5 connections between works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky and Kernis

The NJSO performs Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony, Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme and Kernis’ Musica celestis, October 12–15. Check out some interesting ways these seemingly dissimilar pieces are connected.

1. Each piece has a word in its title that is older than the music itself: a culture, practice or expression.

“Musica celestis” (“heavenly music”), “Pastoral” and “Rococo” remind us of music’s connection to previous times and expressions.

 

2. The style of each work was inspired by an older style.

Musica celestis has Medieval inspirations, but also evokes the spirit of Beethoven’s (and other composers’) “Pastoral” music. This exposes a direct connection to Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony, which depicts nature and the simple lives of country folk. Influences of old church hymns and old wind bands appear throughout the symphony. Tchaikovsky’s deep adoration for Mozart can be heard throughout his career—this piece, particularly, is inspired by a style from that era, the Classical era.

 

3. All three composers wrote these works while in their 30s.

These are all early/mid-career works for these composers, exploring new areas of their sound world.

 

4. All three pieces start with a very simple idea and move to an intense, almost virtuosic pattern at some point.

These pieces start small, but gather momentum quickly.

 

5. All three pieces, in concept, could continue endlessly.

Development of each of them involves patterns and variations that are cyclical, with seemingly endless possibilities.