Exhibition : Schulzs Beethoven: Schroeders Muse

Why Beethoven? Charles Schulz said that he chose Beethoven as Schroeder’s favorite composer because B-words are simply funnier—yet when he was asked, Schulz replied that Brahms was his favorite composer. Maybe Schulz was remembering when, as a young teenager, he would sit on the porch of best friend Shermy’s home and listen to Shermy’s mother play Beethoven pieces on the piano. Whatever the impetus, Schulz painstakingly copied musical scores, note by note, for the now-famous Beethoven strips. The music was transcribed with such accuracy that musicians are able to play the pieces directly from the Peanuts strips!

In this exhibition, visitors will be able to view Beethoven-themed strips while listening to the music that Schulz transcribed into his panels. The exhibition will also feature Schulz’s reference books on classical music; personal letters he wrote about his growing appreciation of the genre; original Beethoven manuscripts, scores, and first editions; paintings and a bust of Beethoven; and a fortepiano from the early 19th century.

The exhibition is being co-organized by Dr. Bill Meredith of the Ira F. Brilliant Center for Beethoven Studies, San Jose State University. The exhibit will be mounted at the Center for Beethoven Studies, Martin Luther King, Jr. Library, San Jose State University, from June through August 2009.

Date : August 16, 2008 through January 26, 2009.

Museum Hours :
Fall / Winter / Spring
Labor Day through Memorial Day
Weekdays (closed Tuesdays) 11 am to 5 pm
Weekends 10 am to 5 pm.

Admission :
Adults — $8
Youths & Seniors — $5
YOUTH ~ CHILDREN 4–18 & COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH VALID ID
SENIOR ~ 62+

Location : Downstairs Changing Gallery