Fantasy Bob rounds off his spring series with another great piece of music which embodies springtime.
Beethoven's Sonata for Violin and Piano Op 24, the Spring Sonata, was published in 1801. Its first movement drips with the freshness and hope of spring in every note. It is lithe and nimble, a spring lamb gamboling in the field, just like FB in his run up to the wicket. Here is the first movement played by the great David Oistrakh.
It was around 1801, at the age of 31, that Beethoven began to lose his hearing. He suffered a progressively severe form of tinnitus, a roaring in his ears. The cause of Beethoven's deafness is unknown, but it has variously been attributed to syphilis, lead poisoning, typhus, or possibly even his habit of immersing his head in cold water to stay awake. In modern times he might well have been cured. Over time, his hearing loss became acute. He performed in concert for the last time in 1811 struggling to deliver his Emperor concerto, and there is a well-attested story that, at the premiere of his Ninth Symphony, he had to be turned round to see the tumultuous applause of the audience. For he heard none of it.
Beethoven is FB's hero above all heroes - topping bowling and batting averages. But he has no idea what Beethoven's bowling action was.
Right arm medium fast with a wicked slower ball probably.
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