Week 35 – Beethoven’s Blog

Posted on August, 13th 2021

An die ferne Geliebte, (to the distant beloved) Opus 98
Der Mann von Wort Opus 99
Merkenstein Opus 100

We leave the three great masterpieces of last week’s discussion and now look at some far less known and underappreciated works. They are the songs of Opus 98,99, and 100. Opus 98 is the song cycle An die ferne Geliebte, (to the distant beloved) 1816, the Opus 99 song Der Mann von Wort 1816, and the Opus 100 song Merkenstein (re the Merkenstein ruins) 1814. Despite the “Ode to Joy” of the ninth symphony, the Missa Solemnis, and countless songs Beethoven wrote in his lifetime, he is not thought of as a great composer for the voice. Perhaps it is due to the stature of his incredible symphonic writings, his piano works, and his chamber music overshadowing all else but his vocal work is controversial. I have talked to many singers who truly dislike his vocal writing or at least don’t enjoy singing it. They claim that Beethoven didn’t understand the voice and wrote very awkwardly for it. Also, that it didn’t show the voice in it’s most comfortable and flattering range and so forth. Down the road in this blog we are going to be having another guest writer, Thomas Wikman, who is a great expert on the human voice, having taught voice and conducted great vocal works throughout his career. He will be doing a guest blog on the Missa Solemnis, one of Beethoven’s true masterpieces. Perhaps we can get him to comment on this controversial aspect of Beethoven’s writing. Nonetheless, as someone who is not an expert on the voice, let me say that I love listening to Beethoven’s vocal music. I love the songs and I think that you have to take them for what they are supposed to be, a pouring out from the heart. And in the Opus 98, die ferne Geliebte, we find one of the earliest ever song cycles composed. Of course we know that Schubert, Schumann, etc. wrote great song cycles but this one by Beethoven is one of the first, if not the first. It’s about a man’s longing for his distant love and how the separation pains his soul. And in the spirit of the romantic era that we’re entering, here’s an appeal to nature to convey his love to the distant one. I’m sure you will enjoy the recording that’s included with the great Fritz Wunderlich. I found a unique recording of it that has the subtitles embedded. Enjoy! I wasn’t so successful finding translations for the others but I think you’ll enjoy listening to the music anyway as I have. I must confess as a chamber musician and as a symphonic player I was unfamiliar with this music. How delighted and thrilled I am to now see a different part of Beethoven’s soul. Please enjoy As I have.

An die Ferne Geliebte Opus 98 Fritz Wunderlich

Der Mann von Wort Opus 99

Merkenstein Opus 100

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