Three Bs
Encyclopedia
"The Three Bs" is an English-language phrase
derived from an expression coined by Peter Cornelius
in 1854, which added Hector Berlioz
as the third B to occupy the heights already occupied by Johann Sebastian Bach
and Ludwig van Beethoven
. Later in the century, the famous conductor Hans von Bülow
would substitute Johannes Brahms
for Berlioz. The phrase is generally used in discussions of classical music to refer to the supposed primacy of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms in the field.
to a friend.
; because the flat symbol resembles a lower-case "b", it may also refer to any flat. Consequently, the remark may be translated, roughly, as
as Beethoven's Tenth. Curiously enough, Nicolò Paganini had even earlier (1838) identified Berlioz as the worthy successor of Beethoven. Indeed, Hans von Bülow, two years before Cornelius' article, had himself called Berlioz "the immediate and most energetic successor of Beethoven".
Richard Wagner
once proposed an alternate candidate for the third of the three Bs; this was Anton Bruckner
, a devoted Wagnerian. That appellation never took, and few remember that Berlioz was the original third B.
federation
"The Alliance", and three Bs of learning. Generally speaking, however, the three Bs of music are the most frequently cited.
There are now a few more common usages of "the 3 B's": 1) a reference to the Houston Astros baseball team's top players - Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Lance Berkman. 2) a reference to common components of a night out in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA - Beads, Balconies, and (mechanical) Bull-riding.
Phrase
In everyday speech, a phrase may refer to any group of words. In linguistics, a phrase is a group of words which form a constituent and so function as a single unit in the syntax of a sentence. A phrase is lower on the grammatical hierarchy than a clause....
derived from an expression coined by Peter Cornelius
Peter Cornelius
Carl August Peter Cornelius was a German composer, writer about music, poet and translator. He was born and died in Mainz where his grave in the Hauptfriedhof survives....
in 1854, which added Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz
Hector Berlioz was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande messe des morts . Berlioz made significant contributions to the modern orchestra with his Treatise on Instrumentation. He specified huge orchestral forces for some of his works; as a...
as the third B to occupy the heights already occupied by Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven was a German composer and pianist. A crucial figure in the transition between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western art music, he remains one of the most famous and influential composers of all time.Born in Bonn, then the capital of the Electorate of Cologne and part of...
. Later in the century, the famous conductor Hans von Bülow
Hans von Bülow
Hans Guido Freiherr von Bülow was a German conductor, virtuoso pianist, and composer of the Romantic era. He was one of the most famous conductors of the 19th century, and his activity was critical for establishing the successes of several major composers of the time, including Richard...
would substitute Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms
Johannes Brahms was a German composer and pianist, and one of the leading musicians of the Romantic period. Born in Hamburg, Brahms spent much of his professional life in Vienna, Austria, where he was a leader of the musical scene...
for Berlioz. The phrase is generally used in discussions of classical music to refer to the supposed primacy of Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms in the field.
Origins
In an article in the Berliner Allgemeine Musikalische Zeitung, Cornelius introduces Berlioz as the third B, concluding his article with the cheer,Bach, Beethoven, Berlioz!Decades later, Bülow composed the following pun
Pun
The pun, also called paronomasia, is a form of word play which suggests two or more meanings, by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous or rhetorical effect. These ambiguities can arise from the intentional use and abuse of homophonic,...
to a friend.
Mein musikalisches Glaubensbekenntniss steht in Es dur, mit drei B-en in der Vorzeichnung: Bach, Beethoven, und Brahms!"B", in German, stands for the key of B-flat
B-flat
B-flat or B may refer to:* B-flat major* B-flat minor* The musical pitch B* B-flat Jazzclub in Berlin, Germany...
; because the flat symbol resembles a lower-case "b", it may also refer to any flat. Consequently, the remark may be translated, roughly, as
My musical creedBülow had been attracted to the idea of a sort of Holy Trinity of classical music for a number of years, writing in the 1880s,CreedA creed is a statement of belief—usually a statement of faith that describes the beliefs shared by a religious community—and is often recited as part of a religious service. When the statement of faith is longer and polemical, as well as didactic, it is not called a creed but a Confession of faith...
is in the key of E-flatE-flatE-flat may refer to:* E♭ * E-flat major* E-flat minor* E-flat tuning, on a guitar...
major, and contains three flats in its key signatureKey signatureIn musical notation, a key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating notes that are to be consistently played one semitone higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes unless otherwise altered with an accidental...
: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms!
I believe in Bach, the FatherHe further linked Beethoven and Brahms by referring to the latter's First SymphonyGodGod is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, Beethoven, the Son, and Brahms, the Holy Ghost of music.
Symphony No. 1 (Brahms)
The Symphony No. 1 in C minor, Op. 68, is a symphony written by Johannes Brahms. Brahms spent at least fourteen years completing this work, whose sketches date from 1854. Brahms himself declared that the symphony, from sketches to finishing touches, took 21 years, from 1855 to 1876...
as Beethoven's Tenth. Curiously enough, Nicolò Paganini had even earlier (1838) identified Berlioz as the worthy successor of Beethoven. Indeed, Hans von Bülow, two years before Cornelius' article, had himself called Berlioz "the immediate and most energetic successor of Beethoven".
Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
once proposed an alternate candidate for the third of the three Bs; this was Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner
Anton Bruckner was an Austrian composer known for his symphonies, masses, and motets. The first are considered emblematic of the final stage of Austro-German Romanticism because of their rich harmonic language, complex polyphony, and considerable length...
, a devoted Wagnerian. That appellation never took, and few remember that Berlioz was the original third B.
Usage
Although the phrase "the three Bs" is generally associated with classical music, it may be found in the vocabulary of other disciplines as well. There are, for instance, three Bs of bass fishing, the three Bs of the HattrickHattrick
Hattrick is an online, browser-based, football management game developed in Sweden. Currently the game contains 128 different countries, each with its own league pyramid, and 51 different language versions...
federation
Federation
A federation , also known as a federal state, is a type of sovereign state characterized by a union of partially self-governing states or regions united by a central government...
"The Alliance", and three Bs of learning. Generally speaking, however, the three Bs of music are the most frequently cited.
In popular culture
- In a PeanutsPeanutsPeanuts is a syndicated daily and Sunday American comic strip written and illustrated by Charles M. Schulz, which ran from October 2, 1950, to February 13, 2000, continuing in reruns afterward...
strip (published February 22, 1952), when SchroederSchroeder (Peanuts)Schroeder is a fictional character in the long-running comic strip Peanuts, created by Charles M. Schulz. He is distinguished by his precocious skill at playing the toy piano, as well as by his love of classical music and the composer Ludwig van Beethoven in particular...
begins playing the piano, Charlie BrownCharlie BrownCharles "Charlie" Brown is the protagonist in the comic strip Peanuts by Charles M. Schulz.Charlie Brown and his creator have a common connection in that they are both the sons of barbers, but whereas Schulz's work is described as the "most shining example of the American success story", Charlie...
says "You've heard of Bach, Brahms, and Beethoven, right? Well from now on it's going to be Schubert, Schumann, and Schroeder."
There are now a few more common usages of "the 3 B's": 1) a reference to the Houston Astros baseball team's top players - Jeff Bagwell, Craig Biggio, and Lance Berkman. 2) a reference to common components of a night out in the French Quarter of New Orleans, LA - Beads, Balconies, and (mechanical) Bull-riding.