Beethoven and the Zipper

[lorikeet]

A fortune earned from the zipper patent enabled the launch of a music phenomenon in Sydney 1945 highlighting The Great Fugue

[Michael]

Beethoven - from light to darkness:

http://www.reformer.com/ci_18261228?source=most_viewed

[Michael]

I find this thread very convenient for off-the-wall items. Something similar happened to me many years ago. I was walking along, minding my own business, and I broke into a whistle. I was accosted by a bearded professorial-looking gentleman who, quite loudly, said: "That's Beethoven!"

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2011/08/...o-at-his-lips/

[Sorrano]

Now I can't get Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star out of my head!

[Quijote]

I find this thread very convenient for off-the-wall items. Something similar happened to me many years ago. I was walking along, minding my own business, and I broke into a whistle. I was accosted by a bearded professorial-looking gentleman who, quite loudly, said: "That's Beethoven!"

I don't have a newspaper article to buttress my own personal anecdote, but here it is : I once had to call in the "gasman" (is that the right word, I can't remember) when I lived in the UK to repair my boiler. In walks this muscular, brutish-looking and tattooed fellow who pauses as he enters my home and says: "That's Schoenberg you got playing on your Hi-Fi, innit?". It was.

[Michael]

News item:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...musicians.html

Nonsense? Look what happened to Beethoven!





.

[Peter]

News item:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...musicians.html

Nonsense? Look what happened to Beethoven!





.

Only to be expected from the PCC!

I wonder though if it is such a problem that it's taken until the 21st century to think about it? Perhaps the audience should be given ear plugs as well? - come to think of it, probably a good idea in some cases!

[Sorrano]

News item:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...musicians.html

Nonsense? Look what happened to Beethoven!





.

Somewhere there has to be a Mahler/Bruckner conspiracy here.

[Roehre]

News item:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/t...musicians.html

Nonsense? Look what happened to Beethoven!

.

This research was (again) a waste of money, as in the 1990s two orchestras (the Berlin Phil and the The Hague Residentie Orkest ordered similar researches which -independetly from each other- came to the conclusion that with volumes going up to 110dB (climax of Zimmermann's Symphony in one movement e.g.) there exists a danger of musicians' hearing being affected, but that there isn't a way to avoid this, as any protective measure either would affect the music itself by being performed in a way not intended by the composer, or the music badly performed because the musicians cannot hear their colleagues properly, not to mention the quality of their own playing. In both cases: end of the discussion.

The BBC -situated on an Island- thinks in Britain music is performed diffferently from the continent, and orders that research to be re-done, of course at a cost .

[Michael]

I prefer to put facetious items in this thread, but the next item is more serious. A bit meandering and over the top but the writer's heart is in the right place:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features...rs-on%E2%80%A6

[Sorrano]

This should provide some amusement for a few people. This sort of smacks of what were called "mobile" compositions when I studied theory.

http://wwww.inbflat.net/

[Michael]

This should provide some amusement for a few people. This sort of smacks of what were called "mobile" compositions when I studied theory.

http://wwww.inbflat.net/

Ouch! I tried it and then YouTube starting repeating itself and adding to the chaos. I need a paracetomol.

[Preston]

I prefer to put facetious items in this thread, but the next item is more serious. A bit meandering and over the top but the writer's heart is in the right place:

http://www.gramophone.co.uk/features...rs-on%E2%80%A6

That is one long article, but from what I read (which was a decent portion) I thought it made a lot of good points. I do not understand the article as I should because I cannot read much well. Will have to finish tomorrow, or some point?

I think I like the article because I like diversity. Sometimes I feel like the orchestras of today have become so strict and devout that they will experiment with nothing and only play the notes on the "most traditional" score they can find. In truth, when I go to watch the orchestra I feel rather tense and out of place. The reason being is because it is though everything must be done so overly-courteous, proper, kingly, etc. that it seems arrogant and conceited, imo. For instance, I would like to see the orchestras where no tuxes.

As a side note, I notice that a lot of wealthy people attempt or do take to classical, I think it is some kind of cliche' or something? I find this odd, do they not see that the composers were very, very diverse - ranging from madness, murder, wealth, poverty, etc. I don't know, I guess I am just somewhat put off by the high-class or snobby side of classical?

Ouch! I tried it and then YouTube starting repeating itself and adding to the chaos. I need a paracetomol.

Michael, just smoke some opium that should give you the relief you need, hehe.

[Quijote]

[...] In truth, when I go to watch the orchestra I feel rather tense and out of place. The reason being is because it is though everything must be done so overly-courteous, proper, kingly, etc. that it seems arrogant and conceited, imo. For instance, I would like to see the orchestras where no tuxes.

As a side note, I notice that a lot of wealthy people attempt or do take to classical, I think it is some kind of cliche' or something? I find this odd, do they not see that the composers were very, very diverse - ranging from madness, murder, wealth, poverty, etc. I don't know, I guess I am just somewhat put off by the high-class or snobby side of classical?

I kind of know what you mean, Preston. But my feeling is that the milieu you refer to is loosening up a bit, and classical music really is trying to shed its elitist mantle. That is certainly the case here in Strasbourg at the Musica contemporary music festival, where the various ensembles (and sometimes the orchestras) dress in what one could call "smart-casual".

It's an interesting question you raise : in Beethoven's day, did the orchestras he conducted all wear the same garb? I know they did in his Bonn years at the Court, but what about in Vienna? I really have no idea. Can anyone here tell us?

But in a way the same applies to the audiences, especially at the Opera. I notice people really do dress up for the event, and that of course is entirely their right. I, on the other hand, intentionally "dress down" as I want to be able to sit as comfortably as possible (T-shirt with pullover, and jeans does it for me).

How do you people on this forum dress for concerts / Opera etc.?

[Hofrat]

In days of old, musicians were servants to a man of nobel rank. So, the musicians wore livery when they performed. Beethoven in his Bonn years did, as well as Haydn in his Esterhazi years to name a few. Even Liszt in Wiemar wore livery. In his Vienna years, Beethoven refused to wear it..