My Early Introduction to Classical Music... and My Father's

When I was growing up in Cleveland, my father built a console of blonde wood for his record player. Inside he kept a modest collection of primarily classical music. On Sunday mornings Mom would take us to church while Dad listened to his classical records and read the Sunday paper at home. Albums with titles like Echoes of Offenbach and Scheherazade intrigued me. Beethoven’s Fifth became a favorite of mine then. Beethoven’s indelible sense of the dramatic is evident in both the opening and the climax, stirring the blood in little boys like myself. 

This early introduction to classical music gave me a lifelong appreciation for the genre. I’m no expert, just one who appreciates the form. One of my father’s favorites was Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony, better known as the New World Symphony, which I’m listening to now as I write these reflections.

If you knew my father’s life story you might be surprised at how he came to appreciate the classical greats. He grew up exceedingly poor. Six children slept in the living room of a three-room house with no bathroom and perhaps no running water. When my dad was born Grandpa was working in a coal mine, on the run from feds who’d come to bust him for moonshining during prohibition. Grandma taught Grandpa how to read so he could fill out a job application when they moved to Southwest Ohio.

The day my father graduated high school he joined the army. Upon completing his tour of duty, he attended Hiram College on the G.I. Bill where he met my mother. When Dad and Mom eloped, they moved to Little Italy in Cleveland, renting a second-floor apartment on Murray Hill Road where Mom could walk to the hospital to work and finish nurses training. 

“I never had to work nights or evenings while in school, so I could usher in Severance Hall, where the world-famous George Szell was conductor,” my mother recently told me. The Hungarian-born conductor and composer came to Cleveland after World War II to take charge of the respected but undersized orchestra there. During his 24 years as music director, Szell brought the Cleveland Orchestra international recognition and acclaim.

“The first year I ushered on Thursday nights. We wore burnt orange uniforms,” my Mom said. “The next year we wore white blouses with black skirts.” 

One of the perks of the job was that my dad was permitted to attend performances if there were empty seats, which there almost always were. “That is where he got his love for classical music,” Mom added. “Dad had classical records even then. I was only a volunteer, but we both got to hear wonderful music for free.” I can imagine him being transported by the music, much like Harry Haller in Herman Hesse’s Steppenwolf, or Joseph Knecht in The Glass Bead Game.

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Here's the incredible finale to Beethoven Symphony no. 5  
George Szell conducting the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra

Fantastico! 

BONUS TRACK
Szell and Cleveland LIVE: Beethoven symphony no. 3 in E flat (Eroica)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGjF5mWYnHo

This live performance of Beethoven's symphony no. 3 took place three days after the shooting at Kent State in the spring of 1970. Before beginning the performance, George Szell asks the audience to stand for a moment of silence to honor the victims of the shooting. 

As is the case with many YouTube videos, there are comments. This one stood out as a nice postscript for this blog post:

"Incomparable! Along with the Sibelius 2nd recorded live in Tokyo, THIS EROICA is a testament to the greatness of George Szell. Among the small pantheon of musician conductors Szell is at the summit!" --Ian Harper

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Related Links
10 Classical Music Favorites of Exquisite Beauty
Oli Braithwaite of Stars & Catz on the Power of Music