My dear Thomas,
You have got to stop believing everything you read in the National Inquirer. Did it not occur to you that the picture of Beethoven in front of the Munich Biergarten waving a stein and hugging Uma Thurman had been doctored? Beethoven, gutaussehend as he was, was not built like Claude van Damme and it is doubtful that he ever wore black leather and chains.
You must have missed the sidebox on page 10 that gave further historical insight into the appropriation of bawdybeerbalads by classical composers. It was right under the picture of a very pregnant and happy Marcia Clark and the caption, "I'm carrying both OJ's and Barry Scheck's babies." Schubert was not the only one who attempted and failed to find fame and fortune by marketing his commercial work. Hugo Wolf wrote a nice little piece that Bud contemplated bringing back for the Superbowl several years ago (but opted to go with the frogs instead, feeling that Wolf's tune didn't have the catchiness of a croaked Bud-weis-er). You may remember the lovely M”ricke Lieder, the moving Weisbiergenhiet with its gripping opening lines-Bier, Weisbier,O bier mich sein! (Beer, Wheat beer, O Grant me beer!)Now wouldn't that have brought tears to your eyes during half-time?
All these wonderful B3's, not selling in the commercial venue, were recycled into the classical arena, where they often found some acceptance, but produced not nearly the monetary rewards for which their authors had hoped. Ludwig fared better than most, cleverly revamping An die Freude after it ran its course through the biergartens. I thought these thoughts while performing the Ninth and my soul soared as I drenched the soprano in front of me with my gutterally emotional Wir betrayen feuertrunken, Himmlische dein Heiligtum! for I -and probably I alone- knew that the original words were not-as everyone else believed,"Drunk with fire, O heavn'born Goddess,We invade thy halidom! But "Drunk with beer, O heav'n born Goddess, we invade thy halidom!" A Beethovian fraternity panty raid.
God-education is a wonderful thing.
penelope, did I tell you my middle name was Schindler, Ÿon Westbrk |
