Deconstructing Beethoven

The timeless genius of Beethoven forced a reckoning on the musical world, one which we are still coming to terms with today. Composers who lived immediately after Beethoven, such as Frenchwoman Louise Farrenc, were deeply influenced by his aura and modeled their music in a “Germanic” style. Fast-forward nearly two centuries and we continue to marvel at Beethoven’s ability to shape time, harmony, and musical expectations, yet there are still novel ways to interpret his music. DJ and composer Gabriel Prokofiev (the grandson of Sergei Prokofiev) spins and remixes the elements of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony utilizing funk, electronics, and catchy club rhythms into his own contemporary and engaging vernacular.

Beethoven – Symphony No. 7

Farrenc – Overture No. 1

Prokofiev, Gabriel – BEETHOVEN9: Symphonic Remix (Gabriel Prokofiev, Electronics)