Beethoven's Journey

A trip has a destination.

A journey reaches toward a goal.

What was Beethoven's Journey?

Would Beethoven have become Beethoven if he didn't have an alcoholic father? The father, a trumpet player, would return home after the tavern closed. Beethoven studied the piano and enjoyed creating variations of written music. If his father heard his son playing anything other than the notes written by the composer, he would beat him, "You must play what is written, and nothing more."

This abusive behavior continued for years.

It may have been the cause of Beethoven's deafness from the age of twenty-eight. Beethoven was depressed and suicidal. As he emerged from his depression, the style of his compositions began to change.

At age thirty-two, he composed his third Symphony, The Eroica, dedicated to "a Hero." This masterpiece is considered the beginning of the romantic period of classical music.

I have tried to listen to it through the ears of someone who had only heard the music of Mozart and Haydn, which is orderly, harmonic, and pleasing. Not so with Beethoven's Third Symphony. It begins with the loud blast of two chords. Beethoven was shaking his fist at his father and crying out, "NO! I will create the music as I want it to be. I will not follow the same path as those before me." The music continues with a powerful rolling theme, filled with energy and seemingly unstoppable.

Throughout the Symphony, timpani are frequently pounded, driving the unstoppable music forward. This is Beethoven's energy, power, and force raging against his father, "You will not stop me from being who I am, and you will not prevent me from doing what I want to do."

The Symphony ends with the loud, crashing sound of trumpets, reinforced by the timpani and the soaring strings. Again and again and again, we hear the same chord more than a dozen times.

The music is often thunderous and angry. It does not follow the rules of the day for composition. The Symphony's first performance was at the castle of Count Lefnowsi, one of Beethoven's patrons. The assembled guests were startled and confused by this radically new music of pounding chords and unusual harmonies. At the end of the performance, the Count said, "Play it again." After the second performance, the Count repeated, "Play it again." No one had ever heard music like this before.

Last night, Jacqueline and I attended a concert where the eighty-seven-year-old Zubin Mehta conducted Beethoven's Third Symphony. The performance was one of the most thrilling that I have ever heard in many years of going to concerts. Music halls are my temples. I have listened to thousands of pieces of music.

Beethoven was recognized in Vienna and beyond as an extraordinary composer. Members of the nobility supported him and tolerated his anger. Beethoven was living in the Count's castle. The Count asked him to play for the guests at the end of a dinner party. Beethoven shouted, "I am not your servant. I am not here to entertain you and your guests." He stormed out to his room. The Count followed him and literally grabbed Beethoven, brought him to the front door, and threw him out of his home. But to the Count's credit and the world's benefit, the Count recognized Beethoven's genius and continued to support him.

Another example of Beethoven's defiance was when he was walking in the park with Goethe. Coming toward them was the Emperor with his entourage. Goethe stepped to the side of the path. Beethoven stood firmly in the middle of the path. When the Emperor and his entourage got to where Beethoven stood, they parted, enabling Beethoven to remain where he was. When they had passed, Goethe said to Beethoven, "How can you do such a thing? He is the Emperor and should be respected." Beethoven replied. "You can put a medal on anyone and call him the emperor, but there is only one Beethoven."

During this part of Beethoven's journey, he was trying to work through his rage, usually unsuccessfully. But he gave the world incredibly beautiful and moving gifts in his music. He was not all angry. He also was trying to reach a state of peace and love. His sixth Symphony, The Pastoral, and the second movement of his fifth piano concerto are expressions of his seeking peace and his desire to love his fellow man. The second movement of his fifth piano concerto can be heard as a love letter to his "beloved immortal."

But the raging continued, as did his conflicts with many people.

He was recognized as a genius. People tolerated his outbursts and appreciated his music.

He completed his journey in the final movement of his final Symphony, his ninth. He achieved his goal. He subdued the rage within. The anger and rebellion were replaced by brotherhood, peace, and love.

In this final statement, Beethoven sets to music the words of Fredrich Schiller's poem, Ode to Joy, sung by the tenor, bass, soprano, mezzo-soprano, and chorus.

The words begin with FREUDE - Joy in German.

Joy:" Every man becomes a brother.

Rescue from the tyrant's fetters,

Even Mercy to the villain.'

Hope within the dying hours,

Pardon at the guillotine!

Even the dead shall live in heaven!

Brothers, drink, and all agree,

Every sin shall be forgiven,

Hell forever ceases to be.

Be embraced, ye millions yonder!

Take this kiss throughout the world!

Brothers—o'er the stars unfurled

Must reside a loving Father.

Joy is drunk by every being

From kind nature's flowing breasts,

Fall before God, all ye millions.

Yonder dwells He in the heavens.

As the suns are flying, happy

Through the heaven's glorious plane,

Travel, brothers, down your lane,

Joyful as in hero's victory.

Hate and vengeance be forgotten,

Pardoned be our mortal foe,

Let our book of debts be canceled!

Reconcile the total world!

Brothers—gentle words for all,

Let the joy of peace and love fill the world.”

In this final Symphony, he achieved the goal of his journey. He calmed the rage within. He forgave his father. He was at peace. He loves and finds joy in loving his fellow man.

Not so in his life. On his deathbed with his sister-in-law at the bedside, a storm raged outside as it continued to rage within him. Legend has it that a bolt of lightning and a crash of thunder pounded down on the home; he raised his fist and, still raging, shook it at God above and his father below.

Thank you, Ludwig van Beethoven, for the magnificent gifts — the sublime music you lovingly gave us. May you rest in peace, knowing that, finally, you have achieved the gratitude and love of your fellow men everywhere. Amen.

Dear friend, What is your journey?

Written by Barry M Panter, MD