Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Ted Keer on Tom Snyder, Beethoven & Femmes Fatales:

Heavy Metal Thunder

Rand on Tomorrow

and There's a New Sheriff in Town

all new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Ne me pique pas!

High Court Bans French Pricks

at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Wilde Women, When to sue, not tip, & Tuchman too:

A Good Woman

The Guns of August

and Monty Python's Fliegender Zirkus

all new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Salsa, Thrash and The Golden Age of Illustration:

Edmund Dulac

The Cult of The Berserker

and The Girl from Guantanamo

all new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Celebrating 11,111 clicks, a Hero Triple Play:

"Heroes"

Man of the Century

and A Dog's Best Friend

all at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Sci-Fi Apocalypse, Immortal Fantasy, and Welles' Film Noir:

Tilda Swinton Chooses to Live Forever,

Greg Bear's Earth Meets its Maker,

and Heston in Welles' Tex-Mex Thriller:

All new at Radicals for Happiness.

[kiaer.ts]

A Bloom, two Ballads and Barack Better Work:

an Oscar winning Cactus Flower,

The Two Dimensional President?

and two Songs of Spain,

all new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Leeches, Spiders and Frogs

A Flawless Film

One whose flaws make it even better

And La Musica Satanica

All new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Gemstones, Time Machines & Benevolent Dictators

The Big Unlove Era

Nature's Myriad Ephemeral Forms

and Sam Erica on an Epic from the East

all new at Radicals for Happiness

[kiaer.ts]

Merry Christmas!

Beethoven's Ode to Freedom

Marlene Dietrich is Shanghai Lily

at Radicals for Happiness

[Chris Grieb]

Ted; Your Radicals for Happiness posts are always fun to look at. Best Wishes! Chris Grieb

[BaalChatzaf]

Merry Christmas!

Beethoven's Ode to Freedom

Marlene Dietrich is Shanghai Lily

at Radicals for Happiness

Beethoven's Ode to Freedom (the 4th movement of his 9th symphony), according to Rand, this music is malevolent. Some malevolent! What the dickens was Rand thinking?

Ba'al Chatzaf

[Reidy]

Take that, American Lung Association!

[kiaer.ts]

Thanks, Chris.  Funny, Peter.  Bob, you never commented on <a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/2008/11/beethovens-sixth-symphony-pastoral.html" class="bbc_url" title="External link" rel="nofollow">this post</a>.<br> <br> <img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6f/Beethoven.jpg">

[BaalChatzaf]

Thanks, Chris. Funny, Peter. Bob, you never commented on this post.

That scene from Soylent Green cut me to the quick. It so happens that Edward G. Robinson was a dying man when he shot that scene. He expired shortly after -Soylent Green- was in the can. Call me an eco-phreak, if you must, but I shed a tear for the late great Planet Earth and Robinson's death scene got to me.

As to Beethoven's music, it was bombastic, but not malevolent. I just don't understand what Ayn Rand had in mind. If Beethoven was not a happy scout, recall:

1. He was brutalized by hist drunken father, both physically and psychologically.

2. He went deaf. There is no worse fate than that for a musician and a composer.

3. He had the care of his nephew who was a no-good bum.

Is it any wonder that Beethoven scowled?

Ba'al Chatzaf

[kiaer.ts]

Thanks, Chris. Funny, Peter. Bob, you never commented on this post.

That scene from Soylent Green cut me to the quick. It so happens that Edward G. Robinson was a dying man when he shot that scene. He expired shortly after -Soylent Green- was in the can. Call me an eco-phreak, if you must, but I shed a tear for the late great Planet Earth and Robinson's death scene got to me.

As to Beethoven's music, it was bombastic, but not malevolent. I just don't understand what Ayn Rand had in mind. If Beethoven was not a happy scout, recall:

1. He was brutalized by hist drunken father, both physically and psychologically.

2. He went deaf. There is no worse fate than that for a musician and a composer.

3. He had the care of his nephew who was a no-good bum.

Is it any wonder that Beethoven scowled?

Ba'al Chatzaf

I knew about Robinson's dying of cancer as they filmed Soylent. One of my favorite movies, very, very well done. I will eventually write an article on it alone.

As for Beethoven, he could certainly be heavy and dark. Fate knocking on the door in The Fifth is not exactly cheerful. Nor the second movement of The Ninth. But "malevolent" is simply silly. She simply didn't like something about him, and so used that word which would rationalize her judgement. I will take Beethoven's "malevolence" over Mozart's treacle any day.

Just think, could Alexander de Large have been brainwashed to Tschaikovski?

As for "malevolence" - I love Siegfried's Funeral March, Night on Bald Mountain, Also Sprach Zarathustra - Dawn, Right of Spring, Carmina Burana - O, Fortuna. It's all lovely heavy metal to my ears.

[kiaer.ts]

If you Can't Say something nice..

Try laughing

New, at Radicals for Happiness.

[Michael Stuart Kelly]

Ted,

This whole idea of yours is pure delight.

Good on you for developing this.

Michael

[Alfonso Jones]

Thanks, Chris. Funny, Peter. Bob, you never commented on this post.

That scene from Soylent Green cut me to the quick. It so happens that Edward G. Robinson was a dying man when he shot that scene. He expired shortly after -Soylent Green- was in the can. Call me an eco-phreak, if you must, but I shed a tear for the late great Planet Earth and Robinson's death scene got to me.

As to Beethoven's music, it was bombastic, but not malevolent. I just don't understand what Ayn Rand had in mind. If Beethoven was not a happy scout, recall:

1. He was brutalized by hist drunken father, both physically and psychologically.

2. He went deaf. There is no worse fate than that for a musician and a composer.

3. He had the care of his nephew who was a no-good bum.

Is it any wonder that Beethoven scowled?

Ba'al Chatzaf

I knew about Robinson's dying of cancer as they filmed Soylent. One of my favorite movies, very, very well done. I will eventually write an article on it alone.

As for Beethoven, he could certainly be heavy and dark. Fate knocking on the door in The Fifth is not exactly cheerful. Nor the second movement of The Ninth. But "malevolent" is simply silly. She simply didn't like something about him, and so used that word which would rationalize her judgement. I will take Beethoven's "malevolence" over Mozart's treacle any day.

Just think, could Alexander de Large have been brainwashed to Tschaikovski?

As for "malevolence" - I love Siegfried's Funeral March, Night on Bald Mountain, Also Sprach Zarathustra - Dawn, Right of Spring, Carmina Burana - O, Fortuna. It's all lovely heavy metal to my ears.

Ted -

I've never thought I had a good understanding of Rand's condemnation of Beethoven. She stated that he was a very talented composer, though she abhorred his sense of life. I just don't perceive a malovelent sense of life in his work.

Perhaps Barbara B. can lend some insight on the connection Rand made.

Bill P

[Dragonfly]

As for Beethoven, he could certainly be heavy and dark. Fate knocking on the door in The Fifth is not exactly cheerful. Nor the second movement of The Ninth. But "malevolent" is simply silly. She simply didn't like something about him, and so used that word which would rationalize her judgement. I will take Beethoven's "malevolence" over Mozart's treacle any day.

Mozart's treacle?! You're as big a musical philistine as Rand herself... Did you ever listen to his piano concerto KV 488? (see for example

) (2nd movement), the pianoconcerto KV 466 or the concerto KV 491? The piano sonata KV 310? (see for example

(1st movement). The Fantasie KV 475? (see for example

). The Ave Verum Corpus?

[kiaer.ts]

As for Beethoven, he could certainly be heavy and dark. Fate knocking on the door in The Fifth is not exactly cheerful. Nor the second movement of The Ninth. But "malevolent" is simply silly. She simply didn't like something about him, and so used that word which would rationalize her judgement. I will take Beethoven's "malevolence" over Mozart's treacle any day.

Mozart's treacle?! You're as big a musical philistine as Rand herself... Did you ever listen to his piano concerto KV 488? (see for example

) (2nd movement), the pianoconcerto KV 466 or the concerto KV 491? The piano sonata KV 310? (see for example

(1st movement). The Fantasie KV 475? (see for example

). The Ave Verum Corpus?

Sorry, I did listen, and I can't say those peices did anything for me. I think Mozart vs Beethoven may be genetic, like Cat vs Dog. I did love Amadeus. I rushed out and bought some Mozart. I found out that all the good bits had already been used in the movie.

Treacle has its uses. I love pecan pie. Just because I don't find that I can enjoy something doesn't mean that I think others a wrong to do so.

And I invite you to post your recommendations at Radicals for Happiness.

Anyone who is interested in doing so should send me their email address thru OL.

[Dragonfly]

Sorry, I did listen, and I can't say those peices did anything for me.

Ok (although I find it difficult to imagine that such music can leave someone cold), but that isn't the same as saying that it's treacle, as that description certainly doesn't fit those pieces.

And I invite you to post your recommendations at Radicals for Happiness.

Well, thanks for the invitation, but I don't feel comfortable with giving that kind of more or less official recommendations. If I mention one thing I feel I must mention many other things as well, complete with arguments, and I just don't have the time to do that.

[kiaer.ts]

Thanks, Chris. Funny, Peter. Bob, you never commented on this post.

That scene from Soylent Green cut me to the quick. It so happens that Edward G. Robinson was a dying man when he shot that scene. He expired shortly after -Soylent Green- was in the can. Call me an eco-phreak, if you must, but I shed a tear for the late great Planet Earth and Robinson's death scene got to me.

As to Beethoven's music, it was bombastic, but not malevolent. I just don't understand what Ayn Rand had in mind. If Beethoven was not a happy scout, recall:

1. He was brutalized by hist drunken father, both physically and psychologically.

2. He went deaf. There is no worse fate than that for a musician and a composer.

3. He had the care of his nephew who was a no-good bum.

Is it any wonder that Beethoven scowled?

Ba'al Chatzaf

I knew about Robinson's dying of cancer as they filmed Soylent. One of my favorite movies, very, very well done. I will eventually write an article on it alone.

As for Beethoven, he could certainly be heavy and dark. Fate knocking on the door in The Fifth is not exactly cheerful. Nor the second movement of The Ninth. But "malevolent" is simply silly. She simply didn't like something about him, and so used that word which would rationalize her judgement. I will take Beethoven's "malevolence" over Mozart's treacle any day.

Just think, could Alexander de Large have been brainwashed to Tschaikovski?

As for "malevolence" - I love Siegfried's Funeral March, Night on Bald Mountain, Also Sprach Zarathustra - Dawn, Right of Spring, Carmina Burana - O, Fortuna. It's all lovely heavy metal to my ears.

Ted -

I've never thought I had a good understanding of Rand's condemnation of Beethoven. She stated that he was a very talented composer, though she abhorred his sense of life. I just don't perceive a malovelent sense of life in his work.

Perhaps Barbara B. can lend some insight on the connection Rand made.

I just read through Passion and The Objectivist this week, but found no help.

[kiaer.ts]

<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/08/Chinchillapets.jpg" align=right hspace=8 width=60%>Here are the four most recent posts at <a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/"><strong>Radicals for Happiness</strong></a>:

A <a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/2009/05/chinchilla-surprise.html"><strong>Baby Elephant</strong></a> excuse.

The best <a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/2009/07/walter-matthau-and-glenda-jackson-in.html"><strong>romantic comedy</strong></a> of 1980.

<a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/2009/08/united-breaks-guitars.html"><strong>Revenge music</strong></a> (with thanks to Paul Hibbert).

And the <a href="http://radicalsforhappiness.blogspot.com/2009/08/one-second-after-william-r-forstchen.html"><strong>must read novel</strong></a> of 2009.

[Barbara Branden]

Ted: "I've never thought I had a good understanding of Rand's condemnation of Beethoven. She stated that he was a very talented composer, though she abhorred his sense of life. I just don't perceive a malovelent sense of life in his work.

Perhaps Barbara B. can lend some insight on the connection Rand made."

Sorry. I've never had the least idea why Rand saw Beethoven as malevolent. I do know that she had heard very little of his work. My only guess is that she listened to a composition -- or part of a composition-- that was dark and gloomy. and assumed that the part gave her sufficient information about the total. I have seen her doing the equivalent successfully in the area of philosophy, that is, learning an aspect of a thinker's views and extrapolating the essence of his overall philosophy from that. aspect. It sometimes works with philosophies. It rarely works with music.

Barbara.