Beethoven Was a Nature Lover Too
“How glad I am to be able to roam in wood and thicket, among the trees, and flowers and rocks. No one can love the country as I do…My bad hearing does not trouble me here. In the country, every tree seems to speak to me, saying ‘Holy ! Holy!’ In the woods there is enchantment which expresses all things.”
These words from one of Beethoven’s letters help set the mood for savoring one of his divine compositions, Symphony no. 6, with the subtitle “Pastoral.” It is a work that was premiered at the remarkable concert I referred to in my last post, on Piano Concerto no. 4: the all-Beethoven concert of December 22, 1808 at which the Piano Concerto as well as the Fifth and Sixth Symphonies were first heard, together with the Choral Fantasy and its prefiguring of the “Joy Theme” from the Ninth Symphony.
The ”Pastoral” is in a class of its own in the way it captures a human being bonding with the beauties of nature. The opening movement, subtitled “Awakening of serene impressions on arriving in the country,” is remarkable in the way it induces a relaxed mindfulness in the listener.
This movement presents a basic theme at the outset. Tiny motifs generated by the theme gently repeat, urging us to savor nature’s beauties, as if to say – “Isn’t it just wonderful to be here in the country with me!”
Below is a link to a performance by Daniel Barenboim, conducting the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra at the 2012 London Proms. Divan is a remarkable youth ensemble that was founded by the conductor Daniel Barenboim and the orientalist Edward Said in 1999. It brings together the finest young musical talent in Spain and Middle Eastern countries – and was created to help the musicians – and audiences -- transcend the ugly realities of nationalism and war.
The first movement runs to just under 11 minutes.
Copyright 2024 by Joshua Berrett. All Rights Reserved.
Please consider supporting our mission, as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, to make science-based innovative activities that promote healthful aging available to as many people as possible through our online programs.
To learn more about AMP visit: https://agelessmindproject.org