[Smt-talk] Beethoven 4th (was Ranking Ludwig's symphonies)

[Nicole Biamonte]

So, are the Hyde symphonies masculine or feminine?  Just curious.

Nicole Biamonte
Music Theory Area Chair
Schulich School of Music
McGill University
nicole.biamonte at mcgill.ca



> Thanks for reminding us that Beethoven was the quintessential
> Classic/Romantic composer. He was capable, as you have demonstrated, of
> being the lovely, sweet, rational purveyor of perfectly pleasant music, and
> then he could turn around and write music that was way ahead of its time in
> terms of the wildness and storminess of its aggressive, muscular character.
> The order of his symphonies has always reminded me of Jekyll and Hyde in
> the way the characters alternate from odd numbers to even--in antiquated
> terminology, from masculine to feminine. This duality works great for a
> writer of symphonies but you wouldn't want to marry a guy like this. ^ _ ^
>
> May your modulation to the new year but smooth and easy.
>
> Steve Jablonsky
>
>
>  *Dr. Stephen Jablonsky, Ph.D.*
> *Music Department Chair*
> *The City College of New York*
> *Shepard Hall Room 72*
> *New York NY 10031*
> *(212) 650-7663 <%28212%29%20650-7663>*
> *music at ccny.cuny.edu <music at ccny.cuny.edu>*
>
> America's Greatest Chair
> in the low-priced field
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Dec 20, 2013, at 11:54 AM, Michael Luxner <mluxner at mail.millikin.edu>
> wrote:
>
>  From Grove's *Beethoven and His Nine Symphonies:*
>
> "There is something extraordinarily *entrainant* about it throughout; a
> more consistent and attractive whole
> there cannot be.  In the Eroica some have complained of the Funeral March
> as too long, some of the Scherzo as inappropriate, or of the Finale as
> trivial; but on the No. 4 no such criticisms are possible; the movements
> fit to their places like the limbs and features of a lovely statue; and,
> full of fire and invention as they are, all is subordinated to conciseness,
> grace, and beauty."
>
> They sure don't write 'em like that anymore...symphonies or criticism!
>
> Happy holiday, everyone.
>
> Michael Luxner
> Millikin University
>
>
> >>> Larry Barnes <lbarnes at transy.edu> 12/18/2013 10:03 PM >>>
> I'm listening to #4 right now, and love it. It turns my head toward beauty
> unexpectedly, precisely because it doesn't demand my constant attention.
> And I don't always need dangerous places.
> It's nice to just come home and rest sometimes between adventures.
> Larry Barnes
> Transylvania University
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
>
>
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