Sunday Morning in the Church of Beethoven

For two years, via Twitter, I have held "services" in this "church" (the only one I attend) every Sunday morning.  As I posted here last week,  real-life gatherings under this name take place everywhere from Durham to Albuquerque.  Now I'm convening the virtual service here at this new blog.  Today's service is led by Martha Argerich, offering the slow movement to Sonata No. 7 (click below then hit the  YouTube link).   My friend Tim Page once told me that this was the movement when "Beethoven became Beethoven."  And that was becoming quite a lot.

Kid Takes the Fifth

One of my favorite viral videos of recent years, which I came on more than year ago, is this one starring a certain prodigy named Jonathan, age 3 (at the time), conducting the finale of LvB's Fifth Symphony.  By now it's gotten 7.5 million hits. Don't miss him trying to wipe his nose--and then collapsing in giggles at the end.  Jonathan is something of a phenomenon, perhaps the new Dudamel, as you will find other videos with him conducting, in public, some Strauss, and playing some Dvorak, at the advancing age of ... four.

The 'Curse of the Ninth'

Amazing story in L.A. Times on debut of Philip Glass's new 9th Symphony at Carnegie Hall, and the long history of famous composers afraid to write a ninth symphony after doing so allegedly killed Beethoven and Schubert.  Sure enough, this week at the Glass event, someone collapsed and medics needed to be called.  Glass says he hurriedly wrote a 10th symphony, not wishing to tempt fate knocking at the door.

A Chile Reception

Part II of my series this week at The Nation just posted, on Beethoven inspiring, and being used in, protests around the world.  This includes an excerpt from our new book re: Pinochet and torture in Chile.

Obsession, to the Ninth Degree

In our new book, I recall exploring LvB in recent years via what I call the "new electronic Beethoven delivery systems," such as YouTube.  One of the many obsessive oddities that I mention in the book (see my blog post from a few days ago) is a collection of the opening notes of the Piano Concerto No. 4 by several celebrated pianists.  Even more so is this comparison of the closing moments of the Ninth Symphony from ALL of Furtwangler's recorded versions: 

Beethoven Gets Stoned

Continuing our survey of versions of our title tune:  Have to admit, until today never heard (or heard of) this rarity, from the Rolling Stones, 1963, off a BBC broadcast.  Love young Mick changing "don't step on my blue suede shoes" to "don't step on my high-heel shoes."  Even then!

Denk You, Very Much

Review of Jeremy Denk's apparently amazing performance of the Piano Concerto No. 1 at Carnegie, which I somehow missed.   See my full Q & A with Jeremy in our new Beethoven book.

Your Brain on Beethoven

For a couple of years I have closely followed the work of Daniel Levitin, author of This Is Your Brain on Music, and Edwin Outwater,  music director of the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony in Canada.   Now they are presenting an "expanded" version of their Beethoven and the Brain concert/lecture on February 25 in Toronto.  Levitin has explained, "This show represents a first-of-its kind partnership between an orchestra, conductor, and neuroscientist.  Together, we hope to explain and demonstrate what goes on in our brains, our hearts, and our bodies when we listen to great music." Here is Levitin in a TV chat:

The Tunes They Are A-Changin'

Got to get one of these, as it mashes up my two musical "gods,"  Mr. Dylan and Herr Beethoven.   You can buy the t-shirt here.  Later I will post something from a clothing line that is actually named Ludwig Van, they have some great stonewashed shirts.

Leon Russell Meets Ludwig

Continuing our series on classic performances of our title tune, here is a true rarity.   Piano man Leon Russell is making something of a comeback these days, thanks to a boost from Elton John, but few know that he first gained fame, way before his Joe Cocker years, as a semi-regular on the popular TV show "Shindig."   And, surprise, he had no long hair and long beard then, and instead was something of a teen idol and greaser.   Here he is on "Shindig" doing "Roll Over, Beethoven," after a "Moonlight" sonata intro!

Billy Bragg's Ode to Joy

In our new book, Kerry Candaele describes his trip to England to interview Billy Bragg about the folk/punk singer's bold rewriting of the lyrics to the "Ode to the Joy" -- and then performing it for the Queen, with the London Philharmonic backing him.  It's a helluva story, if I say so myself,  a full chapter in our story.  Of course, we also learn how this fits into Billy's career and musical/political goals.  Here's Billy's full version:

Secret Beethoven?

I frankly don't know genesis of this but this The Piano Guys video has gone viral in just a few days, is called "Beethoven's 5 Secrets," opens with a great quote from Ludwig, then offers quite lovely cello, then orchestral, music with a snatch of LvB along the way. There also seems to be a vocal version.

A New Kind of 'Heavy Metal Thunder'

Part III of my series at Huff Post on how I went from Beatles to Beethoven,  now posted.

Ed Harris: From Ludwig to John McCain

All of those trailers for the upcoming Game Change movie on HBO--with Ed Harris as John McCain--only remind me that Ed, of course, also starred in Copying Beethoven.   In our new book, I describe Ed's Ludwig as basically "John Glenn in a fright wig."   But no matter.  The movie is only so-so but the scene depicting the premiere of the Ninth Symphony has been widely-hailed, although historically inaccurate (Beethoven did not conduct and there was no lovely young woman in the pit directing his moves).  Anyway, here's that scene in all its glory:

Beethoven 'Calls the Tune' for Global Protest

That's the claim in my new piece at The Nation today, which is also a theme in our new book (also see blog post down the page a bit here).

New Beethoven Tune....Thanks to His Hair?

All I can do is quote the opening of this story: "This is the bizarre tale of how a Scottish composer recovered some locks of Beethoven's hair from a garment that survived the holocaust, and then used the hair as the basis for a new work of music. Brilliant? Creepy? Both. The Daily Mail recounts the story of how Stuart Mitchell wrote 'Ludwig's Last Song' based on DNA from Beethoven's hair. It's almost too outlandish to be true." And here's the song:

'Revolution No. 9: From Beatles to Beethoven"

That's the title of Part II of my series at Huff Post this week, excerpting our new book, on how my Beethoven obsession came to be.

'How a Longtime Rock 'n Roll Editor Became Obsessed With Beethoven'

That's the title of my new piece at Huff Post -- which happens to be an excerpt from our new book.  My back pages, as someone once put it.  Excerpt from the excerpt: "From the age of four, music was my greatest love, even beyond baseball. I asked my parents to buy for me new singles by Tony Bennett and Eddie Fisher, and I entertained visitors by taking requests and spinning the 78s on my record player. Then rock 'n roll arrived, and like millions of other kids I became devoted to American Bandstand and Ricky Nelson playing his hits at the end of Ozzie & Harriet."  Obviously, that is yours truly in photo at left, caught in the act, with my brother.  Some things never change.

Half a Million Beethoven Fans Can't Be Wrong

When mass protests were held last October in the U.S. and around the world, sparked by the burgeoning Occupy movement, the biggest turnout was in Madrid, where half a million gathered. And what, by many accounts, was the highlight of the event? None other than a small, local orchestra playing the "Ode to Joy" and finale of the 9th Symphony, with the crowd going nuts and chanting at the close. There are several videos at YouTube from various angles, including ones from above that capture the immensity of the crowd and cheering. But I love this one, shot from behind the orchestra, which shows the scene near the stage, with dancers, young people crying, and then the overwhelming response at the end. Of course, this fits one of the themes of our new book:  Beethoven's incredible global influence even in the political sphere.

Sunday Morning in the Church of Beethoven

For the past two years, I've carried a weekly Church of Beethoven link to his music via Twitter and finding many who agree that this is one profound spiritual gathering we can all agree on.  Beethoven for many is, indeed, their god.  And yes, there is actually a  (secular) Church of Beethoven in Albuquerque, founded in an old gas station, and now others elsewhere, such as in Oak Park, Illinois and Durham, N.C.  The music that I link to in this regard is usually not from his two masses, but we will kick off this feature at this new blog with the "holiest"--and possibly most beautiful--of all LvB compositions, the benedictus from the Missa Solemnis,  which I've seen performed twice in NYC the past two years on rare occasions, including this one from the London Symphony.