Things have been bleak lately, so let’s break out into something fun and lighthearted! The best place to do that is in nature, and our man Beethoven was crazy for nature, as were many in this age of Romanticism. His daily routine included a walk in the countryside for an hour minimum. It was a crucial part of his creativity. He carried with him at all times a notebook and would make notes and jot down ideas for his compositions based upon his experiences and reflections in the natural world. And whenever possible, Beethoven would retreat to the countryside for rest and restoration and non-stop hiking through the hills and forests, just as he did as a child in Bonn. So it is not surprising that the sound of birds made its way into his music!
The most straightforward example of this is in the 2nd movement of Beethoven’s 6th Symphony, often referred to as the “Pastoral Symphony.” Beethoven made specific notes in the score about which birds were represented by which instruments: nightingale (flute), quail (oboe), and cuckoo (two clarinets). Here is a 45 second video of the music with photos of the birds. So much fun!
To take this theme one step further, there are scholars who have identified other bird songs in Beethoven’s music, and there is historical evidence from biographers that back these up. Here are some examples:
- A boy’s science fair project that compares the sound of a bird to the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.
- A recording of a bird in Europe that is actually called the “Beethoven Bird” because its song is so similar to those first four notes.
Another strong contender for “best bird inspired composition” is the beginning notes of one of the most gorgeous of all the Beethoven piano concertos, the Concerto no. 4 in G major. Here is a 1½ minute clip from a birdwatcher who beautifully comments and records bird songs for the BBC. And if this small recording leaves you wanting more, here is the entire concerto (my favorite rendition) led by the passionate conductor, Leonard Bernstein and the swooningly emotional pianist, Krystian Zimerman.
Believe it or not, there are many scholarly papers on Beethoven and the birds. Perhaps you know of even more examples, since I’m a Beethoven novice. To accompany this musical theme I have chosen a poem by William Wordsworth, another artist of the Romantic Era. I think it fits pretty nicely with our theme.
excerpt from “To the Cuckoo“
Even yet thou art to me
No bird, but an invisible thing,
A voice, a mystery;
The same whom in my school-boy days
I listened to; that Cry
Which made me look a thousand ways
In bush, and tree, and sky.
To seek thee did I often rove
Through woods and on the green;
And thou wert still a hope, a love;
Still longed for, never seen.
And I can listen to thee yet;
Can lie upon the plain
And listen, till I do beget
That golden time again.
I’m feeling a bit lighter just listening and reading and writing to all this. I hope you do too. Until next time we meet, enjoy music, dive into poetry, and thanks for visiting thetonepoet.com.
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