250th Anniversary of the Birth of Ludwig van Beethoven

-

1770 was the birth year of one of the most influential composer to have ever lived- the most frequently performed composer in the world. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the birth of Ludwig van Beethoven, who was born in Bonn, Germany, in 1770.  

I have been collecting composer stamps for more then 20 years and Beethoven stamps are one of my favorites. There had been more than 350 LVB stamps issued and more are coming this year being his birth year.

Beethoven's compositions are varied and many like his fiery concertos like the 5th.  My favorites are his sedate piano compositions like the Moonlight and Pathetique sonata.

Stamp above issued by Guernsey depicts a large bronze statue of Beethoven, which stands on the Munsterplatz in Bonn, Beethoven's birthplace.  Issue date - 21 January 2020. 


 

Date issued 02.01.2020

Motif: A stylized portrait of Beethoven superimposed with a neon clef. Beethoven’s handwritten signature “Bthvn”, with which he signed, completes the arrangement. 

“Who does not know the Moonlight Sonata, the piano piece For Elise, the 5th Symphony, which is also called Fate Symphony, and the Ninth Symphony, whose last movement forms the basis of the European anthem. All four pieces of music are by Ludwig van Beethoven, who is considered one of the most famous and most played composers of all time. With his work he has the Viennese Classic led to the highest development and the music of romance paves the way. His creations are part of the cultural heritage Humanity and its handwritten recording of the Ninth Symphony is part of the World Heritage of UNESCO. On the occasion of the 250th birthday of the composer and pianist, the present stamp will appear in early 2020.

Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized 1770 in Bonn) was the scion of a musical family. In 1778 he appeared as a piano-playing child prodigy for the first time publicly and gave a few years later own compositions in print. As French troops in 1794 occupying the Rhineland, Beethoven permanently moved to Vienna and celebrated great success there. Around 1800, he was back then not yet thirty years old, there were first signs of the coming deafness. From about 1813 he had to use ear tubes to to communicate with the environment, and probably around 1815 his last public appearance as a pianist took place.

Between 1802 and 1812 Beethoven composed most of his major works: six of a total of nine symphonies, several Piano Concertos, violin sonatas and string quartets as well as the opera Fidelio. In his last years he created the famous Missa solemnis, other piano and cello sonatas, songs and string quartets. In 1824, the Ninth Symphony was premiered, it applies until today as his most popular work. In early 1827 Beethoven showed symptoms of severe cirrhosis and could not leave the hospital bed. He died on March 26, 1827. In 1888 he received a grave of honor at the Vienna Central Cemetery.“


Popular posts from this blog

Rodolfo S. Cornejo on Stamp

-
Image
Rodolfo S. Cornejo is the first Filipino composer who received an honory degree from a government recognized music school in the United States . He is also remarkable for his pianistic and compositional know-how by improvising a piano composition at the spur of the moment.   He was born on 15 May 1909 in Singalong, Manila . At the age of six, he had his formal piano lessons. After 2 years, he played fourteen pieces and six encores for his recital. In that same year, he became the organist of the Pasay Catholic Church when they moved in. When he was ten, he composed a piano piece entitled, "Glissando Waltz". He became so keen and inspired about music by his mother's genuine support.    At 13, he composed the "Salute", a military march that was also published. He also composed the Philippine Suite: Paalam sa Pagakadalaga , Okaka Variations , Paalam na Sinta , Oriental Fantasy , Nocturne in G, Piano Concerto no. 1 , and the Moro Wedding Dance . At 14, twenty
Read more

Tops Artfest 2024- A Celebration of Art

-
Image
The TOPS ARTFEST 2024: Why The Cebu Community Should Not Miss It?  By Celso Duazo Pepito I was happy to graduate in Fine Arts in 1981 at the University of the Philippines Cebu . But for the next two to three decades of  my art practice, my journey as member of creative community were full of difficulties and challenges. In the 80's and 90's we had a very limited platforms for exhibition, thereby encouraging us to organize our exhibits in hotels , restaurants , malls , etc. Added to our problems is the limited art collectors in Cebu during that time. Attendees of exhibitions, more often than not were same people who have the heart for collecting artworks. And there were instances when these collectors will shy away from art exhibitions, with valid reasons that they do not have enough walls to hang their collections. With this problem in mind, few artists have opted to look for another job, if only to survive. There were few passionate painters, however, that opted to nurture the
Read more

Manuel H. Bernabe on Stamps

-
Image
Manuel H. Bernabe (1890-1960) “King of Balagtasan ” in Spanish was a poet, linguist and politician, Manuel Bernabe was born on February 17, 1890 to Timoteo Bernabe and Emilia Hernandez of Paranaque, Rizal .   At the age of 10, he already started writing verses. He studied at the Ateneo de Manila where he finished his Bachelor of Arts degree with high academic standing in 1907, and then took up law at the University of Santo Tomas , but not able to took up the bar exams. In 1910, Manuel’s first poem was published in the Renacimento Filipino.   In 1912, he translated Virgil’s Aenid from Latin to Spanish. In 1913, he received an award for his poems: “Himno al Sagrado Corazon de Jesus (Hymn to the Sacred Heart of Jesus ), “El Zapote,” and “Espana a Filipinas”.   In 1912, he joined the staff of La Democracia and in 1918, of La Vanguardia of the Roces Publications . He was a columnist but from time to time he also published poems and short stories in the magazine Exelsior.   Manuel a
Read more

Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era

-
Image
" Glimpses of Old Cebu: Images of the Colonial Era " is a 276-page coffee table book of nearly 600 of the best photographs, postcards , stereoviews and lantern glass slides of Cebu and its many towns taken between 1870-1945. More than just a mere showcasing of rare, never-before-seen images, the book also provides a treasure trove of information accompanying nearly every picture. The author, Lucy Urgello Miller has been collecting vintage Philippine postcards and photographs for over 20 years, the thrust of her collection being Cebu . She acquired 90% of her Cebu collection in the United States where she is living with her husband Richard "Rick" Miller. Most of the collection was bought at antique postcards shows. Lucy has about 1,000 pictures and postcards on Cebu but she selected only the best and most interesting for this book. Mommy Gingging, Lucy and my wife Grace A blue-blooded Theresian, Lucy spent her entire education from kind
Read more

Vicente Fabella on Stamps

-
Image
Vicente F. Fabell a (1891-1959). Educator, economist, civic leader and the first Filipino certified public accountant . He was the founder of Jose Rizal College .  He was born on May 7, 1891 in Pagsanjan , Laguna , the third of six children of Juan Fabella, who served as mayor of Pagsanjan during the Spanish and American regimes, and Damiana Fernandez.    He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the Philippines in 1912 and then continued his studies in the United States, obtaining concurrent degrees of bachelor of philosophy from the University of Chicago and diploma in commerce from Northwestern University in 1915. That same year, he became a certified public accountant in the state of Wisconsin .   In 1916, upon his return to the Philippines, he became a professional lecturer in accounting and auditing at the University of the Philippines . At the same time, he opened the accounting firm, Vicente Fabella and Company.   He was instrumental in the founding
Read more

Cebuano Artists Painting Collection- Celso Duazo Pepito

-
Image
The Will to Live 2021, ( Autostereogram )     When we look and appraise a painting by color blind Master artist Celso Duazo Pepito , one will immediately come face to face with a brilliantly made work of art.    He was born 54 years ago on the 22nd of November in Daan Bantayan , Cebu . He plunged into the world of art as a young man who showed special skills in lettering . He was surprised when he steps into the halls of the University of the Philippines that the fine arts course was after all about painting. His painting career soon took off soon after college.    There were years of facing struggles hurdling one trial after another. But, like college education, experience is considered as the best teacher. His paintings are known to contain imagery that is brought to life by crisp and clear lines, bold strokes and his usual usage of bright color scheming. But deep within his subjects are personal motives and intentions that come from his heart. The man is with a mission he
Read more