Beethoven, by Maynard Solomon
B's mother on marriage . . .
"'If you want to take my good advice, remain single, and then you will have the most tranquil, most beautiful, most pleasurable life. For what is marriage? A little joy, but then a chain of sorrows." . . . "How thoughtlessly so many young people get married without knowing what [sorrows] await them.' She knew of few happy marriages and of fewer happy women: 'One should weep when a girl is brought into the world,' she said."
Solomon, pg 9, quoting Fischer, pgs. 61-62.
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concerning Johann Van Beethoven (Ludwig's father) . . .
"The Fischers remembered him often lying in the window, staring out at the rain or making faces at his drinking companion, fish dealer Klein, who was similarly wont to recline in the window across the street."
Solomon, pg. 12.
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A vivid anecdote . . .
"Beethoven's sexual timidity made him the unhappy target of the younger orchestra members on at least one occasion. While dining in a restaurant in 1791 (he would have been 20 or 21 years old at the time) several musicians prompted the waitress 'to play off her charms upon Beethoven. He received her advances and familiarities with repellent coldness; and as she, encouraged by the others, still persevered, he lost his patience and put an end to her importunities by a smart box on the ear.'"
Solomon, pg. 41, citing Thayer-Forbes by way of Simrock.
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From Carl Czerny, describing B's extraordinary effect upon audiences . . .
"'In whatever company he might chance to be, he knew how to produce such an effect upon every hearer that frequently not an eye remained dry, while many would break out into loud sobs; for there was something wonderful in his expression in addition to the beauty and originality of his ideas and his spirited style of rendering them. After ending an improvisation of this kind, he would burst into loud laughter and banter his hearers on the emotion he had caused in them. 'You are fools!' he would say . . . "Who can live among such spoiled children!'"
Solomon, pg. 58, citing Thayer-Forbes.
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"In his last years, according to Schindler, B's playing at times 'was more painful than agreeable. . . . The outpourings of his fancy became scarcely intelligible.' Sometimes he would place his left hand flat upon the keyboard 'and thus drown, in discordant noise, the music to which his right was feelingly giving utterance.' He did not wish his musical thoughts to be overheard."
Solomon, pg. 305, citing Schindler-Moscheles
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Maynard Solomon quotes H. Marcuse, who says that the Ode to Joy "is invalidated in the culture that sings it." True.
Solomon, pg. 315, citing Herbert Marcuse
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"'If you want to take my good advice, remain single, and then you will have the most tranquil, most beautiful, most pleasurable life. For what is marriage? A little joy, but then a chain of sorrows." . . . "How thoughtlessly so many young people get married without knowing what [sorrows] await them.' She knew of few happy marriages and of fewer happy women: 'One should weep when a girl is brought into the world,' she said."
Solomon, pg 9, quoting Fischer, pgs. 61-62.
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concerning Johann Van Beethoven (Ludwig's father) . . .
"The Fischers remembered him often lying in the window, staring out at the rain or making faces at his drinking companion, fish dealer Klein, who was similarly wont to recline in the window across the street."
Solomon, pg. 12.
-------------------------------------------------
A vivid anecdote . . .
"Beethoven's sexual timidity made him the unhappy target of the younger orchestra members on at least one occasion. While dining in a restaurant in 1791 (he would have been 20 or 21 years old at the time) several musicians prompted the waitress 'to play off her charms upon Beethoven. He received her advances and familiarities with repellent coldness; and as she, encouraged by the others, still persevered, he lost his patience and put an end to her importunities by a smart box on the ear.'"
Solomon, pg. 41, citing Thayer-Forbes by way of Simrock.
-------------------------------------------------
From Carl Czerny, describing B's extraordinary effect upon audiences . . .
"'In whatever company he might chance to be, he knew how to produce such an effect upon every hearer that frequently not an eye remained dry, while many would break out into loud sobs; for there was something wonderful in his expression in addition to the beauty and originality of his ideas and his spirited style of rendering them. After ending an improvisation of this kind, he would burst into loud laughter and banter his hearers on the emotion he had caused in them. 'You are fools!' he would say . . . "Who can live among such spoiled children!'"
Solomon, pg. 58, citing Thayer-Forbes.
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"In his last years, according to Schindler, B's playing at times 'was more painful than agreeable. . . . The outpourings of his fancy became scarcely intelligible.' Sometimes he would place his left hand flat upon the keyboard 'and thus drown, in discordant noise, the music to which his right was feelingly giving utterance.' He did not wish his musical thoughts to be overheard."
Solomon, pg. 305, citing Schindler-Moscheles
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Maynard Solomon quotes H. Marcuse, who says that the Ode to Joy "is invalidated in the culture that sings it." True.
Solomon, pg. 315, citing Herbert Marcuse
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posted by Boosh The Tug at 8/16/2008 09:50:00 AM
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