Bernstein on Eroica -- In honor of Pete

[David]

In honor of Pete's corrosive sense of humor, here's Leonard Bernstein on the 1st movement of the Eroica.

How a Great Symphony Was Written

www.sendspace.com/file/5kmlb3

[petep9000]

This has to be for some other Pete on this board. David, you must know that I don't know Beethoven!? Well, I did download it and listened to the first lovely minute and a half of it. Sounds fascinating, but I have to get ready for work. Will listen later, much thanks for sending it.

Corrosive?

[David]

Originally Posted by petep9000

This has to be for some other Pete on this board. David, you must know that I don't know Beethoven!?

We all know Beethoven, whether we know Beethoven or not.

Corrosive?

I got that word from Roger Kimball, editor of The New Criterion, who used it in the 1990s to characterize deconstruction.

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by David

We all know Beethoven, whether we know Beethoven or not.

True, that. My oldest sister had the 12" single of 'A Fifth Of Beethoven' by some disco group around 1977 or '78. Oh, and I saw a movie once where these poor Jewish women prisoners had to play Beethoven for the SS guards at Auschwitz. It was very harrowing.

Originally Posted by David

I got that word from Roger Kimball, editor of The New Criterion, who used it in the 1990s to characterize deconstruction.

Thanks! (Note to self: hit the NY Public Library and try to read a Derrida essay)

[David]

Originally Posted by petep9000

True, that. My oldest sister had the 12" single of 'A Fifth Of Beethoven' by some disco group around 1977 or '78.

Not only that, Pete, but a lot of ledgies don't realize that Christine McVie's "Over & Over" is essentially influenced by the structure of the Eroica 1st mov't. There are even entire sections of motivic development in Christine's song lifted nearly verbatim from Beethoven.



Don't read Derida essay. Read instead "Against Deconstruction" by John M. Ellis.

[petep9000]

Originally Posted by David

Not only that, Pete, but a lot of ledgies don't realize that Christine McVie's "Over & Over" is essentially influenced by the structure of the Eroica 1st mov't. There are even entire sections of motivic development in Christine's song lifted nearly verbatim from Beethoven.

Well that would bring me to a question then that is probably better suited to the CM forum here. Did she actually study music and piano? Or, is it self-taught, by ear? Cyril Perfect (according to Mick's book) was accomplished musically, correct?

[David]

Originally Posted by petep9000

Well that would bring me to a question then that is probably better suited to the CM forum here. Did she actually study music and piano? Or, is it self-taught, by ear? Cyril Perfect (according to Mick's book) was accomplished musically, correct?

I enjoy your questions, Pete, because I enjoy conversation with you.
According to established reports, Chris studied piano only briefly as a child. The bulk of her ability is innate & "ear"-centered: She listened closely to Freddy King records & parroted what she heard of the style of Sonny Thompson, the guy who arranged Freddy King tracks & played piano on many of them. Sonny Thompson's approach was generally to mimic the bass guitar "anchor" notes (rather than passing tones) & the rhythm of the drums. Ever since Christine joined, Fleetwood Mac has had a three-man rhythm section.