The Violin Shop: 'Beethoven, Kreutzer and Bridgetower. Oh, What a Sonata!'

[George Bridgetower]

A blog post on the birthday of Rodolphe Kreutzer suggests that the reader “Read more about him in a great article.” The reference is to a detailed historical essay on the George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower page at AfriClassical.com. Its author is our principal advisor, Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma, http://www.CasaMusicaledeLerma.com:

The Violin Shop

Blog.FeinViolins.com

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

“If you're a violinist or a Beethoven fan, you probably know of Rodolphe Kreutzer. Today, November 16 marks the birthday in 1766 of Rodolphe Kreutzer. Probably the finest violinist of his time, Beethoven's 'Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major' is dedicated to Kreutzer and is known as the 'Kreutzer Sonata'. If you're a string player, you have probably worked your way through Kreutzer's 'Etudes' at some point in your playing career.

“How about George Bridgetower? Know about him? Ever heard of him? Probably not. But you should! George Bridgetower was one of the first African-European violinists of prominence. Born in 1778, Bridgetower grew up in the households of Hungarian Prince Esterhazy, Haydn's patron. George Bridgetower learned violin at an early age and showed considerable talent. By the late 1780's, Bridgetower was concertizing in some of Europe's largest cities.

“In 1803, Bridgetower was in Vienna. He met and played music with Beethoven. Beethoven was so impressed that he dedicated his 'Violin Sonata No. 9 in A Major' to Bridgetower.” “While the dedication doesn't seem to read well in terms of twenty-first century sensibilities, the dedication implies we might have known the Sonata No. 9 as the 'Bridgetower Sonata.'

“George Bridgetower was also the first performer of Sonata No. 9, performing it at 8 AM on May 24, 1803 at the Augarten Theater in Vienna with Beethoven on pianoforte. How good a violinist was George Bridgetower? He sight read the piece as it was performed! No rehearsal, no nothing! And it went mah-vell-luhsleeee! Performing at 8 AM left time for Ludwig and George to go out drinking after the performance. Probably not such a good idea. In the course of this drinkathon, Bridgetower said something that Beethoven took as an insult to a woman that was his (Beethoven's) friend. Out comes the eraser! The dedication to George Bridgetower is taken off and a new dedication to Rodolphe Kreutzer is written in.”

“George Bridgetower is a fascinating violinist. Read more about him in a great article. There was also a New York Times article on April 2009 by Felicia R. Lee, 'Poet's Muse: A Footnote to Beethoven'. The City of London Festival has an online reading and listening resource about George Bridgetower. Oh, and remember, if you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all. It might cost you a sonata dedication.”

Dr. Timothy W. Holley on Beethoven's Op. 47: “I avoid referring to it as the 'Kreutzer'”

[George Bridgetower and Raycurt Johnson, Violinist and Baritone]

Dr. Timothy W. Holley of North Carolina Central University writes in response to our Dec. 14 post:

“Washington Musica Viva: Raycurt Johnson & Carl Banner in 'The Bridgetower Sonata' Dec. 22”:

“Bill,

Good morning. I'm interested in communicating with Raycurt Johnson sometime about Beethoven, Bridgetower and Kreutzer and the 'Opus 47'. I avoid referring to it as the 'Kreutzer' after having given a lecture on those three in 2008 for Black History Month here at NCCU. Rita Dove would certainly be interested to know about his performance; her recent volume of poetry 'Sonata Mulattica' focuses on that work and several figures proximate to Beethoven and Bridgetower in 1803.

I wish him the best with this performance!!

TWH"

Raycurt Johnson has a website at http://www.raycurt.com/. His email address is: Raycurt.mc@googlemail.com [George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860) is featured at AfriClassical.com on a page researched and written by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin.]

Comment by email:

Thanks for the forward to Raycurt..and the quick edit job!! Tim

Washington Musica Viva: Raycurt Johnson & Carl Banner in 'The Bridgetower Sonata' Dec. 22

[George Bridgetower and Raycurt Johnson, Violinist and Baritone]

Washington Musica Viva

Sunday, December 12, 2010

The Bridgetower Sonata

About George Bridgetower, from Raycurt Johnson:

He visited Vienna later in 1803, where he performed with Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven was impressed, and dedicated his great Violin Sonata No. 9 in A major (Op. 47) to Bridgetower, with the goodheartedly mocking dedication Sonata per uno mulaticco lunattico. Barely finished, the piece received its first public performance at the Augarten Theatre on 24 May 1803, with Beethoven on pianoforte and Bridgetower on violin. Bridgetower had to read the violin part of the second movement from Beethoven's copy, over his shoulder. He made a slight amendment to his part, which Beethoven gratefully accepted, jumping up to say "Noch einmal, mein lieber Bursch!" ("Once more, my dear fellow!"). Beethoven also presented Bridgetower with his tuning fork, now held by the British Library. The pair fell out soon afterwards, Bridgetower having insulted a woman who turned out to be Beethoven's friend; Beethoven broke off all relations with Bridgetower and changed the dedication of the new violin sonata to the violin virtuoso Rudolphe Kreutzer, who never played it, saying that it had already been performed once and was too difficult — the piece is now known as the Kreutzer Sonata.

“BEETHOVEN Christmas Holiday Soiree

Filming Recital at the

Shiloh Baptist Church Chapel Hall

1500 9th street N.W.

Washington, D.C.

“Wednesday December 22 2010, 7:00 pm

Ludwig von Beethoven Sonata #9 in A major, Op.47

*Sonata per uno mulaticco lunattico.*

Re-dedication as Kreutzer Sonata

“George Frederick Handel, Excerpts from the 'MESSIAH' Oratorio.

'Thus saith the Lord': and 'But Whom may abide the day of his comming'"

“Raycurt Johnson, Violinist/Baritone

Carl Banner, Pianist”

[George Augustus Polgreen Bridgetower (1780-1860) is featured at AfriClassical.com on a page researched and written by Prof. Dominique-René de Lerma of Lawrence University Conservatory in Appleton, Wisconsin.]