Post by Pontifex Maximus on Nov 2, 2021 14:57:15 GMT
Source: My 7th grade music and art book (also translated by me because it's in Vietnamese. Some of the translations may be wrong as well)
In 1787, Beethoven went to Vienna, the Austrian capital, for the first time. He was there to meet Mozart, a talented musician. When Beethoven came, Mozart was writing another music piece. Mozart opened the door and saw a strong 17 year old boy with wide shoulders, large forehead, although with shining eyes. The boy said: "I know you are very busy sir but I came from Bonn to here just wanting to learn from you." From the day Mozart was incredibly popular, he was afraid because people kept calling him a prodigy and wanted to learn from him. Mozart understood the art of music isn't the way to eternal glory. In the art of music, wrongly rating a person is the same as making them suffer their whole life.
Mozart pointed to a piano and said: "You young man from Bonn, play your favorite song." Beethoven sat at the chair, gently put his hands onto the piano, his fingers "surfing" on the piano keys. The first few notes led Mozart to think about a familiar sonata, requiring many complicated techniques. With a generous style, the young teenager reached the level of prodigy. Looking back at Mozart, Beethoven thought the talented musician would be impressed by his performance. In actuality, he was surprised when he saw the musician sort of "neglect" him. When the music stopped, Mozart nodded and said: "Quite impressive! The music is good and you used a good technique. Just continue to practice and you will become a talented musician." A talented musician? Beethoven never dreamed of following that road. He just wanted to compose some good music before he could leave this earth! He tried to avoid the nervousness and said: "Sir, I would really like to start composing music. Please give me a topic and I will try to compose a music piece for you to rate." Mozart looked at the boy, thinking for a bit, then walked to the piano, all fingers playing it at seemingly random speed to think of a topic. He looked at the boy with a face that said "Here's a topic! Now you try to compose a piece of music."
A few seconds passed by. Beethoven didn't flinch. Under his fingers, a calm sound began to play, at some moments the song was peaceful and at some moments the song was so intense Mozart had to put his hands against his own head because it was as if the music was sucking away his life. "Stop!", Mozart shouted. Hearing the composition from the heart of Beethoven, Mozart asked: "What is your name?" in which the young boy replied "My name is Ludwig van Beethoven, sir". Mozart walked toward him, put his hands which were still trembling from the intensity of the music on Beethoven's shoulder and said: "Your name should be known all over the world!"
The young boy from Bonn felt emotional after hearing those lines from the talented musician known as Mozart.
In 1787, Beethoven went to Vienna, the Austrian capital, for the first time. He was there to meet Mozart, a talented musician. When Beethoven came, Mozart was writing another music piece. Mozart opened the door and saw a strong 17 year old boy with wide shoulders, large forehead, although with shining eyes. The boy said: "I know you are very busy sir but I came from Bonn to here just wanting to learn from you." From the day Mozart was incredibly popular, he was afraid because people kept calling him a prodigy and wanted to learn from him. Mozart understood the art of music isn't the way to eternal glory. In the art of music, wrongly rating a person is the same as making them suffer their whole life.
Mozart pointed to a piano and said: "You young man from Bonn, play your favorite song." Beethoven sat at the chair, gently put his hands onto the piano, his fingers "surfing" on the piano keys. The first few notes led Mozart to think about a familiar sonata, requiring many complicated techniques. With a generous style, the young teenager reached the level of prodigy. Looking back at Mozart, Beethoven thought the talented musician would be impressed by his performance. In actuality, he was surprised when he saw the musician sort of "neglect" him. When the music stopped, Mozart nodded and said: "Quite impressive! The music is good and you used a good technique. Just continue to practice and you will become a talented musician." A talented musician? Beethoven never dreamed of following that road. He just wanted to compose some good music before he could leave this earth! He tried to avoid the nervousness and said: "Sir, I would really like to start composing music. Please give me a topic and I will try to compose a music piece for you to rate." Mozart looked at the boy, thinking for a bit, then walked to the piano, all fingers playing it at seemingly random speed to think of a topic. He looked at the boy with a face that said "Here's a topic! Now you try to compose a piece of music."
A few seconds passed by. Beethoven didn't flinch. Under his fingers, a calm sound began to play, at some moments the song was peaceful and at some moments the song was so intense Mozart had to put his hands against his own head because it was as if the music was sucking away his life. "Stop!", Mozart shouted. Hearing the composition from the heart of Beethoven, Mozart asked: "What is your name?" in which the young boy replied "My name is Ludwig van Beethoven, sir". Mozart walked toward him, put his hands which were still trembling from the intensity of the music on Beethoven's shoulder and said: "Your name should be known all over the world!"
The young boy from Bonn felt emotional after hearing those lines from the talented musician known as Mozart.
