Beethoven’s 9th Symphony is distinguished from other symphonies in many admirable respects. It can take about 70 minutes to be heard and includes a chorus which together with the orchestra involves about 120 participants. It was completed by Beethoven in 1824 and performed in Vienna on May 7th of that year. Helen Keller was of course completely deaf, but a device was set up so that she could feel the music in her body. While by 1824 Beethoven had lost most of his hearing, he did have a very small segment still left in which to hear his symphony and like Hellen Keller I am sure he was able to feel it in his body.
I recall many years ago attending a Beethoven’s 9th Symphony at Carnegie Hall. Not only was the stage filled with the orchestra and chorus, but there were other musicians, I think trumpet players, on either sides of the hall itself. While sitting in the hall normally facing the orchestra is what an audience does, this day however was different. Because it was Beethoven’s 9th and musicians surrounding the audience, it felt as if I and the rest of the audience were in fact a part of the performance. We could hear it and feel it in our bodies.
Thank you Ludwig Beethoven.
Ben Haber
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