Posted under Classical & Romantic Composers
Beethoven is my favourite composer. Now that’s not such an unusual choice (one of the few areas in my life where I’m in a majority position!), but I think that artists who have enduring fame and popularity (as opposed to the 15 minute pop culture variety) have it for a reason, and his music is simply awe-inspiring. I love lots of music and different composers, but if I had to pick just one to listen to for the rest of my life, it’d be Beethoven.
That’s not to say I like all of his works though (there are some I just can’t stand!), but on balance, his appeal is pretty consistent, for me. He was a fantastic virtuoso pianist also, and as a decidedly non-fantastic non-virtuoso pianist myself, I have a lot of respect for those who reach that level!
I love reading about his life too - he was such a pioneer, not just musically, but in his working life also. He was one of the first ’self-employed’ composers who treated his work as a business, at a time when most musicians still depended on aristocratic patronage. Overall he comes over as a very strong character who wasn’t afraid to live life on his own terms, even if it meant flying in the face of convention.
I’m actually planning a niche website about his life and work, although I have so many other projects on the go right now that it’ll be some time before I get around to doing it. But I think it’ll do well - I haven’t yet come across any other Beethoven sites that are taking the approach I have in mind!
