Evening, my friends.
Hope the back half of the weekend continues to be enjoyable.
A quick glance at the calendar confirms that we are now less than 10 days from our shared goal, with our journey now more than 2/3rds complete.
As for today’s countdown fun, as far as I know, Ludwig Van Beethoven never really profiled as a ballplayer! But his 9th Symphony (composed and presented nearly ten years after he had completely lost his hearing) was surely a home run. (Well, in the vast scheme of things, it was far more than that.)
When you think of Beethoven and some of the things he overcame (like, for example, the fact that his famous 9th symphony was 3+ decades in the making), his story, though largely tragic, is ultimately a triumphant one.
Born in Bonn, Germany in 1770, Beethoven’s family, though quite prosperous when he was a young boy, became steadily poorer. By age 11, he was forced to leave school. And by the time he turned 18, he was the family’s primary breadwinner.
Just a decade later, he began to notice he was losing his hearing. And incredibly, once he lost virtually all of his hearing, he still managed to complete his 5th Symphony, the one of his nine masterpieces that earned him the most
universal renown.
Among Beethoven’s other landmark achievements, his 9th symphony (most famous for its 4th movement, the “Ode to Joy,”) is still regarded as one of the greatest symphonies ever composed.
For all his genius and incredible musical vision, though, Beethoven suffered greatly in his later years. And he eventually succumbed to lead poisoning at the age of 56.
So, when you think of what Beethoven gave to all of us, I hope it’s cool that we take a moment out today to recognize what he accomplished.
And while I know it’s a small thing, by dedicating today’s countdown to him, we can honor his memory.
Wishing you sweet dreams of musical perfection, courtesy of the greatest composer in the history of classical music.
See you tomorrow.
JFish