Vasily Grossman & Beethoven

[Robert Chandler]

Dear all,

A radio journalist has sent me this passage, translated from one of Grossman's articles about Stalingrad for Krasnaya Zvezda.  WHAT is this Beehoven song?!

Thanks in advance,

Robert

> 
> "Someone winds up the gramophone.
> 
> ‘What shall I put on?’
> 
> Several voices cry out,
> 
> ‘Same as always.’
> 
> A strange thing happened. While the man was looking for the record, I was wondering how nice it would be to hear my favourite Irish ditty in this black, wrecked basement. Then all at once a sad, solemn voice began to sing,
> 
> ‘The blizzard rages beyond the window.’
> 
> They are obviously very fond of this song. They all sat quiet, joining in the chorus at least ten times,
> 
> ‘Milady Death, we beseech you,
>  Wait awhile outside the door…’
> 
> These words, Beethoven’s simple, brilliant music knows many ardent, joyful and bitter feelings, hatred and despair, grief and fear, love, pity, revenge. Yet sorrow visits people rarely in war. And in those words, in that music of a great, grieving heart, in that sad, mocking request – ‘Milady Death we beseech you, Wait awhile outside the door’ – there was an indestructible power and noble sorrow.
> 
> Here as never before I felt the mighty power of genuine art -- the Beethoven melody was being listened to solemnly, as a church service, by soldiers who’d been face to face with death for three months in this ruined, devastated, yet not surrendered, building. '
> 
>  




Robert Chandler, 42 Milson Road, London, W14 OLD





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