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To: jammer

Beethoven wrote his third symphony in 1803. By that time the Terror had been over for almost a decade and Napoleon was well on his way to waging war against most of Europe. It’s only when he declared himself Emperor in 1804 that Beethoven drew the line. By that time the symphony was already finished and was merely re-titled Eroica (the original title was Bonaparte).


26 posted on 12/17/2012 12:43:21 PM PST by Borges
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To: Borges
Okay. My memory of French history was fallible this AM. All I could remember is the photo of the autograph in one of my books. But so what? The point is that Beethoven wasn't some deranged follower of imperialist Napoleon as the post I replied to implied.

Although the date is always given as 1803, it was not completed, evidently, until 1804.

Somewhat OT, our symphony conductor in one of his pre-symphony sessions said that he believed this was his favorite. I was astonished at that assertion, considering the others, but the older I get, the more I am coming around to that thinking.

36 posted on 12/17/2012 3:49:49 PM PST by jammer
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