Article 48: Ludwig Van Beethoven – coffee and symphonies of longing for happiness

25/08/2020
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Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827) was an exceptional musical genius. A person who is deaf but can compose classics, moves people’s hearts and is celebrated as the greatest composer who ever lived.

“I have a habit of choosing exactly 60 coffee beans to make a cup of Moka” Musical genius Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

“I have a habit of choosing exactly 60 coffee beans to make a cup of Moka” Musical genius Ludwig Van Beethoven (1770-1827)

Special Genius

Beethoven’s life was a series of tragic days. Coming from a poor family, his father was a heavy drinker, his mother was sick, four of his six siblings died prematurely from illness and starvation. Since the age of 4, Beethoven’s ten immature fingers have been practicing the piano continuously every day because his father always wanted Beethoven to be the version of the musical prodigy Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Leaving school early because he was too poor, Beethoven’s world was left with only music and a series of days of hard work. At the age of 14 he was a pipe-organist in the Royal Orchestra and gradually became famous throughout Europe, admired by millions of people.

“He is the greatest man, the best friend of those who suffer and struggle.” – Art historian Romain Rolland

“He is the greatest man, the best friend of those who suffer and struggle.” – Art historian Romain Rolland

When his career was flourishing, Beethoven became deaf, unable to hear any sounds, including the notes that he considered to be the reason for life. For a composer, it’s a grim disaster that can end anything. Beethoven despaired. But “I will seize fate by the throat; it shall certainly never wholly overcome me!”, he reincarnated himself with a new ideal of life, using creative aspirations and fighting will as the strength to continue to live and fight. Victory over fate to fulfill his musical dream. In fact, the 10 years after the loss of hearing (1803 to 1813) was also the most creative decade of Beethoven’s career. This is the period when Beethoven composed most of the masterpieces that greatly influenced world music.

Early in his composition, Beethoven’s creations were largely the result of perfecting his aesthetic thinking and musical skills through learning from great composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart… After losing the ability to hear, Beethoven’s musical creation came from awakening in the soul, beyond the normal way of hearing.

Beethoven does not see coffee as just a refreshing drink, but an energy that sublimates creativity and awakens his inner mind.

Beethoven does not see coffee as just a refreshing drink, but an energy that sublimates creativity and awakens his inner mind.

According to the interpretation of psychoanalysis, creativity is the limitless energy contained in each person. The environment that supports creativity is linked from clarity of mind, awareness and mindfulness capacity of consciousness, desire to create the dream model, bodily response through emotions and creative behaviors. In this sense, creativity can come from experiencing the world, perceiving the world and rearranging it according to one’s desired pattern. Or create from self-perception, listen to desires from within one’s own consciousness. Consciousness then uses the response and behavior of the body to recreate the model that it really aspires to.

Creative sublimation coffee energy

From the perspective of philosophers Arthur Schopenhauer, Frederich Nietzsche, the breakage of sound interaction with the outside world causes Beethoven to listen to his own being, go deeper into his deepest emotions, fear, desires that have been smoldering since childhood. He deeply recognized a life full of suffering and disease, then from his will Beethoven reshaped himself, envisioning an ideal hero, struggling to overcome all human misfortunes. Through creativity that translates ideals into musical language.

Research by medical historians, musicologists, and cardiologists at the University of Michigan and the University of Washington found that the musical notes in Beethoven’s compositions correspond to the beat of his own heart. Thus, whether from the perspective of psychoanalytic research or experimental science, Beethoven’s extraordinary creative power arises when the mind is awakened, the will to control one’s destiny, the desire to reach success and happiness by creative energy within, independent of any external force.

Immortal Beloved and Copying Beethoven are two of the films about Beethoven's extraordinary creative life, whole-heartedly and carefully selected by Founder and Chairman of Trung Nguyen Legend Group Dang Le Nguyen Vu into the Life-Changing Foundational Film Library

Immortal Beloved and Copying Beethoven are two of the films about Beethoven’s extraordinary creative life, whole-heartedly and carefully selected by Founder and Chairman of Trung Nguyen Legend Group Dang Le Nguyen Vu into the Life-Changing Foundational Film Library

Indeed, Beethoven narrowed his communication with the outside, widening his listening to the inner world. Paying little attention to the arrangement of material life and freeing the soul to live according to the most instinctive emotions. Only in the habit of enjoying coffee, Beethoven was always so careful and picky that drinking coffee every day became the norm. Historian Anton Schindler – his close friend recounts, Beethoven started his morning by picking exactly 60 beans (no less, no more) and grinding them to make himself a delicious cup of coffee. Coffee is almost an indispensable energy throughout the creative process of the great composer. Beethoven does not see coffee as just a refreshing drink, but an energy that sublimates creativity and awakens his inner mind. Therefore, he performed the preparation and enjoyment of coffee as a special ritual.

In 1803, Beethoven composed the symphony Eroica which marked the beginning of a new creative era. The masterpiece Eroica is considered the greatest symphony of all time, echoing the spirit of freedom and the philosophy of life towards lasting happiness. Then, symphony No. 5 (Of Destiny), Symphony No. 6 (Country), Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy), Sonatas of profound sorrow, Moonlight Sonata… were considered as a hymn that touches the hearts of the public. Beethoven’s music illuminates the belief about life, arouses the most glorious emotions, the most burning aspirations, makes people proud to be human, then strong to overcome all challenges, continue the journey to realize big dreams.

Inspired by the success stories of great celebrities and the desire to bring coffee enthusiasts around the world great cups of energy coffee, Trung Nguyen Legend has created coffee masterpieces which are different – special – unique. In particular, the trio of masterpieces Trung Nguyen Legend Special Edition, Trung Nguyen Legend Classic associated with the image and story of the famous composer Ludwig Van Beethoven. Together with Trung Nguyen Legend Café Sữa Đá – a scrumptious product that crystallizes the full flavor of Vietnam’s most famous drip milk iced coffee, to become the most special gift from Trung Nguyen Legend to friends all around the world.

THE REAL COFFEE
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Source: “The Philosophical Way of Coffee” – copyright by Trung Nguyen Legend