Happy Birthday, Ludwig!

[Bo D]

He would be 240 years old today.

[Palehorse]

  Happy birthday Ludwig Van Beethoven!!



http://www.youtube.com/v/YAOTCtW9v0M&feature=related

[Bo D]

If he were alive today, I think he would be playing keyboards for Yes. What do you think?

[Locutus]

I still love his music!

[Henry Hawk]

I'm thinking maybe he would have his own place in Branson or maybe Vegas, probably have his own salad dressing, and have some killer commercials during Super Bowl.

[Bo D]

I'm thinking maybe he would have his own place in Branson or maybe Vegas, probably have his own salad dressing, and have some killer commercials during Super Bowl.

There is no way Beethoven would stoop so low as to play in Branson or Vegas. 

[Bo D]

The most amazing, incredible story of all time in the history of music.

Beethoven started going deaf very early and by the time he compsed his 9th Symphony, he was completely deaf.

The Ninth Symphony had its first performance on May 7, 1824, at Vienna's Karntnertorm Theater. By this time Beethoven was totally deaf, so there could be no question of his conducting the premiere. However, he did stand next to the conductor during the performance to indicate the proper tempi. The music was received with a great deal of emotion, not only by the audience but, more unusually, by the orchestra (some of the players reportedly wept).

Biographer George Grove vividly described the pathos of the scene:

The master, though placed in the midst of this confluence of music, heard nothing of it all and was not even sensible of the applause of the audience at the end of his great work, but continued standing with his back to the audience (and beating that time), till Fräulein Ungher, who had sung the contralto part, turned him, or induced him to turn around and face the people, who were still clapping their hands, and giving way to the greatest demonstrations of pleasure. His turning around, and the sudden conviction thereby forced on everybody that he had not done so before (because he could not hear what was going on) acted like an electric shock on all present, and a volcanic explosion of sympathy and admiration followed, which was repeated again and again, and seemed as if it would never end.

[Bo D]

Another little tidbit ....

The Dutch invented the CD ROM, but Sony in Japan developed the standards. The Japanese absolutely revere Beethoven ....

Every national culture has its weird obsessions, and it seems as if Japan's oddball closet is more crowded than most — Pokémon, Elvis Presley and Hello Kitty are just a few of the country's most famous fixations. But perhaps most peculiar of all is the Japanese passion for Beethoven's Symphony No. 9, especially the "Ode to Joy" passage of the fourth and final movement.

An amateur pastime in Japan for more than 50 years, Beethoven's Ninth is often performed around the holiday season in venues across the country, occasioning the coming together of hundreds, sometimes thousands, of choristers of all ages and levels of vocal training. "Ode to Joy" serves as a popular ringtone for cellphones as well as a ubiquitous selection at karaoke bars.

The number one standard that Sony insisted on was that a singe CD must contain enough space to hold the entire 9th Symphony.

[me]

Variety is the spice of life and he surly would have needed to do something other than the same old same old.  He might have done something like that just for kicks and something different. 

There is no way Beethoven would stoop so low as to play in Branson or Vegas. 

[Bo D]

Variety is the spice of life and he surly would have needed to do something other than the same old same old.  He might have done something like that just for kicks and something different. 

No way. Branson and Vegas are places for has-beens and the musically inept.

[Locutus]

Well if there's one thing that Beethoven certainly wasn't, it's musically inept.  The man was brilliant. 

[Palehorse]

If he were alive today, I think he would be playing keyboards for Yes. What do you think?

No doubt in my mind. He is often brought to mind whenever I listen to Yes. I had the incredible pleasure of seeing Yes perform live 5 times in my younger years. . .

I love the 9th Symphony myself. . .

And ONLY great people are born on December the 16th. . . Ben Bratt, William "The Refrigerator" Perry, Ludwig Van Beethoven, Leslie Stall, Playwright Noel Coward , Sam Robards, Billy Gibbons, and me! 

IF DEC. 16 IS YOUR BIRTHDAY:  You have a droll sense of humor and an excellent mind. You also have a fabulous imagination! Many of you need time and your own solitude so that you can work better. Even then, you can be sidetracked, however, once you're focused on something you can accomplish a lot! A major change will take place in 2011, perhaps something as significant as around 2002.

[me]

I wouldn't consider some of the people who play Bronson inept.  I think you'd better reconsider that statement.

No way. Branson and Vegas are places for has-beens and the musically inept.

[Bo D]

I wouldn't consider some of the people who play Bronson inept.  I think you'd better reconsider that statement.

Why? It's my opinion. I have no intention of reconsidering it. Surely you don't expect me to believe that the likes of Circle B. Chuckwagon, Bill Chrastil, the Baldknobbers and all the rest of that country crap is great music!

[me]

Never heard of them but I do believe people like Roy Clark, the Gatlin Brothers, and other well known's play Bronson. 

Why? It's my opinion. I have no intention of reconsidering it. Surely you don't expect me to believe that the likes of Circle B. Chuckwagon, Bill Chrastil, the Baldknobbers and all the rest of that country crap is great music!