The Legacy of Beethoven
From his darkness, came great gifts44 total reviews
Comment from Sandra Stoner-Mitchell
He was an incredible musician, and too proud to let deafness stop him. That in itself was amazing, the fact that his music was brilliant even when deaf is just incredible. I read that he 'felt' the music by touch, the vibrations gave him the feel and the sound. I've since heard of deaf children learning to play music this way. Amazing. I can understand why you won the contest, this is such a wonderful poem, written to the 'even and odds' format. Well done! :)) Sandra xx
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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He was an incredible musician, and too proud to let deafness stop him. That in itself was amazing, the fact that his music was brilliant even when deaf is just incredible. I read that he 'felt' the music by touch, the vibrations gave him the feel and the sound. I've since heard of deaf children learning to play music this way. Amazing. I can understand why you won the contest, this is such a wonderful poem, written to the 'even and odds' format. Well done! :)) Sandra xx
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Thank you, Sandra. I loved your words "too proud to let deafness stop him." That is exactly right! I remember learning of another way he felt the vibrations in order to play: he had the legs removed from his grand piano, and he would rest his ear on the closed top while he played.
I so appreciate this review, Sandra. Thank you. xo
Comment from LisaMay
Hi Rachelle, i got to this a bit late but am glad to see that quality got recognised with another win for you. I read others' reviews and there was a comment by someone else that I kinda agree with to a certain extent, in that I too found your poem not poetically lyrical so much as a sequence of facts.
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Hi Rachelle, i got to this a bit late but am glad to see that quality got recognised with another win for you. I read others' reviews and there was a comment by someone else that I kinda agree with to a certain extent, in that I too found your poem not poetically lyrical so much as a sequence of facts.
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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Yes, I don't disagree with that. I'll try harder next time. You know I always appreciate the candor. xo
Comment from Henry King
There is no wonder this poem came in first in the Beethoven Even the Odds contest. Each of the contest's hurdles were met with excellent form. Despite those hurdles, you wrote a very beautiful poem. Congratulations.
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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There is no wonder this poem came in first in the Beethoven Even the Odds contest. Each of the contest's hurdles were met with excellent form. Despite those hurdles, you wrote a very beautiful poem. Congratulations.
Comment Written 31-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 31-Mar-2019
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What a super nice review this is, Henry. I couldn't appreciate it more. xo
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You are welcome Rachelle. I had to sweat through my thesaurus over mine. I had two one-syllable words for my original first line. As a result, I changed much of my original. That's what rules are for, level the playing field, where only the best win. and you did that very well.
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Oh, you sweet-talkin' man!! Thank you. xo
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You are welcome.
Comment from Randa Dayle
Nice, nice poem. Beethoven was an odd duck, but he was a musical genius. Thanks for your wonderful tribute, and for the odds and evens entry! Looks hard!
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Nice, nice poem. Beethoven was an odd duck, but he was a musical genius. Thanks for your wonderful tribute, and for the odds and evens entry! Looks hard!
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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It just required lots and lots and lots of counting and re-counting. As a music teacher, that's just Another Day for me!!
Comment from flylikeaneagle
Rachelle: Congrats on first for this amazing awareness poem.
I like Mozart and Beethoven music. I raised my daughters on
these music greats when we played at home. Yes, they are
passionate and amazing to listen to. Great descriptions.
flylikeaneagle
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Rachelle: Congrats on first for this amazing awareness poem.
I like Mozart and Beethoven music. I raised my daughters on
these music greats when we played at home. Yes, they are
passionate and amazing to listen to. Great descriptions.
flylikeaneagle
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Yes, I could listen to Beethoven 24/7 because pieces are all so different.
I'm glad you made it possible for your girls to have access to this music. You're a good mommie, indeed.
Thank you for the lovely review. I appreciate it very much. xo
Comment from Njorgensen
Rachelle,
How gentle I found this poem to be. The fact that Beethoven was bipolar is something that I think is a secondary thought to his overall contributions and memory. The creative attributes of those with the challenges of mental illness is often overlooked. He was a shining example of this.
Your poem is an excellent tribute to the man and his music. Very well done.
Nancy
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Rachelle,
How gentle I found this poem to be. The fact that Beethoven was bipolar is something that I think is a secondary thought to his overall contributions and memory. The creative attributes of those with the challenges of mental illness is often overlooked. He was a shining example of this.
Your poem is an excellent tribute to the man and his music. Very well done.
Nancy
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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I completely agree, Nancy. It's the amazing talent first (and all the music that sprang from it) then, as a secondary consideration, the tortures he suffered yet powered through to honor the talent. Just remarkable.
Thanks for this thought-provoking review, Nancy. I liked it a lot. xo
Comment from Y. M. Roger
Rachelle, you have certainly taken your knowledge of the master and composed a tribute to his abilities -- so many folks had no idea of these burdens he carried -- only his 'deafness'!! :) ;) Thanx for sharing your talents, ma'am, and Congratulations on your win!! :) ;) Thank you so very much for jumping in and joining in the 'Even-the-Odds' fun with us -- I am so very glad you did! :) ;) Yvette
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Rachelle, you have certainly taken your knowledge of the master and composed a tribute to his abilities -- so many folks had no idea of these burdens he carried -- only his 'deafness'!! :) ;) Thanx for sharing your talents, ma'am, and Congratulations on your win!! :) ;) Thank you so very much for jumping in and joining in the 'Even-the-Odds' fun with us -- I am so very glad you did! :) ;) Yvette
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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It was a little (forgive me here, Yvette) disconcerting at the beginning, but then I just kept working it, like a puzzle. I'd definitely do another because I ended up enjoying the challenge.
He was an absolutely amazing person, and we can all take so much from his example. Thank you for your kind words and sweet review. You are always a gracious reviewer. Proud to say I'm a fan. xo
Comment from duchessofdrumborg
"The Legacy of Beethoven" is short, succinct and very much to the point. This talented poet's work was a pleasure to both read and review. You KEEP WRITING and I'll KEEP READING. I look forward to seeing your next post.
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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"The Legacy of Beethoven" is short, succinct and very much to the point. This talented poet's work was a pleasure to both read and review. You KEEP WRITING and I'll KEEP READING. I look forward to seeing your next post.
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Deal! And THANK YOU!! xo
Comment from Oatmeal
RACHELLE ALLEN,
Flowing very nicely. Comprehensible and very well written. Your formatting was terrific! Arrangement and narrations are very good. Emotional reflections are insightful and impressive.
There was no SPAG. No typos. No homophones. No problems at all.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Love you,
Oatmeal
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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RACHELLE ALLEN,
Flowing very nicely. Comprehensible and very well written. Your formatting was terrific! Arrangement and narrations are very good. Emotional reflections are insightful and impressive.
There was no SPAG. No typos. No homophones. No problems at all.
I look forward to seeing you again.
Love you,
Oatmeal
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Thank you, Oatmeal. I love the way you review - informative, helpful, yet very encouraging and warm. Thank you for your input tonight. xo
Comment from rosehill (Wendy)
The form is followed perfectly, but I find nothing poetic about the writing: no metaphor, alliteration, consonance, assonance . . . no poetic devices at all. A poem asks the reader to do at least one of these: Imagine, visualize a scene or emotion, take an intellectual leap, or simply delight the reader with a combination of word play and tasty sound combinations. I don't think a poem has to rhyme, but it is so much more potent if it at least has a musicality to the flow of words.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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The form is followed perfectly, but I find nothing poetic about the writing: no metaphor, alliteration, consonance, assonance . . . no poetic devices at all. A poem asks the reader to do at least one of these: Imagine, visualize a scene or emotion, take an intellectual leap, or simply delight the reader with a combination of word play and tasty sound combinations. I don't think a poem has to rhyme, but it is so much more potent if it at least has a musicality to the flow of words.
This rating does not count towards story rating or author rank.
The highest and the lowest rating are not included in calculations.
Comment Written 30-Mar-2019
reply by the author on 30-Mar-2019
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Fair enough, Wendy. I appreciate this input because, as a newbie here (today marks my two-month anniversary), I was unaware of this aspect of the form. So thank you for helping me to be better next time. This is exactly why I love FanStory. I feel like the reviewers really want the writers to improve. xo
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Well, welcome Rachelle and your acceptance of my review is also welcome. I am just trying to get back after several months away, having posted only twice in the last two years, and posted my first in months today. I will always try to be available if you have questions (unless it is about technology where I am a bit of a techno twit). I hope you will also be honest when reviewing my work. Nice to meet you!
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Deal, Wendy. A pleasure to meet you, as well.