Program Notes Mountain Laurel: Chamber Series

INSPIRATION

The year is 1807. We are in a fifth-floor dilapidated studio in the middle of a brutal Viennese winter. Freezing wind blows through the tattered curtains of a broken window. Beethoven is struggling to write a new symphony but the music paper is blank. He’s too worried about his bills and debts to concentrate. Suddenly, his landlord begins pounding on his door. Bang Bang Bang Baaaang. ‘Where is the rent?!’ Bang Bang Bang Baaaang. “Mein Gott!” shouts Ludwig as if struck by lightening. “That’s it. Bang Bang Bang Baaang. My fifth symphony.”
Now, even I, one of the most gullible people alive, don’t believe that. (In actuality, people say that a sweet little bird-call inspired Ludwig’s famous 4 note “fate theme.”) But the point is this: all composers, artists in general, are inspired by something and I would say 99.99% of the time, that ‘something’ certainly not a bolt out of the blue.
This first of our Family Chamber Concerts here at Mountain Laurel is titled, Inspiration, and this morning I will attempt to offer a little insight into two pieces that have been inspired by material written by other people.
The first is by the aforementioned Beethoven who took a famous theme of Mozart’s and spun out variations.
The other is a World Premier by a young English composer Nicholas Korth, who is here with us to day. Korth’s piece was inspired by a Whitman poem. In fact, every concert will feature a new composer and most of them will be here to discuss their pieces. (This is, in fact, our second world premier here at Mountain Laurel; the first, The Nightingales Prepare, was premiered by Dick Hyman in June.)

Music can be the most communicative force between human beings. From Beethoven to Korth, it contains human thoughts and emotions that cannot (and should not!) be expressed in words. Now, it is not my intention to cram 4 years of music theory into a 40-minute lecture. But I’m hoping to give you a key that might unlock the door to a couple of pieces of music. Hopefully, you’ll be inspired to come back and hear the next 4 afternoon concerts. Or even go out and hear another concert on your own. That would be great!
Enjoy.