Celebrating The Life And Legacy Of Ludwig Van Beethoven
Wikicommons
There is no denying Ludwig van Beethoven is a titan in the classical music world. His music has captured the hearts and minds of listeners all around the world, and his influence is unmatched.
WABE music contributor Dr. Scott Stewart joined “City Lights” host Lois Reitzes for a conversation about the music and lasting legacy of Beethoven.
“In terms of music history, there is music before Beethoven, and music after Beethoven. He changed not only the way music sounded but also the way that we think about music and composers,” Stewart said on the subject of Beethoven’s influence.
His skills as a composer are well documented, but Beethoven was also an extremely accomplished solo pianist, something that is reflected in his music.
Beethoven was born on December 6, 1770. So, this year marks the 250th anniversary of his birth. The world in the late 18th century was filled with turbulent times, and those times served as the backdrop to which he would write some of the most well known and well-regarded pieces. His compositions mark a noticeable shift in the direction that music took at the time.
“It’s arguable that he not only pulled classical music into the Romantic Era, but he also pulled it into the ‘Modern Age’, with pieces that today still sound fresh and new. His late string quartets baffled players and listeners,” Stewart said.
Top Stories
