

Barbara Kavanaugh
Beethoven's Song of Thanksgiving
“Song of Thanksgiving to the Deity from a convalescent in the Lydian mode.” Beethoven wrote very little extra-musical comments in his score. Yet, he penned these words of thanksgiving to God before the 3rd movement, Molto Adagio, from his Quartet no. 15 in A minor, op. 132. To me, this inspired music conveys exquisite, divine peace from an Eternal Place. On Thanksgiving, we Americans traditionally thank God for family, friends, and blessings we receive in this transient world