BEETHOVEN FOUR, ZHENG HE AND THE GODDESS MATSU

We have traversed more than 100,000 li (50,000 kilometers) of immense water spaces and have beheld in the ocean huge waves like mountains rising in the sky, and we have set eyes on barbarian regions far away hidden in a blue transparency of light vapors, while our sails, loftily unfurled like clouds day and night, continued their course [as rapidly] as a star, traversing those savage waves as if we were treading a public thoroughfare…

(Admiral Zheng He)


If you will indulge me, I compare (at least in one frame of mind) Beethoven's  Symphony 4 to a Daoist journey..

In mvt 1, we suffer through the Void Brightening, the impenetrable Dao.

In mvt 2, the Admiral stands at the prow of his ship (sometimes, I see Marcus Aurelius on his horse) through a heavy string section of terrfying, angry weather..

And then the horns enter as the sails are unfurled to the hasting wind

In mvt 3, a sailor's romp on board, the navvies are excitable, the intermezzo section with its soaring 'hiccupy' strings reflects the sun on the mast. And then it is out again to unknown seas..

In mvt 4, we close on the decisive battle, a glorious engagement that rivals Ma He's Seven Expeditions.

The joy of this symphony is how, like Lin Mo-niang/Tian Fei, the music is waiting to bring us safely to shore..

[I will be writing a 'Three Sea Tales' to expand on this subject.