During his time in Vienna, Ludwig van Beethoven traded on the "van" in his name, which the local Vienesse mistook as a signifier of an aristocratic family. The German aristocracy commonly used "von" in their names, while "van" was used by exclusively by commoners. But there was nothing aristocratic about Beethoven. Coming of age in … Continue reading Interlude: Pierre Rode
Month: August 2022
The Strange Tale of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata
As a (former) violinist, I cannot leave this period without paying homage to one of the great violin sonatas ever composed, Beethoven’s Kreutzer. In this piece, written more or less contemporaneously with his Third Symphony, Beethoven begins to emerge as a new artist altogether. I’ve often described him as music’s first punk—smashing the same chord … Continue reading The Strange Tale of Beethoven’s Kreutzer Sonata
Searching for Truth: The Conversations
It was the Moonlight Sonata that started my obsession with musical Conversations. And no, it wasn't the Mozart link described in the prior entry. It is easy to find how Beethoven influenced subsequent composers. You can jump only a few decades forward to Frederic Chopin, for example: Ludwig van Beethoven, Sonata No. 14, Op. 27, … Continue reading Searching for Truth: The Conversations
Demystifying the Moonlight
Beethoven's 14th Piano Sonata from 1801 is easily one of the most famous pieces of music ever composed. It is instantly recognizable by name and intimately associated with Beethoven. For most people, it is exceeded only by his 5th and 9th Symphonies as signature works. Its sobriquet, "Moonlight," was only acquired after Beethoven's death and … Continue reading Demystifying the Moonlight
A Gertus History of Music 