
"to end all a furious finale, in which the only requisite is that there should be no ideas for the hearer to make out, but plenty of transitions from one key to another – on to the new note at once! never mind modulating! – above all things, throw rules to the winds, for they only hamper a genius."
What was Weber talking about? Bear in mind how revolutionary this movement sounded back then and put yourself back in time to when it was new and shocking!
Weber is a bit like the brother who grabbed on to what he thought was solid. The universe has changed. Beethoven is communicating geometric discoveries here, and one has to follow them geometrically, in order to not be left behind! Rather than describe the entire movement, we provide a 5 minute audio guide to the entire work, and leave you free to make your own discoveries.
Ft 1: This description far better fits the Grosse Fuge. If you wish, please read the story by Poe, and review the postings from June 2 to June 9.