Friday, April 22, 2011

Sightseeing with Beethoven

The office in which I work is located within smelling distance of Tsukiji, the world’s largest fish market. Every day, while walking from the train station to the office, I see (and tower over) tour groups of retirees stepping off of enormous busses as they are about to be led through a maze of stalls selling tuna, knives and other implements of culinary destruction. Who is leading them, you ask? This woman:

Courtesy of St Stev

Or another very much like her. These women tend to be informative and able to paint a pretty picture of the area they are showing. After having listened and re-listened to Beethoven’s sixth symphony for a few months now, I’m convinced that he could have been a terrific flag-wielding tour guide, you know, if the whole composing thing didn’t work out for him.

Before I even knew that this was his “pastoral” symphony, the pastoral nature of the work shone through, clear and bright. Rarely has music created such vivid images in my mind and I can’t think of a single example when the images matched up with the expressed intent of the composer so thoroughly. The maestro thoughtfully included scene settings for the score to inform musicians and listeners about what he was imagining while composing:
  1. Erwachen heiterer Empfindungen bei der Ankunft auf dem Lande (Awakening of cheerful feelings upon arrival in the country): Allegro ma non troppo
  2. Szene am Bach (Scene at the brook): Andante molto mosso
  3. Lustiges Zusammensein der Landleute (Happy gathering of country folk): Allegro
  4. Gewitter, Sturm (Thunderstorm; Storm): Allegro
  5. Hirtengesang. Frohe und dankbare Gefühle nach dem Sturm (Shepherds' song; cheerful and thankful feelings after the storm): Allegretto


    I appreciate the notes, but honestly, they are scarcely needed. Even without them, I had the feeling from the very first swell of the strings that I was descending into a flowery meadow. It was really quite remarkable. The “brook” movement is flowing and contemplative. The “folk” movement is, well, folksy and merry. As advertised. The storm changes the mood dramatically and, for my money, really and truly sounds like a storm. Finally, the clouds lift and the mood because simultaneously joyous and reverent. The country folk from the third movement are thankful for the passing of the storm, and they know exactly how to give it up to God.

    With every listen, there’s something new to discover (birds calling, thunder pealing, peasants dancing) but the terrain remains the same. Not only does this symphony transport me to another place, but another time. In an age of ubiquitous first-person shooters, take some time to relax and become a first-person country hiker. Beethoven, flag in hand, will be glad to show you the way.

    Find out more about the sixth here. This article does a good job explaining why this symphony is considered to be pastoral. The performance I am listening to (and am insanely in love with) is available here at archive.org:

    Recording notes:
    Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
    Work: Symphony No. 6
    Conductor: Bruno Walter
    Performers: Columbia Symphony Orchestra
    Date: Jan. 13, 15, and 17, 1958

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