Music is the one incorporeal (无形的) entrance into the higher world of knowledge which comprehends mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend mankind but which mankind cannot comprehend," said famous German pianist and composer Ludwig van Beethoven. This year marks the 251th anniversary of Beethoven's birth on Dec 17,1770 As one of the fathers of classical music, Beethoven was revolutionary, breaking the rules and stretching musical forms to unleash (释放) emotion.
Although some may claim that classical is a dying art only for the elites (精英人士)，it is actually alive and well in the modern era. It's not uncommon for today's musicians to have grown up playing classical instruments such as the violin or piano. Even those who don't play or listen to classical music are likely to have been introduced to it through movies and even video games.
Many or the most recognizable names in the music industry have drawn inspiration from classical music. UK legendary rock band The Beatles is one of them. John Lemon, while lying on his couch listening to his wife play Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata on the piano, asked her to play it backward and was immediately inspired to write the song Because. The song itself is similar to Moonlight Sonata with simple, straightforward lyrics.
This is just one example. Countless musicians have been influenced by Beethoven，and classical music as a whole. Record producer George Marin once said: "They always had enormous confidence that the world was theirs for the taking." This quote seems to sum up not only the mentality of more modem era musicians，but that of those classical artists who formed the building blocks of music today. They were making a bold, grandiose (浮夸的) and very innovative statement, not holding anything back.
Whether you're a music scholar or a passive listener, you can't deny that classical musicians' influence remains strong centuries after the artists have passed. Musicians like Beethoven continue illustrate their impact on the unifying force that is music.
