The greatest artist the West produced, following maybe Shakespeare, died this week in 1827 and his funeral, drawing massive crowds for the time in Vienna, was held three days later. Here's the famous funeral oration. Schubert carried a torch and was dead not many months later (and they are now buried nearly side-by-side). My book with Kerry Candaele here. Below, one of his last pieces--still ahead of its time, even if written in 2013. Below that, trailer for Kerry's new film, for which I serve as co-producer.
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A few years ago, on December 25th or New year's day, there was a taped replay of a call-in radio show featuring a professor from one of the Military Academies. He taught Shakespeare to the cadets, not just as literature or even psychology, but as a clue to leadership or lack thereof. Once or twice he referred to Shakespeare as the greatest artist who ever lived. Callers could chime in on the date the show was broadcast live, but not one of the holidays when I heard it. If I had called in during its original broadcast, I most definitely would have compared Beethoven to Shakespeare because both gave to the world works at the highest level of greatness that nevertheless could be apprehended by sufficiently large numbers of people. It's customary to think that only US Presidents can have doctrines, but I happen to have one too: the Glavin Doctrine is this...musical performance organizations desiring to be assured of selling a lot of tickets will include in their schedules prominent compositions by Beethoven or all-Beethoven concerts. The Isabella Stewart Garder Museum (much in the news lately concerning the stolen artwork years ago) offers concerts on Sunday afternoons along with exhibits in their galleries. (Right now, they're featuring paintings by Anders Zorn, a show that itself is expected to attract patrons from Greater Boston and New England as well as elsewhere); but on April 7th, tere will be an all-Beethoven concert of the sonatas 5,6 and 7 for Violin and Piano. Sort of a cherry on top of the whipped cream o top of the sundae.
The first time I really "listened" to Beethoven's music it changed my life. any mortal who could give the world such beauty, and be deaf half his life, must have divine intervention. Kerry and Greg's book really shows the power of Beethoven to change the world. I urge you : Listen to Beethoven, read the book. See the film. you'll be a better person for it.
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