Hans-Günter Heumann

Beethoven's Birthday Boogie

Beethoven's Birthday Boogie is a tribute to one of the greatest composers in musical history: in 2020 the music world will mark the 250th anniversary of his birth. This piano piece works in several Beethoven themes from the Fifth and Ninth Symphonies, presented in the guise of a Boogie. It begins with what may be the most famous four-note motif in classical music, the musical symbol representing Beethoven. This is immediately followed by the theme from the Ode to Joy, this time in ternary rhythm, accompanied by a playful Boogie-Woogie figure; another musical quotation is then followed by a brilliant cadenza. An imperfect cadence ending on the dominant leads into a solemn version of the familiar Happy Birthday tune in the style of Beethoven, then the piece ends with two characteristic jazz chords.