Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)

Subject: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Abby Sale
Date: 16 Dec 05 - 08:06 AM


Happy Birthday!

Ludwig van Beethoven

born 12/16/1770
(d.3/26/1827)

Beethoven is best noted for his hack but competent treatment of Scottish & Irish folk songs for the Edinburgh upscale book publisher, George Thomson in A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the voice,, 1818. Mr. van B. published it himself as Twenty-five Scottish Songs, opus 108. It's interesting that No. 20, "Faithfu' Johnie" continues in both lieder and folk traditions, but I think the Dransfields sing it better than the opera voices.

          When will you come again, my faithful Johnny,
          When will you come again, my faithful Johnny?
          When the corn is gathered, when the leaves are withered,
          I will come again, my sweet and bonnie, I will come again.
  
          "Faithful Johnny" on Lord of All I Be-hold (Also Dyer-Bennett, Redpath, etc.)

Copyright © 2005, Abby Sale - all rights reserved
What are Happy's all about? See Clicky

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Paul Burke
Date: 16 Dec 05 - 10:29 AM

I don't know if it was one of the Scottish ones, but one of his piano sonatas is a sort of genteelly elaborated version of "Bonny Green Garters".

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 01:54 AM

Google has a great (and challenging) "doodle" for the occasion:

http://time.com/4151621/beethoven-google-doodle-2015/

https://www.google.com/doodles/celebrating-ludwig-van-beethovens-245th-year

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 07:10 AM

He's my only hero.

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 07:13 AM

He's my only hero. His bust is the only graven image allowed in our house.

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 07:13 AM

Oops... :-(

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Jeri
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 10:46 AM

Awesome Doodle, Joe. Thanks!

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Dec 15 - 04:11 PM

Hi, Jeri -
How many tries did it take you to unscramble each song?
I was a little embarrassed that it usually took me three tries.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 10:26 AM

I hope you keep it on your toy piano, Steve -- like Schroeder!

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 12:20 PM

He has pride of place next to my computer. I look to him when inspiration is drying up. The glower I invariably get seems to say "Get a grip, man!" Sometimes when I post here I try to pretend I'm even more bad-tempered then he was, but the sweetness and light that inform all my posts are testament to my abject failure in that regard. In spite of his reputation, he was a genuine human being. Listen to the E minor piano sonata Op. 90 for proof. Or anything really.

Subject: RE: Happy! – Dec 16 (Beethoven)
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Dec 15 - 12:38 PM

Never been much of one, myself, for chamber music or sonatas; but I think him incomparable orchestrally. Reminds me that I haven't listened to the 6th & 8th symphonies or the 4th piano concerto for much too long. Must remedy.

Of course he was bad-tempered: of all the afflictions that could affect a great composer!... I don't believe in Heaven, yet irrationally hope that his supposed last words have come true and that he can hear there.

≈M≈