The Ninth Symphony is considered as a powerful symbol of solidarity, social equality, peace and human values. But there is something else, which has been ignored by musicologists and historians of music:
I found this very interesting and edifying, whether or not your view is correct. It is certainly well worth considering. I am particularly grateful because I have never even bothered to find out the significance of the lyrics - quite an admission for someone of my advanced years who thinks of Beethoven as his favourite composer.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but this is one othe most facile, shallow pieces Beethoven wrote. Contrast the Missa Solemnis. The religion of the vicious French Revolution - worship of Nature, the Myth of Universal Brotherhood and Godless Materialism - is really neither new nor interesting. What it leads to is what we in the West are approaching again today i.e. totalitarian rule embroidered with pleasant platitudes. Once the people fall for the teaching of 9th Symphony civilisation is doomed.
That's a very interesting observation, about the "religion" of the French Revolution. I keep meaning to get better informed about it. it's one or two of the pile of as yet unread books, which seems to be growing faster than being read!
This section, with it's "brass band" tune, is indeed one of the most accessible things he wrote. Of course it wasn't just the lyrics (most of them) but the tune that he borrowed from elsewhere. I suspect that Beethoven knew very well what he was doing, and wanted something that EVERYONE could tap their foot to for this section, which is about everyone uniting.
Prof. Chossudovsky... You must open the comment section on Global Research below every article, because there is to much nonsense coming to it, and that it makes even you, as you control that portal - not credible, or at least less credible ...
There is more and more of garbage cumming to Global Research and I think this becomes troubling... That's my point... If you can't comment on the material, there is a problem...
Interpretation is not historical revision and is fine as long as one realizes that it is one's own interpretation coloured by one's personal experiences, life, culture, upbringing, etc. It is simply an exercise in thought.
Oh stop attempting to second guess another person's intent is absurd.thats the problem with historical revision,applying what you think was in the mind of another who is long dead.
If people had more knowledge of history; and if people were better at putting themselves in others' shoes ... they might think the music put them in a mood to go and rescue their compatriots in a part of the country artificially cut off, where they were being terrorised ...
Thanks for sharing this. We need more resistance more than ever since we are in the process of destroying the planet forever
It starts with you
"these three verses added by Beethoven should be remembered as a “Symbol of Resistance” to totalitarian rule. O Freunde, nicht diese Töne! " Amen!
I did find the term "verses" confusing. Should it be "lines"?
I found this very interesting and edifying, whether or not your view is correct. It is certainly well worth considering. I am particularly grateful because I have never even bothered to find out the significance of the lyrics - quite an admission for someone of my advanced years who thinks of Beethoven as his favourite composer.
Sorry to be a wet blanket, but this is one othe most facile, shallow pieces Beethoven wrote. Contrast the Missa Solemnis. The religion of the vicious French Revolution - worship of Nature, the Myth of Universal Brotherhood and Godless Materialism - is really neither new nor interesting. What it leads to is what we in the West are approaching again today i.e. totalitarian rule embroidered with pleasant platitudes. Once the people fall for the teaching of 9th Symphony civilisation is doomed.
That's a very interesting observation, about the "religion" of the French Revolution. I keep meaning to get better informed about it. it's one or two of the pile of as yet unread books, which seems to be growing faster than being read!
This section, with it's "brass band" tune, is indeed one of the most accessible things he wrote. Of course it wasn't just the lyrics (most of them) but the tune that he borrowed from elsewhere. I suspect that Beethoven knew very well what he was doing, and wanted something that EVERYONE could tap their foot to for this section, which is about everyone uniting.
Prof. Chossudovsky... You must open the comment section on Global Research below every article, because there is to much nonsense coming to it, and that it makes even you, as you control that portal - not credible, or at least less credible ...
interesting suggestion ... for all authors.
There is more and more of garbage cumming to Global Research and I think this becomes troubling... That's my point... If you can't comment on the material, there is a problem...
Thank you Michel, for a wonderful interpretation regarding resistance. Yes it seems resistance is growing, cause for joy. 👍
Interpretation is not historical revision and is fine as long as one realizes that it is one's own interpretation coloured by one's personal experiences, life, culture, upbringing, etc. It is simply an exercise in thought.
Oh stop attempting to second guess another person's intent is absurd.thats the problem with historical revision,applying what you think was in the mind of another who is long dead.
After the fall of the Berlin Wall, Bernstein performed the Beethoven 9th in Berlin with the word "Freiheit" substituted for "Freude".
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l46GNducsPk
More revision.
Awesome write up!
Brilliant..!!
https://youtu.be/chqi8m4CEEY?feature=shared
"All you feel like doing after listening to Beethoven is going out and invading Poland."
GRAVITY'S RAINBOW, p440
I like the 6th and the 7th much better than the 9th.
(However I admit that I love the 2nd movement of the 9th.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O22ZRhsprQY
Yes ; an amusing quip.
If people had more knowledge of history; and if people were better at putting themselves in others' shoes ... they might think the music put them in a mood to go and rescue their compatriots in a part of the country artificially cut off, where they were being terrorised ...
I share your love for this amazing composer.
If he never wrote anything beside the piano sonatas, he'd still be recognized as a genius.
Love the five piano concertos too.
And the concerto for violin and orchestra—sigh.