Numerous scholars have intensely scrutinized Beethoven's final five piano sonatas. However, only a select few have genuinely grasped and fully embraced the profound message they carry. Some of his words, such as 'durch Leiden Freude ', have been used to unlock the mystery of these sonatas. This phrase, encapsulating the idea of finding joy through suffering, resonates deeply in the fragments of Bettina Brentano's letter to Goethe, offering a glimpse into the transformative power of Beethoven's music.
"The Maestro's music, at its core, is a revelation. Those who delve into the depths of his music will discover more than just notes and melodies. They will find solace, a respite from the burdens that humanity carries. " This is not a mere statement but a profound insight into the transformative power of music, a power that transcends language and culture, offering liberation to all who listen.
However, Beethoven's music's transformative impact was palpable on the performers, who, through their relentless efforts and the intimate bonds they forged with the works, truly embodied the struggle and triumph these sonatas represent. This profound connection with the music often surpassed the public's understanding, who was sometimes disconcerted by its abstract appearance. The trust in the renowned artists who presented them often illuminated the true light of these works.
The study of musicology often involves analyzing compositions, including the new arrangements that musicians experimented with, to gauge the composer's mastery. However, these studies have often focused on the technical aspects of the music, overlooking the spiritual essence that holds the key to Beethoven's truly divine nature. This essence genuinely sets Beethoven's music apart and makes it a transcendent experience for the listener.
However, Bettina's letter to Goethe reveals all of Beethoven's artistry. It is undoubtedly the best introduction to understanding the Beethovenian message.
Bettina's letter offers a unique perspective on Beethoven's philosophy. It paints a picture of a mystical Beethoven, not in a religious sense, but as someone who sees music as a form of expression. If Bach had shared his perspective through his remarkable work, it would have been done with the innocence of his heart. He served God and did not intend to reveal one of his creative movements.
Beethoven, on the other hand, was different. His music reflected his inner world, which he increasingly withdrew into due to his deafness, granting him extraordinary insight beyond ordinary consciousness.
Beethoven was shaped harshly on the anvil of destiny, but he was gifted with the strength to endure it. Blessed with the ability to escape from ordinary consciousness, he was to be more confined in his inner world by his deafness. The exceptional concentration that composing demanded of him, the fact that he could no longer check the arrangement of sounds, acted on him in the manner of what we know from yoga or prayer exercises - the need to overcome these trials and bitter disappointments, the constant and triumphant struggle he sustained against despair - all these conditions fulfilled the disciplinary requirements imposed on adepts who seek Union.
So the arches of the secret worlds opened; he had become what we shall call an ecstatic. His music shares these inner journeys with us, so by adhering as fully as possible to these last works, we can follow this inner journey towards the ineffable, according to the measure of our strength, abilities, and enlightenment.
By fully immersing ourselves in Beethoven's last works, we can experience the claims and promises of music as revelation, higher than philosophy, and deliverance from the miseries that men drag behind them. His music becomes a revelation, a higher truth that transcends mere philosophical discourse, and a liberation from the burdens of human existence.
With joy as its supreme goal, Beethoven's art guides us through the challenging paths of pain, transforming our experiences.
"offering liberation to all who listen" : so true