Dr. Matthew Guerrieri, author of "The First Four Notes: Beethoven's Fifth and the Human Imagination" - BPL Artist Talk Series

  • Starts: 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Music critic, Dr. Matthew Guerrieri, CFA '97/DMA Composition reaches back before Beethoven's time to examine what might have influenced him in writing his Fifth Symphony, and forward into our own time to describe the ways in which the Fifth Symphony has in turn, asserted its influence. Guerrieri uncovers possible sources for the famous opening notes of the symphony in the rhythms of ancient Greek poetry and certain pre-Revolutionary French symphonies. He confirms that contrary to popular belief, Beethoven was not deaf when he wrote the Fifth. He traces the Fifth's influence in China, Russian, and the United States and shows us how it was used by both the Allies and the Nazis in World War II.
Location:
Boston Public Library (Central Library, Rabb Lecture Hall)
Registration:
http://www.bpl.org/news/author_series.htm

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