Page 3
| Ex. 3 |  |
The oboes, clarinets and bassoons, anxious for a pick-me-up, join forces to search for the tonic. A brief word about my extended metaphor. First, some interpretations of the Eroica envision a gathering of warriors drinking and celebrating at battles end. For those who embrace a hero-warrior view of the Eroica, the scherzo does seem to portray this activity. More to the heart of the matter, A. B. Marx, an early Beethoven biographer, uncovered a drinking song which he claims is the inspiration for the scherzo theme. Grove brushed it aside by stating the scherzo likely inspired the song rather than the song inspired the scherzo. Sipes refutes Grove and provides a convincing argument that Beethoven did borrow this tune for the Eroica. No matter how you dice it, the scherzo is inescapably connected with wine and merrymaking. |
| Have a listen | |
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