Charles Dalmas writes:

>Well, I think my favorite movement has to be the utter perfection and
>precision of the Beethoven 5 first movement.  ...

 [Much waxing lyrical here about other 'great' works which disgracefully
doesn't mention one item by Haydn]

>.......as the mighty chords of the organ's deepest sounds resonate as the
>last movement of the Saint-Saens Symphony #3 thunders to the earth's core.

I am glad you mention this because I find it a very moving musical moment
too.

>But I still come back to the simplest of the simple:  a four note motif
>with more power, vision, and emotion than all of them put together.
>Beethoven was fuming at his deafness in the depths of despair.  He penned
>the four note motif as "Fate knocking at the door." Not only is there not
>one wasted note in the entire movement, but there is not one note too many.

Thank goodness, Beethoven is one composer not charged with writing 'too
many notes'.

>Maybe you think I am overly melodramatic or sentimental, and that's your
>right.  I invite any and all comments about this selection of Beethoven 5
>first movement as my favorite/greatest of all movements.

I agree with you Charles that this is an incredible work IMO too.  Indeed
someone once said that 'no greater sound has reached human ears' (can't
remember who).

But one question we should both consider here.  How can we be sure that our
views are truly objective? Just like a child is brought up to believe in a
particular religion (or not), so we encounter the legend of the fifth at an
early age.  The experience is reinforced by repeated statements, of what a
fine work it is, that we hear over the years.

I, for one, cannot be entirely certain that I have not been indoctrinated.

Bob Draper
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