Sunday, December 14, 2008

Beethoven's Birthday

Today is Beethoven's birthday, by the way. Did you know that? At least most experts believe Beethoven was born on the sixteenth of December. The only documentary evidence is the composer's baptismal record. Of course, documentary evidence can be deceiving -- even inauthentic. We do know that Beethoven was baptized on December seventeenth, at least so the record shows. Some biographers maintain that Beethoven was born on the seventeenth, citing the fact that in the locale of Beethoven's birth, Catholics were customarily baptized on the day they were born. In any event, what we are left with is a few pieces of evidence, and an inference. As they say in the law, the question of Beethoven's birth date is a matter upon which reasonable minds can differ.

2 comments:

Failey said...

Thanks for the Happy Holidays greeting. Happy Holidays to you, too, and may you have peace in your life's journey.

Anonymous said...

Happy Hanukkah and Merry Christmas, Mr. Freedman.

The Iranian regime is using Holocaust denial as Statecraft. Its goal is to demonize the Jewish people, her history, values and faith much like the neonazis invited to this genocide-inciting conference.

Speak out & sign the peition