Music and The Muse

Cara/Andrea here,

Being easily distracted, I have always tended to write in silence. My brain doesn’t seem to be capable of doing two things at once—I am slightly dyslexic so thinking and typing is sometimes a comedy of errors. (You would laugh yourself silly if you saw of the pages of my manuscript before I go back and correct the gibberish.) So I have always worried that thinking and listening might not be a wise idea.

But recently I was chatting with a friend about music. He had been listening to Beethoven’s Eroica Symphony the night before and we began to muse about art, and its forms in sound, image and the written word. It was a fascinating conversation—he’s far more knowledgeable about music than I am—and it got me to thinking . . . and listening.

I immediately went out bought the complete symphonies of Beethoven. That the composer was perhaps the most important musical influence on the Regency era only piqued my interest in seeing whether I could listen to music as I wrote. (Hey, my heroes and heroines are pretty emotional and angst-y, so it seemed a perfect fit.) So I brought up i-Tunes, opened my Word doc, doubled clicked on Eroica, also known as Symphony #3 in E Flat, Op. 55, and hunched over my keyboard . . .

But before I get to the result, allow me to digress a little on the symphony’s creation. I will not embarrass myself by trying to wax eloquent on Beethoven’s life or complex personality, but highlighting few details about one of the most important pieces of Regency music might be fun, so let’s take a quick dance through the score.

Beethoven started composing the symphony in late 1803 and intended to dedicate his work in progress to Napoleon Bonaparte, for he greatly admired the revolutionary ideas of the new French Republic. The decision would cost him financially—dedicating it to Prince Franz Joseph Maximillian Lobkowitz would have earned him a handsome fee. But he stuck to his guns and called it “Bonaparte. ” However, in May 1804, Napoleon had himself proclaimed Emperor of France, and when Beethoven heard the news, he was both disillusioned and furious, feeling his idealism had been betrayed. His assistant and pupil, Ferdinand Ries described the scene in his memoir:

I was the first to tell him the news that Buonaparte had declared himself Emperor, whereupon he broke into a rage and exclaimed, "So he is no more than a common mortal! Now, too, he will tread under foot all the rights of man, indulge only his ambition; now he will think himself superior to all men, become a tyrant!" Beethoven went to the table, seized the top of the title-page, tore it in half and threw it on the floor. The page had to be re-copied and it was only now that the symphony received the title “Sinfonia eroica.”(Eroica means “heroic” in Italian.)

So, did playing Eroica—a masterpiece which is considered to mark the beginning of the Romantic era in music—inspire me to greatness? Well I am at the stage in a book where I, like Beethoven, feel like seizing the pages, tearing them in half and throwing them on the floor. (Unlike the Maestro, I’d also jump up and down on them. Except I have a deadline looming, so I will refrain from such childish urges.) But that said, I discovered to my delight that music has proven to be a very lovely addition to my writing routine. Eroica is a marvelous work of genius, and I hope I absorbed a touch of brilliant creativity by osmosis. The long hours at the computer certainly were more harmonious than usual.

I also love Symphony #5 and #6, which is named “Pastoral.” Beethoven, like many of the artists who pioneered the Romantic era, was a great lover of nature, and often left Vienna to work on his music in the countryside. He said of “Pastoral”, which was written in 1802, that it was “more the expression of feeling than painting . . ."

So what about you? Do you enjoy Beethoven’s music? And do you listen to music while you write or do other tasks? If so, what are some of your favorite pieces?

Comments

[Keziah Hill]

I love the 7th, particularly the second movement, so sweeping and romantic! I can't listen to music when I read or write. If music is on I have to listen to it.

[Andrea Penrose]

Keziah, I worried that I would only be able to concentrate on the music, but luckily I start to write and the story becomes primary, and the music is there for when I lean back and take a break. But subconsciously I know it's creating a nice rhythm, so I've really enjoyed it!

[Lil]

Who doesn't like Beethoven? But I find the symphonies a bit too much when I'm writing. I can manage the early string quartets, but my favorite writing music is Haydn or just about anything Baroque. It keeps me from getting too tense and panicking.

[Andrea Penrose]

Lil, I know what you mean about "emotional, but if I keep it low, it seems to work. (But not the 9th—that's too intense.) I also love Handel's "Music for Fireworks" and Bach and Vivaldi . . .love his flute music. I have SO much to explore in classical music! It's going to be great fun.

[Jenny]

I love Beethoven's music. It should be remembered that Beethoven started to go deaf in about 1802 and was quite deaf when writing many of his most famous pieces. So he was going deaf when he wrote the Eroica, and was almost completely deaf when he wrote the 9th symphony. A truly great composer

[nancy]

Love Beethoven. I can liste to all of his symphnies over and over but they are emotional. I usually have the radio on when trying to write but might have to try silence. Handel and Haydn are more what the regency people would have been hearing along with others whose names are seldom heard. Handel is easier to write to.

[Andrea Penrose]

Jenny, it is almost unfathomable how he could write such glorious music when he could only hear it in his head. Its seem like such a cruel twist of fate—no wonder he was said to be so irascible in his later years.

[Andrea Penrose]

Handel is definitely good writing music, Nancy. I like Vivaldi and Bach too. The rhythms and harmonies are very soothing.

[Shannon]

I go through phases with music. Ten or more years ago, I listened to a lot of classical, but I especially loved organ. Bruckner was my favorite.

When I moved to my current city, I developed a deep affection for choral music. They had Sunday concerts at the main cathedral. Driving home, I would find myself not paying attention to traffic and trying to recall a particularly lyrical part.

Two years ago, a friend introduced me to opera at the cinema. I haven't taken up to listening to opera, but I love the performances.

[Andrea Penrose]

Organ music is beautiful, Shannon. As is Baroque harpsichord music. I really enjoy opera onstage, but know so little about its nuances—-there is so much to learn about music! Slowly but surely I hope to become more educated on how to appreciate it more deeply.

[Patricia Rice]

I learned to write to music eons ago-- especially when I get to the point of wanting to crumple and stomp on pages. I don't know what it is about music that reaches down into the subconscious and brings out story that I hadn't known was there. I tend toward Tchaikovsky and Vivaldi but I should dig through my files and find Beethoven when I'm writing the Regencies, shouldn't I?

[Andrea Penrose]

Beethoven is very fitting for regencies, Pat. You are way ahead of me, but yes, music does seem to coax the Creative Muse . . .and at least it's soothing to hear something other than the whir of a blank mind when I sit staring at the screen But in all seriousness, I am enjoying this new-found routine, and look forward to learning more about music as I do so.

[Louisa Cornell]

As a classically trained musician it makes me smile to hear someone is discovering the incredible genius that was and is Beethoven. He is my hero for so many reasons. He was the first major composer to break away from the idea of musician/composer as servant. He simply refused to see himself as subservient to anyone. He was the first major composer to make use of a heavy brass section in his orchestral pieces. My addiction to his music is rather funny as his pieces for singers are some of the toughest around. I've only performed his sole opera, Fidelio, once and those of us in the cast decided during rehearsals that he really didn't like singers! LOL Actually the difficulty is he wrote for singers the way he did for instrumentalists - with no mercy!

He had so many disappointments in life. He fought so hard on so many levels to achieve what he did. At the debut of his Ninth Symphony he stood on the podium while someone else conducted. And when it was over the hall erupted into waves upon waves of applause. The conductor had to turn him around so he could see the audience on their feet roaring their approval. He had to see it because he could not hear it. But perhaps that is the reason his work was so incredible. He didn't write it for applause or the praise of others. He wrote it because he must and with no thought to the opinion of others he wrote it the way it had to be written, the way it was given to him by whatever muse he served. When I grow up I want to write romance like that.

[Andrea Penrose]

Thank you so much for such a lyrical posting, Louisa. Beethoven really was an amazing man as well as an artistic genius. As you point out, he had incredible courage and conviction to stand firm for both his art and his beliefs in how he should be treated.

I'm ashamed that I've come to his music so late, but am really enjoying getting to know it better. I intend to do a lot more reading about him and classical music. Have just downloaded a Yale University course from their Open Yale website (a complete undergrad course taped in the classroom) on "Listening To Music" Really looking forward to learning more about the subject!

[Karin]

Louisa, I've always heard that Beethoven realized the audience was applauding at the end of the debut of the 9th because he felt the vibrations of their clapping and stomping feet. I hope that story is true! I love all the symphonies, but #9 is my favorite along with Piano Concerto #5(the Emperor) and the Violin Concerto in D. I've got a couple of sets of the symphonies including my father's old LPs-the RCA Red Seal recordings conducted by Toscanini.
What I love about Beethoven is, it is the only music I can tolerate listening to in times of terrible depression and grief. He suffered much in his life, it's all in the music, and the messages he is still sending us are universal.
I love when I read a romance,or any book for that matter, and the characters perform or listen to a piece of music I also am familiar with. It makes me feel something in common with them.

[Andrea Penrose]

Karin, Beethoven's music is so expressive, and heartfelt—and uplifting. Just listening the the fourth movement of #5 right now. Magnificent.

He seems to have had a troubled and unhappy life, and yet the poetry of his music is essentially so full of hope and joy and triumph over adversity.

[Ella Quinn]

I adore Beethoven and Mozart, as well as Handel. I don't listen as much as I used to. That may have to change.

[Louisa Cornell]

Cara, I envy you discovering his music for the first time. What an amazing experience it must be. And I know the Yale course will introduce you to so many wonderful composers! A particular favorite of mine is British composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. If you get the chance listen to his Fantasisa on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and his London Suite. Incredible.

[Karin]

The Alvin Ailey dance troupe had a piece in its repertoire done to Ralph Vaughan Williams "A Lark Ascending", a beautiful piece of music. What a treat it is to converse about music, art, history, or anything, with such a knowledgeable and cultured bunch of wenches!

[Andrea Penrose]

Louisa, thanks so much for the recommendation! I will look for RVW's music. In some ways I feel silly, not having delved into classical music earlier. But it's also very exciting to be learning new things now, so I'm really looking forward to countless enjoyable hours ahead!

[Andrea Penrose]

Ella, I highly recommend more listening while writing!

[Andrea Penrose]

So glad you are enjoying this conversation, and our other discussions! I learn so much from our Wenchly readers, so I feel the same way!

[reduce weight]

Word Wenches: Music and The Muse