Bernstein Breaks Down Beethoven

Since my early childhood days, I’ve always had a great affinity to and appreciation of classical music. My first memory of music — in fact, practically my first memory of anything –was hearing Bach’s “Wachet Auf” performed by John Williams and Peter Hurford, and I was off and running. (I blame/bless my father for this. His love of classical music might well be the single-most cherished gift he has ever given me. Well, music or cribbage; hard to say which one.)

I spent (and continue to spend) large amounts of my liesure time listening to music, and I earnestly hope to pass on to my children the same gift my father gave to me. I’m convinced that the “immersion method” is the way to go; there’s no substitute for letting the sound wash over one’s ears.

But I also remember the time when I first began to recognize the more…intellectual pleasures music had to offer. I happened across an old LP of Leonard Bernstein’s Omnibus recordings, such as the one where he discussed Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. Of particular fascination was the way he went back into Beethoven’s discarded notes, and showed the various versions of the masterpiece we could have had if Beethoven had not been so demanding of himself, or such a genius. It was a real ear-opener.

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For years afterwards, I remembered that lecture with great fondness. But it was only recently, with the help of a good friend (and OpenCulture.com) that I rediscovered it once again. And on YouTube, no less! (Part One is below, and the OpenCulture post has the rest.)

Author

  • Joseph Susanka

    Joseph Susanka has been doing development work for institutions of Catholic higher education since his graduation from Thomas Aquinas College in 1999. Currently residing in Lander, Wyoming — “where Stetsons meet Birkenstocks” — he is a columnist for Crisis Magazine and the Patheos Catholic portal.

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