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Besides such reason Japanese orchestras found Beethoven's 9th
symphony as a remedy for their finance, that such many concerts
of Beethoven's 9th symphony are held in December every year
reflects that Japanese audience accepted Beethoven's 9th
symphony as a proper music for the end of year.
This must need explanation since Japanese sentiment for the
end of year is somehow diffirent with that of other nations.
The Japanese regard end of a year as something very serious.
If my understanding is correct, other nations, including the
neighbors of Japan as Koreans or the Chinese, or Europeans
and Americans do not have such sentiment as that the Japanese
have in the end of a year. The Japanese reflect the passing
one year quite seriously in the end of a year. They introspect
on what they did in the year or what happened in Japan and the
world in the end of a year. The Japanese think about life and
death in the final days of a year and think what they should
do in the coming next year in every December.
Such cultural tradition about the end of year must have been
another reason Beethoven's 9th symphony has become such a great
event in Japan's December. I love Japan for such culture.
(To be continued)
Nori
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technomist
I think you will find that New Year has a similar cultural significance in other countries, and the reflection upon one's life and the passage of time is near universal. You may mistake the rituals of public celebrations (which are by no means universally indulged in) for the very private personal reflecting which cannot be seen, but certianly goes on.
We do not however give such a place to Beethoven as the Japanese seem to do.