At some point during this time he became one of Europe’s greatest classical composers (only Bach and Mozart have similarly stellar reputations: each in turn dominated European music – first Bach, then Mozart and then our hero Beethoven). Ludwig van Beethoven was born in Germany in 1770, moved to Vienna in 1792, went deaf from about 1800 and died in 1827. My education being seemingly incomplete, I set out to discover what is so special about Beethoven. Moreover, of the top eight pieces of music, four were by Beethoven.
It was therefore a shock to find that the most popular tracks and artists on the BBC Archive (looking back over seventy years) are all classical.
I’ve often considered which eight records I would pick (it wouldn’t do to be caught unawares by either a shipwreck or a call from Kirsty Young, the presenter) and there is some debate in my mind as to whether Fleetwood Mac or Van Halen deserve a higher billing but I’m sorry to say that classical music never gets a look-in. The premise of the show is that you find yourself on a desert island with eight records of your choice and very little else to while away the months before you are rescued. Because Radio 4 provides trailers of its own programmes instead of adverts I often hear about Desert Island Discs although I very rarely get to listen to the show itself (I’m nearly always busy at 9.30 on Friday mornings so it goes on my ever-lengthening list of podcasts I should listen to) which is a shame because it’s a wonderful format and the guests are often fascinating people from whom you would otherwise never hear. First thing in the morning, the Today programme wakes me up and in the evening some portion of PM, the news at 6, the 6.30 comedy or Front Row (the early evening arts show) will greet me as I come home. Some people use clocks to mark the passing of time, some watch the sun, but I listen to Radio 4. May 2014: What's so great about Beethoven?