2nd February 2020
Anyone else feel a bit of a noddy when listening to classical music?
I felt lucky when I was given tickets to the Beethoven weekend at the Barbican. I honestly find classical music a bit of a fug and I feel slightly inadequate for not being more in the know. There are sections and chords of pieces every one can hum and a few more we individually recollect but my knowledge on each composer and their repertoire is very poor. I think I mentioned before how I had never appreciated the fact that instruments were invented at different times and so when we listen to different pieces we need to bear that in mind.
So I was quite excited about these concerts. Mainly because it would not have been something I would have booked to go to myself but now I could dip in without feeling like a fraud amongst these connoisseurs. The first concert was to see Beethoven’s own violin being played. There was nothing unusual about the violin save for having a B scratched in the back of it but there was something very touching and grand about hearing the violin that this great composer played and messed around with. The piece that was played was originally written for a talented but unknown black violinist but he and Beethoven had a falling out so it was then ‘written’ for someone else. What would history have been like if black musicians had been given some prominence 250 years ago?
The second concert was his 9th symphony. I recognised parts of it as would most I suspect but other than that I was a complete ignoramus. It lasted over an hour (broken into pieces) and it also combined the orchestra with singing. Very unusual for it’s time. The story surrounding it was also fascinating.
Apparently Beethoven wrote this incredible piece when he was deaf. He wound up his prime singers with his composition as they believed that a Soprano could not sing so high or a Base singer so low as he was requiring and in fact the night before opening night, the Base singer pulled out leaving Beethoven to find someone from the choir to step into their place. So right up until it was played there was tension on the stage. In addition Beethoven insisted he would conduct the orchestra himself on opening night. His friends tried to persuade him not to (a deaf conductor!) and he refused but he compromised by allowing a talented conductor to stand behind him as he was tricked by his friends who told him that this conductor was only there in case he changed his mind, whereas in fact the orchestra had been told to pay attention to the other conductor and not Beethoven. It was a resounding success and I can see why having heard it in a hall where live music is meant to be played.
Curiosity and the rascal 