<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=us-ascii"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">On the anniversary of Beethoven's birth I am prompted to ask my esteemed colleagues a question that has perplexed me since getting into this music theory business a long time ago: Why does some music sound important and other music does not? Some pieces seem to be saying something important in a language that eludes me and other pieces seem to be much ado about nothing. This brings me to Beethoven. How do you explain his 4th Symphony coming as it does between the Eroica and the Mighty Fifth? Numbers 3 and 5 have become the mainstays of concert programming worldwide and Number 4 seems to enjoy a quiet oblivion. Why is that? What was it that kept the master from creating a work that could compare with its bookends. What do you say about 8?<div><br></div><div>As I write this I am reminded of Slonimsky's estimations of composers' worth in <i>Bakers</i>. I love the fine distinctions he makes. By extension, the same may be said for compositions that might range from no adjective to "great." Just for the fun of it, can you put Beethoven's symphonies in order greatness (if that is even possible)?<br><div><br></div><div><br><div apple-content-edited="true">
<div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-variant: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: -webkit-auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><font><b style="font-size: 12px; ">Dr. Stephen Jablonsky, Ph.D.</b></font></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><b style="font-size: 12px; ">Music Department Chair</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><b style="font-size: 12px; ">The City College of New York</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><b style="font-size: 12px; ">Shepard Hall Room 72</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><b style="font-size: 12px; ">New York NY 10031</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><b style="font-size: 12px; ">(212) 650-7663</b></div><div style="font-family: 'Bookman Old Style'; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><font><b style="font-size: 12px; "><a href="mailto:music@ccny.cuny.edu">music@ccny.cuny.edu</a></b></font></div><div style="font-family: Helvetica; font-size: medium; font-weight: normal; font-style: normal; "><br></div><div><font face="Copperplate"><span style="font-size: 12px; ">America's Greatest Chair </span></font></div><div><font face="Copperplate"><span style="font-size: 12px; ">in the low-priced field</span></font></div></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline">
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