yurshta

That's what Beethoven said in an aside during a performance of his last and greatest symphony the Ninth, which some critics regarded as in bad taste--putting a choir and soloists with orchestra for the fourth and final movement.

Beethoven said that anybody who could understand his music would be free forever from the troubles and sorrows of life as they'd acquire a transcendental understanding of reality and in his opinion the source, the mind behind that reality.

Just wondering what some of the classical music fans out there think about this statement of his and who they'd regard as the greatest composer of all time. Three names pop up continually when this question is asked: Bach, Beethoven and Mozart. Bach was not regarded so highly while living--his son C.P.E Bach was regarded as the greater of the two and his book on keyboard technique regarded as the summum bonum of keyboard theory and technique. However, Felix Mendelssohn had a big part in the Bach revival and the recognition of Bach's place in music as one of the creme de la creme of composers. Regarded as the supreme technician and counterpoint genius beyond all. His Art of Fugue is the ultimate in Baroque theory.

And then there is Mozart, a Freemason in good standing, wearer of powdered wigs, and something of a dandy. Like Bach, Mozart had a good love life and was married. Bach had more children than any composer of high status! It was said of Mozart after he died that the world lost a genius the likes of which may never reappear. Mozart himself described how he heard the music in his head but his command of music was insufficient to capture the gorgeous and transcendental music that he regarded as of the angels in heaven. He described it as singing (sort of) except the vocal range was greater than the 88 keys of a standard piano, and the quality of voices was in some cases flute like in other cases like a drum or violin or harp. It was indescribable. I have heard this music myself, as somehow, someway I learned how to tap into God only knows what. My description parallels Mozart's. My command of music is totally insufficient to capture but an insignificant facsimile of what I hear at times. It is so overwhelming that it is very difficult to remain in that mental state more than 30 minutes or so without suffering some really odd effects.

As far as Mozart's popularity in his day goes, he was a child prodigy who played before kings and queens and high nobility and was the rage of all Europe (at least until the novelty wore off). At the time of his death, Mozart was penniless and was buried in a pauper's grave [mass grave for indigents, homeless and those who could not afford a proper church burial, coffin and whatnot).

And then there's Beethoven, a real rascal. A dirty slob, mean tempered, short-fused, bitter and deprived. Beethoven also ended his days in abject poverty. He would likely have died years before but a few patrons and benefactors who had not abandoned the deaf Beethoven in his maturity paid for his food and living expenses beyond the paltry amounts made teaching piano and selling his music. He would wear his clothes until they literally would fall into rages. In one instance, a few friends could not abide the Maestro's appearance and cleaned him up and threw away his old clothes and provided brand new clothes for him. He himself would likely have objected, so they did it as a surprise. Nobody ever discovered who his one true love was, although there are theories abounding. A strange and short letter that had not been mailed was discovered among his odds and ends that was addressed to his "Immortal Beloved". A movie about this fact of Beethoven's life was rather speculative to say the least and picked a rather poor contender for the throne. Most suspect one of the three or so countesses to whom he had dedicated several of his sonatas is the likely lady.

Beethoven's Hammerklavier sonata written late in his life is perhaps his grandest work for the piano and has a difficulty comparable to his piano concertos.

In my own opinion, perhaps because I, a composer myself, have a personality similar to Beethoven's and less like Bach the master worker or Mozart the prodigy, show off and ladies man, would have to pick Beethoven as the greatest composer of all time, the greatest musical genius the world has ever known, or likely ever will. But the top three contenders are so close in greatness that picking one of the three is almost entirely impossible.

My own personal favorite is the half Polish, half French Frederic Chopin, whose shy introspective but gorgeous harmonies on the piano have never been surpassed.

Well enough of this. I'm a real buff on the lives of the composers and the history of music in the west and how the Baroque and Classical music that is known today evolved slowly from church and liturgical music of the Middle Ages. It is interesting that the Baroque period was influenced heavily by the popular styles of the day, the music regarded by church officials who controlled everything as "unworthy", "worthless" and in all likelihood a sin just to listen to, or dance to that garbage!

Oy Vay! Now you know why my own website is called "musicofthegods". Like the others, I vainly attempt to capture a tiny fragment of what I hear almost constantly in my head at any time I'm not busy with the mundane affairs of life.

Sorry for being so verbose. Sincerely Yurshta (J.R. Moore)