Klarinet Archive - Posting 000053.txt from 1999/09

From: John Dablin <johnd@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Borrowing themes from other composers
Date: Thu, 2 Sep 1999 19:38:09 -0400

> On the radio yesterday evening I heard a piece attributed to Beethoven.
> The title had something to do with Battle Themes. It contained what
> seemed to be a lot of fanfares or antique bugle calls with some familiar
> themes that were later copied into popular songs after 1900. I
> recognized the first 2 themes, the 2nd one sounds like the original "For
> He's A Jolly Good Fellow". All done in the style of Beethoven.
>
> Does anyone know if Beethoven is the originator of these themes or did
> he steal them too?
Beethoven's "Battle Symphony" was written to celebrate the defeat of
Napoleon by the British at the battle of Vitoria in Spain in 1812. I
haven't heard it for a long time, but it contains patriotic and popular
songs of the time. It's probably fairer to say that Beethoven quoted
them rather than he stole them.

I'm sure there's someone who knows a lot more about it than me who can
supply more details.
--
John Dablin
Aylesbury UK

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