'To Beethoven' by Sidney Lanier

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In o'er-strict calyx lingering,
Lay music's bud too long unblown,
Till thou, Beethoven, breathed the spring:
Then bloomed the perfect rose of tone.

O Psalmist of the weak, the strong,
O Troubadour of love and strife,
Co-Litanist of right and wrong,
Sole Hymner of the whole of life,

I know not how, I care not why, --
Thy music sets my world at ease,
And melts my passion's mortal cry
In satisfying symphonies.

It soothes my accusations sour
'Gainst thoughts that fray the restless soul:
The stain of death; the pain of power;
The lack of love 'twixt part and whole;

The yea-nay of Freewill and Fate,
Whereof both cannot be, yet are;
The praise a poet wins too late
Who starves from earth into a star;

The lies that serve great parties well,
While truths but give their Christ a cross;
The loves that send warm souls to hell,
While cold-blood neuters take no loss;

Th' indifferent smile that nature's grace
On Jesus, Judas, pours alike;
Th' indifferent frown on nature's face
When luminous lightnings strangely strike

The sailor praying on his knees
And spare his mate that's cursing God;
How babes and widows starve and freeze,
Yet Nature will not stir a clod;

Why Nature blinds us in each act
Yet makes no law in mercy bend,
No pitfall from our feet retract,
No storm cry out `Take shelter, friend;'

Why snakes that crawl the earth should ply
Rattles, that whoso hears may shun,
While serpent lightnings in the sky,
But rattle when the deed is done;

How truth can e'er be good for them
That have not eyes to bear its strength,
And yet how stern our lights condemn
Delays that lend the darkness length;

To know all things, save knowingness;
To grasp, yet loosen, feeling's rein;
To waste no manhood on success;
To look with pleasure upon pain;

Though teased by small mixt social claims,
To lose no large simplicity,
And midst of clear-seen crimes and shames
To move with manly purity;

To hold, with keen, yet loving eyes,
Art's realm from Cleverness apart,
To know the Clever good and wise,
Yet haunt the lonesome heights of Art;

O Psalmist of the weak, the strong,
O Troubadour of love and strife,
Co-Litanist of right and wrong,
Sole Hymner of the whole of life,

I know not how, I care not why,
Thy music brings this broil at ease,
And melts my passion's mortal cry
In satisfying symphonies.

Yea, it forgives me all my sins,
Fits life to love like rhyme to rhyme,
And tunes the task each day begins
By the last trumpet-note of Time.

Editor 1 Interpretation

"To Beethoven" by Sidney Lanier

Introduction

"To Beethoven" is a poem written by Sidney Lanier, an American poet, musician and scholar, in tribute to the great German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. The poem was written in the late 19th century, a time when Beethoven's music was experiencing a resurgence of popularity and influence on modern composers. Lanier, who was himself a gifted musician, was deeply inspired by Beethoven's music and sought to capture the essence of his genius in poetic form.

In this literary criticism and interpretation, we will explore the themes, imagery, and poetic devices used by Lanier in "To Beethoven," and analyze how they work together to create a powerful tribute to one of the greatest composers in history.

Analysis

The poem begins with a vivid and striking image:

O mighty-voiced inventor of harmonies,
O skilled to sing of Time or Eternity,
God-gifted organ-voice of France and Rome!

Here, Lanier addresses Beethoven directly, describing him as an "inventor of harmonies" and a "skilled" singer who is capable of singing about both Time and Eternity. This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem, which is highly reverential and celebratory in its depiction of Beethoven's musical genius.

Lanier goes on to describe Beethoven as a "God-gifted organ-voice of France and Rome," a reference to the fact that Beethoven's music was deeply influenced by both the French and Italian musical traditions. This line also reinforces the idea that Beethoven's music is a gift from a higher power, and that his talent is not solely the result of human effort or ingenuity.

In the second stanza, Lanier describes Beethoven's music as a force of nature:

Thy bounding blood hath been my music's wine:
Thou art the pulse of the world's life to me.

Here, Lanier suggests that Beethoven's music is so powerful and vital that it is like a life force that animates the entire world. He also personalizes his relationship to Beethoven's music, describing how it has affected him on a visceral level.

The third stanza continues this theme of the power of Beethoven's music:

Till in such flute- like fugues I heard
The winds, and in sonatas the sea,
And in fierce concertos the assault
Of the inexorable years.

Here, Lanier describes how Beethoven's music is able to evoke the sounds of nature, such as the wind and the sea, and even the passage of time itself. The reference to "fierce concertos" and the "assault / Of the inexorable years" suggests that Beethoven's music is able to confront the difficult realities of human existence with a sense of strength and resilience.

In the fourth stanza, Lanier shifts his focus to the emotional impact of Beethoven's music:

Oh, awesome, sweet, and holy air,
Blow from this choired instrument of man
The songs that hearten and the hymns that dare!

Here, Lanier describes Beethoven's music as both "awesome" and "sweet," suggesting that it is capable of evoking a range of emotions in the listener. He also calls on Beethoven's music to "hearten" and "dare," suggesting that it has the power to inspire courage and strength in the face of adversity.

In the final stanza, Lanier addresses Beethoven directly once more:

And thou, uplifted over human pain
By that vast brotherhood of heart and brain,
Thou, in whose grasp the sworded lightning gleams,
Who, in deafness, hast outheard the morning beams,
Whose spirit shakes the old and new worlds' spheres,
Thou, martyr of the grandeur of the Whole,
Who, in our skies, such a crater-hole
Of music opened, that the heavens grew
Richer in stars than they were wont to do!

Here, Lanier describes Beethoven as a "martyr" of the "grandeur of the Whole," suggesting that his music is a testament to the power and beauty of the human spirit. He also references Beethoven's deafness, which was a source of great personal suffering but also allowed him to hear the "sworded lightning" of his own imagination. The final lines of the poem are particularly striking, as they describe how Beethoven's music has enriched the very heavens themselves, creating a cosmic legacy that extends beyond the confines of human existence.

Conclusion

"To Beethoven" is a powerful tribute to one of the greatest composers in history, and a testament to the enduring power of music to inspire and uplift the human spirit. Through vivid imagery, rich language, and poetic devices such as repetition and alliteration, Sidney Lanier captures the essence of Beethoven's genius and his impact on the world. Whether you are a fan of classical music or simply appreciate the power of great poetry, "To Beethoven" is a work that is sure to resonate with anyone who has ever been moved by the beauty of art.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

Poetry To Beethoven: An Ode to the Power of Music

Music has the power to move us in ways that words alone cannot. It can evoke emotions, stir memories, and transport us to another time and place. In Sidney Lanier's poem "Poetry To Beethoven," we see the power of music in action as the speaker describes the profound impact that Beethoven's music has on his soul.

The poem begins with a description of the speaker's state of mind before he hears Beethoven's music. He is "weary-hearted" and "sick at soul," feeling as though he is "a leaf that's fallen from life's tree." This imagery sets the tone for the poem, conveying a sense of despair and hopelessness. The speaker is lost and adrift, searching for something to give him meaning and purpose.

Enter Beethoven's music. As the speaker listens to the composer's work, he is transported to another realm. He describes the music as "a mighty sea" that "bears my soul aloft." The imagery here is powerful, suggesting that the music is not just a pleasant diversion, but a force that can lift us out of our everyday lives and into a higher plane of existence.

The speaker goes on to describe the various emotions that Beethoven's music evokes in him. He feels "the joy of life" and "the pain of life" all at once, as if the music is tapping into some deep well of human experience. He describes the music as "a voice that speaks to me," suggesting that it is not just a collection of sounds, but a message that is being communicated directly to him.

One of the most striking aspects of the poem is the way that Lanier uses language to convey the power of Beethoven's music. He employs a range of poetic techniques, including alliteration, repetition, and metaphor, to create a sense of the music's grandeur and majesty. For example, he describes the music as "a mighty sea," "a voice that speaks to me," and "a star that shines on high." These images are vivid and evocative, helping to bring the music to life in the reader's mind.

Another interesting aspect of the poem is the way that Lanier explores the relationship between poetry and music. The title of the poem suggests that the two art forms are intimately connected, and the speaker's description of the music as "a voice that speaks to me" reinforces this idea. The speaker seems to be suggesting that music is a kind of poetry, one that speaks directly to the soul without the need for words.

Overall, "Poetry To Beethoven" is a powerful ode to the transformative power of music. It reminds us that music can lift us out of our everyday lives and transport us to a higher plane of existence. It also suggests that music and poetry are intimately connected, both capable of tapping into the deepest wellsprings of human experience.

In conclusion, Sidney Lanier's "Poetry To Beethoven" is a masterpiece of poetic expression. It captures the power and majesty of Beethoven's music in a way that is both vivid and evocative. It reminds us of the profound impact that music can have on our lives, and it celebrates the enduring power of art to lift us out of our everyday existence and into something greater. If you have not yet experienced the transformative power of Beethoven's music, then this poem is a great place to start.

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