# Beethoven and a storm

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [April 25, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325 "2010-04-25T19:49:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 9\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/1 "2010-04-25T19:49:47Z")

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I’m working on a lengthy project today, and decided to set my iTunes to play all the Beethoven Symphonies. About 5.6 hours of pure genius.

Just as the last movement of the Ninth started it got really dark outside, and a huge storm hit. And a few minutes from the end of the symphony, the power went out. It’s back on now, but . . . wow.

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/2 "2010-04-25T19:51:55Z")

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Freaky! But it should have happened during the Sixth.

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**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/3 "2010-04-25T19:54:30Z")

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Beethoven’s been my favorite classical composer ever since I heard Ode to Joy and Moonlight Sonata’s 3rd movement

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**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/4 "2010-04-25T20:01:39Z")

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I can’t think of Beethoven without thinking of the “Ode To Joy” scene near the end of “Immortal Beloved.” Powerful movie! Also, of course, Fantasia.

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**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/5 "2010-04-25T22:13:59Z")

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Mozart has the classic purity of light and the red ocean; Beethoven the romantic grandeur which belongs to the storms of air and sea, and while the soul of Mozart seems to dwell on the ethereal peaks of Olympus, that of Beethoven climbs shuddering the storm-beaten sides of a Sinai. Blessed be they both! Each represents a moment of the ideal life, each does us good. Our love is due to both.  
Henri-Frédéric Amiel

also - Immortal Beloved - one of my favorite movies.

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**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\
**Post date:** [April 25, 2010, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/6 "2010-04-25T22:57:45Z")

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> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#):
>
> Freaky! But it should have happened during the Sixth.

It’s showering here now. Maybe if I play the WIlliam Tell Overture\* it’ll rain really hard and then clear up before sunset.

\*yeah, I know Beethoven didn’t write that.

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**Author:** ![Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@Myron\_Van\_Horowitzski](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myron_Van_Horowitzski)\
**Post date:** [April 26, 2010, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/7 "2010-04-26T23:25:41Z")

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Did you shake your fist at the storm? I would have.

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**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/8 "2010-04-27T02:22:22Z")

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Around 1960, one of the network news programs used the second movement of the 9th as its theme music. On one occasion as we were watching, there was a peal of thunder at the exact point of the first entry of the timpani in the initial bars.

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**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\
**Post date:** [April 27, 2010, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/beethoven-and-a-storm/537325/9 "2010-04-27T02:27:32Z")

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> [@YogSosoth](#):
>
> Beethoven’s been my favorite classical composer ever since I heard Ode to Joy and Moonlight Sonata’s 3rd movement

That third movement of Moonlight is one of my Desert Island wave files. Preferably Glenn Gould’s performance, but Brendel would suffice.

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