Beethoven's Symphony No. 5, Third Movement
Painting Music
While visiting my son Gerin, I found a painting I had worked on about twelve years ago and it still gives me pleasure as I remember the process of its creation. The assignment I gave myself was to create a series of four paintings that visually portrayed the essence of one of the most famous pieces of music ever composed: Beethoven's Fifth Symphony.
The only way I knew how to do this was to close the door, turn the lights out and listen to this incredible piece of music over and over and over again and (in a sense) let it take me where it wanted. I noticed minute details I'd never really paid attention to before. The third movement (portrayed here) is a very ethereal, dark, moody section. And underneath the haunting music is a sort of rhythmic framework repeated throughout the piece: 1234...1234...1234...1234...As the third movement draws to a close, it gets quieter and quieter until it is almost silent...and then it explodes into the majestic first few notes of the fourth movement.
Remembering the fun of the creation of this set honestly makes me want to try it again. Any requests???
