>
>I am down to give a pre-concert lecture on Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, April
>18. One of the things I thought I would touch on is how difficult it is to
>hear this music with anything approaching "fresh" ears, this particularly in
>light of ways in which this music seems to be a favorite for television
>advertisements.
Rather than send in an example a "mis" appropriations of Beethoven's Ninth
Symphony, I want to comment on the issue he wanted to address of the
difficulty of hearing the work itself with "fresh ears" after frequently
hearing bits of it in other than its original context.
I have to say that I don't have a problem hearing Beethoven's 9th or any
other work of art that have been "mis-appropriated" with "fresh ears." In
fact, the effect is quite the opposite. Having heard a part of the work
quoted in a different context (perhaps especially the unsuitable ones such as
the ham commerical), when I have the occasion the hear the work presented as
it should be, hearing those passages in their true context is all the more
moving. Indeed, it is as if I am hearing them "with fresh ears."
When I have taught Beethoven's Ninth in music appreciation, it is obvious
that most of the students have heard the "Ode to Joy" melody in the fourth
movement, even if they didn't know its source. I don't know what the
experience is like for them, but I try to convey to them something of the
profound nature of the original context of this melody they may have been
taking for granted so that perhaps they will hear it "with fresh ears."
Sincerely,
Charlotte Cross
New York, New York
chcross@aol.com