Mats Norrman ([log in to unmask]) wrote:

>Speaking about the march in Beethoven 9 - it is a great joke.  Imagine
>writing world historys most serious symphony, and then comes this!!  I
>consider it an example of the masters most contraversial humour - and
>humour is avalue in Beethoven.  I think it fun, although maybe a bit
>inappropriate - old Ludwig should have had a kick in his ass for that!

c1987 I sang in a more-or-less scratch performance on the 9th in St.
Albans.  I well remember the conductor (whose name totally escapes me)
telling the wind at the beginning of the march:  imagine you're in a small
German town band; ever member of the band *knows* he is the most important
person in it.

Deryk Barker
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