It is not sadness, it's the point where your whole existence unfolds and is about to make sense, eternally. And the master saw it, and put it to music.
Everyone is concerned about a pandemic right now. A few months ago my father died. I have had other losses that haunt me still. But this music tells me about the poetry of fear and sorrow, and how life can seem hopeful and beautiful once more, and yet the sorrow need not be denied, the dead need not be forgotten or unmissed. The human heart can contain it all and still be joyful, filled with beauty, and grateful. Good luck to everyone. Wash your hands. Don't be fearful. I think Beethoven is suggesting here that we see the beauty around us, now, today, and not be terribly concerned about how many more days we have. Now. Today. Look around you.
@@thomasfortnerconductor Appreciate that, thanks. Of course, equally great artists-Dostoyevsky and Thornton Wilder come to mind-tell us we usually fail to be in that place as much as we might. But it's good to at least think about it. Be well yourself, and thanks again.
Great comment. Wish more of YT comments were of this sort. Unfortunate that is not our human nature. Lost my mom in March of non-Covid causes -- a long battle with Alzheimers and such. One learns to LIVE with the whole in one's soul, I suppose.
This movement was composed while Beethoven was ill with intestinal inflammation. The doctor just prescribed Beethoven to not drink coffee, alcohol or use spices and to move to the countryside and drink fresh cow milk. It is meant to show an alternation between Beethoven singing a hymn of thanksgiving to god, and feeling new strength and reawakened feeling. He even writes those words on the score itself! My favorite finding is that Beethoven seems to have prescribed this movement as treatment itself writing to the doctor "Doctor, close the door to Death! Music will also help in my hour of need!"
After he started again drinking coffee and alcool, so he composed "Grosse Fugue" op. 133 ahahah In any case i think this movement is one of the best slow movements of ever
This music is almost unbearably intimate, filled with such profound understanding of life's triumphs and tragedies. It is as though Beethoven is reaching across time to tell us everything will be all right, if you can only let go. It is transcendent and otherworldly, and I am so grateful for it.
Thank you for putting words on my exact thoughts, yes it is almost unbearably intimate! It's music in its purest form of universal expression as it is a reflexion on the realization of the gift and beauty of life through intense pain, fear and misery. This is usually a path walked totally alone, often at the end of one's life/at the worst of ones' life. We can hear the extreme emotions here: despair, heartfelt gratitude, the eurêka moment and the most sincere hope/joy turned into music. It is incredibly endearing and also comforting. I am deeply moved by this choice to share such fragility and hidden moments so directly and truthfully with everyone. This is proof of complete devotion to music as well as a will to share wisdom and a hope for music to be a saviour somehow.
Strange synchronicity. I've just performed Edgar Allen Poe's Annabel Lee on my channel and the first thing I see after doing so is your name and reply. "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio , than are dreamt of in your philosophy". Hamlet
50 years of age. And I've just discovered what true love and true life is. In the shape of an exceptionally beautiful woman and through this piece. Both have merged in rapturous, transcendental harmony. As the apostle Paul says, " I knew a man who was in the third heaven, I know not whether he was alive or dead". God is very real. It's just us who sometimes are not.
I listen to this piece,since I was a geeky teenager, at moments of joy, sadness & loss or just because It 2am on an autumn night. It has never failed, in 45 years, to centre me, be grateful for all my life has been able to give & never cease to wonder what possibilities lie ahead, & if there are none to accept that with grace.
Me too! I started into this piece in my late teens and over the years it has become so intimate and an essential part of me. We've been through a lot together. It has wrapped it's arms around me in times of crisis, and helped pull me through as I was sobbing on my knees begging for God's help and mercy. I'm 65 now and Beethoven's music, especially this piece, means the world to me.
@@waynem4496 This comment sent shivers down my spine. I feel exactly the same way, I'm 48 though. I know it's objectively wrong (because of the undeniable subjectivity of my next sentence) but for me, this piece is the last frontier as far as potential deepness and impact of any art. For me,Nothing ever comes close to it in it's beauty, majesty, sapiency, "essentiality", mastery... Its, indeed, a revelation.
The greatness of music speaking for it self. I´m feeling an enormous gratitude listening to this. ( had have listened 1.000.000 time in the past 30 years!). Lost my father during the pandemic, and music helps me understand why we exist. Happy to read beautiful comments. Love from Brazil.
Arguably. It seems to speak directly to our experience of life as beautiful in spite of and because of its ephemerality. He was sick, and fearful, then grateful to be spared, then felt a surge of joy and strength, and yet went forward remembering all those emotions. Profound, existential stuff. And arguably I think the perception of beauty is itself a form of thankfulness. Now I'm going to go listen to "Tropical Hot Dog Night" because it's that kind of late-night RU-vid deal.
Mahler adagietto is all about a long and pretty melody with the harmony playing a supporting role..this piece is harmony driven with the most haunting 6 to13 note repeating melody ive ever heard in my life returning again and again like the voice of God or the voice of a man pleading to God for another few months to live. The piece is a mastercourse in the power of harmonic progression and dynamics alone driving a piece but rhe recurring melody thrown again and again and shared in fugato between voices the third or fourth time around is one of the most powerful things ever put to string quartet. Mahler is cool but Jesus Christ this is Beethoven at his apex.
Stephen Hawking also was introduced to this by Aldous Huxley from reading "Point Counter Point" as an undergraduate. Later, in 1992 on the BBC Radio 4 "Desert Island Discs" program, Stephen stated: "“If I knew that a tidal wave was on the way to overwhelm my desert island, I would play the third movement of this quartet.” R.I.P. - Stephen William Hawking CH CBE FRS FRSA (8 January 1942 - 14 March 2018)
If Huxley had been a christian, I think he would have chosen Bach to be his musical heaven-builder in Point Counterpoint, rather than Beethoven. What he says about this piece is truer of Bach's work, at least for me.
One of the most profound experiences of my musical studenthood was the day my theory professor spent an entire class making us listen to the second movement of the seventh symphony He earned his place in the pantheon with his beautiful late slow movements
17:29-18:29 In my opinion this is the most revealing fragment you can find in all music. I actually can't understand how a human being managed to create such a sublime piece from extremely simple ideas. The way he exploited the materials he chose and the way he connected all what he used into a perfect form is beyond belief. Most people won't understand what I'm referring to, but I'm pretty certain about this bit I highlighted to be the most significant moment of the piece. Even more so than the big climax with the 1st violin and cellon in canonic imitation. This movement alone is a feat of abstraction and human thought pretty much no other piece can compare too. If you have doubts about what I said let me know, I would love talking about it with someone else.
@@jgMaximo_ Like you would like me to explain what I meant? I might do a video analysis about it at some point actually, because it's quite long even though the idea is simple. But it's abstract.
Absolutely! Through the sublimation of already simple ideas - everything that played before, and the climax - in that passage, the music always gives me the impression that is telling, in a whisper, all the truths that are implied in the human condition, and the way to accept them gracefully... For me, the music that changed my life and got me out of addiction. The most profound piece of art, masterfully composed and weaved together. Incredible stuff! Edit: and the master heard it, and put it to paper
In my opinion, Beethoven composed the most profound climaxes of all time. The minute from 15:30 to 16:30 is from another world (hear also the ones in his last sonata and the Diabelli variations, to name a few)
As a violinist, I'm also partial to the slow movement of the Beethoven violin concerto for it's sweeping beauty that pokes my tender heart to tears almost every time I listen
I was thinking exactly that, just think in a deaf sick Beethoven, only living for composing this piece.. that kind of feeling Is transmitted througt the piece and whenever you feel your life Is pointless this piece can simply change your mind. Then you understand nieztches quote.
@@Leon1949Green I'm just getting into a lot of this music, and I'm intrigued by your comment. This movement may be the most beautiful piece of music I've ever heard. Can you give a few pieces/movements that you consider better and more powerful? Less-famous examples would be good, too, since it seems like you are very well-versed. Thank you!
@@mkohare It has been almost 50 years, but we studied the last quartets of LvB in Music History class, senior year, Univ. of Kansas, Prof. Edward Williams. I expect it is up to individual tastes. I like the 14th quartet best. But they all are sublime. What Louis could do with just four notes! The Brahms piano quartets. The Schumann; Schubert; Borodin; Tchaikovsky; Shostakovich; Chausson, Debussy, Faure. The string quartet version of Bach's "Art of the Fugue." I had the Nonesuch recording back in the day. Enjoy!
I love his symphonies, and the Moonlight Sonata started me on the path of listening to classical music in a time where it wasn't "cool", but I absolutely fell in love with the late quartets. To think he was deaf when writing these, and could only hear them in his mind ...
The late quartets are in my opinion "quartets perfected" there is no need to write another one by anyone as there is nothing left to say. at least that's how I feel about it.
@@bradleyscarffpiano2921 That ist what Schubert said after having listened to Beethoven's op. 131: "So, after all, what is left for us to write?" An awkward legacy for all the composers after!
It is that kind of melody and you feel blessed for everything. Blessed for being able to hear this, blessed for a man like Beethoven. It's just so beautiful.
This is some of the finest music Beethoven ever wrote. In 1924, while composing his Seventh and last Symphony, Jean Sibelius drew upon this portion of Beethoven's Fifteenth String Quartet as the basis for the second theme of his work (a Symphony in one long, extended movement, based on three themes, the last of which, played on the Trombones, turns out to be the theme on which the entire Symphony is based as a Rondo).
an example of how music can take us beyond the narrow parameters of language and transport us off the wheel of time and the curvature of space and take us to a more celestial place...
Gavin : agreed. The amazing thing is that he achieves all this while RESTRICTING himself to one particular musical mode - the 'lydian'. I learned much from this fascinating lecture : ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-4c-R544gF8s.html. Regards.
I remember Huxley described and analysed this piece in "Counterpoint" from Maurice Spandrell's perspective. Thanks to youtube I was able to experience this part of the book from a whole new perspective.
Beethoven ! The Man who was probably the only man to have understood what the life all about is -and this "Molto Adagio" is the Evidence for that !! Just Sublime !!
Just as Michelangelo's Pieta was a product of God's hand on his, a deaf Beethoven had the hand of God on his hand as he wrote this most heartfelt and sublime music. As the years go by and civilization moves forward men will die, and princes will be brought to naught. But this music will live on impervious to culture, language, beliefs or time.
I gave my brother this piece of music to celebrate his daughter's birth after I listened the first time on the day she was born. I too came to this piece through Aldous Huxley, my literary and mystic hero, like others below.
This is sad, knowing the struggle Beethoven went through. Beethoven once said,”I always have a picture in my mind, and try to follow the lines”. Those words just made me realize how wise and how much of a genius he was. May he Rest In Peace.
Oh. I studied this piece in school. I was reading an article about it but it didn't note the Quartet #15, Op 132 as I know it. I imagine golden light and healing when I listen to it..
"sitting on a bank, Weeping again the king my father's wreck, This music crept by me upon the waters, Allaying both their fury and my passion With its sweet air". Ferdinand, The Tempest, act 1, scene 2. William Shakespeare
Whoever said that a movement such as this needs no comment, is quite right. What can one say, other than thank you for the beautiful upload...Thank You!...
Such instrospective beauty. It stretches the boundaries of dissonance/resolution, way ahead of its time. I can't even imagine how difficult this piece is to perform. And a crime that Beethoven never heard this piece himself.
Muzak of all sorts assails us everywhere we go, so much so that silence has become preferable, and such a rare find. And then... this. Listening to this, letting it sink below one's skin, metabolizing it, only to find that eternity is as close to us as the air that we breathe. Last year, I had the good fortune of attending a performance of the "Heiliger Dankgesang" at the Library of Congress, in Washington, D.C. The Quartetto di Cremona was playing Stradivari instruments. The intonational challenge of the third movement (this one), which should be played without vibrato, was met triumphantly. The resulting pure chords seemed to come from the telluric soul. Words fail to describe what we all experienced during that performance.
The greatest summit of all beautiness, all arts, and from all entire human creation, in the deepest and more spiritual and haunting musical piece ever.
Sincerely, one of the most perfect musical pieces that I have ever listened. It's amazing the lightness of this music. Truly, sublime. A Beethoven really inspired. Thank you!
Perfect piece to listen to during Thanksgiving. Considering the theme of this piece. Unfortunately we don't really celebrate Thanksgiving in Switzerland. But I am excited to go to the USA and join the thankgivings! Or maybe we can establish it as a National Holiday over here too.
I have listened to this piece carefully and quietly and although it is haunting and profound I don’t agree with most of the comments that it’s the most beautiful piece ever, it does not move me or give me the goosebumps feeling I get from some of the great mans other music, such has his Piano Sonata No. 8 in C, Op 13, Piano Sonata 14 in C, Op.27 (Moonlight), Piano Concerto No.5 (Emperor), (the slow movement is sublime), and especially moving and humbling is the 9th Symphony (Choral) also composed during his period of great suffering but what a triumphant ending!! With these and all of his works I just thank God and/or the universe for sending us LV Beethoven!
I think people find it beautiful because it's such a more intimate sound. the timbre is very intimate more so than piano which in Beethovens works can sound quite symphonic. I really enjoy this piece though it is by no means my favourite. however I find Schubert had a point when he said "after this what is there left for us to write" in my opinion these pieces are the epitome of completed Quartets. they say everything a quartet can and are on another level and it's a shame they aren't as well known as other pieces.
With 280 comments (as of the point I'm writing), this may have already been answered, but: Which quartet is playing? I've never heard such quiet ecstasy, such searing agony, such ultimate, life-affirming acceptance. These people GOT IT. (And I would like to have the recording, if available.)
Its the italian quartet. This is a recording of the full string quartet ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-2bfOc9z8b5E.htmlsi=JM1qX02TWEkf4eCy
Beethoven kept vedanta (Hindu scriptures) that went beyond particular gods under the glass on his desk or table. Carlos is right . Your whole existence unfolds with this music. It is influenced by those transcendental scriptures.
En este cuarteto el movimiento LENTO es el más accesible que Beethoven subtitulo "acción de gracias a la divinidad por haberme curada de una enfermedad" siendo como una meditación al estilo de un himno de suprma franqueza musical.ver explicac ión de los otros cuartetos de Beethoven en el ópus 132.
