Peanuts, March 20, 1969
Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, San Jose

Photos of Exhibit & Haikus
Wednesday, July 29, 2009

By Peter Y. Chou
WisdomPortal.com



Preface: Beethoven is my favorite composer whose music has inspired me greatly. I've composed a web page on Beethoven's Eroica Symphony, inspiring Beethoven quotes on music, and a poem on "Beethoven's Fifth Symphony". When Charles Schulz died on February 12, 2000, I compiled this web page "Charles Schulz & Peanuts" in his memory. Imagine my delight when I saw advertisements in the Mercury News on an exhibit "Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse" at the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, San Jose (May 1-July 31, 2009). I attended the "Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Ira Francis Brilliant" on October 14, 2006 in the Concert Hall, at San Jose State University's Music Building, and realized his passion for Beethoven's music and scholarship. So it was a joy when on the 107th anniversary of my Dad's birth that I made my pilgrimage to this exhibit on Wednesday, July 29, 2009. When I walked up to the fifth floor staircase, there were panels filled with butterflies. Since psyche in Greek means both "butterfly" and "soul", it occured to me that Beethoven's 5th Symphony is really a hymn to the soul. Imagine my delight when I counted 55 Schulz's Beethoven comic strips in this exhibit. Plato called "Soul of the Universe", the numerical sum of the Lambda series of double & triple interval series which add up to 55 (Timaeus, 35b). So today's visit to "Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse" is truly a journey to the soul. No photographs of the Peanuts comics were permitted, but everything else was OK, including Beethoven's lock of hair. I waited an hour for audio headphones to listen to the piano sonatas Schroeder was playing in Schulz's comic strips that was an extra treat. (Schulz Museum Press Release; Slide Show of Santa Rosa Exhibit: NY Times, January 13, 2009)

Click on Photos for Enlarged Images


Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 1:52-2:45 pm
Mountain View to San Jose: Ride Bus #522
to Santa Clara St. & 4th Street; Reading book
"Mind & Life: Discussions with Dalai Lama
on the Nature of Reality"
by Pier Luigi Luisi


Schroeder has the answer
on nature of reality—
Beethoven!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 2:56 pm
San Jose, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse" (Ad)


Schroeder at the piano—
Snoppy stands up tall
when Beethoven is played.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:13 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Butterflies panels in 5th floor staircase—
In Greek, "Psyche" means "butterfly" &
"soul". Opening four notes of Beethoven's
"5th Symphony" is a Hymn to the Soul.


Walked up to fifth floor,
saw panels of butterflies—
Beethoven's soul work!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:20 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Busts of Beethoven & Schroeder at Entrance


Earphones for listening
to Beethoven's music
Schroeder is playing.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:32 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Schulz's Panel on "Unrequited Love"


Unrequited love—
central theme in Peanuts
and in Beethoven's life.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:50 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Mannequin of Beethoven (1990s) Text


Life-size mannequin
of Ludwig van Beethoven
dreaming of music.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:52 pm
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
August 5, 1994 Peanuts comic strip:
"Beethoven had an unfortunate love
affair too, Charlie Brown, but it didn't
discourage him, he kept right on working."


Beethoven's antidote
to his suffering is
living in his music.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 3:55 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven sweatshirt designed by Schulz


Beethoven birthday party—
Schulz designed sweatshirt
as gift for his friend.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:00 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Schulz's Love for Classical Music,
Schroeder's Obsession with Beethoven


Schroeder's obsession
with Beethoven reflects
Schulz's love of music.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:04 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Photo of Charles Schulz by Frank Ross


Charles Schulz, creator
of Peanuts— a children's
playground full of delight.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:06 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Letter to Frank Dieffenweirth"


Schulz writes to army
buddy about his passion
for classical music.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:35 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Doodle Sketch for June 16, 1999 comic strip


How whimsical— Snoopy
watching musical notes
dancing into mouse hole.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:40 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Photo of Schulz by David Fleming (c. Feb. 1980)


Charles Schulz working
at his drawing board for
another Peanuts strip.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:45 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Hand-cut multiple layer silhouette of
Beethoven (1925) by Josefine Allmayer (Text)


Beethoven hiking
in the woods contemplating
the beauty of Nature.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:46 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's Hiking & Pastoral Symphony
Notes from "Peanuts" July 7, 1959
(3rd Movement)

Beethoven's Pastoral
Symphony
shows his
immense love of Nature.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:50 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Edmund Gosse's Portrait of Napoleon (c. 1837)
& Carl Pidoll's novel "Eroica" (1956) (Music)


Beethoven's Eroica
celebrates the soul in man
finding his spirit.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 4:55 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Harper's Weekly, XIV, No. 704, June 25, 1870
Beethoven portrait on cover (story on p. 407)


Birth centennial cover
of Beethoven ready
to write more music.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 5:02 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Early 19th century Viennese currency:
For his "Fifth Symphony" Beethoven received
500 gulden from Count Oppersdorf in 1807.
That would have paid the rent of his apartment
in the Pasqualiti House in Vienna for a year.


Beethoven's fee for
his Fifth Symphony
paid his entire year's rent.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 5:05 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Life Mask of Beethoven: Bronze reproduction made
from plaster mask (1812) by Franz Klein (Text)


Beethoven was told
not to smile so his mask
appeared somber and gloomy.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 5:20 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Exhibition Introduction Panel with
Audio by Jean Schulz on "Sparky"


Charles Schulz's nickname
was "Sparky", quite apropos
for bringing sparks to all.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 5:35 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's Birthday Panel: Schulz acknowledged
Beethoven's birthday in his strip 27 out of 49 years.


Lucy loves to tease
Schroeder when he forgets
Beethoven's birthday.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 6:33 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
George F. Marek's 1969 book
"Beethoven: Biography of a Genius"


Author signs his book
"To Schroeder— a famous
lover of Beethoven".
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:28 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Guevara Lock of Beethoven's Hair bought
at Sotheby's for £3600 on Dec. 1, 1994


Lock of Beethoven's hair
that Brilliant bought at
Sotheby's London Auction.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:28 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Guevara Lock of Beethoven's Hair
Authenticity letter of Paul Hiller (1883):
"Beethoven's hair cut off from Beeethoven's
corpse by my father Dr. Ferdinand von Hiller
on the day after Beethoven's death on
27 March 1827, and was given over to me as
a birthday present in Cologne on 1 May 1883. Paul Hiller" (56 years after Beethoven's death).


His father cut the hair
from Beethoven's corpse
a day after he died.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:30 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata manuscript


Is music heavenly
inspired or is Beethoven's
mind angelic?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:32 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata Score


Pathétique's first movement
slow and solemn followed
by quickness and vigor.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:34 pm
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
"Peanuts" comic strip (3-20-1969) with "Pathétique" score in final panel.
Strip was arranged horizontally in Photoshop from scan of Mercury News ad. (1st movement)

                    What is the answer to life? / BEETHOVEN IS IT! / Clear and simple!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:37 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's Bust on shelf above manuscripts


Beethoven's eyes
uplifted heavenward bring
down celestial music.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:40 pm
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
"Peanuts" comic strip (Sunday, 1-25-1953) with the opening bars of Beethoven's
"Hammerklavier" Sonata #29 (Op. 106) in final panel. Schroeder embarks on
an intensive workout of 7 exercises: pushups, skipping rope, lifting barbells,
touching toes, leg lifts, shadow boxing, jogging, and a bowl of cereal before
tackling the "Mt. Everest of music". (Image: NY Times, 1-13-2009) (YouTube: Emil Gilels)

          Schroeder's strenuous / workouts before tackling / the Hammerklavier!

Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:48 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's Letter (March 21, 1824)


Request for concert
hall for the premiere
of his Ninth Symphony.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:50 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's autograph in March 21, 1824 letter


Beethoven's autograph
in his 1824 letter
on the first day of Spring.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:50 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Beethoven's autograph in March 21, 1824 letter


Beethoven's "B" used
as the logo for Ira Brilliant
Center for Beethoven Studies.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 7:52 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Portrait of Guilietta Guicciardi
(Immortal Beloved: Candidates, Letters)


Beethoven's beloved—
Guilietta who loved him
but married a count.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:00 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Schroeder with his Beethoven Buttons


Beethoven buttons
in a glass display case
of collector's items.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:02 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Snoopy dancing on Schroeder's Piano


Snoopy happily
dancing on piano while
Schroeder plays Beethoven.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:05 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Book "Play It Again!": Schroeder & Lucy


Lucy tells Schroeder
"Play it again!"— it is not
Sam but Beethoven!
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:06 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Snoopy dreaming on a crescent moon


Snoopy sleeping on
a crescent moon with
his Impossible Dream.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009, 8:08 pm
Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies
"Schulz's Beethoven, Schroeder's Muse"
Lucy with Schroeder Playing Beethoven


Lucy loves Schroeder
but Schroeder's love is for
Ludwig van Beethoven!

— Peter Y. Chou, Mountain View, July 29, 2009



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