Beethoven by J.W.N. Sullivan

Author:J.W.N. Sullivan [Sullivan, J.W.N.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780307823748
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2013-07-24T03:00:00+00:00

1 Cf. Dyson: The New Music.

CHAPTER FIVE

The End of a Period

IN THE DESCRIPTION we have given of the Eroica and C minor symphonies we have ascribed to each of them a pretty definite spiritual content. We have given, in each case, a “programme.” We have related these works directly to a definite personal experience of Beethoven’s. In our interpretations of these works we have used our knowledge of the circumstances of Beethoven’s life and of his reactions to them. But we believe that, even in entire absence of any knowledge of Beethoven’s life, some such interpretations would be inevitable, and that they would be justified. The content we have attributed to these works is described in words sufficiently vague. “Heroism,” “despair,” “exultation,” are not very definite terms. They are very much less definite than the actual content of the music. Beethoven’s phrases are as individual as the tones of a voice. Two men may enunciate what we should have to describe, in the poverty of language, as the same sentiment, but the very tones of their voice may communicate very different impressions. There are very different compositions that express despair or exultation, and a description in these terms does not distinguish between them. The musical critic must be resigned to these limitations of language, although one of their unfortunate results is to make the same description appear applicable to many very different compositions. Of many of Beethoven’s compositions, for instance, all that can be said is that they depict a passionate and vigorous conflict. Music can express a very general state of this kind without specifying the conflicting elements. Such music lends itself to very diverse interpretations, the only essential being that the element of conflict shall be preserved. A generalized expression of this kind is to be found in the so-called Appassionata sonata. The faintly troubled serenity of the second movement might be à propos of many different experiences, and the resolute, energetic character of the first and the stormy character of the last are similarly unrevealing. What is evident is that the conflict has deep roots and is attended with great passion. And the quality and depth of the passion expressed shows that we are dealing with a rich and profound emotional nature. But it would be useless to attempt to fit a definite psychological programme to the work simply because so many could be fitted. This is not true of the Eroica and C minor symphonies. Only amongst the deepest and most important human experiences could we find those great enough to support these two structures. The fact is that at this time Beethoven did not commit his more important thoughts to the piano. The Appassionata sonata is the most important piano composition of this period, but it is altogether less rich in content than the Eroica symphony. It is possible that it presupposes the experiences that inspired that symphony but, if so, it is in a more generalized and remote way, and is not in any sense a deeper realization of them.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.