Tweeting Beethoven a Noteworthy Development

Tech assist enhances classical experience

By Matt Cantor, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 30, 2009 10:23 AM CDT

(Newser) – In a bid to win over multitaskers and technophobes, the National Symphony Orchestra will tweet along with tonight's performance of Beethoven’s Pastoral Symphony, the Washington Post reports. Audience members with appropriate gadgets can sit in a special section on the lawn at Wolf Trap, in suburban Virginia, and follow posts from the conductor.

The plan means walking a tightrope between staunch traditionalists, horrified at the “cheapening” of music with technology, and potential new audiences. Similar efforts in the past have ranged from “dumbing down” the music to making audiences listen more closely. “The success or failure of the Twitter experiment—the question of whether this can emerge as a viable enhancement of the concert experience—will ride primarily on the quality of the tweets,” writes Anne Midgette. To judge for yourself, follow NSOatWolfTrap.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

This is an undated sketch of German composer Ludwig van Beethoven. (AP Photo)

The National Symphony Orchestra will be tweeting through the "Pastoral" Symphony. (Shutterstock)

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In my score Beethoven has printed Nightingale = flute Quail = oboe Cuckoo = clarinet—a mini concerto for woodwind/birds. - Example tweet from conductor
Emil de Cou

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Tweeting Beethoven a Noteworthy Development