A Boy’s Best Friend Is His Beethoven

On this day in musical history …

• 1805 Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 (”Eroica”) had its first public performance at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, with composer conducting.

• 1960 The American public first encountered the symphony at movie theaters across the country, with Alfred Hitchcock conducting.

\”Eroica\”, Psycho

Lila doesn’t confine her investigations to Mother’s room. Going up another half-flight of stairs, she comes to Norman’s room. As we look at the worn toys, the filthy, unmade bed, we realize that we are inside Norman’s mind. On Norman’s record player we see Beethoven’s “Eroica” symphony. (Hitchcock surely assumed the audience would think “erotic” rather than “heroic.”) -Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (Bright Light Film Journal)

So, what’s on your iPod?