7th Symphony in A major OP 92
Sue Lyons gave a wonderful lecture about Beethoven and his 7th Symphony to the dancers who will be performing the ballet “Ascension” at the Merlyn Theatre this September.
The lecture was about Beethoven‘s compositional elements, how he bridged the gap between the classical and romantic periods and how his music was more dramatic and emotional in comparison to Mozart‘s. The lecture also covered his life and how his deafness affected every aspect of his life – he composed the 7th Symphony when he was almost deaf.
There was an in-depth discussion about the form, style and rhythms of the 2nd & 4th Movements of the 7th Symphony and how it could relate to the ballet “Ascension”. The students responded with much interest and enthusiastically danced the 4th Movement in their seats! Jacob Edmonds said that his mother was very happy to hear about the lecture and said, “Your grandmother would be proud of you to know that you attended a lecture on Beethoven and his 7th Symphony” (Jacob Edmonds’s mother).
It was an exciting and unique opportunity for the dancers and dance staff and to have had the possibility to engage with the VCASS music department.
Again many thanks to Sue Lyons!
(The Beethoven Lecture was held on Thursday the 5th of August 2010).
JACINTA WALSH,
DANCE TEACHER