A Voyage of Remembering

A man born 250 years ago painfully passes, after 56 years on the planet.

Now, at this exact moment in time, spiraling through the universe is the Voyager spacecraft, which was launched in 1977. On this spacecraft is a golden record of music, selected as representative of what it means to be human. This music is our earthly attempt to communicate with interstellar life, demonstrating the best of our planet and species.

That man who died nearly 200 years ago was Beethoven, and still hurtling through interstellar space is Beethoven’s String Quartet number 13, opus 130. To digest this meaty string quartet one must be willing to set sail on their own stellar journey. It is timeless, beyond the romantic and classical era…it jumps, fades dramatically, goes abstract, high, low, sad, elated, simply a recounting of a life. Incredibly, all of this was created in Beethoven’s head, his last piece of music completed, long after his deafness had enshrouded him. The most dramatic and famous section of this string quartet is the final one, what Beethoven called his “Grosse Fugue”, which translated into non-musician speak means a large (grosse) musical piece that repeats and weaves a few simple themes (fugue). But this is the most un-simple of fugues, one that tests the most competent and talented of musicians. I dare you to listen. If you do, prepare to be amazed and moved by this moving performance by the Danish String Quartet.

Sylvia Plath’s poem “Little Fugue”, references this piece, which Beethoven also scored for piano. Written after her father’s death and reflecting her own struggles, here is an excerpt.

The eye of the blind pianist…..

He could hear Beethoven:

Black yew, white cloud,

The horrific complications.

Finger-traps—a tumult of keys.

Empty and silly as plates,

So the blind smile.

I envy big noises,

The yew hedge of the Grosse Fuge.

Deafness is something else.

Such a dark funnel, my father!

I see your voice

Black and leafy, as in my childhood.

Today is Memorial Day, fitting for reflection since it is the day for remembering here in the USA. A day to remember sacrifice. A day of sadness and victory. A day fit for Beethoven. Thanks for reading and listening. Until next time we meet, enjoy music, dive into poetry, and thanks for visiting thetonepoet.com.