moonlight sonata

Ludwig Van Beethoven actually intended for his pieces to be played a lot faster but no orchestra could manage it so they had to slow it down. Here is moonlight sonata 3rd movement played in the original intended tempo. Simply amazing.

~ Valentina Lisitsa

moonlight sonata

Wilhelm Kempff plays Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata mvt. 1

published on this date in 1802

they bless me

I spend all my morning with the muses;  
- and they bless me also in my walks.

Compelled to contemplate a lasting malady,

 born with an ardent and lively temperament, 

susceptible to the diversions of society, 

I was obliged at an early date to isolate myself and live a life of solitude....

For me there can be no recreation in human society, refined conversation,

 mutual exchange of thoughts and feelings; only so far as necessity

 compels may I give myself to society,—

I must live like an exile. 

~ from the Ludwig van Beethoven journals

with thanks to Roderick Maclver

at heron dance

portrait by 

Joseph Karl Stieler