That Wild Waltz of Von Weber’s
Involuntary Encounters with an Obstinate Tune
Topic: memory. The tune known as ‘Weber’s last musical thought’ is not by Carl Maria von Weber, but it is nevertheless an interesting piece of cultural history. With forays into the works of Kierkegaard, E.A. Poe, Debussy, and a rendition of Erik Satie’s Avant-dernière pensée no. 2.
Text quotations:
C.G. Reissiger, Suum cuique. Niederrheinische Musik-Zeitung fur Kunstfreunde und Künstler. Jg. 3 nr. 29 1855
N. Perry, That Waltz of Von Weber’s. Marin County Journal vol. 13 nr. 23, 21-8-1873
S. Kierkegaard, Journals and Papers: Autobiographical, 1829-1848. Edited by Gregor Malantschuk. Indiana University Press, 1978.
S. Kierkegaard, Die Krankheit zum Tode: Furcht und Zittern : Die Wiederholung : Der Begriff der Angst. Edited by Niels Thulstrup, Hermann Diem, and Walter Rest. Philosophisch-Theologische Schriften. Köln etc.: Hegner, 1956.
Th. de Banville, Les Stalactites. Lemerre, 1889.
M. Fuchs, Théodore de Banville, 1823-1891. Cornély, 1912.
H. Berlioz, Mémoires de Hector Berlioz comprenant ses voyages en Italie, en Allemagne, en Russie et en Angleterre 1803-1865. Levy Frères, 1870.
E.A. Poe, Selected Writings. Penguin, 1967.
Musical quotations:
C.M. von Weber, Aufforderung zum Tanz. Piano* (digitally reconstructed Conrad Graf, 1826)
C.G. Reissiger, Danses brillantes op. 26 no. 5. Piano* (digitally reconstructed Conrad Graf, 1826)* (also: barrel organ, harp)
C. Debussy, Nuits d’étoiles. Véronique Gens, Roger Vignoles. Nuit d’Étoiles: Mélodies Françaises. Virgin Classics 2000
C.G. Reissiger, Danses brillantes op. 26 no. 5. Jacqueline Bonneau. Classiques favoris du piano. Ducretet Thomson 1958
E. Satie, Avant-dernières pensées, nr. 2, Aubade. Piano* (with recitation)
*Piano: Lodewijk Muns, unless otherwise specified.
This podcast is offered for free. Making it takes some inspiration, a lot of enthusiastic labour, a lifetime of experience and a bit of money. If you’re interested, please consider making a donation. It will help to continue the podcast and means a great incentive for the author.
Whydonate offers iDEAL etc. Buymeacoffee (or sandwich) works with Stripe.