Most cultures have a concept of the trickster - that morally ambiguous being who perpetually knocks the wind out of complacent value systems. Lewis Hyde's "Trickster Makes This World" sketched several of these creatures, from Coyote to Eshu, to show how their transgressions are inseparable from creative generation. We have many trolls these days, but only the best of them are tricksters, like Beethoven.
This is, come sempre, absolutely all the the things that everyone else has said. For another, equally edifying and (in my opinion) equally entertaining take on trolls, see J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit”, chapter two, “Roast Mutton”.
This is a very compelling read of Beethoven. I remember listening to one of the Op. 18 string quartets a few years ago and thinking that he was gleefully and mercilessly punking Haydn. If that were all it was, the music would have been boring or just pastiche, but instead it was annoyingly good.
Oh, thank goodness. I keep getting strange looks from people when I laugh at classical music, but quite often it seems to me that composers are being funny. And then at other times humane and consoling and angry and... but it's particularly the issue of funny that seems to confuse people. But sometimes it leaps out of the sounds at me. Anyway, it's lovely to see someone who actually knows about music agreeing that there can be humour in there as well as all the milquetoast emotions.
1. The Gavea piece from Milhaud's Saudades do Brasil starts with a long theme consisting of nothing but white-note triads moving quickly by step. Then a big chord smash and it moves up a semitone...
2. Dohnányi's Sextet in C major ends with a full-throated fortissimo 16-measure-long declaration of Db major, followed by a pause (just long enough for me in the audience to say "What??") and a perfunctory V-I back in C.
My ten least favorite musical trolls are all Scarlatti hand-crossings.
His fingerings in Opus 2 No. 2. I agree with you that the compelling struggle was his internal one to be good, and for me the most heart-rending aspect of it was his family life with Karl.
is this the best thing ever written? (not trying to troll)
Why hasn’t this witty, edifying, magisterial essay already garnered hundreds of “hearts” and “faves.”?
That is a shanda!
Most cultures have a concept of the trickster - that morally ambiguous being who perpetually knocks the wind out of complacent value systems. Lewis Hyde's "Trickster Makes This World" sketched several of these creatures, from Coyote to Eshu, to show how their transgressions are inseparable from creative generation. We have many trolls these days, but only the best of them are tricksters, like Beethoven.
This is, come sempre, absolutely all the the things that everyone else has said. For another, equally edifying and (in my opinion) equally entertaining take on trolls, see J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit”, chapter two, “Roast Mutton”.
This is a very compelling read of Beethoven. I remember listening to one of the Op. 18 string quartets a few years ago and thinking that he was gleefully and mercilessly punking Haydn. If that were all it was, the music would have been boring or just pastiche, but instead it was annoyingly good.
Oh, thank goodness. I keep getting strange looks from people when I laugh at classical music, but quite often it seems to me that composers are being funny. And then at other times humane and consoling and angry and... but it's particularly the issue of funny that seems to confuse people. But sometimes it leaps out of the sounds at me. Anyway, it's lovely to see someone who actually knows about music agreeing that there can be humour in there as well as all the milquetoast emotions.
Bravo!
She was just auditioning for The View. Let me check my watch-Yep, it's 15 minutes later.
My two favorite musical trolls:
1. The Gavea piece from Milhaud's Saudades do Brasil starts with a long theme consisting of nothing but white-note triads moving quickly by step. Then a big chord smash and it moves up a semitone...
2. Dohnányi's Sextet in C major ends with a full-throated fortissimo 16-measure-long declaration of Db major, followed by a pause (just long enough for me in the audience to say "What??") and a perfunctory V-I back in C.
My ten least favorite musical trolls are all Scarlatti hand-crossings.
also , yes I was started by JCO’s scolding - it seemed so unlike her - and we’re all full of surprises
His fingerings in Opus 2 No. 2. I agree with you that the compelling struggle was his internal one to be good, and for me the most heart-rending aspect of it was his family life with Karl.
I love everything you write, but this is exceptional. Thank you for sharing it.
Great work, Jeremy!
Wonderful stuff - thank you, Jeremy! 👏
I laughed out loud; your examples are perfect. Bravo!
Terrific piece. Thank you.