Ludwig van Beethoven (17 Dec 1770 – 26 Mar 1827)

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

The greatest composer of all time only lived to be 56 years of age and the Grand Maestro had so much, much more music to compose. One of the torch-bearers at Ludwig van Beethoven's funeral was the pioneering Franz Schubert who lived in the shadow of the great composer in Vienna. Schubert, himself a musical visionary, worshipped Beethoven at a distance and even though both composers lived in Vienna at the same time, there is no evidence to support that they ever met. Beethoven's 9th Symphony No. 9 in D minor, Op. 125 (Ode to Joy') is the national anthem of the European Union (EU). In Japan, "Ode to Joy" is played nationwide on Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 05:00 PM | 10 COMMENTS | permalink | Comment on This Entry |

Alternate links: Google News | Twitter

Comments

Admin's note: Participants in this discussion must follow the site's moderation policy. Profanity will be filtered. Abusive conduct is not allowed.

Maestro's Arturo Toscanini and Herbert von Karajan conducted robust high tempo versions of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, both versions slightly over one hour. One of the challenges conductors have had over the decades was performing Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in exactly one hour, like this: Beethoven's 9th in One Hour.

And this is what Beethoven's Tenth Symphony in E-flat major might have sounded like, as pieced together in 1988 by Barry Cooper from the Immortal Maestro's fragmentary sketches for the first movement. Barry Cooper used no AI in his hypothetical arrangement: Beethoven's Tenth Symphony (Unfinished)

#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-12-17 05:03 PM | Reply

Did he ever get his picture on a bubble gum card? How can you say someone is great if he never got his picture in a bubble-gun card, hmmm?

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-17 05:20 PM | Reply

Did he ever get his picture on a bubble gum card? How can you say someone is great if he never got his picture in a bubble-gun card, hmmm?

#2 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-17 05:20 PM | Reply | Flag: "Never Impugn the Grand Maestro!"

#3 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-12-17 06:16 PM | Reply

Oh good grief.

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-17 06:36 PM | Reply

@4 And leave my kitties alone!

#5 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2025-12-17 06:41 PM | Reply

Did he ever win a Nobel?? Hmmmmm....? Did he ever steal a Soccer trophy?

#6 | Posted by REDIAL at 2025-12-17 06:41 PM | Reply

And...while his baptism record says Dec. 17, his exact birth date isn't know, with his father lying about his age to promote him as a child prodigy.

#7 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2025-12-17 06:45 PM | Reply

Most of his accomplishments were unheard of.

#8 | Posted by TFDNihilist at 2025-12-17 07:18 PM | Reply | Funny: 1 | Newsworthy 1

Bach was a greater composer.

If it's possible to measure something like that. Which it isn't.

Handel,Couperin, Stravinsky, all tall peaks.

Mozart, if He had lived to 56 would have been greater, but he didn't.

Mozart died 21 years younger,and still wrote as much music.

Bach wrote more music, many times over.

Beethoven faced Deafness and Social isolation. He was great because of what he overcame to Create.

On Reflection, given the totality of circumstances Beethoven can credibly be considered the greatest if that means anything.

He was a tormented man who turned personal pain and isolation into a Crucible of Transcendence.

A Voice of Clarity in a sea of Chaos.

The World is a far better place for his having been here.

How many can truly say that?

#9 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2025-12-18 09:52 AM | Reply

Impossible for me to distinguish, but I wouldn't consider this mimicry but quiet excellence.

#10 | Posted by redlightrobot at 2025-12-18 01:24 PM | Reply