It’s actually an ultimate honor to Beethoven in a modern technology sort of way. So, can any of you guess (if you don’t already know) the connection I’m referring to?
Update:Mr. Jones, modern as in the last 35 years or so.
Update 3:(cont.)
In what became known as the ‘Beethoven Factor’ in the industry, everyone else soon fell into line with Sony and, allowing for lead-ins and possible added commentaries, the CD playing time standard was set at 74 minutes.
True story.
Update 5:This was a question, by the way, that I submitted to the 'Live From The Met' panel years ago and it wasn't answered then by the panel. And I want to thank all of you for your replies here. I was hoping this would be a 'fun' question for you regulars to play with.
As to a 'best' answer, I'll let you guys decide by vote.
Answers & Comments
Verified answer
I can't think of anything specific. I can imagine his music being used (often) for testing accuracy and frequency response of audio systems.
... I doubt that's what you're after though.
Edit: the word Modern seems to be the stumbling block here. Modern to our time, or to his?
I know Beethoven helped to popularise Maelzel's new-fangled metronome, but I can't work-out what that might have to do with recorded music. He also used an ear trumpet upon the onset of his deafness. Early acoustic (ie pre-electric) recordings were made by amassing as many musicians as possible in front of a huge conical horn akin to an ear trumpet of the sort Beethoven might have used. I can't believe that Ludwig could take any credit for this, however, as the first sound recording was made more than 30 years after his death.
The only other thing I can think of is the famous case of the sawn-off legs of his piano, which enabled him to lay on the floor and 'feel' the music through the floor boards. I wonder if this gave early acousticians a hint as to the valuable tonal properties of wood?
That's my feeble attempt.
If you're meaning that dreadful piece "Wellington's Victory" composed for one of the early but large mechanical orchestrons of the era, well, yeah, sort of.
It would be a bit nasty to say he incited a development in the improvement of ear trumpets ~ (I once answered a Q 'What else did Beethoven play other than violin, piano, organ - I answered, tastelessly "The ear trumpet.") ~ or to consider the quadruple strung Broadwood piano made especially for him because of his increasing deafness - could that have instanced a sturdier cast iron frame?
Wild guesses. You make me want to post a tangential riddle question now, which I've been holding back on for some time.... hmmmm.
Looking forward to the revelation.
Best regards.