A significant change of word

A significant change of word

News

norman lebrecht

September 17, 2022

Recorded during Covid by Sarah Beth Briggs and updated for constitutional propriety.

Beethoven knew his business.

photo: Chris Christodoulou

Comments

  • Gustavo says:
    September 17, 2022 at 8:00 am

    Das Lied “Heil dir im Siegerkranz” war von 1795 bis 1871 die preußische Volkshymne.

    Sorry.

    Reply
    • Una says:
      September 18, 2022 at 1:58 pm

      Yes, the national anthem for the German Empire that then got adopted by America at some point as ‘My Country, t’is of Thee!’ The music always travels, but the specific words don’t! Not sure Beethoven had our British monarchy or America in mind when he wrote this piano piece!

      Reply
      • guest says:
        September 18, 2022 at 4:37 pm

        British originally (1745) – then purloined first by Prussia (1795) and then later (1830s) by the United States. Beethoven was certainly thinking of Britain, not of Prussia. He wrote the variations for the Scottish folksong collector, George Thomson, with whom he had a business relationship (as NL wittily points out).

        Reply
  • Rodger says:
    September 17, 2022 at 11:48 am

    Nicely done.

    PS – We’re still “during Covid.” It hasn’t gone anywhere.

    Reply
  • E.R. says:
    September 17, 2022 at 12:38 pm

    Glorious. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  • Doc Martin says:
    September 17, 2022 at 11:53 pm

    I still prefer the music that makes Father Jack Hackett stand up!

    Does anyone know the words!

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w4SIQoj1aqA

    Reply
    • Maria says:
      September 18, 2022 at 1:52 pm

      This is just hilarious and a bunch of Irish Catholic priests not taking themselves too seriously. Can imagone this. appealing to King Charles’s sense of humour! Thanks for posting. A bit of light relief amidst the terrible sorrow so many of us are feeling in Britain and Northern Ireland.

      Reply

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