Br. Paul Marich, O.P., on the Music of Beethoven

"On this day in 1827, the renowned classical composer Ludwig van Beethoven passed away. He spent his life writing music that has captivated listeners, from the stern opening sounds of his Symphony No. 5 to the stirring Für Elise and, perhaps most famously, his Symphony No. 9, which concludes with the famous 'Ode to Joy.' Beethoven was gifted with remarkable musical genius, standing as one of the greatest composers of all time. What makes his work all the more remarkable is that for much of his career he suffered from loss of hearing. This disability grew progressively worse throughout his lifetime, until he was completely deaf in the last decade of his life. While we are able to relish in the beauty of Beethoven's music, it's troubling to recall that he was unable to hear many of the masterpieces that he created. Surely his mind allowed him to imagine the sound and movement of his music, yet he was not able to sense the full beauty of his work when it was actualized by other musicians."

In a recent commentary, Brother Paul Marich, O.P., reflected on the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.

To access Br. Paul's complete post, please visit:


Dominicana: Songs of Joy (26 MAR 19)