Jay C. Batzner is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Central Florida where he teaches theory, composition, and technology courses as well as coordinates the composition program. He holds degrees in composition and/or theory from the University of Missouri – Kansas City, the University of Louisville, and the University of Kansas.
Jay's music is primarily focused around instrumental chamber works as well as electroacoustic composition. His music has been recorded on the Capstone, Vox Novus, and Beauport Classical labels and is published by Unsafe Bull Music.
Jay is a sci-fi geek, an amateur banjoist, a home brewer, and juggler.
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1/07/2008
Ludwig Van
Okay droogs, confession time. I'm having a bit of a falling out with Beethoven. Don't get me wrong, I'm not casting aspersions on Beethoven or his music. Beethoven's music just sounds so frustrated to me lately that I haven't wanted to listen to it.
I used to be the same way: constantly frustrated musically. I was a real pain in the ass to be around, as some composers will tell you. In recent months, though, things have really lightened up for me personally and musically. I've stopped taking myself so damned seriously and it is affecting how I process things. Beethoven's music sounds like an angry creature trapped in a cage that is doing everything in its power to escape. That mood has been tough for me to be around.
The solution? Heavy doses of Schubert. To my ears, Schubert was able to work around some of the same struggles that Beethoven was having without such a high body count. Schubert sounds very Classical to me, instead of Romantic, as does Beethoven. And the music is gorgeous. As I've told my students, "You can't go wrong with pretty."
In other words, Beethoven sounds like weight lifting. Schubert sounds like yoga. Both are good for you, but people generally prefer one over the other.
If time travel ever becomes a viable option, I'd like to show Beethoven some early Berg (the op. 3, for example). I bet Ludwig Van would love it.
posted by Jay C. Batzner
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