interesting comparisons

[pianistimo]

in my concerto class, we learned tonight that many composers commonly borrowed tunes (themes) from other composer's.  i kinda knew that, but didn't realize how many composers borrowed this one:  js bach's 'a musical offerring'

take a look at the original js bach musical offerring ricercar in three voices #1, then mozart's c minor fantasy, and also k491  piano concerto (first 12 measures and then the next 22 measures), and the first and last movement

the first and third movements especially of beethoven's third piano concerto.  beethoven starts on the beat.  and, in measure 9 the theme is almost verbatim in the lh.  and, look at the wide leap at the beginning of the third movement.  the second half of the phrase looks like a retrograde coming back up from the d.  cool, huh!

[pianistimo]

here's a little poetic/musical borrowing from one's own self.  beethoven wrote a song cycle 'to the distant beloved' as a vocal solo for low voice.  in german it's 'an die ferne geliebte.'  various parts of a beethoven symphony are moulded into oneness. 'an die' was composed in 1816 when alois jeitteles (the author of the words) was 21.  he was studying medicine in vienna at the time.  he was a musical amateur and he handed the poem (it is thought) to beethoven in person.  sketches disclose beethoven's habitual care in the study of declamation and descriptive effect.  the first line of the song is repeated several times in it's original form before the characteristic fall.  it is suggestive of the poet's "longing glance in the direction of his love."  the detached tones in melody to #3 give an effect of lightness and airiness to the description of the floating clouds.  beethoven might have been still feeling the effects of amalie von sebald (five years before).  quotes from h.e. krehbiel

am comparing it tommorrow night, but reading some of the words right now (to use while thinking of beethoven's 5th piano concerto - emperor)

look at the middle movement of the 5th PC.  it's definately vocal.  definately sustained.  and is sort of a whisper. 

"from the mountain wing my gazes toward a far-off, azure bound, seeking thro oer spreading hazes where i thee, beloved, found.  far from thee my way is turning, hill and valley lie between, parting us and our fond yearning, all our joy and all our pain.  ah, my gazes aimless wander, that for thee so inly glow, and my sighing i but squander on the void that parts us now.  is there naught that still can find thee, bear my heart a far to thine?  then in song will i remind thee how in lonliness i pine.  for a song of love disdaineth weary miles and weary hours, and a loving heart attaineth what a loving heart empow'rs."  pure romantic drivel for some, but an interesting read and comparison of the tune with some in the 5th PC.  beethoven definately had an immortal beloved and she was probably the one spoken of here.