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Music Director Jeffrey Kahane and members of the L.A. Chamber Orchestra | Photo by Michael Miller
Whether you listen to classical music or not, we all know this famous music quotation: Da da da DUM! And when you hear it played by an orchestra, you're listening to it in the key of C-Minor. Does that matter? Why not some other key? Those questions and many others will be answered in an upcoming Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra's concert where music director Jeffrey Kahane and the orchestra will lead the audience on a "guided tour" of the inner workings of Beethoven's 5th Symphony before performing it in full during the second half of the program.
It's all happening on Saturday, November 7th at the Ambassador Auditorium in Pasadena and we're giving away a pair of tickets (if you need them right away, you can purchase them here).
To enter, leave a comment on this post answering this question: “what was Beethoven thinking about when he wrote his famous Fifth Symphony?” The question is totally open ended, creativity encouraged. It can be as ridiculous and crazy or as scientific and researched as you want to answer.
Full details on the contest are below.
- Enter the contest by making a comment on this post. Comments must fit the criteria, stated below.
- The criteria of the comment is that answer this question: “what was Beethoven thinking about when we wrote his famous Fifth Symphony?”
- Only one entry per person allowed.
- Comments will be accepted through Wednesday, November 4th, 11:59:59 p.m.
- One qualifying comment will be chosen at random and the winner will be notified via the e-mail connected to their LAist.com login. The winner must confirm the receipt of the e-mail by 11:00:00 a.m., Thursday, November 5th, 2009 or the tickets will be released to another winner.
- A pair of tickets will be held at will call
Good luck and enjoy the show!
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Thats funny, I'd think that we'd be going to this event to find out what he meant, rather then be asked that for an entry to the contest, lol.
He probably was pretty angry about something.
Beethoven wanted something loud and memorable to express just how angry he was about becoming deaf.
"The sooner I finish this, the sooner I can eat my dinner."
I agree that there was anger in his composing, but he also wanted something that would cut through his worsening deafness and allow him to feel the music.
He was probably thinking, "Has this piano been tuned? It sounds flat. Hold on, I'm deaf, I have no idea what flat sounds like."
he was thinking of the thing that made him the happiest and the thing that made him the saddest to combine such strong emotions into the song.
he was thinking about which food truck he would visit later
He was probably thinking , " Damn, this music probably makes babies smarter!"
He wanted to outdo his Fourth Symphony.
He was probably angry about something. I don't know. That's why I want to win tickets to this so maybe I can find out.
Beethoven was most likely thinking of his imminent fate – death knocking on his door, as this famous pattern (Da da da DUUUM!) is known as the "fate motif".
A sandwich. Not just any sandwich, an MLT. A mutton, lettuce and tomato sandwich. Where the mutton is just right, Mmmmmmm.
He was thinking about schnitzel.
He was thinking, "I hope they don't ever make a movie about a big dog with my name -- and I hope that the FOURTH SEQUEL to that movie is not called Beethoven's 5th."
1st Symphony, Done.
2nd Symphony, Done.
3rd Symphony, Done.
4th Symphony, Done.
6th Symphony, Done... Oh, wait. Damn.
Beethoven was thinking about the levels of creation--the journey in life that seems so all-encompassing giving way to a higher state of being. Beethoven was accessing this higher consciousness through music, and putting his earthly life into context.
"FASTER LUDWIG!! Scoops is closing in an hour, and today...today they have STRAWBERRY BALSAMIC VINEGAR!! FAAAAASSSSTERRRRRRR!!!!!"
The return of Fruit and Produce Food Trucks: A Ba na NAAAAAAAAAA!
He was thinking about fate knocking at the door.
The same thing Washington said when he crossed the Delaware: "Please let me sit down. This is making me sick."
Creating tension and building it throughout; waiting until the finale to give listeners what they've been unconsciously waiting for.
He was thinking about the future.
eternal happiness
he was thinking how great it would sound if you gave me a pair of tickets to hear it. yes, really.
"I'm so gonna win American Idol this year!"
Two words: Bugs Bunny.
He wasn't thinking at all. He was one with his piano.
those vibrations feeeel goood
“what was Beethoven thinking about when WE wrote his famous Fifth Symphony?”
Well, YOU didn't write it but he's dead so he probably doesn't care. Unless you believe in the whole afterlife thing, in which case he's royally pissed now, watch out.
He was thinking: rock on baby, rock on.
it was his fantasy of revenge taken on an unfaithful lover.
Good question. He was probably thinking, "This is definitely going to be my masterpiece. Just wait and see, dear world". Or he could be thinking how badly he wanted a schnitzel at that moment.