Defending Beethoven
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- Опубликовано: 16 авг 2011
- Bernstein is wrong on the internet. Some perspective and gentle disagreement concerning Leonard Bernstein's commentary on Beethoven's musical style, with musical examples from some of RUclips's most talented musicians. Responses and polite contradictions encouraged. This is my longest upload yet - I worked on it for months, hope you enjoy it!
Here is the original video that I quote in this video. Bernstein has some interesting things to say about Beethoven, some of which I agree with. Have a look for yourself:
• Leonard Bernstein Disc...
Don't forget that Beethoven actually was in pretty robust health for most of his life, and his composing doesn't seem to have "wrecked" anything. Also, housing was pretty impossible in Vienna during that time. Other than that, and the points I address in my video, it's pretty right on. Remember, I like Bernstein - enough to challenge when he makes a mistake.
Please view the excellent contributors to this video at their channels:
Daniel Sánchez Velasco and the Orquesta Clásica de Asturias
This is an exciting young Spanish orchestra, led by a superb composer/conductor with fresh ideas.
/ dannycomposer
Brandon (last name unknown)
His für Elise was charming, but in the past 5 years he has become an awesome teen musician.
/ brandonpiano
Brian Fan
This young violinist has got such a great tone, and is full of promise.
/ brianfan1
Ann Fontanella
Ann is an amazing proponent of the classic style of violin playing epitomized by Heifetz. Her uploads are not just mind-blowingly excellent music, but deeply instructive for music students and aficionados.
/ annfontanella
Dr. Sean Jackson
Don't miss Dr. Jackson's amazing arrangements for organ and piano. He's a first-class musician with a unique voice.
/ drseanjackson
George Li
I've got nothing but respect and awe for my RUclips friend George and his precocious accomplishments. He is one of the most eloquent, precise, and soulful pianists on RUclips at any age, but he happens to still be a teenager.
/ pianoloverok
Spencer Myer
You simply have to watch Spencer's videos - he plays things exactly how they are supposed to sound, without any fluff or ego. The result is piano making at a very high level.
/ smyer825
Neil Rutman
Now here is a man of the world, and it shows in his highly imaginative, yet keenly disciplined artistry. A pianist with scope and daring, I'm honored to include him in the video.
/ savageandpoet
Jonathan Tsay
Psychokaz is part of the reason I'm doing this video. This is for Jonathan and all young firebrands like him on RUclips. I watched Bernstein pish-tush Beethoven's craft, and then the next thing I viewed was Psychokaz blasting through the Opus 111, which in itself disproves everything Lenny said. Thanks, Jonathan, for your spirit and dedication, and for helping start the ball rolling on this video.
/ psychokaz
And thanks very much to all my subscribers, friends, and viewers! Orchestration Online is back again!
Beethoven was, outright, a man possessing the greatest degree of balance between emotionally and intelligently written music.
Beethoven is, in my opinion, the master of harmony, colour and orchestration. He inspires me in most of my work... Most revolutionary composer of all time...
The Late Quartets should put to rest any criticisms aimed at Beethoven.
I remember when I was 13, I had a teacher once mention that they thought Tchaikovsky was a bad orchestrator. That's stuck with me since, so whenever someone would mention to me that they liked Tchaikovsky I felt like I had to mention that I thought he was a bad orchestrator even though I really had no opinion on the matter. This was a helpful video in making me realise that statements like that don't always hold up. Thanks!
Funny thing, I don't hear much melody in Bernstein's music but I hear an enormous amount of melody in all of Beethoven's music...Go figure?
If all Beethoven had ever written was the Moonlight Sonata, he'd still be one of the greats. That thing still haunts my soul decades after I first heard it. I remember first hearing it when a girlfriend played it for me in University (I know, its weird I didnt know it before that, still...) and I was almost in tears. It was such a sad but reflective tune.
I've gotten the impression that Beethoven was a perfectionist, never quite happy with his craft. It's not surprising he would feel his fugues were of insufficient quality.
I am a college professor in composition and I have students who are influenced by Bernstein`s comments. I agree with you totally.
For some reason, RUclips is not allowing me to reply directly to Lee Smith's interesting comment. But here it is. I don't understand why my opening qualifications made such little impression on someone who is so obviously thorough in their observations of things. Nowhere in my video do I state that Bernstein was "a man unimpressed with Beethoven." I honor and credit Bernstein as being one of the great minds of contemporary music, and I assign value his contribution to discourse. In fact, it's obvious to all that Bernstein is more impressed by Beethoven than anyone else in history, from the very excerpts I show.
I wish I could listen to the fifth Symphony for the first time again
This is really excellent stuff - the kind of material that makes RUclips really great. I'm just getting into orchestration, and would love more on the subject. Keep up the superb work!
Bernstein used to ignore Beethoven's tempo markings, so frankly I've always preferred Von Karajan's interpretations.
Thank you Thomas Goss for this excellent clarification. I think Bernstein was trying to impress an obviously devoted fan by boldly trashing Beethoven's isolated aspects, then grandly summarizing Ludwig's "form" as the savior of it all. It is tragic that the video was taken literally by many, including me. After seeing it, I was wondering what Bernstein was talking about. Bad at melodies? Um, Moonlight Sonata?
I love how u put excerpts of his 4th symphony several times. It's my favorite, of my favorites. Totally underrated .
One cannot define Beethoven adequately. What can one say about that last section of the 5th you played at the end of your video, for example, that fully describes its power ? He is simply the massive pillar upon which we reach a transcendence through music.
Bernstein just seems to be overstating his case for rhetorical effect. That's not necessarily bad musicology- just bad argumentation in a casual bull session. God preserve me from ever having to stand by every time I've shot my mouth off to give my point some undeserved oomph.
Bro, that RUclips layout.
Thanks so much for your kind words. I'm glad you liked the video.
When it comes to Beethoven, Bernstein is the one who is deaf.
Which passage are you talking about? Perhaps you should take another look. In both excerpts I used, the pianist was playing the score as written. I know this both by simply looking at his fingers and through relative pitch from my inner ear (especially as I've played the score myself many times, and taught it as well).
Did you perhaps neglect to observe that the key signature was C# minor?