Ludwig van Beethoven was born in December 1770, probably on December 16, as he was baptized on the 17th, and it was customary at the time in the Catholic Church to baptize an infant within 24 hours of birth. Beethoven is widely regarded as one of the best classical composers, and his work is widely and instantly recognizable. I was introduced to Beethoven at a young age through my mother, who would occasionally play his piano compositions, especially the “Moonlight Sonata,” and by watching the film The Longest Day, which made use of the first four bars of the “Fifth Symphony”; they resounded in my little boy ears.
My journey to music appreciation is a long and winding, indeed turbulent, road. I sang in choir through high school and sometimes sing as a cantor at our local parish. But I certainly do not compose anything or even play any instruments. Some time ago, rummaging through old belongings, I found the old iPod I had when in high school. Shocked that it still worked, I turned it on, only to be horrified at what I used to listen to. (No need to get into that.)
See the full article by Paul Krause, December 15, 2022