recent Beethoven find

[rojo]

Anybody hear about this?

Last summer a lost work (original manuscript) by Beethoven was found at a Philadelphia seminary. 'Grosse Fuge' (a piano duet) was auctioned off very recently for approx. 1.75 million $. The buyer remains anonymous...

Apparently the work was written towards the end of his life when he was deaf, and is harmonically dark and heavy. Go figure.

So, alright, was it someone here who bought it?

Just kidding. I just found it interesting.

 

[Strunch]

Yes, it was I

I simply had to choose: Opus 134 or a new Porsche, so I went with the opus

Not to be a nag, but wasn't it in the library at the Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania? That's what I've heard anyway.

 

[corno]

Well.. isn't Philly a rather big city in PA (Pennsylvania)? ;-)

And Wynnewood is actually in close proximity to Philly - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynnewood,_Pennsylvania

Look in a straight line northeast from the P in Philadelphia on this map: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/philadelphia.jpg

Here's some more info on the "Grosse Fuge" (originally for stringquartet but not also in a version for 4-hands piano): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Fuge

 

[Strunch]

Well.. isn't Philly a rather big city in PA (Pennsylvania)? ;-)

And Wynnewood is actually in close proximity to Philly - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wynnewood,_Pennsylvania

"Close proximity" doesn't count, heh. I'll have to find the opus 134 recording somewhere, now I'm too curious

 

[Strunch]

Look in a straight line northeast from the P in Philadelphia on this map: http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/world_cities/philadelphia.jpg

I see you just added some more, you're a source fanatic like me, hehe ..But I think you meant "northwest"? Minor glitch

 

[corno]

yeah... the "other" northeast!

 

[rojo]

The manuscript was being shown on tv (and elswhere); full of smudges and pen blotches. He was definitely in a bad mood.

In any case, I just find it startling that works like this one are still being discovered to this day; I wonder what the next find will be...

 

[Thomas Dressler]

Hey guys, I work about an hour from downtown Philadelphia. (If you follow the Delaware River on Corno's map, Lambertville, NJ is just a little bit above where the map cuts off.) I also used to live in that general vicinity, though now I live further north in the Pocono mountains. Anyhow, I can tell you from many trips into Philadelphia that it sprawls all over the place and you could drive from downtown to Wynnewood without ever feeling you left the city at all.

As for the score, I heard about its discovery on the radio on one of my trips to Lambertville. They said it was found at the bottom of a filing cabinet drawer.

It is amazing that things are still being found. I'm hoping for some of the important works that we know Bach wrote but have been lost.

By the way, isn't it a bit strange that there are THREE people with the name Thomas writing in this thread? Aren't we supposed to be doubting everything????

Thomas Dressler

 

[rojo]

Hi Thomas (Dressler, that is

),

Thanks a lot for posting that; I am vindicated!

I have been to Philadelphia, but only as a stopover on the way to Florida, so I didn`t get to see much other than the airport. Too bad, I understand the place is full of great things to see and do.

 

[Thomas Dressler]

I hope everyone can forgive me for straying off topic for a post, but I can't help but take the bait a little bit. Philadelphia is a big city, and it has it's fair share of "skankiness" but the interesting places there are really cool, especially if you like history. There are lots of things to see, but the outstanding pilgrimages for Americans, at least, are the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

By the way, it's been a long time since I've been there (like 10 years) but Montreal is one of my favorite cities! I can't speak Canadian French, but every time I've been there most people would speak Parisian French (so I could understand it) or English. I had a great time every time I was there!

 

[rojo]

Well, this thread does seem to have become a lesson in geography, through no fault of your own.

While the historical aspects of Philly are surely the most significant, I was refering mainly to the fine orchestra there, and the museums. If I remember correctly there was a big exhibit when I was passing through last march- Goya?

Ok, now I`ll take the bait- Sounds like you`ve been here often. Nice that you notice there`s a difference between France french and Quebec french; many people don`t. In terms of language, they are the same; it`s really just different accents and expressions.

Anyway, I think I made a thread on the subject of language already on this forum a while back, maybe in the community centre or open debate section; those interested may check it out. Or not.

A la prochaine, and to bring things back on topic, here`s hoping there are more interesting musical finds soon!