Spike versus Beethoven: a Poll

My FAQ post the other day lent itself to some Buffy discussion in the comments -- Spike quote-sharing, favorite and least favorite characters, etc. -- if you've seen Buffy, feel free to contribute. And I've started Season 5 and couldn't be happier. I'm thinking way too much about it, really, and want to talk about this show more here someday. And maybe particularly about Spike, because while I continue to love his humor, his insight, his large yet despicable heart, his twisted approach to relationships, and his reliably terrible decisions... I KNOW there must be some Spike dissenters out there who'd like to express themselves. HOWEVER. Now isn't the time to get into it, because I'm only on Season 5, so I don't have all the data yet. So. Maybe we could talk about Buffy more sometime in the future? :)
(NOTE: please feel free to comment now as much as you like! I know the plot of Buffy in general and Spike in particular all the way through Season 7, and I don't mind Buffy spoilers. [It's the only thing I don't mind spoilers for, actually!] All I mean to say here is that I don't feel qualified to contribute to the discussion myself yet. Knowing what happens is different from watching how it plays out. For example, I know the facts of what happens with Buffy and Spike in Season 6, and let me tell you, I'm prepared for the possibility that it's going to be fabulous OR the most horrible, creepy thing ever. -- Feel free to tell me what you thought.)
Now, stand back, because I'm about to geek out about Beethoven. (Again.)
Behind this link is one of the most beautiful movements of a piano sonata ever written, IMO: the second movement of Beethoven's Piano Sonata No. 23, Opus 57 (the "Appassionata"). (If you want to hear the whole sonata, just click on the first movement and it will carry you all the way through.) What I love about the second movement is its simplicity. It presents a single melody, plays it through once, and then repeats it, faithfully, four more times, but in four beautiful variations. Listen for yourself. The melody is played through the first time in the first 1:40. You'll notice that it itself contains repetition: a simple melody; repeat; a second simple melody; repeat. Then, at 1:41, we start the whole thing over, with minor variations, and play it all the way through. The version that makes me want to die of happiness is the third go-through, which starts at 3:05. The fourth go-through starts at 4:18, and the final, which very much recalls the original, starts at 5:28.
Much of music is about repetition and variations on a theme... but, well, I guess I love how simply it's all played out in this lovely little movement. Plus, for me, with Beethoven, it isn't just the way he repeats and plays with his melodies and themes. I love the way he repeats notes within his melodies and themes. Have you ever hummed or whistled a melody and suddenly realized you've been humming/whistling the same note over and over again? This happens a lot with Beethoven; it's a thing you might notice now and then in the Appassionata. He is so good at repeating the same note over and over again and making it beautiful!
Oh my goodness. I just went off to find a youtube of the second movement of his Seventh Symphony, intending to try to explain what I mean in words -- so guess how excited I am that I found THIS?
Press play and watch along; it shows just what I mean about Beethoven repeating the same note over and over, while using other instruments to weave all around the repeating notes. It's characteristic of much of the movement, but the most glaring example is probably from 6:00 to 6:22 -- note the places where a single color remains stuck in a horizontal pattern, a straight or dotted line. Gorgeousness and gorgeosity made flesh! The Fifth Symphony has some other good examples. Especially go to 3:28 or 3:55 or 6:51 here.
Okay. Some of you have been very patient today, humoring me and the Beethoven squee. Others have decided to drop me from your blog readers. Regardless, it's now time for a highly scientific poll. In the interest of fairness, since I've stuck so much Beethoven in your faces, I need to stick some Spike in your faces before asking you to vote, especially for those of you who've never met him. Context: Buffy has just found Spike lurking behind a tree outside her house, and has punched him in the face.
Okay. Some of you have been very patient today, humoring me and the Beethoven squee. Others have decided to drop me from your blog readers. Regardless, it's now time for a highly scientific poll. In the interest of fairness, since I've stuck so much Beethoven in your faces, I need to stick some Spike in your faces before asking you to vote, especially for those of you who've never met him. Context: Buffy has just found Spike lurking behind a tree outside her house, and has punched him in the face.
And if you care to see the next part of the conversation:
And now, please vote! (If you can't see the poll, click here!)
Have a nice weekend, everyone :o). Coming next week: short posts!
Comments
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO0LYcCoeJY
--candelion
My Miss Spitfire playlist consisted entirely of:
Sonata #14 in C sharp minor (Moonlight)
Sonata #4 in C (Waldstein)
Sonata #21 in C minor (Pathetique)
I've never even heard #23 before today, but it took me straight back to Annie and Helen. Boom.
Spike>Beethoven>>>>>>>>Angel
Lots of great reviews of Buffy and Angel, as well as a message board that's still pretty active even after all this time--and comprised of a great group of people to boot. And yes, I am one of those who frequents the forums. ;)
Also? We're big on using capital letters, punctuation, grammar, and all those other little extras that so often are absent from internet forum posts. Tara would definitely approve. The board can be found here: http://scubiefan.proboards.com/index.cgi
Anyway, just thought you'd like to know. Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to finally digging into Fire this weekend...
Not only that, but this is possibly the best visual metaphor for plotting and/or multi-voice narration, ever. I will be blogging about this. Yes ma'am.
And now I'm going to die of happiness watching the music animation machine crank out Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata.
Oh, but THAT movement from Appasionata... It can't be ignored. I wonder if we can get a video of Spike playing that piece on a musical instrument... or dancing to it... or maybe just put together a compilation of Spike moments set to it...
Beethoven is totally amazing at doing a lot with a little. Two more examples are the "Ode to Joy" in the fourth movement of the Ninth Symphony and the Diabelli Variations, a massive piece of music based on a little waltz theme.
That visualization of the second movement of the Seventh Symphony is both really simple and really powerful. I immediately started thinking of other pieces of music I'd like to see that way. The third movement of the Brahms Requiem would be interesting. The last three minutes of the movement, the lowest instruments in the orchestra all play a single low note continuously while the rest of the orchestra and chorus play a complex fugue above them.
I'm totally fascinated by sets of variations. Some of my favorites include Bach's Chaconne from the Violin Partita in D minor, Brahms' Handel Variations, Paganini's Caprice #24 for violin, and Berio's "Four versions of Boccherini's 'Riterata Notturna di Madrid' superimposed and transcribed for orchestra," which is its own special brand of craziness. The Paganini caprice is very popular with other composers who have written their own sets of variations on his theme. Some composers who have written Paganini variations include Rachmaninoff, Brahms, and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Also, because I can't let things go, I have to mention that the Pathetique and Waldstein sonatas, mentioned by Sarah Miller above, are usually listed as #8 and #21 respectively.
I'm sure you have, but if you haven't seen "Copying Beethoven"(2006, Ed Harris/Diane Kruger) - watch it this weekend!!
Melissa, I studied piano for years, took a Beethoven class in college, and have always been an amateur student of music. I'm sure I would absolutely adore an F&A class. Maybe I'll keep it in mind for the future. (In my imagination, I have lots of time for things in the future. ^_^)
Artemis: Spike playing Beethoven -- what a perfect solution to the problem of having to choose one or the other! (Which reminds me: I love how in recent episodes, Giles has shown his stripes as a musician.)
Sarah, it didn't occur to me to relate the video to plotting or narration, or writing at all. I LOVE that idea. And I have to say that one of my favorite piano moments was when I tried (unsuccessfully) to play the 3rd movement of the Moonlight and discovered, in my extremely slow attempt, how many parts of it recall the 1st movement. Just played WAY faster.
I'm now about to put a couple movies on hold at the library -- thanks, everyone!
And feel free to make your posts as long as you like, provided there is Buffy squee at the end.
I voted Spike. But I agree with mrmorse - cheese and the internet. Both great. Very tough decision.
Candelion is also correct (imho) - most of us love your long long posts. And I promise next time to read them unhurriedly (unlike I did with Monday's post when I didn't answer your actually question). Sorry Kristin and fellow posters. In apology, I will leave you another great Spike quote from Season 6:
Spike: *Randy* Giles? Why not just call me Horny Giles or Desperate-For-A-Shag Giles? I knew there was a reason I hated you.
SPOILER: they first kiss in Once More With A Feeling episode. The MUSICAL episode!! best episode ever.
Tegan xox
PS Spike does have the best hair
My first visit here and enjoyed it tremendously.
Felt you should know...
Second! Beethoven = love (& so is Clockwork Orange and I love that you used that quote).
I was recently reccommended your books to read as i was looking for a series that features strong female characters as well male ones. I also wanted to read a series that featured diverse multicultural characters as main characters not just as background decoration, can you tell me if your books have that (i.e characters of different races (indian, black, oriental). If your books don't do you have any plans for future books? or could you recommend a series? I'm particularly looking for books which feature black or asian heroines/lead characters.
Thanks for your time
Samantha
Sorry, this is partly off-topic but I couldn't find an email address anywhere to send you my appreciation about your pep talk for Nanowrimo on November 21st. It was so encouraging to read that you deal with the same problems as I do, with doubts about the ability to do this writing job and in particular to put all these ideas (all over the house) in the right place in the growing novel. It's my daily fear and obstacle, but seeing that you face it too and deal with it in a loving way, encouraged me a lot.
I share your love of Beethoven! Very nice to have it visualised like this. I'll show it to my daughter (9) so that she will be even more enthusiastic about classical music than she already is.
Thanks very much,
Regards,
Joost Boekhoven
The Netherlands