贝多芬住我家楼上 第12期:作曲家是火做的

Piano Concerto #1, MVT. 1/Pi

贝多芬第一钢琴协奏曲/第五钢琴协奏曲

But when he first came to Vienna he was more famous for his playing than for his composing.

但是贝多芬第一次来维也纳的时候，他作为演奏家的名声远大于作曲家。

And he would sit down with orchestras to play his own music without a single note written out to play.

他可以不看曲谱，就坐下来和乐队一起演奏自己的曲子。

It was in his head.

所有的谱子他都记在脑子里。

His music was so beautiful that sometimes people would just start to cry.

他的曲子实在是太美了，有时人们听了会忍不住流泪。

But Beethoven would laugh and say, "Composers do not cry. Composers are made of fire."

但是贝多芬会笑着说：“作曲家是不哭的。作曲家是火做的。”

Mr. Beethoven was not gentle with the wealthy people of Vienna who did everything they could to please him.

贝多芬先生对那些想尽一切办法讨好他的维也纳富人们很不友好。

He had rough manners even then.

有时候，他的行为还很粗野。

He would turn down their invitations, dress carelessly to visit, he would come late for their dinners.

他会拒绝所有他们的邀请，穿得随随便便地去拜访他们，他会在富人们的晚宴上迟到。

Sometimes he would be very angry if he were asked to play.

有时候被要求演奏时，他变得异常的愤怒。

One grand lady got down on her knees one evening ... and begged Mr. Beethoven to play.

一天晚上，有位贵妇跪在贝多芬面前……请求贝多芬先生弹奏曲子。

Mr. Beethoven didn't even stand up from his chair to refuse her.

贝多芬连站都没站起来，就拒绝了她。

She pleaded3. He refused.

她又恳求，他又拒绝。

She pleaded. He refused.

她再次恳求，他再次拒绝。

Perhaps they grew used to his tantrums.

或许他们习惯了贝多芬的臭脾气了。

There's another story.

还有一个故事。

One night when the prince teased4 him for not playing, Beethoven flew into a rage.

一晚，当王子拿不弹曲子的事来取笑他时，贝多芬勃然大怒。

He said, "There are many princes but there is only one Beethoven."

他说，“世界上有很多王子，但只有一个贝多芬。”

But if we can't excuse his manners, perhaps we can explain them.

但是如果我们不能原谅他的行为，也许我们能够解释一下。

Mr. Beethoven had troubles no one knew about.

没有人知道贝多芬先生的耳朵问题。

There's a story people tell.

下面是别人告诉我的一个故事。

One afternoon, when Beethoven was out walking in the woods with a friend, a shepherd was playing a flute5 nearby.

一天中午，当贝多芬和朋友在树林里散步的时候，附近有一位牧羊人在吹奏长笛。

Beethoven's friend said "Listen!" and stopped to hear the flute.

贝多芬的朋友说“听”，停下来聆听长笛演奏。

Beethoven heard nothing.

贝多芬却什么也没有听见。

When he was still a young man, he began to hear humming and buzzing6 in his ears.

当他还年轻的时候，耳朵就开始出现嗡嗡声。

He couldn't hear high notes.

开始是他听不见高音阶。

And then he couldn't hear soft voices.

之后，是听不见轻声。

Slowly but unmistakably Mr. Beethoven was going deaf.

渐渐地，但是毫无疑问地贝多芬先生会失聪。