Excitement for the ninth
 

I know this may be looked down on by both those who hate classical music and those who are true fans (for different reasons) but I am incredibly excited to go hear a performance of Beethoven's Ninth tomorrow with a full symphony and chorus. I think it is one of the more sublime masterpieces given to man from God (and yes, I believe that) and even though I have heard it many times, seeing it and hearing it live and well-performed is a transcendent experience. I am jazzed about this.

To show my nerdiness I am going to bring the score and follow along at parts, although at the climax you must do nothing but listen and let the power of the performance wash over you like waves at the beach.

I'm jealous. I run with the Ninth Symphony playing on my iPod frequently but I've never heard it live. Perhaps someday...

This may sound like a dumb question, but why would an educated classical music fan not like the Symphony Number 9?

I have been told that some of the intelligentsia considered it trite and overused.

I remember attending the Opening Ceremonies for the Salt Lake Games, and Beethoven's Ninth came on at the end during the finale, with MOTAB singing the chorus and fireworks lighting up the Wasatch front. It was a real Rocky Mountain high.

And then I watched NBC's replay, and Costas says, as Beethoven's Ninth came on, and MOTAB began belting out the chorus, "and of course, Ode to Joy, just like at every other Olympics, it has to be Ode to Joy" or something like that. He said it in a sardonic, sarcastic tone of voice. And of course NBC ended its broadcast right in the middle as well.

I felt bitter about that. Enjoy the concert, Creek!

Perect example of what I am talking about. Plus, most people only hear the Ode to Joy and not the whole sympohony. Costas is a little twerp, at times.

Beethoven's #9 is totally played out! We are sick of it.

Sincerely,

Pachelbel's Canon in D Major
Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Vivaldi, La Primavera

Is this with MTT at Davies Symphony Hall? That would be very cool. Our mission president imposed a rule that we could only listen to music that included the MoTab. Fortunately, we had a tape of the Ninth that included the MoTab, so we'd listen to the entire symphony, knowing the choir's presence at the end made it legit listening. We particularly liked it because our hausfrau's rooster outside our window would be quiet until the dramatic pause near the end and would then crow at the climax; it had excellent timing and near perfect pitch.

And Beethoven gets a little over the top, but so what? It's still superb. Such critics remind me of a review written in a Vienna newspaper in the early 1800's concerning a concert that included premieres of Beethoven's 5th and 6th symphonies, along with a couple of piano concerti, performed and conducted by the composer. The review was quite brief, as I recall, and simply said "Very disappointing." Did Waters or SU have Viennese ancestors?

Yes, MTT at Davies. Should be great. That is a rooster I could put up with.

That's because the intelligentsia would like to maintain their distinction from the masses. The 9th is a classic, no question. I saw it in SLC a few years back and it was outstanding. Enjoy.