December 16 - Ludwig van Beethoven (The Musical Birthday Series)

Ludwig van Beethoven’s (16 December 1770 – 26 March 1827) birthday is generally celebrated on

December 16, although there is no documentary proof of the date.  We know for certain he

was baptized on the 17th.

Some of the following are based on truth, some are mostly nonsense. 

A double dactyl is a biographically inspired humorous poem with very strict structural rules.   

Here are links to two  definitions for those who are curious.  The first from the  

Poetry Foundation is clearer but less accurate than the second, from Wikipedia.  Take 

your pick.  The classic statement is the book Jiggery-Pokery:  A Compendium of 

Double Dactyls by Anthony Hecht and John Hollander (New York, 1967).

A Beethoven Festival: Limericks and Double Dactyls for His Birthday

A Double Dactyl for L.v.B.: Hammerklavier

Higgledy-piggledy

Ludwig van Beethoven

Bothered his neighbors by

Playing at night.

When they complained he most

Undiplomatically

Hammered sonatas with

All of his might.

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Dedicated Material

Said one of his cronies when shown a part

Of the symphony written for Bonaparte,

“Although it’s heroic,

Prepare to be stoic

When all of Europa is blown apart!”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  

I. II. III. Fidelio 

When Beethoven finished the score

Of the opera he once called Leonore,*

He had quite a scramble

To write a preamble,

And instead of just one he wrote four.

*Use the English pronunciation

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A Double Dactyl for L.v.B.: The Bright Side

Higgledy-piggledy

Ludwig van Beethoven,

Finding his nephew had

Learned  “Für Elise,”

Said, as he bowed to in-

evitability,

“Deafness is blesséd at

Moments like these!”

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Exposition and Development

When Beethoven learned that his ears

Would only survive a few years,

He faced it undaunted

And checked out “Help Wanted,”

And thought about changing careers.

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Higher Purposes (Per aspera ad astra 1)

The Ninth has a choral finale

With soprano parts famously squally,

But nobody minds it

Because everyone finds it

So noble, uplifting, and jolly.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Seid umschlungen Millionen

In the Symphony Nine, called “The Choral,”

The baritone sings us the moral:

O Friends, not these sounds!

Let Joy know no bounds!

Embrace the whole world and don’t quarrel!

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

A Double Dactyl for L.v.B.: Per aspera ad astra 2

Higgledy-piggledy

Ludwig van Beethoven,

Told that his string quartet

Couldn’t be played,

Answered with turbulent

Irrationality,

“Then some new instruments

Have to be made.”

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