The Theme and Variations has been temporarily suspended, due to some struggling with Beethoven's Piano Sonata, No. 21, Opus 53, the "Waldstein". Named for and dedicated to Count Ferdinand Ernst Gabril von Waldstein of Vienna, Austria in 1803 (he was a patron and friend of Beethoven's). I'm in the throes of trying analyze this monster. I chose it for my paper because I like how it sounds, but now I'm kind of wishing I'd chosen an earlier, simpler sonata. Oh, well.
I think you may have heard this famous sonata opening in a car commercial within the last couple of years and in the opening sequence of the HOUSE episode guest starring Dave Matthews (YAY!). The opening driving eighth-notes of the Waldstein is the sonata that Dave's character is playing before his brain starts to blow up. And then he becomes the Patient of the Week. Dave's character, not Beethoven. Though Beethoven may have benefited from some medical diagnostic assistance from Dr. House...poor Ludwig. His health was never very good throughout his life, then he went deaf.
Music Zombie will return shortly with the concluding Variations. BTW, if you haven't figured out where the Theme and Variations are derived from, you just aren't paying attention.
Cheers! :-)
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