My newfound respect for Beethoven!

31 March - I watched a documentary on "In Search of Beethoven" - and boy, this completely changed my concept of the composer. Well, I don't really study music in-depth though I do regularly hear all these composer names. So, not really going indepth (I never even really read about his life story) I was of the perception that Beethoven's music is all too nice and happy sounding all the time... too pretty... positive...

What I didn't see was how spiritual it all could be and relate with ministry. The background. The context it was written in.

Basically, Beethoven has a gift and passion for music of one of the highest degree. But he goes deaf. Nevertheless, he continues to pursue his art. Simple story, but this docu was extremely well done. It made me see the character, the person, the life, the journey. It makes you feel like you know this guy! Despite his troubles, struggles, sadness, loneliness, it brought out his genius and passion for music!

 (Phil)

Better still, that day we actually met the director/producer of this documentary. Amazing.

Phil Grabsky was there in person at Sinema OldSchool that evening to tell us more about how he made the film. Read interview here


I was so impressed I bought the DVD on the spot...!

Some of Beethoven's quotes that I like!

"Recommend to your children virtue; that alone can make them happy, not gold."

“Then let us all do what is right, strive with all our might toward the unattainable, develop as fully as we can the gifts God has given us, and never stop learning”

“Music is the mediator between the spiritual and the sensual life.”

It comes across to me now that Beethoven was actually living life to the fullest... he was a survivor. He had deafness and illness all his adult life, but never compromised on his main love of music and the art of composing music.

It is really inspiring....

Now when I hear his tunes, I won't just say,... ahh.. Beethoven... but rather, "woah it is Beethoven!"